Excellent forum here, I have been reading a lot over the last few days! I came by here to ask a few questions because I have absolutely no idea what is going on with my body anymore. A little insight, opinion would be more than welcome!
History: Ive been â??working outâ?? since I was 18. Nailed the nutrition down and periodization when I was about 23-24. In the last four years I have been doing crossfit combined with a reduced â??bodybuildingâ?? routine, switched to a SS routine, and then most recently have been trying to do 5/3/1.
Bottom line is Iâ??ve never been able to get my weight up. I am 5â??11â?? 85kg, at about 13-16% bf. My lifts are embarrassing. Every time I have been getting stronger, having great workouts, I wont be able to sleep no matter how tired I am. In bed at 10pm, only to wake up routinely at 2-3am.
(Tried all the drugs, sleep hygene, rituals, and casting spells- nothing worked)
I originally thought (through researching lots of different info) that it was adrenal fatigue, somehow related to the release of cortisol that kept waking me up at 3am. Took some time off (I take 2-3 weeks off every 6 weeks as it is…) but the problem kept on coming.
I went to the doctor and did a sleep test. The diagnosis was that I have UARS (a form of apnea). Stuck the hose up my nose (CPAP) and found I slept better- but not like I should be- still dancing to the 2am disco every now and then.
At the same time I was getting my sleep tested, I went to see an Endocrinologist who did a blood test. Despite having the same problem, my cortisol levels came back regular- but Testosterone was very low. I did another test about two months after the first, my T was even lower, so were LH and FSH. Hypogonadism was written on the medical form. The doctor is suggesting hormone replacement therapy, or testosterone replacement therapy.
Does anyone have any advice, thoughts… ?
I am not really sure of the sleep ~ low hormone thing. Like the chicken or the egg, the riddle remains, which came first?
What about this TRT, HRT, deal? If I start shooting T, am I going to have to keep doing it until the grim end? Doesnâ??t that shut down my natural production of T (however limited it is right now)?
How much would a few nights of missed sleep impact the T tests when I got them done?
March:
Free T4 1.00 ng/dl (0.65 - 1.26)
TSH 1.299 uU/ml (0.340-5.6)
Cortisol 15.8 ug/dl
ACTH 27.4 pg/ml
Total T 438 ng/dl
SHBG 49. nmol/l (10-60)
Albumin 39 gm/l (38 - 50)
Free Androgen Index 30
Free T 72 pg/ml (90-300)
% Free T 1.63% (2-4.8)
Bioavailable T 153 ng/dl
May
Total T 377 ng/dl
SHBG 37.2 nmol/l
Albumin 38 gm/l
Free androgen index 35
Free T 75 pg/ml
% Free T 1.99
Bioavailable T 156 ng/dl
LH 1.61 mIU/ml
Prolactin 7.05 ng/Ml (3.46-19.40)