Hi Dr McClain -
I discovered this site recently, thanks for all that you do (MI YouTube videos you did are awesome).
Im in unknown waters .. am I on the right track:
32, 14 years of weight training and martial arts, natural and always had a grasp of tracking diet and periodizing training. As the career (sales) years kicked in, stress goes up a bit but the last few years everything feels heavy, I’m lethargic, and the low T typical symptoms continue ... Up about 10lbs in a year (195 from 185) without any major diet changes. Feeling fluffy and less muscular, weaker, and less sexual drive.
Question:
Am I on the right track with trying HCG Monotherapy before jumping into T (I’m getting married in Feb ‘19, kids are in the plans)? I had blood done at one clinic (they told me not to fast strangely so my cholesterol #’s are off) only for them to try and sell me on every drug under the sun. Adios to them and thankfully new clinic (Defy) seems to care about their patients / great experience so far, but various folks ( other forums) are getting in my head about their opinions hence why I’m asking this here.
Total T - 543 ng/DL
Free T - 7.9 ng/DL or 1.5%
SHGB - 53.9 nmol/L (57 is upper limit)
FSH - 3.3 mIU/mL
LH - 1.2L mIU/ML
E2 - 18 pg/ML (I can’t say if it was a sensitive test or not)
VitD - low
DHEA - under 250
Everything else (blood, thyroid, PSA, etc in range)
The PA and I chatted, seems my SHGB is high and doesn’t want to try Clomid (that could raise SHGB?). We concluded a secondary type issue, my E2 has room to increase with elevated T as a hopeful result of HCG Monotherapy. Being LH was already low (don’t recall concussions or anything but did hit my head / stiches at 8yo followed by life of dirt bike wrecking and karate matches), he felt this was a simple place to start before going at lengths of T etc.. 3 small doses weekly to limit E increase, various minerals etc to clean some things up and perhaps lower SHGB (I hear nettle is good too). Anastrozole he said to use if I feel symptoms of high E in next few weeks, but don’t need to start day 1.
Is HCG mono a short term hope or sustainable?
The Rx
BEGIN HCG 350 iu SQ Three times weekly to increase testosterone free
BEGIN Anastrozole 0.125 mg twice weekly as needed per E2 symptoms (reviewed with Pt.)
BEGIN DHEA 25 mg one by mouth every night
BEGIN Fish Oil 2grams every day for HDL support
BEGIN Zinc Picolinate 50mg One by mouth every day to reduce SHBG and E2/Raise DHT
BEGIN magnesium glycinate 400mg One every day to Decrease SHBG
BEGIN Boron 10mg every day to aid in Test levels and decrease SHBG
BEGIN Milk Thistle 500mg One every day for liver support
BEGIN Vitamin D 5000IU QD
Follow up 8weeks with limited labs Testosterone Free and Total, LH, Estradiol, SHBG, Vitamin D, Cholesterol Panel, CBC, CMP
I okay or worse case scenarios to be aware of?!
Many thanks, sorry for the novel!
Mike
