Advice please

Member Stories
#21

scaredtodeath,

Actually your % Free Testosterone is not good at all. The healthy range is 1.5%-2.2%. Your well below the range. You were even below the range, before your treatment.

I also have the same issue. When I have my blood tests run through Quest Diagnostics, the Free Testosterone # looks ok, but the % of Free Testosterone looks very bad. Quest is considered one of the better testing facilities. Is this where you had your test done?

I really want understand how the % of Free Testosterone works and how our Free Testosterone can be fine, but our % comes out very lousy. I have yet to have a doctor explain this to me properly. I think this could be an important piece of the puzzle. Free Testosterone is very important to the body. Total Testosterone is binded to proteins and unavailable for use, so you can understand the significance of this horomone.

One other thing, Your Estradiol is still high. My research has shown 25-20 is the sweet spot for your body. I’m not sure if even lowering this would help you. I lowered mine, but nothing much happened.

#22

Hey Boston - yes, it was all through Quest.

And I posted the wrong range for Total T it is 250-1100 (not 110). In either case my T is good; my free T is bad and my SHBG is ridiculously high.

I did lower the E somewhat but the SHBG is plain bad. This is binding the T and along with the high E is making me feel like I have really, realy low T.

Seems like SHBG is not something you treat directly - more you need to treat the other hormones and it should come back in line? Although some say try Danazol at lose dosage?

#23

hey Scaredtodeath,

I agree your SHBG is also high. I haven’t tested SHBG tested in a while. It was in the top portion of the range, the last time I tested it. I will go through and do a thorough testing again soon.

My last test for Estradiol should a significant drop, but I’m a little suspicious the result may not be accurate. Quest didn’t run the last test.

good luck.

#24

Meeting with Doc soon.

Going to ask about Danazol for SHBG. HCG for testicular shrinkage. Proviron for - no sure but will ask about it.

Any other advice?

#25

Be careful with the HCG. It’s supposed to be used on a cylcle, about a month at a time. If you use it too long consecutively without cycling you can run the risk of damaging the Leydig cells in your testicles. Do some research on the body building forums. It’ very easy to find information on why it should be cycled.

I used it a couple of months of course cycling it. I had an intitial positive adrogenic feel from it. It was more an improvement in strenght and well being. I didn’t experience any positive sexual benifits and the second month that I used it, I didn’t feel much at all.
Good luck, I hope it works for you.

#26

Funny, I just started HCG a couple days ago. Exact same experience so far. A bit of a boost maybe in mood and energy. I can’t really say I feel “stronger” at this point. Definately no difference sexually either. I’m supposed to be 5 days on 2 days off for a month, then a week off, and then recycle. Like boston2009 and alot others, I get the inital boost from some treatments then a drop off over time.

#27

Doc (urologist) threw up his hands and said he cannot help me any more. He thought I should already feel better due to the lower E2. Pretty much dismissed the SHBG numbers and said Total T and Free T are in range so nothing to do.

I mentioned low dose Danazol for SHBG and he said forget about it from him - was a steroid and he would never presrcibe it. Mentioned Proviron and he had not heard of it. Mentioned HCG and blank stares. Asked if he could recommend a endo around here that sepcializes in male issues and he really did not have one. Did recommend another urologist that dabbles in the hormone arena.

I am at a new low. Having suicidal thoughts but then I get mad at myself- up and down emotions right now.

I may pickup some nettle root while I figure out what to do next…

#28

Have you thought about heading to New York to see Dr. Jacobs?

#29

Does this urologist even recognize PFS? You could have told him about hte BU paper, or the Swedish govt warning, the Irwig study, and so on. Pretty much no one wants anything to do with us except 3 or 4 docs. I understand, been there many times. I think alot of us feel like you. That feeling that you are barely keeping it together most of the time. Hang on, things are turning around.

Get to Jacobs though. There has never been anyone as qualified to treat us as him. You’re only a days drive away. He told London007 that he would do a phone consult. If you cant get away to NYC you could ask him about that.

GL

#30

That’s disappointing. This issue is obviously way over his head. I concur with the others --seek a more informed specialist who recognizes PFS.

#31

I will look into the phone consult with Jacobs. Looks like a lot of cash as my insurance will not cover. I do wish there was someone local who perhaps could consult/work with him though.

Ideally a endo focussed on male issues - I have note even been able to find that so all the normal protocols are getting me blank stares and denials. My last two endos thought E at 56 was just fine even though my testicles are shrinking to small grapes. And now to me the SHBG points to something amiss even though no one will admit it.

Seriously at a very low point as even all of you guys who have gone to the big three don’t really seem any better. And I cannot seem to find anyone on this board who has my same symptoms/labs. Maybe this is just a brain tumor or something - not even propecia related.

#32

A question to all who have tried Proviron/HCG/etc. - where do you guys get this stuff? Must you have a sript and if so what do you think I should do. I really would like to see someone soon around here - regardless of what I do with phone consult with Jacobs

#33

Scaredtodeath,

I tried HCG as many other on this forum have as well. DId very little for me and any positve effect was gone quickly. I have read more positive things about Proviron in terms of guys on this forum. That said, the drug can very damaging to your liver. This is listed as one of it’s side effects. Personally I don’t believe either of these are the answer for us and if you did decide to use them you would have cycle them. You can’t just keep using them continually.

I read about your situation with your doctor. My advice is to find a new doctor. It doesn’t sound like he’s willing to help you. FYI, I had to see 4 doctors, before I even found one that would listen and work with me.

#34

How come my member story never shows up under latest posts - this is why I never get any advice/help.

I am lost - very low point right now; feeling very f__ked

#35

Thank you Boston - I think perhaps both you and the other Boston may not see any real “results” due to the fact that your nuts are still there. Of course I see people saying that all you get a large set of non-functioning nuts bu right now I would take that.

I cannot seem to find out what Proviron actually does.

BTW - did you see any results with stinging nettle root. This should help low free T

#36

Proviron is a steriod with a similar chemical makeup to DHT and makes sense why some guys would see results when cycling it.
ehow.com/about_5495558_proviron-side-effects.html

You are the first guy on this forum that I have seen mention nettle root. I just googled it quick. It states the main use is for men with BPH issues. Maybe try looking on the body building forums like anabolic minds, to see if anyone has had results using it.

After seeing some other guys that experienced similiar sides to our from taking Saw Palmetto, I’d be a little nervous about being a guinea pig with that one. Plus, I would think if anything Propecia might have shrunk our Prostate not the opposite. Why are you thinking nettle root would work?

#37

I was the one talking about Stinging Nettle Root. It binds to SHBG, raising Free T. But it also lowers 5AR activity, to what degree I cannt seem to find out. I assume that’s the tie in with BPH treatment. So I’m not sure if the positives outweight the negs. I don’t think it lowers 5AR anywhere close to SP. Some descriptions Nettle Root don’t even mention it. I’d guess if you have sky high SHBG, as scared does, it might be worth a trial run.

#38

Yes - actually if you google SHBG you almost always get stinging nettle root back as a treatment. Not 100% sure but I am going to try - TODAY!!! I had also seen others on these boards mention it. The other natural compound is a product of oats - will have to research and find again.

It is all around raising the free T percentage. For me I am thankful that I still have normal total T but it seems to be doing me no good if it all is bound. I have heard the higher your free T percentage is and also balance between free T and E will dramatically impact your pecker size while flaccid, morning wood, etc.

The other result for SHBG here and other places is Danazol - Shippen is one that uses low dose as a treatment - but this as with HCG I cannot seem to find anyone who would prescribe…

#39

Also, not to shoot myself in the foot before I start but I also have read treating SHBG is almost impossible - really the better bet is to treat and balance the other hormones T/E/DHT/ETC. Regardless I am going to try the Nettle

#40

Avena Sativa -this was the other natural compound to lower SHBG

Avena sativa (Wild Oats) Avena sativa is quickly becoming a popular natural alternative to pharmaceutical erection enhancers without the dangerous side effects. Also known as Oats Milky Seed or Wild Oats, Avena Sativa is used to stimulate both men and women quickly and effectively. In men it appears to be effective for treating impotence and premature ejaculation. In women it may increase sexual desire. It also contains compounds which are soothing to the brain and nervous system.

As a food, oats are known to be good for the heart because they keep blood fats under control. They also have other medicinal properties and are used in herbal medicine.

Avena sativa seeds are not only a rich source of carbohydrate and soluble fibre, they also have the highest content of Iron, Zinc and Manganese of any grain. In addition they contain compounds which are both sedative and soothing to the brain and nervous system. It is said to be a good herb as a nerve restorative, it is also said to be an aphrodisiac (hence the term ‘sowing your oats’)

Wild oats are reported to have been a noticable sexual stimulant for horses and other animals, and studies suggest they have the same effect on humans of both sexes. Dr. Larry Clapp has studied alternative virility medicines extensively and concludes that “ten drops, under the tongue, twice a day works very powerfully to enhance erectile function.” Other studies have also suggested powerful results in both sexes.

Avena sativa has no side effects, unlike the sometimes dangerous sexual prescription drugs. It is used as a nervous system general tonic as well as a general health tonic.

Avena sativa is often the primary ingredient in expensive sexual formulas and in the popular alternatives Herbal V, Cobra and Biogra. There is no need to purchase expensive herbal formulas. The pure herb is more powerful by itself and is not expensive to use.

Avena sativa does not appear to interact with drugs so it is often used as a safe alternative to other herbs that are used for anxiety, such as St John’s wort, which cannot be taken with many prescription medications. Avena sativa may also be of use in helping with drug withdrawal and is often combined with valerian and skullcap.