My first labs - and TRT possibility?

[clloyd]

All,

As a new member to the forum, and being referred to it by an MD, I received my initial lab work from LabCorp. Before I list my results below, I will preface by saying I have been on SSRI's for 10 years and Adderall for about 2 years. Please let me know what you think of my lab work results as I am definitely TRT positive effects on energy,well being, etc.

Total Testosterone - 410 ng/dl (241-827)
Free Testosterone - 15.6 pg/ml (8.7 -25.1)
Free & Weakly Bound - 150.9 ng/dl (40 - 250)

DHT - 24 ng/dl (30 - 85)
Estradiol Sensitive - 12 pg/ml (3 - 70)
LH - 4.4 mIU/ml (1.5 - 9.3)
FSH - 4.7 mIU/ml (1.4 - 18.1)
Prolactin - 10.3 ng/ml (2.1 - 17.7)
Cortisol - 11 ug/gl (3.1 - 22.4) --- this was taken in afternoon
TSH - 0.725 uIU/ml (0.35 - 5.50)
T3 Uptake - 33% (24 - 39)
Free T3 Index - 2.4 (1.2 - 4.9) --- no unit was given
T4 - 7.3 ug/dl (4.5 - 12.0)
SHBG - 18 nmol/L (13 - 71)
Albumin - 4.7 g/dl (3.5 - 5.5)


CBC - (all CBC results were in range)
Comp. Metabolic Panel - (all CBC results were in range)

ANY help would be appreciated.

[Nemesis RR]

how active is your lifestyle?

How stressfull is your job?

When the blood was takin how was your activity level and stress level?

What problems are you having that you believe that TRT will help?

How old are you?

Not an easy question to answer without the proper info.

[clloyd]

Originally Posted by Nemesis RR

how active is your lifestyle?

How stressfull is your job?

When the blood was takin how was your activity level and stress level?

What problems are you having that you believe that TRT will help?

How old are you?

Not an easy question to answer without the proper info.

---------

Right now I am going through a down in my physical activity and have not been exercising much. I have managed to get my body fat up to 18.93%.

My job is extremely stressful as a finance executive. I sometime have to take Xanax.

Even though I am relatively stressed at all times, the day I did my blood work I was not as stressed as usual.

I would be looking at TRT to help with overall well-being, stress, confidence, ambition, libido, and help build lean body mass as I start working out again.

I am 36 years old.

Thanks Nemesis!

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by clloyd

All,

As a new member to the forum, and being referred to it by an MD, I received my initial lab work from LabCorp. Before I list my results below, I will preface by saying I have been on SSRI's for 10 years and Adderall for about 2 years. Please let me know what you think of my lab work results as I am definitely TRT positive effects on energy,well being, etc.

Total Testosterone - 410 ng/dl (241-827)
Free Testosterone - 15.6 pg/ml (8.7 -25.1)
Free & Weakly Bound - 150.9 ng/dl (40 - 250)

DHT - 24 ng/dl (30 - 85) low
Estradiol Sensitive - 12 pg/ml (3 - 70) low
LH - 4.4 mIU/ml (1.5 - 9.3)
FSH - 4.7 mIU/ml (1.4 - 18.1)
Prolactin - 10.3 ng/ml (2.1 - 17.7)
Cortisol - 11 ug/gl (3.1 - 22.4) --- this was taken in afternoon
TSH - 0.725 uIU/ml (0.35 - 5.50)
T3 Uptake - 33% (24 - 39)
Free T3 Index - 2.4 (1.2 - 4.9) --- no unit was given
T4 - 7.3 ug/dl (4.5 - 12.0)
SHBG - 18 nmol/L (13 - 71)
Albumin - 4.7 g/dl (3.5 - 5.5)


CBC - (all CBC results were in range)
Comp. Metabolic Panel - (all CBC results were in range)

ANY help would be appreciated.

Use Armour Thyroid to raise FreeT3 so you are close to the top of range.
Carefull with increasing Armour, check Adrenals if in doubt.
Better do a whole thyroid panel, if not, at least rt3 and both antibodies.

SHBG nice, LH not overly high, consider HCG stimulation test:
http://forum.mesomorphosis.com/men-s...tml#post586588
================================================== ========================
You say:
My job is extremely stressful as a finance executive.
I read:
good insurance plus $ to back up if required.

Do this:
My list of blood tests (or just missing items),
post #44
Jan's BloodTest April13/2007 - Page 2
Copy paste that list, e-mail to doc, ask to reprint on his stationary and sign.
If he uses forms, you will get different tests.

Blood is to be drawn at Quest Diagnostics.
---------
Genova Diagnostics tests:

Adrenocortex Stress Profile
Genova Diagnostics

Comprehensive Thyroid Assessment
Genova Diagnostics

NutrEval
Genova Diagnostics
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
.

[clloyd]

Thanks JanSz,

Ironically, the only Doc that is progressive enough in my city is an OBGYN. He usually gives males shots or pellets and a scrip for HcG (if I can even find it). He doesn't know anything about the Thyroid stuff so he probably wouldn't write me a scrip for Armour. He doesn't take my insurance (but I will deal with it). If I can get Armour, what dose would you recommend?

Could my penis shrinkage the past few years (maybe from SSRI's) have to do with low DHT? This has me interested in the patch.

Finally, since my estradiol is low, is it worth trying Test shots or pellets? and then monitoring my blood monthly?

Labcorp took my insurance (that's why I used it over Qwest).

It's hard to get an appointment with this OBGYN and my appt is on June 2nd - hince the reason I am trying to figure out a plan.

Thanks JanSz.

[Nemesis RR]

Originally Posted by clloyd

---------

Right now I am going through a down in my physical activity and have not been exercising much. I have managed to get my body fat up to 18.93%.

My job is extremely stressful as a finance executive. I sometime have to take Xanax.

Even though I am relatively stressed at all times, the day I did my blood work I was not as stressed as usual.

I would be looking at TRT to help with overall well-being, stress, confidence, ambition, libido, and help build lean body mass as I start working out again.

I am 36 years old.

Thanks Nemesis!

I see your responses and it is like looking into my past. I would go slow attempting to raise activity and working on your diet. Also the fact that you are stressed will kill your test level. The fact that on the particular day you weren't stressed does not matter. You would have to have been stress free for at least a week for your levels to come back.

I would work on your stress level and have a little fun. I would work out with the wife more if you know what I mean. You don't want to mask problems with your health that are being generated by your lifestyle and not your endocrine system. You owe it to yourself as you should always put off HRT until it is your only option.

[clloyd]

Originally Posted by Nemesis RR

I see your responses and it is like looking into my past. I would go slow attempting to raise activity and working on your diet. Also the fact that you are stressed will kill your test level. The fact that on the particular day you weren't stressed does not matter. You would have to have been stress free for at least a week for your levels to come back.

I would work on your stress level and have a little fun. I would work out with the wife more if you know what I mean. You don't want to mask problems with your health that are being generated by your lifestyle and not your endocrine system. You owe it to yourself as you should always put off HRT until it is your only option.

Thanks Nemesis. I appreciate the logic. Makes total sense. the problem is that I have tried this before. It's kind like what came first, the chicken or the egg. My temptation is to try some HcG or Clomid. My symptoms and labs are very similiar to a friend of mine. He did TRT and his feeling of lack of ambition, self confidence, anti-social, etc. has greatly improved. In his case and my case we both didn't have these symptoms a few years ago. I know TRT can be for life, so I was wondering if HcG could just be taken for a few months just to kick back in the LH and FSH (and my estradiol is low)? I saw where Clomid can help kick back in HPTA. I am wondering if SSRI's have messed up my HPTA. Regardless, my make up for the past few years has not been resloved from just having fun, etc. My rut has been endless. And my DHT is below the reference range which migh have an indirect relationship to my prolonged use of SSRI's.

What do you think? I know it sounds like I am combatting you and JanSz's advice, but I feel like I am running out of options. My friend did pellets by the way and has had great success and little or no increase in estrogen levels. He monitors his blood monthly. He went from around 400 to 1000 on TT. I would probably get less pellets if I did it to just maybe get up to 600 to 650.

[chap]

I don't get this

he is showing completely normal testosterone and free testosterone

why would you even consider messing yourself up with trt?

what you seem to be considering is going on a steroid program to boost yourself above your normal levels, and all that goes along with that...... that is not trt, that is something else beyond replacement

[chap]

Originally Posted by clloyd

I know TRT can be for life, so I was wondering if HcG could just be taken for a few months just to kick back in the LH and FSH .

people still don't seem to get this, hcg is suppressive and will reduce your LH and FSH to zero

[clloyd]

Originally Posted by chap

I don't get this

he is showing completely normal testosterone and free testosterone

why would you even consider messing yourself up with trt?

what you seem to be considering is going on a steroid program to boost yourself above your normal levels, and all that goes along with that...... that is not trt, that is something else beyond replacement

From what I have read, "normal" is relative. I am not talking about going above the normal range. I would just be talking about going from 410 to maybe 650 TT. I might be completely off the mark and maybe this won't help some of the psychological symptoms I have. My DHT is below normal. Regardless, I think many people have different opinions about what is an optimal level of TT compared to the "reference range". This is one reason I am considering HcG as an option instead of actual Test shots or pellets. So yes, I am using a trial and error approach.

[chap]

normal is basically a range that the average healthy male falls into

you are talking about going above "your" normal range

[clloyd]

And I agree that your methodology has always made sense to me. And I am sure now that I am 36 I should expect lower TT levels. I guess that I have read many articles about the possibility of long-term use of SSRI's and possible effects on HPTA to think that maybe MY normal range has dropped. I don't have a baseline as I started SSRI's 10 years ago and I was much younger. I might be also making a naive assumption that if I don't escalate my TT to high, I won't be getting myself into what represents a anabolic steroid cycle or supraphysical state (per Dr. Chrisler).

But again I understand your logic Chap and I am still weighing out all the options and I appreciate your input.

[clloyd]

Originally Posted by chap

people still don't seem to get this, hcg is suppressive and will reduce your LH and FSH to zero

I meant Clomid for increasing LH...sorry

[chap]

ok cool, clloyd

hope you find what works for you

I guess I'm coming from a position where I know how powerful psychologically that test can be, and it is very tempting to go for above-normal levels, but there is always a downside to such attempts I think.

I think that with your levels of test that if you raise them you may not be solving whatever is ailing you at present, and may also bring in new problems to the mix.

As far as the wellbeing issue, a guy could do 500mg a week of test and for the first while would be convinced he found the fountain of youth and the elixir of the gods for strength and wellbeing, but unfortunately there are many health reasons and other hormonal issues that start to pop up after awhile and that original great state becomes impossible to sustain in most that try it.

[clloyd]

Agreed. About 13 years I did do a 8 week AS cycle of Test Enanthate for physical purposes only and remember the initial rush I got the first few weeks and then it subsided. I also remember it seems like it took a year to get my nuts back.

My friend that got the pellets is an MD that has access to monitoring his blood quite frequently and everything has stayed stable. I will be curious to know after a couple months if his "well being" feeling lasts.

Last Question: Do you think that trying Clomid for a little while would be less of an overall threat as it may rejuvenate some of my endocrine system permanently after getting off it? Or is this thought totally off the mark?