Blood Test. Please look!

[Stainless_Steel]

I got my test levels checked and the results came back in the mail. I've got to go back to the doctor next week, but the letter sent with the results says I'm within normal range. I wanted you guys to take a look and tell me what you think.
I'm 27. I haven't cycled in over a year and I don't plan on it ever again. Even though I have thought about it b/c I'm gaining fat. Here's what I got:

TSH+ Free T4
TSH 1.578 uIU/ml 0.350-5.500
T4/Free 1.46 ng/dL 0.61-1.76


Testosterone, Free, Direct
Free Testosterone(Direct) 12.3pg/mL 9.3-26.5

Testosterone, Serum
Testosterone, Serum 447ng/dL 241-827

 

[Stainless_Steel]

Thanks to anyone that can give me some info and help!

 

[halfcenturian]

I got my test levels checked and the results came back in the mail. I've got to go back to the doctor next week, but the letter sent with the results says I'm within normal range. I wanted you guys to take a look and tell me what you think.
I'm 27. I haven't cycled in over a year and I don't plan on it ever again. Even though I have thought about it b/c I'm gaining fat. Here's what I got:

TSH+ Free T4
TSH 1.578 uIU/ml 0.350-5.500
T4/Free 1.46 ng/dL 0.61-1.76


Testosterone, Free, Direct
Free Testosterone(Direct) 12.3pg/mL 9.3-26.5

Testosterone, Serum
Testosterone, Serum 447ng/dL 241-827

________________________________________________________________

Damn near perfect on all of the above ^ ^ ^

Where's your Estradiol should be: 6.45 - 66.7. I'll bet you are around 42-50.

 

[centy]

Everything looks pretty damn good. (Avatar included.)

 

[todoveritas]

Although your tests are all WNL, I would be willing to bet my bottom dollar you went too hard and too high on your cycles bc your symptoms and levels are lower than normally would be expected. (MDs start HRT in men > 40 when their TT are around 400ng/dl). In someone your age this would be called secondary hypogonadism or "Nad burn" would be the laymans BB term.

Hypogonadism is "functional suppression" of pituitary gonadotropins. A course of clomiphene citrate would typically be initiated. Studies have shown that this tx, if continued for 4 months (25-50mg/day) would improve sexual function, increase luteinizing hormone (P<0.001) and free testosterone (P<0.001). Failing this, the next step is test supplementation.

You guys all recommending or thinking about taking > 1gm of test or mega A-bombing for a first cycle should think about this!

 

[Nelson Montana]

Although your tests are all WNL, I would be willing to bet my bottom dollar you went too hard and too high on your cycles bc your symptoms and levels are lower than normally would be expected. (MDs start HRT in men > 40 when their TT are around 400ng/dl). In someone your age this would be called secondary hypogonadism or "Nad burn" would be the laymans BB term.

Hypogonadism is "functional suppression" of pituitary gonadotropins. A course of clomiphene citrate would typically be initiated. Studies have shown that this tx, if continued for 4 months (25-50mg/day) would improve sexual function, increase luteinizing hormone (P<0.001) and free testosterone (P<0.001) .

Yeah, nothing is showing any clinical deficiencies, but at 27 your total and free T could be higher. I would not recommend clomid because the effects will only be temporary and the sides can be horrendous. To increase free T, I'd suggest a one month course of UNLEASHED followed by another blood test but I realize another test many not be practical. If we knew your estradiol that would help. A natty anti e may be in order as well, or if it's really high, a low dose of dexx or aromasin. But don't treat a problem you may not have. Get the facts.

 

[Stainless_Steel]

Really. None of them are kinda low? I don't know about my Estradiol? I took him in a whole list of stuff to check that I got from some good bros on here and some searching. He just wanted to check those first. He said if they came back low then he would check the others.
I went in complaining of low libido,depression,fat gain around stomach, and loss of interest in things I used to enjoy, which is all true. Could my Estrogen level be high?
I also came off of Accutane in November. I stopped taking it after 3 months b/c of vision problems and headaches. I've still got some small acne that you can only see in the sunlight, but I want this shit gone before summer time gets here. The acne not going away is really depressing me. Maybe that's where my problem is. I'm on Doryx right now which is doing nothing.

 

[todoveritas]

If I was in your shoes, I would follow Nelson's advice before resorting to meds. Why risk the sides if you can fix it with natty supplementation. Whatever you do, don't try cycling again until your boys are back in the game.

 

[Stainless_Steel]

What should I ask my doctor to do when I go back? Sould I ask hime to check and see if my Estrogen level is high? and if so, give me an anti-E? Or will he know somethings up? This is a new doctor. When I gave him the list of the things I wanted to check he just said "You been doing some research online?"

 

[todoveritas]

I went in complaining of low libido,depression,fat gain around stomach, and loss of interest in things I used to enjoy...
I also came off of Accutane in November. I stopped taking it after 3 months...

Doctors in the US say" "When you hear a hoofbeat, look for a horse and not a zebra."

That means don't go looking for things that aren't there. There are 3 potential answers for your concerns. None involve elevated estrogen.
1. Depression
2. Functional hypogonadism
3. liver problems (possibly the Accutane or whatever orals. (Did you do orals and accutane at the same time? If so, increases this possibility.

I would ask for Liver function tests. Unless you are feminizing (gyno, etc.) your estrogen is most likely WNL.

 

[centy]

good advice here ^ & from Nelson.

 

[Stainless_Steel]

No I haven't taken anything in over a year. Plus I got my liver tested every month on the Accutane. It always came back fine.
What in the world is up with me still having acne? I was thinking my hormones are all out of whack and Estrogen is up. So I shouldn't even ask about getting my Estradiol checked? If he ask me anything I could just say I looked up some stuff online.I could say "A trainer at the gym said this could be my problem plus he was the one that told me to get the test run when I told him about not being motivated in the gym anymore and gaining fat.

 

[njmuscleguy]

I have a few thoughts....

First, those levels aren't bad at all.....as Nelson said, the total test and free test *could* stand to be a bit higher at your age (who wouldn't want them higher?) but they're certainly far from warranting HRT... there are other things besides test levels that can cause those same symptoms. Seems like you can rule out thyroid and liver problems from what you've said.

By the way, what time exactly did you get the blood drawn? First thing in the morning (before 8am prefferrably) is the best time to get drawn...otherwise, you'll likely have lower readings throughout the day.

I would get re-tested a month after your last bloodwork.... check the same things but on top of that, get F S H, L H, and Estradiol levels checked....couldn't hurt to get cortisol levels checked either. This way you can rule out H P T A issues and possible adrenal fatigue. Did you get the basics checked? CMP and CBC?

After that, THEN you can better determine what course of action to take, whether it be OTC supplements, anti-estrogen, whatever.

By the way, how are you sleeping habits and diet?

 

[Stainless_Steel]

I got the blood drawn at 9am. I work 3rd shift. The last time I ate was at 3am. I asked to get FSH and LH checked, but he only wanted to check the Test levels first for some reason. I didn't get CMP or CBC checked.

My sleeping habits are pretty normal I guess, but I do have to take 1 mg of Xanax to go to sleep. I'll sleep anywhere from 6-9 hours. My diet is the same it's always been. I get in my good food and some bad.

 

[centy]

Do you have to eat the xanax on a regular basis?

 

[njmuscleguy]

I got the blood drawn at 9am. I work 3rd shift. The last time I ate was at 3am. I asked to get FSH - follicle stimulating hormone - and lh - leutenizing hormone - checked, but he only wanted to check the Test levels first for some reason. I didn't get CMP or CBC checked.

My sleeping habits are pretty normal I guess, but I do have to take 1 mg of Xanax to go to sleep. I'll sleep anywhere from 6-9 hours. My diet is the same it's always been. I get in my good food and some bad.

Well, sorry to say, but your sleep habits aren't what I'd call "normal" if you're working 3rd shift and have to take 1mg xanax to fall asleep... so I can't say for sure, but maybe all that might contribute to the way you feel in general and why your results came out the way they did. When checking test levels, to get a more complete picture, you should have things like L H and F S H checked... among others...so you can start ruling things out.

 

[Stainless_Steel]

I'm gonna talk to him about getting a sleeping pill next time. I definately need something to help me go to sleep. I'll also ask him if I can get blood work done again in a month with LH and FSH included. So should I get the blood work done after I wake up or can I still do it in the morning after work?

 

[njmuscleguy]

I'm no expert on sleep patterns and how they affect the body, especially the correlation with test and sleep...obviously when you're well-rested, test levels will be higher... if you've been on that 3rd shift sleeping pattern for a long while, then maybe your body has adjusted so that best thing would be to get it tested when you first wake? I honestly don't know for sure dude...but my guess would be best after 8 hrs of sleep

 

[Stainless_Steel]

Yeah. I'll do that next month and try to get him to run the other test. Thanks everyone for your help