Notworthit's Blood work

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

To begin with I am one of the Isotretinoin sufferers (I’ve had all the sides listed here on a very extreme level with the exception of testicular atrophy and watery semen). My brain fog was so bad it would take 20 minutes to find my car in parking lot. I visit this board a lot although it is not intended for Accutane sufferers because it is so well organized, and because so much of it pertains to my situation. These tests were ordered by my G.P., but I am about to see an Endo.

Testosterone 22.6 nmol/L (8.0-30.0)
FSH 2.1 IU/L (1.0-18.0)
LH 4.2 IU/L (1.0-12.0)
Prolactin 3.7 ug/L (<20.0)
DHEA-sulphate 3.1 umol/L (3.1-13.1)
DHT 1.1 nmol/L (0.7-3.1)

I want to note that my T has been 28-29 in the past; I know it is not necessarily trashed at the moment. Everything basically seems to be within range low, and I am not sure that is a good thing. Any insights would be great.

#2

Welcome to the site, am certain that Accutane sufferers have much in common with the rest of us.

Your prolactin looks great. FSH is low, at the upper end of what some consider secondary hypogonadal. Consider getting serum inhibin B tested.

The low DHEA-S could provide an avenue for therapy - higher DHEA levels favor higher 5 alpha reductase Type 2 activity.

But it comes at a price, as supplementation often raises estradiol, also in some people it raises their blood pressure. Check your estradiol level before starting in on it and every month or tow afterwards. Use a sublingual form, start with the lowest dose (5 mg) if you go this route. Couple of Crisler patients have reported reduced brain fog from DHEA-S supplements. Note that I am not a doctor.

It would be very worthwhile to get a 24 hour urinary steroid profile from Rhein Labs or the lab Jonathan Wright MD uses in the northwest. From it you can calculate your metabolite ratios and get a clear idea of the state of your 5 alpha reductase activity. Cost is about $200. If you need help analyzing the output just ask.

kazman