Bloodwork after 2+ years of high dose prednisone

[mikeyWRX]

Hey all,

I was recommended by a friend to post this year to see what people thought of these results. I am a 26 yr old male. I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in oct. 07, and have been on doses of prednisone varying from 20mg to 60mg daily. I have been on 20mg for the past 5 months. I do have no symptoms now(which is a real blessing and I am very happy to be "fully alive", MG symptom free.

On the other token, Im still a 26 yr. old male who loves bodybuilding and my testosterone, Which brings me to my reason for posting......

The basic Metabolic Panel all looks ok(At least my levels are in the prescribed ranges)

But the following does not inspire me.....

DHEA 18 ug/dl (Listed range 280-640)
Estradiol 32 pg/ml (0-56 Range)
Total Testosterone 283 ng/dL (range 262-1593)

My neuro claimed all levels were ok, but I am not satisfied.....

What are everyones thoughts on these levels? The plan is to start tapering the prednisone again soon, but in the mean time is there anything I can do to boost my testosterone and lower that damn estradiol?

Thanks all!

Mike

[biceps72]

Originally Posted by mikeyWRX

Hey all,

I was recommended by a friend to post this year to see what people thought of these results. I am a 26 yr old male. I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in oct. 07, and have been on doses of prednisone varying from 20mg to 60mg daily. I have been on 20mg for the past 5 months. I do have no symptoms now(which is a real blessing and I am very happy to be "fully alive", MG symptom free.

On the other token, Im still a 26 yr. old male who loves bodybuilding and my testosterone, Which brings me to my reason for posting......

The basic Metabolic Panel all looks ok(At least my levels are in the prescribed ranges)

But the following does not inspire me.....

DHEA 18 ug/dl (Listed range 280-640)
Estradiol 32 pg/ml (0-56 Range)
Total Testosterone 283 ng/dL (range 262-1593)

My neuro claimed all levels were ok, but I am not satisfied.....

What are everyones thoughts on these levels? The plan is to start tapering the prednisone again soon, but in the mean time is there anything I can do to boost my testosterone and lower that damn estradiol?

Thanks all!

Mike

lots on this board can answer your question, HANS and Prmgramer,

BUT
prednisone and testosterone might be causal for your low blood parameters that you listed


DHEA IS VERY LOW!!

was E2 ultrasensitive test? If so, it is high a bit, some armidex in very, very low doses can bring this down

Total test = very low

get LH, FSH tested, and TSH, prolactin tested.

need to find out to see if you are primary or secondary hypogonadic.

You are obviously not taking testosterone now, correct?

[mikeyWRX]

Originally Posted by biceps72

lots on this board can answer your question, HANS and Prmgramer,

BUT
prednisone and testosterone might be causal for your low blood parameters that you listed


DHEA IS VERY LOW!!

was E2 ultrasensitive test? If so, it is high a bit, some armidex in very, very low doses can bring this down

Total test = very low

get LH, FSH tested, and TSH, prolactin tested.

need to find out to see if you are primary or secondary hypogonadic.

You are obviously not taking testosterone now, correct?

Biceps, thanks for the reply........

I dont know if the "E2 test was "ultrasensitive" the paperwork does not say.

LH, FSH, and TSH refer to? (Sorry totally new to Hormone management, is there a 101 here on this?)

Not currently, nor have ever taken testosterone, or anabolics, only catabolic prednisone

Also by having the DHEA and total test at these levels, is my neuro wrong and I should take immediate action here?

thanks all!

[hardasnails1973]

Originally Posted by mikeyWRX

Hey all,

I was recommended by a friend to post this year to see what people thought of these results. I am a 26 yr old male. I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in oct. 07, and have been on doses of prednisone varying from 20mg to 60mg daily. I have been on 20mg for the past 5 months. I do have no symptoms now(which is a real blessing and I am very happy to be "fully alive", MG symptom free.

On the other token, Im still a 26 yr. old male who loves bodybuilding and my testosterone, Which brings me to my reason for posting......

The basic Metabolic Panel all looks ok(At least my levels are in the prescribed ranges)

But the following does not inspire me.....

DHEA 18 ug/dl (Listed range 280-640)
Estradiol 32 pg/ml (0-56 Range)
Total Testosterone 283 ng/dL (range 262-1593)

My neuro claimed all levels were ok, but I am not satisfied.....

What are everyones thoughts on these levels? The plan is to start tapering the prednisone again soon, but in the mean time is there anything I can do to boost my testosterone and lower that damn estradiol?

Thanks all!

Mike

When on high levels of predisone your dr needs to learn how this will interact with other hormones because it can be debiliating for some. When giving corticoids even on physiological dosages we see a drop in dhea in little as month which needs to be addressed. PRedison will also cause your blood sugar level to go up through the roof and induce potential of diabetes. It will depete nutrients which actually support thyroid and adrenal function causing depression. IT can also cause elevated rt3 which can suppress the thyroid if not properl monitored. Your dr needs to be aware of all of these things when using predisone. If you need a help to help rebalance your body you can PM me and make an appointment to come see my self and dr O to get you back to check by looking at all aspects of your well being. I am sure you are nutrient depleted for sure.

[mikeyWRX]

Hardasnails,

Thanks for the reply. Is this a common trend with Doctors prescribing prednisone long term? I got a feeling that my original question is more complicated than anticipated.

I am seeing a new neurologist locally in about a months time(Soonest Appt I could schedule) and I will plan on discussing this with her. I have to continue taking the prednisone, regardless for the immunosuppressant effect until my neuros advise a tapering schedule.(As low on testosterone and out of balance on hormones I anticipate I am, its better than having myasthenia effects kick in)

My short term question is, is there anything I can do help my testosterone, DHEA, etc. while on the prednisone?

many thanks,

-mike

[Shaolin]

Didnt you have any side effects from the prednisone??

Its a great dose for 2 consecutive years, no change in Blood Sugar levels?? No increased blood pressure?? Did you follow specific diet? Did you measure bone density at all?? Your testo is low and this is not that good, but maybe it gets better once off the prednisone.

HOw closely where you monitored by your docs?? did they make you run frequent tests ??

[mikeyWRX]

Shaolin,

the only tests they made me run were semi annual cbc and liver function tests..........yes, i had prednisone side effects..... my worst was skin thining in certain areas. Water retention was another horrible one. my blood sugar, thank god hasnt been effected dramatically, it was right in the center of the normal range.

BP went up do to sodium loading, but a diuretic fixed that, my bp now is 110/70 ish resting.

I workout daily still and my diet is very good which has helped as well.

[zkt]

Ive been wondering what high dosage GC would do long term in the real world. From your labs: not so much.
DHEA is involved early in the synthesis of cortisol from cholesterol: little wonder that is is low: check out the HPTA feedback loop. Wiki is good.
Same for T as the adrenal cortex contributes to total T production.
I would like to see ACTH, cortisol,T4, and a bone density scan. Fasting glucose at 1 and 2 hr would be interesting.
What changes did you notice in yourself during the prednisone therapy? I assume you were on Medrol(methyl prednisolone).
I hope I can be usefull to you.
The textbooks say that the natural adrenal function is depressed for some time after stopping glucorticoid therapy.
What exactly do you want to know?

Originally Posted by mikeyWRX

Hey all,

I was recommended by a friend to post this year to see what people thought of these results. I am a 26 yr old male. I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in oct. 07, and have been on doses of prednisone varying from 20mg to 60mg daily. I have been on 20mg for the past 5 months. I do have no symptoms now(which is a real blessing and I am very happy to be "fully alive", MG symptom free.

On the other token, Im still a 26 yr. old male who loves bodybuilding and my testosterone, Which brings me to my reason for posting......

The basic Metabolic Panel all looks ok(At least my levels are in the prescribed ranges)

But the following does not inspire me.....

DHEA 18 ug/dl (Listed range 280-640)
Estradiol 32 pg/ml (0-56 Range)
Total Testosterone 283 ng/dL (range 262-1593)

My neuro claimed all levels were ok, but I am not satisfied.....

What are everyones thoughts on these levels? The plan is to start tapering the prednisone again soon, but in the mean time is there anything I can do to boost my testosterone and lower that damn estradiol?

Thanks all!

Mike

[hardasnails1973]

Originally Posted by mikeyWRX

Hardasnails,

Thanks for the reply. Is this a common trend with Doctors prescribing prednisone long term? I got a feeling that my original question is more complicated than anticipated.

I am seeing a new neurologist locally in about a months time(Soonest Appt I could schedule) and I will plan on discussing this with her. I have to continue taking the prednisone, regardless for the immunosuppressant effect until my neuros advise a tapering schedule.(As low on testosterone and out of balance on hormones I anticipate I am, its better than having myasthenia effects kick in)

My short term question is, is there anything I can do help my testosterone, DHEA, etc. while on the prednisone?

many thanks,

-mike

please reference nutients that are depelted from cortiicoid steroids and your will find out why levels are low. IF you get to a good dr they will be able to run intracellular testing to find out what nutrients you are deficient in. If you want to come for nutritoinal and hormone evaluation then feel free to pm me for details