Hey everyone. I’ve been lurking for the last few months and trying to learn as much as possible. I was desperate enough from a multitude of long-term symptoms that I wasted who knows how much on bullshit supplements, doctors of all types, as well as countless hours reading and searching for info, and years of my life feeling like dogshit.
I came across this place and, after having checked out just about everything else, started to think maybe I had a hormone problem. I found a local doctor who seems attentive and motivated, and he sent me off for my labs, and so here I am with “My Thread”. I haven’t begun any supplements or regimens of any kind, so I’m a blank slate.
I won’t bother recounting my symptoms. Suffice to say, like many of you, my symptoms can best be described as “all of them” and “severe”, but having been an athlete, a veteran, and growing up in a difficult home environment, some of us are fortunate enough never have been poisoned with the entitled idea that anyone gives a shit how you feel. In other words, despite suffering from constant exhaustion, anxiety, etc, I have put one foot in front of the other and held shit together.
Seems to be the story for a lot of guys, which is probably why most people don’t take these issues seriously. Anyway, enough of that. I did my numbers and as far as I can tell they’re not good. Doc is concerned as well:
Sex: M
Age: 34
Body: 5’11" 180, 15% BF or so
(Quest did the test)
Test name: My numbers (ref range)
TSH: 2.04 (0.4-4.5 mIU/L)
T4, FREE: 1.0 (0.8-1.8 ng/dL)
T3, FREE: 2.9 (2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
T3 REVERSE, LC/MS/MS: 17 (8-25 ng/dL)
Thyroglobulin Panel
-Thyro antibodies: <1 (< or = 1IU/mL)
-Thyroglobulin: 17.2 (2.8-40.9 ng/mL)
IGF I, LC/MS: 191 (53-331 ng/mL)
Z Score (Male): .6 (-2.0-2.0 SD)
Dihydrotestosterone, LC/MS/MS: 40 (16-79 ng/dL)
Pregnenolone, LC/MS/MS: 34 (13-208 ng/dL)
DHEA Sulfate: 190 (106-464 mcg/dL)
Progesterone: <0.5 (<1.4 ng/mL)
Prolactin: 9.2 (2.0-18.0 ng/mL)
Estradiol: 21 (< or = 39 pg/mL)
PSA, Total: 0.3 (< or = 4.0 ng/mL)
Total Test: 512 (250-1100 ng/dL)
Free Test: 39.9 (L) (46-224 pg/mL)
Bioavail Test: 83.8 (L) (110-575 ng/dL)
SHBG: 61 (H) (10-50 nmol/L)
Albumin, Serum: 4.6 (3.6-5.1 g/dL)
1,25 (OH)2 Vits
Vit D total: 45 (18-72 pg/mL)
Vit D3 1,25 (OH)2: 45 (n/a)
Vit D2 1,25 (OH)2: <8 (n/a)
Vit D, 25-OH, Total: 41 (30-100 ng/mL)
Vit D3 25-OH: 41 (n/a)
Vit D2 25-OH: <4 (n/a)
Doc doesn’t seem to have an idea where the low T numbers are from yet. Job and commute require that I’m on my ass a lot of the day, but I make myself get in a good workout at least four days a week, focusing on squats, deadlifts, etc. I eat plenty of cholesterol in meat, eggs, etc, and eat well otherwise (I drink a giant kale shake wit other vegetables and nuts and coconut oil every morning). From sports and the military I’ve had several severe concussions, and I was concerned about it since I have been reading it can affect hormone production, but doc says that this kind of deficiency would be accompanied by elevated Prolactin. Main issues are fatigue (which i push through, if barely), anxiety and depression (which I manage, if barely), very low sex drive and function (which I, perhaps unconsciously, found a way around by getting a conservative religious girlfriend), and, worst of all for my line of work (my day job is for the DoD, but I devote a lot of time to my long-form history podcast), the mental fog, memory gaps, and inability to focus is debilitating.
Since I’m only 34, doc wants to try a few things before going straight to TRT. On Monday, I’m going in to get:
Clomid - (don’t remember dosage)
Anastrozole - 1 mg p/week
Pregnenolone - 60 mg
7 Keto DHEA - 100 mg
A Vitamin D supp
Then we’ll reassess and check my bloodwork in a month to see how I respond. I’m not sure what kind of results to expect at the end of that month, or what would merit a change.
Current medications:
-Excedrin or Ibuprofin for headaches 2-3 times a week
-Imitrex for migraines 1-2 times per month (severe migraines and headaches used to -occur 4-6 days a week, but I’ve managed to control them via lifestyle)
-Provigil 3-4 days a week for fatigue (try to avoid taking it regularly, but I’ve got a long commute and often I can’t stay awake)
-Very rarely drink (once a month I’ll have a beer or two)
-Don’t smoke
-No hormones or steroids in the past
-No drugs except mushrooms, mescaline, DMT, but it’s been 3-4 years since I’ve done any of that
Well that about covers it for now. If you’re still reading to this point, i do appreciate it. I’ll do my part and keep a log of my daily experiences, sleep habits, food intake, medications, and bloodwork in order to hopefully learn my responses and add a grain of sand to the body of knowledge being developed here.
If anyone sees anything that jumps out or has any advice, like I said, I’m a blank slate. Thanks again.