Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum and seek advice for a medical issue of mine. My main problem is that my eyes produce few lipids (meibomian gland dysfunction). To put it simply, the sebaceous glands in my skin produce either too little or too thick sebum and I don’t really care about my skin but my eyes are the problem. too few lipids mean my tears evaporate fast and so I have a particularly annoying dry eye problem. I have seen countless opthalmologists and I barely got help. The only thing helping me is hot compresses on my eyes that melt the thick oil of my glands in my eyelids.
Why am I posting this here? Because I strongly believe that this is hormone related as sebum production is linked to androgens.
Two years ago I started taking saw palmetto and (theaflavins) and a few times beta sitosterol for a hair loss issue (they are supposed to lower DHT). I was also on minoxidil. I never took finasteride. I suddenly had some redness in my face and I thought maybe I am allergic to some of the supplements so I stopped them all. After about one month symptoms in my eyes started. Maybe it’s related maybe not.
One year passed and symptoms were getting worse.
So one year after (one month ago) I got tested for T… My first test was 242 on a range of 240-827. Way too low for my age (I am 25). Both LH and FSH were close to 3. My free T was 45 (50 was lower limit). Prolactin was low. DHT was 55 and range was 35-80.
I go see my andrologist last week, he orders a sperm check that comes out perfect. Does an ultrasound to my testicles, they are great. He asks me if I have symptoms (low libido, losing body hair, low energy, low mood, erection problems, putting on a lot of weight). I said I had nothing and he told me not to bother.
I had serious suspicion that the first lab was shitty so I go see an endocrinologist that orders a new T and free T test along with a GnRH stimulation test in a respected lab.
My T was 420 . Range was 300-900. LH and FSH was at around 3. My free T was 15 and range was 8.5 to 50. (they measure it with different units than my first test). Test method was RIA (radioimmunoassay) Then I got a gnrh injection and he measured my LH and FSH response at 30 and 60 mins. My pituitary responded great with an increase in both hormones (LH was a lot higher). My doctor saw the tests and he concluded I have no medical problem. He told me that 420 is a bit on the lower side for my age but it’s normal and not pathological. He also told me my pituitary and testicles are working fine. He ruled out giving me T as he said my testicles would atrophy. I asked him about clomiphene and he said it would not hurt me but he thinks I don’t need it.
I must state here something VERY important. After the gnrh injection and the LH,FSH surge, about 2 hours after that I felt GREAT. So ALIVE and powerful! I felt manly, and I believe my eyes and skin became more oily. Maybe it’s placebo (as I knew that my T would increase after the gnrh) but I really felt that way for a couple of hours.
I never worked out in my life consistently. I am not fat but I do have a small belly. The last two years I worked out like 5 times. I mostly sit in my desk (I am a computer engineer). I do have sex, about 3 times a week and maybe masturbate 1 or 2 times a week. I have a lot of stress about various issues but mostly about my eye problem.
Thing is, I need to fix my problem and doing so I need advice as to how to increase my T and more specifically to make my skin more oily. I would like to try it the natural way and avoid taking clomiphene if possible. I already take fish oils and evening primrose oil (for GLA). I tried taking some zinc here and there but not consistently.
But my worst problem maybe affecting my hormones is that I get anxiety attacks about my eyes issue and I worry too much at times and get depressed. I try hard not to take any Xanax or valium…
Thanks in advance for reading my story.