BadLuck is normal?

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

Here are my latest lab results. They look pretty crappy to me, but the POS endo stated they are all normal. These tests were taken 3 1/2 weeks after stopping low dose Clomid (25 mg 2X/week):

TSH 2.41 (0.320 - 5.500 uIU/mL) - See note below
Free T4 0.90 (0.70 - 1.8 ng/dL)
Cortisol morning 14.2 (4.0 - 22.0 ug/dL)
Testosterone 386 (241 - 827 ng/dL)
SHBG 27 (18 -47 nmol/L)
FSH 1.8 (1–8 IU/L)
LH 1.2 (1–15 IU/L)
Prolactin 6.1 ( Less than 20 ng/mL )
17-hydroxyprogesterone - Results unknown. Report from endo simply said “See Comment” when I inquired what this meant he said that the test results were normal.

As far as the LH and FSH being at the very bottom of the range, the endo said that they don’t worry about low LH and FSH levels unless T gets below 150. At that range of T he stated that there is good chance to find the actual problem. With a T above that range he said the body had a good chance to fix itself (is this great medical care or what?). As far a my T level being in the lower 10% he said 386 is not considered low.

As far as the TSH and Free T4 my personal opinion (yes the endo said they are normal) is that I am borderline hypotyroid. Hypothyroid is described as low T4 and TSH high: thyroid.org/patients/patient … tests.html .

My T4 is at the bottom of the “normal” range. It appears that my TSH is in the middle of the range. However it appears that my HMO is using an older range for normal. This web site states that in January 2003 the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommended that the nomal range be changed to 0.3 to 3.0 (mine is 2.41 near the top of this range. In addition it states "
In the future, it is likely that the upper limit of the serum TSH euthyroid reference range will be reduced to 2.5 mIU/L because 95% of rigorously screened normal euthyroid volunteers have serum TSH values between 0.4 and 2.5 mIU/L." So at a value of 2.41 I’m close to the 5% range.

Here is the link (pretty interesting actually):
thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedan … stwars.htm

Any suggestions? I’m done with this endo…but not sure where to go next.

#2

I don’t want to bother myself with the thyroid hormones, but I think you’re doctor is true. Yeah, the testosterone could be higher, but low LH is a sign that your testicles are functioning properly. What can’t be ruled out, though, in that case, IF there is a problem, is pituitary crash. If no failure in the brain and pituitary considers T low, it starts bumping LH to raise T.
How do measure hypopituitarism? By measuring the growth hormone?

#3

Thanks Fanjeera. Here is a link on hypopituitarism. There are lot’s of factors involved, but I believe measuring growth hormones in one.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypopituitarism

I know that the low LH/FSH levels indicate that my Pituitary thinks a T level of 386 is fine. In fact a T level of 386 might be fine if the rest my body worked as it used to. I wasn’t really expecting the doctor to find out what was really wrong with me, it was mostly wishfull thinking. He’s just an average endo who looks at test results and if nothing jumps out at him he’s not interested. What we need is a world class endo to take an interest in our cause. I’ve seen mystery diagnosis on TV where people will struggle for years with hard to diagnose conditions. Then one day they decide to go to the best person in the world for their condition, and the guy will figure it out. It does happen (at least on TV). I will try to google where the best endo’s in the US work.

#4

im sorry but your labs suck

t of 386 is too low
your t4 is too low
your shbg is too high making your already low test pretty unavailable

there is no ft3/t3 which will probably be low

how do you feel what are your symptoms?

#5

Hey cumkwakka, I thought they sucked the first time I saw them too. I agree the T and T4 are too low. I haven’t investigated shbg much, but it appeared to be mid range on their “normal” scales. They have the expected values so wide that anyone would be considered “normal”, even if your T was 241 at the bottom of the scale.

My main sides are lack of libido, ED, some problems with brain fog depending on what supplements I happen to be taking, and lately the dreaded shrinkage, where I look like I just took a cold shower down below. This has happened semi-regularily lately. I have gotten slowly worse in the last 3 years since I quit fin, so unlike most people on the board who show slow improvement I’m still waiting for things to stabilize. Hoping this is the year where I start to show improvement. The one good thing I have is I have continued to have nocturnals on most nights when I sleep well.

#6

Badluck

it is too early to say anything you will have to wait 2-3 months once values become persistant then we can say anything more accurately.

#7

if your levels are this low after 3 years there is unfortunately no “waiting for it to get corrected” by itself

i don’t care what anyone else says

get to a good doc, get extensive bloodwork (and test and thyroid will be low again count on it 100%) and start treatment

im sorry to be such a downer but waiting hasn’t done me any well either

#8

cumkwakka wrote:

Unfortunately this is easier said than done. I have been to the doctors probably 14 times in the past two years for a variety of problems. So I’m actually hoping to avoid the doctors this year. I may go see my general practicioner later this year since he is the one doctor who seemed somwhat interested in my health. Some people have recovered from this crap after 3, 4, 5 years or longer. I just have to maintain hope that eventually I will be one of them.

#9

ehm where do you live man?

perhaps i can recommend you a doctor

can you get to dr. crisler?

#10

I’m seeing him…If you can afford it…do it…He’s the real deal…Good doctor, cares, and listens…

#11

Badlluck, your FSH is very low, I would get Inhibin B tested (high inhibin suppresses FSH).

Try ti find the Endocrine Society’s guidelines for secondary hypogonadism (can’t seem to find it at the moment) this should help convince your endo that you are in fact ill.

Clomiphene can raise FSH, but it seems post fin sufferers respond only margininally n the FSH department.

Adiol-G should also be tested.

#12

how are you feeling badluc? but you did clomid and you will have to wait few months to see if effects persist.