Panic Blood Tests

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

Here are my initial tests: My doctor wouldn’t do them all…yet

Took 21 pills total

Taken on 3/5/07 at 9:45am --> exactly 1 month after stopping
Testosterone: 391 ng/dL
LH 2.1 mIU/mL
FSH 4.0 mIU/mL
TSH 1.16 uIU/mL
FT4 0.6 ng/dL
Free T Coming soon…

Here’s the kicker…I also had my T tested on 2/28/07 (5 days prior) at 10:45am, and it was 533 ng/dL. Two different labs at two slightly different times. Can this be the reason??? Or did my T really drop this much in 5 days???

#2

T will be a little different from day to day, but I agree it looks a little strange.

Do you have references from both labs ?

P.S. Assuming the range for FT4 is about (.8-1.8 ), then it seems awfull low, indicating you could be hypothyroid. You should get FT3 tested also.

Since your TSH is also low you might wanna check for hypopituirarism and also get cortisol, ACTH, PRL, DHEA-S, IFG-1 and ADH tested.

JH

#3

Just found out that my Free T is 9.6!!! I can’t believe this. My doc thinks it’s okay.

#4

What was the range given for Free T?

#5

The range I was given was 9.3 to 26.5. LEF says it is optimal if above 15.

#6

FIRE your endo!!!

Go and find a new one and see about treatment options.

#7

Latest results: 6 weeks off propecia

Honestly, these don’t look too bad except maybe the estrogens:

Total T 579 ng/dL (241 - 827)
Free T 16 pg/mL (9.3 - 26.5)
DHT 67 ng/mL
Estradiol 16 pg/mL (0 - 53)
Estrone 72 pg/mL (12 - 72)
Total E 140 pg/mL (40 - 115)
DHEA 878 ng/dL (208 - 771)
Cortisol 24.7 ug/dL (3.1 - 22.4)
SHBG 54 nmol/L (13 - 71)
Prolactin 6 ng/mL (2.1 - 17.7)
Progesterone 1.2 ng/mL (0.3 - 1.2)

Looks like my estrogen might be the issue. Hopefully this gets better with time. Also, I thought maybe I was experiencing some adrenal deficiency, but by looking at my DHEA and Cortisol, it looks like they are working a little too well. I have taken care of my anxiety by using the edge effect. That’s why I haven’t posted in a while. Been trying to stay away. I hope with time my estrogens will come down and I will be back to normal. I am already feeling much better. Erections are better, it always works…it just feels more numb and is slow to rise. Needs stimulation. Just not horny enough. Could this be due to the excess estrogen?

Thanks for your thoughts!!

#8

You have a pm.

#9

Hypo’s help…thought I would post it just in case it helps anyone else

Normally one would not think of a testosterone level of 579ng/dl as a problem. But your SHBG is very high.

Your free androgen index level is 37.

579ng/dl = 20nmol/l testosterone that multiplied by 100 and divided by 54nmol/l SHBG = 37.

That might be regarded as a problem. Usually anything lower than 60 causes problems but you have a high level total testosterone.

Your free testosterone level shows that you are mid way in the range, you might need a higher level of free testosterone to feel well, that is possible.

What I would say is what was the refererence range for your DHT level?

Because if you are off the bottom of that reference range that could cause lowered libido, erectile dysfunction, prostate issues etc.

From the point of view of your sex steroids then I would say;

A)
You might need a higher free testosterone level to feel well, to increase that you would need to lower SHBG.

B)
Your DHT level might be too low, a reference range is required here to have an idea.

C)
Dr Shippen might be able to help

D)
SHBG lowering medication might be able helpful and would be my first thought. If that is not helpful TRT or even DHT gel might help……I am sure Shippen could help.

E)
On which note he could also take a once over look at your cortisol and DHEA level just to make sure he is ok with those levels.

I am doubtful as to estrogens being an issue as this pales into insignificance when looking at your SHBG level, also your estradiol level which is the most potent estrogen is not an issue.

If there is a problem with your free testosterone level, if you do require a higher level to function well, then SHBG is the likely problem. Also I am concerned that I cannot see a reference range for DHT. If that is a lower than reference range level of DHT that also could be a cause of problems.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I was sent many pms over the weekend and I wanted to answer each one with proper consideration.

I hope that helps a little.

#10

Hypo help part 2.

panic wrote:
Hypo,
I tend to agree with you about the SHBG. Do you know any non-devastating natural ways to combat this. Honestly, I feel like my body wants to get better on it’s own. However, maybe it could use a little help. I’m not too interested in going on a life long treatment.

I think you need more than a little natural help to lower that SHBG, if that is what is going to be done. Also whilst I have heard of natural supplements and vitamins etc that are supposed to lower SHBG I am not sure if I would put any weight in such claims. I have not seen anyone’s SHBG level lowered by natural products.

If you lowered SHBG with Danazol or such med via Dr Shippen, I am not sure if coming off a medication would cause a rebound effect or result in SHBG increasing again over time. You might be able via a short term prescription lower your SHBG, I am not sure on this and think that it is something you would have to consult Dr Shippen over. What I would say is I wouldn’t get too caught up in whether something is natural/medication or long term. I would think more in terms of what makes you feel better day in day out, what makes you feel right and what is more likely to support healthy living. I know of many men prior to taking TRT who say do you have to take this for life? I heard Dr Crisler answer that question once by saying, No, you can always go back to the way you used to feel. Most men who have required TRT and gone on it have been all the better for it and do not feel that taking the medication is something that is bad, far from it.

Now I am not saying that you need to take a medication for life, I have just made a point about TRT to show you that taking something is not always a bad thing, I am just saying see Shippen and see him with an open mind.

panic wrote:

Concerning the DHT, my results didn’t show a reference range. However, I am on the high side if you look at the LE website (30–85 mg/dL).

It doesn’t work like that. You cannot take a reference range from a different laboratory that has different equipment calibration and maybe a totally different method of assay and apply it to your result. You can look at different reference ranges as a guide but nothing more. You need to request the actual reference range that your laboratories equipment and test was calibrated around. It could well be the same range or similar and all maybe fine here, but you need the information from your lab.

panic wrote:

I have an appointment with Dr. Shippen on the 25th of May. I keep trying to move it up, but he is booked solid. That will be nearly 4 months off fin at that point in time. Do you think there is any danger in having to wait that long? I can easily get an appointment with Crisler, but I would prefer Shippen. Personally, I feel like I am on the way up. I have taken care of the cortisol issue by supporting dopamine and GABA. It has helped tremendously! Also, being in the gym is boosting the old testosterone I hope. Anyway, I feel as though I am improving.

Thanks again for the support!!

I would stick with the Shippen appointment if I were in your shoes, but that is just me and my personal preference, you may feel differently.

If I have helped in any way that is great, let me know how things progress.

#11

Hypo help 3 (after I confirmed that the DHT range was 30-85):

It should be ok from the point of view of the serum/blood level, good you found the reference range.

Your DHT result in light of the reference range indicates that testosterone is being correctly converted to DHT, something that would have been prevented by finasteride on propecia.

SHBG also binds DHT though, so things are not as straightforward as they seem. SHBG can be a problem in regard to DHT as well as testosterone.

But we don’t have to concern ourselves, with DHT any further as we know that the one and only potential issue from the point of view of sex steroids is likely to be that of an elevated SHBG level, at least that is how I see it.

I think you might need SHBG lowered to maybe 20 or 30nmol/l, I think if that happens you might feel well. At least you will if that is your one and only issue.

You can re-post any of our mails or present them to anyone you like. Other people may differ in their opinions, indeed Dr Shippen may even differ in his opinion. This information is only intended as layman’s information to help you get from A to B- with B being a decent specialist who can help.

You should get a range of opinions and take from them what you find beneficial in order to get the right help.

#12

Edit: Per panic, the reason was that he had asked his question via PM. In that case, thanks for sharing hypo’s thoughts with us!

#13

I asked Hypo through PM.

#14

where has this guy gone?