In Limbo regards low levels and next steps.......

[DDrazic]

This is my first post here. (Re-posted from ******** Group as suggested).
Last 3 test results are as per attached photo below. GP is scratching his head why endo specialist sees nothing wrong. Specialist can't understand why I insist on a meeting with him to discuss this. Am I missing something here myself or is this as bad as it looks to me?

TSH 1.1 mIU/L, FSH 4 IU/L, LH 2 IU/L.

I'm 48, 6'1" and weigh 97kg. I am in athletic to reasonably muscular shape. I have been doing nothing different in terms of any medications last 6 months. I am not a steroid user and never have been.

My strength and endurance is great and in fact making gains. I did decide about 6-9 months ago to up my training to get bigger again and have put on about 7-8kgs - almost all muscle. (I put this down to muscle memory as throughout my years, I have fluctuated in body weight depending upon how I want to look. (I played Rugby as a 20 something at about 100-103kg).

My GP can't understand why my body is not falling apart and is worried it will start to soon which is stressing me no end.

After I posted this on the FB page yesterday, I spoke with the Endo's office and they begrudgingly booked me in to speak with him but not for another month. My GP is now following up as he just doesn't understand why it's not urgent.



My first and only meeting with the endo seemed like a third degree (albeit subtle and veiled questions) about whether I took any PEDs. The results of the last blood test in the picture are from the ones the Endo asked for. He insinuated but not in those exact words that he was going to test me for drugs (roids) in my system. The tests as you can see only showed further drops in all my levels. He seemed obsessed that I looked healthy, big and relatively muscly (and hairy - serious). He brushed aside my concerns about my libido as normal for my age and further, at my age, this kind of thing happens. I am in no rush to age.

I suppose what I am looking for from fellow members here is advice on how low and desperate (if it is), my situation is at the moment so in some way, I not only understand myself (being new to this) but also to have some evidence to use in further discussions with my GP and this so called specialist.

Regards
DD

 

[Nelson Vergel]

You seem to have some sort of testicular failure. Your testosterone has been declining in the past few months but your LH and FSH are OK.

Can you get a CBC (complete blood count), CMP (comprehensive metabolic profile), and prolactin at the very least?

Have you had a traumatic head injury in the past? What medications did you take before May? Have you been exposed to pesticides or other environmental pollutants?

 

[DDrazic]

I can post up the rest of the test results if that will help. Looking at the test called "Blood Count" that covers Haemoglobin, WCC and Platelets all are within "normal" ranges. Prolactin is at 141 mIU/L. CMP I am not sure where to look in the report. Thank you for your help.

Edit: No pesticides exposure I am aware of and no head injuries.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Post everything you have.

 

[DDrazic]

 

[DDrazic]

Just throwing it out there but it doesn't make sense to me but is my workout schedule potentially doing this? As mentioned, I started to ramp up my training about 9 months ago. I can literally train every day and be maxxing it out. I have to force myself to have a day off here or there even though I am champing at the bit to hit the gym. I'm not seeing symptoms of over-training and my sleep has never been great but it's gotten no worse. Plus I am going forwards not backwards in gains. The sessions are relatively long - heavy weights, decent rest between sets. Am I just potentially using up all my body's resources to be coping with this?

 

[ERO]

Yes, overtraining can definitely hammer your T levels down. I know it goes against your very nature, but could you take 2 weeks off and re-test? It would seem odd that yu are still making gains with falling T levels, but you may just have awesome genetics for building muscle that make it happen.

 

[DDrazic]

You called it ERO. Typing this from gym. I haven't tried sooner because GP suggested it would not cause the problem but trainers/doers like people on this forum know more than most doctors at times. I have a month now before I see endo again so moot I suppose taking a break now but I suppose will be worth a shot if he sends me away with no treatment. It'd probably be easier getting medical grade heroin in Australia than TRT. Weird.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I have a theory. Your GGT is high. I think this may be a reason for your testosterone to be cleared up rapidly from your body. Are you sure you are not taking any oral drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol? Has your doctor checked your liver? Aso, have you tested your estradiol? Liver dysfunction may increase aromatization and, thus, decrease testosterone.

Your AST and ALT are normal.Very puzzling !

If alkaline phosphatase and GGT are elevated, a problem with bile flow is most likely present. Bile flow problems can be due to a problem in the liver, the gall bladder or the tubes connecting them.

I am just speculating here, so talk to your doctor.

More info on GGT here: http://www.discountedlabs.com/gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase-ggt/

 

[DDrazic]

Nelson, thank you very much again for the time and responses you've put into this. (I will buy your book today - albeit it is only a small token I know of appreciation plus I am very interested in learning more. This is all so new to me).

My previous tests showed liver function all good. I do get tested at least yearly and apart from cholesterol up or down a little (but nothing of concern and I usually fix that quickly with diet), have always been "healthy". I will need to check if estradiol has been tested also. (I don't know what that is but will research it). I am a fitness freak.

Yes, I do have the occasional drink, (less so over the last couple of years) but I do still have my big nights every so often. (Part of Aussie culture I suppose). I assume with age, my body maybe has gotten slightly worse with dealing with it. No, am not a drug user (not my scene), but will have a codeine based pain-killer at times (though irregular) if I have a slight injury or pain to be able to train through it. But overall, I haven't changed anything last 6 months in terms of "routine" - ie; drinking no more and taking painkillers no more than in the past.

I'll take this information you have presented and discuss this with my GP and specialist when I do finally get to see him in a month's time. From there, regardless or what they prescribe or don't, I'll take a couple of weeks off training, stay off alcohol altogether for a month and see how that combined impacts my test results.

Thank you mate!
DD