My hormones

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

These are right after coming off fin with severe symptoms. As you see, they are pretty f’d up. I used to be pretty buff and refuse to believe that my T was this low (and as you see it was 17 ~2months after quitting and will test it again soon as I predict it’s going to be even higher). I am taking Dostinex to lower prolactin and possibly testo shots later to even try to get out of this mess.

Blood pressure and blood sugar were also high. The blood pressure and high cortisol might be due to the panic this situation has caused. Thyroid seems ok though. I don’t have the ranges, but S-testo is 9-32, prolactin max 300, cortisol max 150

S-LH 1.5 (!)
S-FSH 2.1
S-TSH 1.5
T4 18
T3 5.3
S-PRL 418
Kors-V 159
S-testo-vl 228
S-testo 13 (now 17)
S-SHBG 25
Misc:
B-lasko 2
B-leuk 6.8
B-hb 156

#2

I got my new t-results back: 23nmol. (9-33).
So right after quitting and crashing, my T was 13, one month later 17 and now 23. My LH is now 2.5 (was 1.5). This is rather scary, as my dick still feels funny, my balls are cold and almost numb + my other symptoms are still present.

#3

looks like your hormones are responding nicely.

your problem can be linked to anxiety or depression.

good luck
Jack

#4

Hi. Thanks for the reply, my hormones certainly seem to be getting back.

I don’t think that depression causes veins to pop up on my dick, make my scrotum wrinkly and numb or nipples to itch, but thanks anyway. But as said, the situation has definitely made me depressed (secondary), which won’t help with my recovery…you are right about that.

#5

Can you obtain the ranges for your tests?

You mention the max for Prolactin is 300, and you are at 418. High prolactin can shut down a man’s sex drive and cause ED. Treatments include dopamine Agonists, ie Dostinex. Talk to your doc about this.

Hypothyroidism and elevated estrogens can raise prolactin. Without the ranges for your tests, you won’t know where you stand.

What are your Estradiol and Estrone levels? You NEED to check these, as well as Free & Bioavailable Testosterone to get the big picture. What about DHT (3a-diol G)?

#6

OMG Onni…Mew is onto something. Make sure to get the labs he mentions drawn immediately.

When they come back normal (and they will), you will hopefully get a post from someone else that says even though the labs say your hormones are in the normal range don’t believe it.

In the meantime you should be receiving a post from Boston inquiring about your prostate.

Good luck mate
Jack

#7

Thanks guys.
I’ve been taking Dostinex for about two weeks to lower prolactin.

I have checked E2 and DHT, both were fine. E2 was 0.06 (0.16 max IIRC) and DHT 1.1 (0.8-3). My thyroid is working fine.

My PSA was OK, but I will check for prostitis next with my uro. When I woke up ~ four weeks after I stopped fin and felt like my dick did not get blood/oxygen and started acting all weird, I definitely felt throbbing behind my scrotum and had to pee really often…this could perhaps indicate a prostate problem.

I got some mild antibiotics and a cortisone-lotion for my scalp, which is red and itching.

I think that my hormones alone show that fin does more than just mess with your DHT and E2.

I don’t remember the ranges by heart, but the messed up ones were prolactin, low testo and high cortisol. I will draw more blood tomorrow and check my cortisol along with other liver and kidney-tests.

Will keep you updated.

I spoke to a respected dermatologist today, and he told me that he has had patients on fin for over 7 years without major problems. He did however believe this case, and told me that the phenomenon even has a name of its own and he has seen it with other drugs (idiosyncrasia? When a patient’s body rejects a drug for no reason and the person gets really unusual symptoms)

edit :I even had a brain MRI and a lung x-ray to rule out a prolactinoma (elevated prolactin) and cushing’s (elevated cortisol), which came back negative. At this point even my doc told me that fin is the probable cause.

However, after all my contacts with medical experts, dermatologists etc. I do realize how uncommon it is and how unlucky I was to react to fin like this.

Some ranges:

LH (2 - 8)

TSH 1.5 (0.6 - 4.0)
Free T4 18 (10 - 22)
Free T3 5.3 (3.5 - 6.5)

#8

Got my new results after dostinex:
LH 2.8 (2.5-7)
s-testo 23 (10-38)
SHBG 23 (13-52)
S-testo-vl (free T) 408 (200-580)
Prolactin 77 (<300)
Leuk&CRP fine (infection)

These results are actually quite good, especially if you take my low LH in consideration. This just proves how fin fucked me up, made me crash and now the hormones are getting back up again. The physical sides are still present. My anxiety and eye pain is getting a bit better. I am still waiting for my liver&kidney-tests to come back.

#9

I got my last results back, my liver and kidney were fine. My blood cortisol however was 49 (range >150), which suggests hypocortisolism/Addison’s/CFS(?). This is rather weird, as the 24h urine test showed an elevated amount of cortisol.

#10

So what to do? One lab says cortisol is too high and another is too low.

Which diagnosis do you want to believe you have and then select the lab work that supports it…but don’t get it rechecked cuz the labs may start to make you realize you really don’t have anything wrong with you from a hormonal standpoint.

#11

I had an injection of cortisone in my ankle the day before the bloodtest, so that might have messed with the result. I have made an appointment with an endo and will get that retested.

Although I doubt that cortisol hasn’t much to do with what’s going on. All I know is that I have gained at least 10 kg, I have hard gyno lumps and my dick looks all weird now. I don’t think that this can be fixed by simply altering hormones - what has happened has happened :frowning: F*ck.

#12

Can you please take a picture of your chest so we can see what you are considering Gynecomastia? It would help everyone on the forum.

Hopefully you are not using any products that have Tea Tree oil in it.

Jack

#13

I don’t have a digital camera, but I know it’s gyno: after stopping fin and feeling generally like shit, my chest and nipples started to itch and became painful. At the same time they became fatty and painful hard lumps appeared under the nipple.
They don’t hurt anymore, but look the same.

edit: No tea tree oil.

#14

you should have your endo confirm it and see if he’s willing to prescribe Tamoxifen for it.

#15

He confirmed it. Will look into that, but will it help as my E and PRL is already fine?

#16

It may help bring down the fattyness of the tissue, but it also has side effects of its own. Tamoxifen is also known as Nolvadex, google it for some details. Here’s one study:

propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=836

BTW, you mention you’ve been on Dostinex for 2 weeks – was there any improvement in your libido during this time? Dopamine agonists have been known to increase sexual desire.

#17

Maybe some. I am also on a mild antibiotic for allergies/scalp inflammation and also take pain killers. At this point I really don’t know which ones improved my condition slighty and what is making mee feel like shit.

As said, after the dostinex the only value outside of range was cortisol, which needs to be adressed next.

#18

BP has dropped to normal: 127/75. I don’t know what the antibiotics are doing, but I’m feeling much better.

My skin is still dry and paper like thin, any ideas why that could be happening? Cortisol?

#19

Got my last results. Eventhough the result of my LRH-test was not good and base T was 12nmol (10-38) just last month, my last results were:
S-Testo 28 (10-38)
LH 3.8 (2-8.6)
S-TSH 2.8 (0.4-4.5)
Free T4 17 (10-21)
Prolactin 47 (<300)
Glucose 5 (4.2-6.2)
All basic tests were within range, except fB-Leuk 8.7 (3.4-8.2) which has probably something to do with my RA.
As T rises I do feel a bit better, but as physical and other problems still persist, I am lost as to what to do and don’t think it can be fixed by simply tweaking hormones. Clomid probably won’t help and might cause other problems.
As my docs have no idea how to fix this, I will try to continue with my life and avoid this forum as this whole mess has already consumed over six months of my life.

#20

Just noticed that my TSH has been about 1.4 for years and is now suddenly 2.8…as free T4 is ok, this is not an issue?
Got a prescription for clomid 50mg, am however wondering if I should bother with it. How much should I expect LH/T to rise at 50mg a day? What will happen after I quit it?
Would be nice to know what would happen on clomid and cabergoline :confused: