Hello all,
I am new to T-Nation and have turned to
this forum in hopes to find the best solution for my
future. I’ll explain a basic background of my training, supplements and the recent
problems I have had which has led me to the doctor’s office.
I have been lifting weights since I was 15 and played football throughout my early 20’s. My training has been geared more towards athletic performance (speed, strength, agility). Now that I am in a serious career I have been turning to more of a
bodybuilding style regimen.
I am 29 years old, married and currently do not have children (currently trying). I eat pretty clean and splurge every once and a while. I’m 5’11”, 200 Pounds (give or
take) and have been gaining fat around the midsection and losing overall muscle
tone.
Please note – I took a PH when I was 17 years old while playing football and did a 10-week cycle of Test Cyp with a PCT (Nolvadex) at 24 years old, 6 months after shoulder surgery. I have also used Creatine and different pre workouts since I was 17 years old.
Over the past 3-4 years I have been losing my sex drive, less motivated to kill it in the gym and becoming very irritable. With that, I cannot not eat nearly as much and
my drive to get out of the house and get stuff done is null. Within the last
year I have been becoming extremely fatigued and more irritable with my wife
and other family members. I have gone to therapy sessions thinking it was
psychological but got nowhere with it. I feel bad for my wife and overall I just
want to get back to me, feel good and do what I do.
Initially I got lab work done for work. This was the beginning and I didn’t realize it would be turning into how I’m feeling today. (See Below) I initially didn’t think
anything of the number and thought I could power through it with test booster
supplements and heavy deadlifts.
Lab
Test Results (04/07/2014)
hemoglobin
a1c 5.1 4.8-5.6 %
testosterone,
serum 343
348-1197 ng/dL
prostate specific ag, serum
0.4 0.0-4.0 ng/mL
cholesterol, total
124 100-199 mg/dL
triglycerides
54 0-149 mg/dL
hdl cholesterol
41 >39 mg/dL
vldl cholesterol cal
11 5-40 mg/dL
ldl cholesterol calc
72 0-99 mg/dL
ldl/hdl ratio
1.8 0.0-3.6 ratio units
tsh 3.540 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
One year later - The symptoms were getting worse, so I saw a doctor who specializes in hormone optimization. She advised I have very low Vitamin D and put me on an 8,000 IUs Vitamin D regimen. I was also prescribed GHRP-2/HCG compound (not sure of dosage) which did absolutely nothing. Throughout the year I changed my diet, continued therapy sessions and did strict compound lifting routine with heavy weights. Again no change.
Lab
Test Results (04/14/2015)
iron saturation
50 15-55 %
iron, serum
128 40-155 ug/dL
uibc 129 150-375 ug/dL
iron bind.cap.(tibc)
257 250-450 ug/dL
vitamin
b12 814 211-946 pg/mL
t4,free(direct) 1.17 0.82-1.77 ng/dL
dhea-sulfate 307.1 138.5-475.2 ug/dL
tsh 2.450 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
progesterone 0.6 0.2-1.4 ng/mL
estrogens,
total 51 40-115 pg/mL
testosterone,
serum 534 348-1197 ng/dL
free testosterone(direct) 21.0 9.3-26.5 pg/mL
pregnenolone,
ms 68 ng/dl
prostate specific ag, serum
0.5 0.0-4.0 ng/mL
vitamin d, 25-hydroxy 19.5 30.0-100.0 ng/mL
triiodothyronine,free,serum 3.2 2.0-4.4 pg/mL
insulin-like
growth factor i 172 98-282 ng/mL
Another year has gone by and my symptoms are the worst yet. I find myself very unmotivated and it has been putting a strain on my relationship with my wife and family. I went to a primary care physician who I found through my insurance company. He did basic labs and advised I needed to go on TRT but since I was trying for a child to wait until after my wife is pregnant which I agreed. (Labs are below).
Lab
Results (05/03/2016)
folate (folic acid), serum 13.4 >3.0 ng/m
vitamin b12 857 211-946 pg/mL
tsh 3.270 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
calcitriol(1,25 di-oh vit d) 42.7 19.9-79.3 pg/mL
vitamin d, 25-hydroxy 35.4 30.0-100.0 ng/mL
cortisol - am 19.6 6.2-19.4 ug/dL
testosterone, serum 510 348-1197 ng/dL
free testosterone(direct) 6.8 9.3-26.5
pg/mL
cholesterol, total 146 100-199 mg/dL
triglycerides 49 0-149 mg/dL
hdl cholesterol 49 >39 mg/dL
vldl cholesterol cal 10 5-40 mg/dL
ldl cholesterol calc 87 0-99 mg/dL
I decided to get a second opinion and went to a doctor who specializes in hormone deficiency. They ordered a few more labs and what I found was a bit disturbing. My Estrogen levels and SHBG are high and I am unsure as to why. I go back to this doctor next week to follow up and they advised they would have a plan of attack.
I wanted to get some advice from you all.
Lab
Test Results (06/08/2016)
iron saturation 48 15-55 %
iron, serum 120 38-169 ug/dL
uibc 130 111-343 ug/dL
iron bind.cap.(tibc) 250 250-450 ug/dL
t4,free(direct) 1.11
0.82-1.77 ng/dL
dhea-sulfate 289.3 138.5-475.2 ug/dL
progesterone 0.7 0.2-1.4 ng/mL
estrogens, total 130 40-115 pg/mL
ferritin, serum 130 30-400 ng/m
insulin-like growth factor i 180 98-282 ng/mL
lh 5.1 1.7-8.6 mIU/mL
fsh 3.6 1.5-12.4 mIU/mL
pregnenolone, ms 68
ng/dL
triiodothyronine,free,serum 2.9 2.0-4.4 pg/mL
sex horm binding glob, serum 70.0 16.5-55.9 nmol/L
Please reply with any thoughts or protocols you have seen for this in the past. Also if there are any specific questions I should be asking the physician.
Thanks again
