39, low t symptoms t isn't as low as I expected.

Hello everyone,


I am a 39 year old white male. I have had no trt therapy. I take omniprezole for heartburn and cialis when needed. For the 10-26-15 test I was 215 lbs 72" tall bp 120/60 HR 60, body fat 12-14%. In between that test and the 4-2-16 test I had carpel tunnel and cubital tunnel surgery on both wrists and both elbows so I had very low activity with weights/work/cardio. For the 4-2-16 test I was up to 237 and of course my body fat had risen also. BP 123/75 HR 70. The 4-2-16 panel was ordered by defy medical after I contacted them for an apt, I just got the results back. Symptoms have been the same through both tests, worsening slightly probably due the weight gain (however the t is now higher when I'm fatter). I have a low libido, erections are much softer than when I was younger (when I can get them) and I honestly don't remember the last time I had morning wood. I am tired all the time My joints ach, my skin is very dry (my wife says I use more lotions than she does), I feel down far more so than in my youth and way more than I think I should. My wife says I have gone from very mellow years ago to testy now. I go to the gym 4-5 times a week before work 1 to 1.5 hrs at a time and have physical therapy twice a week. I take pre workout boosters to get my energy up to go to the gym (prejym) and I feel ready to go to sleep as soon as I get home from work. I had assumed low t was my issue but looking at my results it doesn't seem that low. Now I'm curious as to what I need to do to feel better I am eager to hear opinions on my issues and any other questions I need to ask myself or the dr. I am looking forward to my apt and possibly getting some questions answered.

Regards

I'm far from an expert and hopefully the experienced guys will chime in, but your numbers are close to mine.

Your T is still low even if not extremely low, I think that with the low estrogen levels and the low DHEA levels are contributing to your symptoms.

I attempted everything I could to get my numbers up naturally, even gave up alcohol, with no luck.

I would recommend trying to raise your numbers naturally since you are not extremely low, maybe some diet change, and some different multivitamins and zinc. I wouldn't bother with "testosterone boosting" supplements.

If all else fails I would recommend Defy Medical, I just started with them about 3 weeks ago and they are very helpful.

Thanks, for the input. I take rsp biovite daily and I take zmajym before bed. defy actually ordered the most recent test. I just got the results Friday and they haven't called about an apt yet. I would appreciate any questions anyone recommend me to ask on my first apt and any important info that might be forgotten to mention to the Dr.

Please include reference ranges in future. Most things look good from what I can tell.

I sound like a broken record. Check your vitamin D. Do you get much sun? It could explain dry skin and you will love this - it's linked to carpal tunnel syndrome. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASBMR/54044
Also missing Iron & Ferritin.

I see LH at 3.0, but no FSH??? - Usually they are done together.
SHBG is also missing, but I think Total & Free testosterone look OK, so I'm assuming SHBG is not the issue.

I agree with thatoneguy - supplementing DHEA could help.

Line 28 should be TSH (not THS). It stands for thyroid stimulating hormone.

Hopefully more experienced people will chime in.

Line 28 was a typo sorry I was transferring labs to an excel file as they are easier to compare that way. I will also add in the ranges to the file. FSH, iron & ferritin wasn't ordered at either test I will ask the Dr about this. I get aprox 600 IU of vitamin D per day from my multi vitamin not counting other sources. I live in FL so I get sun year around. I was supplementing DHEA during the time of the 10-26 test @ aprox 40 mg per day (powder form from bulk supplements) but have not restarted it as of yet after the surgery. I will add it in tonight. My wife's big hang up is my A1c was just below pre-diabetic. My family Dr didn't seemed worried about this but she believes all my issues stem from that. I don't quite think my libido issues are directly related. I monitor my carb intake, closely during the time around when the ,A1c was tested last year, not as closely now. it seems to be the hardest grove to get back into.
PS Good article, I actually ended up getting the med page app, that is one of the most common issues with men in my line of work and most of my coworkers mid 30's and older have some level of problem with it. . I will also check into getting my vitamin D checked.

"I monitor my carb intake, closely during the time around when the ,A1c was tested last year, not as closely now."

So are you saying your glucose is artificially low at the time of these blood draws? Did you do this for days or weeks? Because if you did it for weeks before test, the A1c could also be artificially low.

But generally speaking 95 is pretty typical level, and not cause for major concern. Pre-diabetes = 100-125 (but the higher end of range would be of more concern.)

I'd have glucose checked with your vitamin D - but just eat normal and fast 12 hours before.

They say it only takes 15-20 minutes of sun per day to get adequate Vitamin D, but 600IU is nothing. Many people supplement 5K+ and I think I read someone here say a couple people take 20K daily to get their levels up. Also if you have dark complexion it requires more time in sun to get adequate levels.

What type of work do you do that causes carpal tunnel?

I was monitoring my macros for quite some time, every day prior to the surgery. (Which, BTW had a much longer than I expected recovery time, I'm not on full release yet.) It's extremely difficult for me to lose body fat, I have to hover around the miserable mark, to stay at the 12-14% where I was at the time of the A1c test I ate 100 grams carbs 100 grams fat and 200-300 grams protein, with a free day once a week. The carbs are higher now but my body fat is higher also. I actually had a quite a lot to eat the day before my 4-2 test which had glucose but not A1c. So...in my dim understanding glucose is "now" and A1c is over a period of months. Short answer to your question I didn't change anything in the month or so prior to either test.
I am a bit dark but not so much I don't burn if I stay out too long.
I guess I should wait for the Vit D test before additional sup of D is introduced so I will know if I'm actually deficient now.
I am a sheet metal tech for United airlines. Drilling and using a rivet gun all day seems to be hard on the nerves in the arms. I am ambidextrous so I didn't have symptoms for longer than some but then, when issues cropped up, I had bilateral issues rather than in just the one arm that troubles some of my coworkers.

In my opinion - you have no concerns regarding diabetes.
Your A1c of 5.5 is still within the normal range.
http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/glycated-hemoglobin-test-hba1c
"For people without diabetes, the normal range for the hemoglobin A1c test is between 4% and 5.6%. Hemoglobin A1c levels between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate increased risk of diabetes, and levels of 6.5% or higher indicate diabetes. "