After reading the stickies, I figured it’s time to start my own thread.
-age: 36
-height: 5’9
-waist: 36
-weight: 160
-describe body and facial hair:
*Facial hair growth is slow - even during puberty. I shave once a week.
*Small amounts of body hair is present in many areas
-describe where you carry fat and how changed:
*Between ages 15-26, I weighed 120lbs with <4$ body fat.
*Since age 27, I’ve added weight in my mid-section, but still have skinny arms and legs.
*At 28, a hydrostatic body fat test showed 25% body fat.
*My weight gain started when I went on Lexapro (see below).
-health conditions, symptoms [history]:
*In 2002-2003, I took sam-e in 2002-2003 for depression.
*2004, started on Lexapro 20mg daily.
*2007 my shrink added Wellbutrin XL 450mg for ADHD. This worked okay.
*2008 I switched to Straterra. This made me an emotional wreck, and prevented orgasm. This was my first sexual side effect from medication. I switched back to Wellbutrin, but orgasm problems persisted.
*2009, I learned that I snore loudly. A sleep study revealed moderate OSA (sleep apnea). Doctor put me on CPAP therapy which works well.
*Jan 2012, my GF and I get together. Our sex life sucks. I have no libido. Erections are possible but require a lot of work to sustain. Orgasm is still not possible.
*Feb 2012, my shrink lowers Wellbutrin to 300mg and added Adderall XR 15mg. This works okay - but ADHD symptoms persist. The shrink wants to increase Adderal, but I don’t. Sexual problems still persist. No interest, motivation, or energy…
*June 2012, minor surgery to correct a fistula. CT and MRI scans covered the testicles and prostate, and showed nothing abnormal.
-Rx and OTC drugs, any hair loss drugs or prostate drugs ever:
*Used a minoxidil pack sparingly in April 2012, but have stopped.
-Lab results with ranges:
From 7/27/2012 Quest Diagnostics:
Hemoglobin A1C - 5.4% [<5.7 decreased risk of diabetes]
Mean Plasma Glucose - 115 mg/dL [no range given]
T-Total - 220 ng/dL [250-1100]
T-Free - 53.4 pg/dL [35-155]
A compounding pharmacy referred a urologist. His website indicates that he does TRT for men and researches men’s health. I saw him earlier this week and got these labs:
From 8/23/2012 LabCorp:
Albumin, Serum - 4.9 g/dL [3.5-5.5]
Testosterone, Serum - 307 ng/dL [348-1197]
Free T (Direct) 9.7 pg/mL [8.7-25.1]
LH - 6.0 mIU/mL [1.7-8.6]
FSH - 2.3 mIU/mL [1.5-12.4]
Prolactin - 9.1 ng/mL [4.0-15.2]
Bio-available T w/SHBG using HPMS for improved accuracy:
Testosterone, Serum - 335 ng/dL [348-1197 for Adult males >18]
Bioavailable T - 206 ng/dL [128-430 for males 20-39 years old]
Bioavailable T % - 61.5% !!!
SHBG (TRMA) 14 nmol/L [20-60 adult males]
The urologist forgot E2 and Vitamin D-OH. He gave me a cialis trial pack and scheduled a September follow up.
What I gather from this data:
-Why is FSH so low? Someday, I want kids. The urologist said this disqualifies me from TRT.
-LH levels are so-so.
-The higher percentage of bioavailable T suggests that my body is increasing unbound T because the total T levels are low - hence low SHBG and slightly higher albumin numbers. This suggests that HPTA feedback is working.
-describe diet:
*Not good. I rarely eat breakfast. For lunch I get an entree at a cafeteria which has some healthy options. For dinner we usually eat out. Diet is mostly meat and potatoes. No soda, and drink socially.
-describe training:
*None
-testes ache, ever, with a fever?
*None
-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed.
*Got them while in college, but now I don’t get them at all.
The next step is compiling a list of lab tests. E2 and a thyroid panel for sure. Are there any aromatase enzymes that are worth checking?
Thanks for taking the time to read my thread!