Gaining muscle on HRT?

[TMan96]

First of all a little about myself. I am 45 years old 5’7 168lbs. I have been on HRT now for about 10 months.

I started this journey mostly to improve my mood, outlook, mental fog and libido. I have also worked out and lifted weights for most of my life and was also looking at improving/getting more out of this endeavor as well. When I started my 1st testosterone reading was about 350.

The doc I have been going to eased me into the TRT. Starting me with AndroGel. This didn’t seem to help much at all and was very expensive. After about 6 weeks, he moved me to compounded test cream, which was cheaper and seemed to help some. My Test was now up to about 670.

I thought I still wasn’t where I wanted to be and about about 3 months I asked if my doc if he would consider moving me to Test cypionate. He was good with doing this after I let him know my wife was an RN and could help me getting started with the shots.

My libido has improved now (woody almost every morning). I also feel my mood, outlook and metal fog have improved but maybe not as much as I had hoped.

When you see my hormone levels below, you would think everything would be off the chart. The thing I am still amazed at that after being on cypionate for about 6 months I thought my muscle gains would be huge, but I can barely tell a difference there. Am I hoping for too much or is there still something I am missing?? I am getting my gym time in, working out 4-5 days a week with weights.

These readings are about one month old now. I am only showing my hormones since my liver, blood, urine, psa all checked out fine. You will notice some issues with my thyroid. These have been borderline all along, and my doc has put me on Armour now so we will see how these checkout next time. Could this have been the issue with the lack of muscle gain??

Current Protocal:
Cypionate 200mg a week (I have been splitting into 2 shots a week for the last 6 weeks or so)
Anastrozole 1mg (We have played around with this to get my E2 levels correct and I am now talking .25 a tablet twice a week)
HCG (250iu 2 times a week for a month then 2 months off) I don’t plan on having anymore kids so this is just to take care of my “boys” when I need it… Doc agrees with this
Armour Thyroid 60mg daily(just started on this no blood work yet)

Any thoughts/input welcome.

Note, overall I pretty happy with HRT and have referred my wife to my current doc. (I have a separate post about that)

Blood Test Reading Range
TSH 5.44 uIU/Ml .45-4.5
T4 6.4 ug/dl 4.5-12
T3 uptake 39% 24-39
Free Thyroxine Index 2.5 1.2 – 4.9
Testosterone, Serum 1296 ng/dl 348-1197
Prolactin 11.6 ng/ml 4.0 – 15.2
Estradiol 19.5 pg/Ml 7.6-42.6
Triiodothyronine T3 100 ng/dl 71-180
Progesterone .6 ng/ml .2 – 1.4

[dec11]

Your diet will dictate muscle growth. Even massive doses of test will produce nothing unless diet is appropriate. And yes, you can gain on HRT

[kelkel]

Well, it doesn't really matter how much T or AAS in general you take. Putting on muscle is all about diet / food consumption and proper training. Most people think they are eating enough to gain weight but they're really not. For some people it's just hard to gain, (ectomorphs) and I know from personal experience. For this I'd suggest visiting the nutrition forum here. Basically free nutrutionists willing to help. Nice huh!

HCG should not be cycled. Bad for so many reasons. Read the sticky thread at the top of the forum on HCG. Read all the stickies as they will help you. Your body responds to consistency. When you were functioning without TRT your pituitary just didn't stop producing LH/FSH every few months to take a break did it. That theory does not make sense.

T is slightly over the top but about where I run myself. Prolactin higher than I like but in range. E range is good but it should be based on how you feel, erection quality, joints, etc. You may consider letting it come up a bit and see if you do better? LEF Foundations suggests between 20 - 30 but it's an individual thing.

Glad to have you here. Read up and stick around!

kel

[Vettester]

At the moment, I really don't have much more to contribute then what was said above. The cycling HCG is just old school stuff, but if your doc insists, then that's that.

[APIs]

Besides diet, how is the OP weight training exactly? You seem experienced, but are you hitting all muscle groups? From a scale of 1 to 10, what is your typical intensity level? Would you say that you are performing sets @ 70-80% of your max on each exercise on a regular basis? What about proper rest/sleep? No offense meant, but these are viable questions. We all see those certain people that are in the gym "every-day" for years, but always look the same due to improper weight training. Just a thought...

[gbrice75]

As stated above, re: diet. I'd suggest you get over the the nutrition forum and start a thread, post up a typical day's diet, etc. We'll help you get sorted over there.

[steroid.com 1]

Testosterone replacement at the Physiological levels will not produce the mass that you may be looking for as opposed to an aa cycle...there is another forum here for that.

That being said, everyone reacts to their protocols differently where one man could see excellent and another much less gains even though all things were equal.

What the guys said above is spot on as usual. I have seen really nice gains in the past three years yet I train hard and don't miss days (unless I am healing from a Tattoo session LOL...and the only time). Diet stays near that of hypoglycemic and I take an excellent amino acid stack in addition of course to my TRT protocol.

Add these all up and the results have been beyond my dreams!

Blood Test Reading Range
TSH 5.44 uIU/Ml .45-4.5
T4 6.4 ug/dl 4.5-12
T3 uptake 39% 24-39
Free Thyroxine Index 2.5 1.2 – 4.9
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is through the roof and well beyond the reference range so it's good he started you on Armour. This could very well be why you're not getting the results you expected. T4 is low and T3 solid. T3 is important but so is T4 as it's the hormone that is converted to T3 and you need as much of this as your Thyroid can produce. The most important of these Thyroid panels is the Free Thyroxine index and it's near the shitter. Like Free T, it's a measurement of the bio available T3 hormone and T3 is the hormone that your tissues need. I wouldn't be surprised at all that once your Thyroid is dialed in you feel like a million bucks and you get the results you are looking for. The Thyroid is soooo over looked by Physicians and like Testosterone, reference ranges don't mean much. Finally, you may have to dial back on your TRT protocol as well once the Thyroid is dialed in...which is a good thing believe it or not!

Testosterone, Serum 1296 ng/dl 348-1197
Of coruse you know is high; when was the blood drawn in reference to your last Testosterone injection? I would have liked to have seen Free T and/or Bio Available Testosterone as these are two panels of interest to you now, not so much Total Testosterone.

Prolactin 11.6 ng/ml 4.0 – 15.2
A bit to high for me personally but it's ok. Prolactin is best at mid or below mid level of the reference range.

Estradiol 19.5 pg/Ml 7.6-42.6
Good shape here, just don't go down any further. Again, when did you take your AI in reference to your blood pull?

Triiodothyronine T3 100 ng/dl 71-180
Fine.

Progesterone .6 ng/ml .2 – 1.4
Fine.

[TMan96]

Testosterone replacement at the Physiological levels will not produce the mass that you may be looking for as opposed to an aa cycle...there is another forum here for that.

That being said, everyone reacts to their protocols differently where one man could see excellent and another much less gains even though all things were equal.

What the guys said above is spot on as usual. I have seen really nice gains in the past three years yet I train hard and don't miss days (unless I am healing from a Tattoo session LOL...and the only time). Diet stays near that of hypoglycemic and I take an excellent amino acid stack in addition of course to my TRT protocol.

Add these all up and the results have been beyond my dreams!

Blood Test Reading Range
TSH 5.44 uIU/Ml .45-4.5
T4 6.4 ug/dl 4.5-12
T3 uptake 39% 24-39
Free Thyroxine Index 2.5 1.2 – 4.9
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is through the roof and well beyond the reference range so it's good he started you on Armour. This could very well be why you're not getting the results you expected. T4 is low and T3 solid. T3 is important but so is T4 as it's the hormone that is converted to T3 and you need as much of this as your Thyroid can produce. The most important of these Thyroid panels is the Free Thyroxine index and it's near the shitter. Like Free T, it's a measurement of the bio available T3 hormone and T3 is the hormone that your tissues need. I wouldn't be surprised at all that once your Thyroid is dialed in you feel like a million bucks and you get the results you are looking for. The Thyroid is soooo over looked by Physicians and like Testosterone, reference ranges don't mean much. Finally, you may have to dial back on your TRT protocol as well once the Thyroid is dialed in...which is a good thing believe it or not!

Testosterone, Serum 1296 ng/dl 348-1197
Of coruse you know is high; when was the blood drawn in reference to your last Testosterone injection? I would have liked to have seen Free T and/or Bio Available Testosterone as these are two panels of interest to you now, not so much Total Testosterone.

Prolactin 11.6 ng/ml 4.0 – 15.2
A bit to high for me personally but it's ok. Prolactin is best at mid or below mid level of the reference range.

Estradiol 19.5 pg/Ml 7.6-42.6
Good shape here, just don't go down any further. Again, when did you take your AI in reference to your blood pull?

Triiodothyronine T3 100 ng/dl 71-180
Fine.

Progesterone .6 ng/ml .2 – 1.4
Fine.

Thanks for all the input.... I don't know much about hypoglycemic diet. I'll have to research. As far as workout, what does yours look like or is that a question for another forum? What amino acid stack are you taking?

As for my Thyroid, guess I'll have to wait and see how the Armour works. How long would you think it would take to kick-in. I am not scheduled for more blood work now until Dec. You mentioned I may have to dial back my TRT based on the results. What did you mean by this... how would I know I need to dial back and how.

Test and Estradiol were both taken the day my next tab and injection were due. (I took the next treatment that night. I do both twice a week).

Prolactin - If I were interested in getting this down how would I do so?

Testosterone - do you think this is too high to stay at this level. What would be the long term effects if I stay here? I'll try to get Free next time.

[TMan96]

Yep, I'm that guy you see that never seems to make any progress. Sorry but what do you mean by "OP"? I think my intensity level is usually like an 8. I do weights 4-5 days a week with the following split , back/biceps, chest/tris, shoulders, legs, 4-5 ex. per body part, 2-3 sets per ex. and 8-10 reps per set.

[TMan96]

Well, it doesn't really matter how much T or AAS in general you take. Putting on muscle is all about diet / food consumption and proper training. Most people think they are eating enough to gain weight but they're really not. For some people it's just hard to gain, (ectomorphs) and I know from personal experience. For this I'd suggest visiting the nutrition forum here. Basically free nutrutionists willing to help. Nice huh!

HCG should not be cycled. Bad for so many reasons. Read the sticky thread at the top of the forum on HCG. Read all the stickies as they will help you. Your body responds to consistency. When you were functioning without TRT your pituitary just didn't stop producing LH/FSH every few months to take a break did it. That theory does not make sense.

T is slightly over the top but about where I run myself. Prolactin higher than I like but in range. E range is good but it should be based on how you feel, erection quality, joints, etc. You may consider letting it come up a bit and see if you do better? LEF Foundations suggests between 20 - 30 but it's an individual thing.

Glad to have you here. Read up and stick around!

kel

Need do do more research on the HCG. Doc would be okay with me doing this consistenly. But I/he didn't think it had to be done all the time, just as needed. One of the issues I had with this in cost. I am having this compounded and it runs me about $65 a month. My script is .25 ml twice a week. Is there a way to go so this is not compounded? How would doc. write the script?

[Brazensol]

For what it's worth I have dropped 5% body fat (4.6% actually) and gained 3 pounds of lean mass while losing 14+ pounds since starting my HRT. So I am a believer. I started T cyp on 5 Jul and armour thyroid shortly thereafter. Until then I could not lose weight. In fact I was gaining it. I've been a bit of a slacker the last couple of weeks but still lost 2 pounds! Yup, I'm a believer!

These numbers are based on what is called a 'bod pod' that uses air pressure to determine lean/fat composition. Supposedly they are very accurate. I know my waist is 2 inches smaller and I have added over 1/2" to my biceps and an inch to my chest.

[TMan96]

For what it's worth I have dropped 5% body fat (4.6% actually) and gained 3 pounds of lean mass while losing 14+ pounds since starting my HRT. So I am a believer. I started T cyp on 5 Jul and armour thyroid shortly thereafter. Until then I could not lose weight. In fact I was gaining it. I've been a bit of a slacker the last couple of weeks but still lost 2 pounds! Yup, I'm a believer!

These numbers are based on what is called a 'bod pod' that uses air pressure to determine lean/fat composition. Supposedly they are very accurate. I know my waist is 2 inches smaller and I have added over 1/2" to my biceps and an inch to my chest.

What is your total protocol? Just the cyp and Armour?

[steroid.com 1]

TMan96 - You're a newbie and that's just fine, there are things and acronyms you will pick up over time.

OP = Original Post (meaning the one who started the thread). You will be called OP less and less as you become more a part of the regular community.

Ok, it's late but I will tackle this one first; Hypothyroidism (which I am personally certain you have) will cause Secondary Hypogonadism. In other words, one of the biggest contributors to your original low testosterone is due to the fact that your Thyroid is seriously under performing. When that is corrected your androgen pathway will be re-energized and you may not need TRT at all or you may need to reduce the amounts of Testosterone you are taking now.

Do some research on www.lef.org on Hypothyroidism and you will see that when a man (or even a women for that matter) is in this state many types of diseases and pathologies become significantly more at risk. Bone density suffers, cardiovascular disease rates climb, lean muscle mass and all the other signs of aging accelerate...not discounting that most of the same negative side effects associated with Hypothyroidism are the same for Hypogonadism.

That's why many men whose Physicians put them on a TRT protocol to increase thier Testosterone serum levels never feel any different and complain about the same shitty symptoms (like not being able to lose weight, no sex drive, no energy...) it's because the Doc doesn't know 1) how to evaluate the Thyroid correctly and 2) doesn't know the right protocols to correct.

Low Testosterone in men isn't as simple as just "putting more in" it's very complex how the hormonal pathways interact and rely on each other.

Homeostasis is the key to success in this business and why having the right Doc who is properly trained so very critical to your success.

gd

PS. I am working on a new "The Thyroid...What you should know"...thread now and will get it out soon. It will cover a lot of the basics so men will be better advised and know how to direct thier own health care.

[Brazensol]

What is your total protocol? Just the cyp and Armour?

Yep, that's it. I am currently taking 60 mgs (2 grains) of Armour thyroid and 100 mgs T cyp (50 mgs every 3.5 days). I still think we need to tweak the thyroid meds but I seem to be ok on the T Cyp. Might even need to lower it. Next blood tests on Thurday.

I used to be and "easy gainer" when weight lifting and never had a problem losing weight when needed until recently. So getting my hormones back to normal has allowed me to return to "normal" if you know what I mean.

[MyteeJ]

TMan96 - You're a newbie and that's just fine, there are things and acronyms you will pick up over time.

OP = Original Post (meaning the one who started the thread). You will be called OP less and less as you become more a part of the regular community.

Ok, it's late but I will tackle this one first; Hypothyroidism (which I am personally certain you have) will cause Secondary Hypogonadism. In other words, one of the biggest contributors to your original low testosterone is due to the fact that your Thyroid is seriously under performing. When that is corrected your androgen pathway will be re-energized and you may not need TRT at all or you may need to reduce the amounts of Testosterone you are taking now.

Do some research on www.lef.org on Hypothyroidism and you will see that when a man (or even a women for that matter) is in this state many types of diseases and pathologies become significantly more at risk. Bone density suffers, cardiovascular disease rates climb, lean muscle mass and all the other signs of aging accelerate...not discounting that most of the same negative side effects associated with Hypothyroidism are the same for Hypogonadism.

That's why many men whose Physicians put them on a TRT protocol to increase thier Testosterone serum levels never feel any different and complain about the same shitty symptoms (like not being able to lose weight, no sex drive, no energy...) it's because the Doc doesn't know 1) how to evaluate the Thyroid correctly and 2) doesn't know the right protocols to correct.

Low Testosterone in men isn't as simple as just "putting more in" it's very complex how the hormonal pathways interact and rely on each other.

Homeostasis is the key to success in this business and why having the right Doc who is properly trained so very critical to your success.

gd

PS. I am working on a new "The Thyroid...What you should know"...thread now and will get it out soon. It will cover a lot of the basics so men will be better advised and know how to direct thier own health care.

Well written GD.

In regard to Thyroid conditions, have you found this to be hereditary? Curious since my Mom and Sis are hypo and it really had them in a bad way before both had it addressed. Thanks.

J

[Brazensol]

Well written GD.

In regard to Thyroid conditions, have you found this to be hereditary? Curious since my Mom and Sis are hypo and it really had them in a bad way before both had it addressed. Thanks.

J

Both of my sisters are hypo and turns out so am I. I think my mom was also but not sure.

[TMan96]

TMan96 - You're a newbie and that's just fine, there are things and acronyms you will pick up over time.

OP = Original Post (meaning the one who started the thread). You will be called OP less and less as you become more a part of the regular community.

Ok, it's late but I will tackle this one first; Hypothyroidism (which I am personally certain you have) will cause Secondary Hypogonadism. In other words, one of the biggest contributors to your original low testosterone is due to the fact that your Thyroid is seriously under performing. When that is corrected your androgen pathway will be re-energized and you may not need TRT at all or you may need to reduce the amounts of Testosterone you are taking now.

Do some research on www.lef.org on Hypothyroidism and you will see that when a man (or even a women for that matter) is in this state many types of diseases and pathologies become significantly more at risk. Bone density suffers, cardiovascular disease rates climb, lean muscle mass and all the other signs of aging accelerate...not discounting that most of the same negative side effects associated with Hypothyroidism are the same for Hypogonadism.

That's why many men whose Physicians put them on a TRT protocol to increase thier Testosterone serum levels never feel any different and complain about the same shitty symptoms (like not being able to lose weight, no sex drive, no energy...) it's because the Doc doesn't know 1) how to evaluate the Thyroid correctly and 2) doesn't know the right protocols to correct.

Low Testosterone in men isn't as simple as just "putting more in" it's very complex how the hormonal pathways interact and rely on each other.

Homeostasis is the key to success in this business and why having the right Doc who is properly trained so very critical to your success.

gd

PS. I am working on a new "The Thyroid...What you should know"...thread now and will get it out soon. It will cover a lot of the basics so men will be better advised and know how to direct thier own health care.

I find it so surprising to be diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. ALL of my family is thin and I have always wanted/tried to gain muscle/weight but NEVER could. I am 45 now and weight 10lbs more than I did in high school (and that is after being on test cyp for 6 months) Isn't that really unusual? If addressing the hypo does the trick... other than the thyroid #s... how will I know it? Will my test #s shoot up and then I'll (and doc) know I need to reduce my 200mg per week?

Thanks,

[steroid.com 1]

This ----> "Will my test #s shoot up and then I'll (and doc) know I need to reduce my 200mg per week?"

We've seen it where a man reversed their Hypothyroidism and got levels back to normal and their androgen pathways responded accordinlgy and they didn't need HRT anymore...kid you not.

This is why it's not about just "sticking in Testosterone" when levels are low...it's so much more than that.

Yes, there seems to be a strong genetic relationship to hypo/hyperthyroidism so if it ran in your family, and you had all the symptoms most of your life as you noted,...it's like the old saying: "If it walks like a duck..."

It's really good to see you learning here Tman and sort of figuring it out...now you have some sense of what you need to do.

[Brohim]

I find it so surprising to be diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. ALL of my family is thin and I have always wanted/tried to gain muscle/weight but NEVER could. I am 45 now and weight 10lbs more than I did in high school (and that is after being on test cyp for 6 months) Isn't that really unusual? If addressing the hypo does the trick... other than the thyroid #s... how will I know it? Will my test #s shoot up and then I'll (and doc) know I need to reduce my 200mg per week?

Thanks,

Correct if wrong but if you had HYPO Thyroid wouldn't you gain weight instead of being skinny?

[TMan96]

Correct if wrong but if you had HYPO Thyroid wouldn't you gain weight instead of being skinny?

Brohim, that was sort of my question. With my appearance, and the way I thought I metabolized food, I never would have thought I was hypo… if anything hyper. Can you be hypo and have trouble/can't gaining weight? I always have been skinny and somewhat lean as has my family.

[Brazensol]

I have symptoms of both hyper and hypo but blood tests indicate hypo. My biggest hypo symptoms were couldn't lose weight and tired all the time. Hyper symptoms were easy sweating, feeling hot when everyone else is comfortable and higher pulse. I never do anything the easy way!

[Brazensol]

This ----> "Will my test #s shoot up and then I'll (and doc) know I need to reduce my 200mg per week?"

We've seen it where a man reversed their Hypothyroidism and got levels back to normal and their androgen pathways responded accordinlgy and they didn't need HRT anymore...kid you not.

This is why it's not about just "sticking in Testosterone" when levels are low...it's so much more than that.

Yes, there seems to be a strong genetic relationship to hypo/hyperthyroidism so if it ran in your family, and you had all the symptoms most of your life as you noted,...it's like the old saying: "If it walks like a duck..."

It's really good to see you learning here Tman and sort of figuring it out...now you have some sense of what you need to do.

Do you have a link for the guy who reversed his hypothyroid?

[MyteeJ]

Both of my sisters are hypo and turns out so am I. I think my mom was also but not sure.

I will be following this thread closely.

I have never had my thyroid checked but starting to think something is up with it.

Similar to Tman - I have always been on the thin side and thought if anything I was hyper not hypo.

With the T, IGF, and other levels checked prior to starting HRT, do the doc's typically look at other levels that would indicate Thyroid issue?

[Brazensol]

One of my sisters is a bit on the heavy side (maybe 20-30 lbs) and my other sister is thin, almost to skinny. Both hypothyroid. Go figure.

[steroid.com 1]

My referece to hyper/hypothyroidism included both set of symptom thus "weight loss"...I should have been a bit more definitive between the two.

Hypothyroidism, as the term suggests, results in a pretty dramatic slow down in metabolism and as a result weight gain is one of the clear signs - but not always, a very lean man could be diagnosed with Hypothyroidism very easily.

Many factors determine the symptoms of Hypothyroidism like age, gender, disease state and causes.

The common causes of hypothyroidism in adults are:
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (This is the one that makes hypothyroidism hereditary)
Cancer
Lymphocytic thyroiditis (which may occur after hyperthyroidism)
Thyroid destruction (from radioactive iodine or surgery)
Pituitary or hypothalamic disease
Medications
Severe iodine deficiency (we don't get enough iodine in our diets anymore)

Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
Hair Loss
Feeling Cold
Poor Digestion
Low Resistence to Infections
Fatigue
Cardiac Arythmia
Dry Skin
Weight Gain
Constipation
Cold intolerance

There is a wonderful interview with Dr. John Crisler on super human radio dot com on Friday May 7, 2010 regarding Thyroid Function and Optimization. I urge you to search for it and listen to what the good Doctor has to say...it's very interesting.

[steroid.com 1]

I will be following this thread closely.

I have never had my thyroid checked but starting to think something is up with it.

Similar to Tman - I have always been on the thin side and thought if anything I was hyper not hypo.

With the T, IGF, and other levels checked prior to starting HRT, do the doc's typically look at other levels that would indicate Thyroid issue?

A Physician in the "know" will test Thyroid hormones beyond just TSH.

Most Doc's don't test the Thyroid or when they do they just look at TSH and the lab reference range to make a clinical assessment.

Lab reference ranges are outdated by a far measure and as a result many many man and women go undiagnosed with both Hyper/Hypothyroidism and the resulting diseases that can be a result of this are scary.

Optimized Thyroid health is paramount to good health and longevity.

We should focus as much on Thyroid health as we do androgen optimization.

[MyteeJ]

A Physician in the "know" will test Thyroid hormones beyond just TSH.

Most Doc's don't test the Thyroid or when they do they just look at TSH and the lab reference range to make a clinical assessment.

Lab reference ranges are outdated by a far measure and as a result many many man and women go undiagnosed with both Hyper/Hypothyroidism and the resulting diseases that can be a result of this are scary.

Optimized Thyroid health is paramount to good health and longevity.

We should focus as much on Thyroid health as we do androgen optimization.

Many thanks for that follow up info.

As always learning a TON from the board and yourself.

[brazilian86]

I've gained 25 solid pounds on TRT. I was 145lbs now I am 170lbs. I have bodyfat of 10%.
Thanks to 200mgs of Cypionate a week!

[brazilian86]

Forgot to say I been on for about 1 year.

[Brazensol]

What kind of lab numbers you getting on 200 mgs a week?

[TMan96]

My referece to hyper/hypothyroidism included both set of symptom thus "weight loss"...I should have been a bit more definitive between the two.

Hypothyroidism, as the term suggests, results in a pretty dramatic slow down in metabolism and as a result weight gain is one of the clear signs - but not always, a very lean man could be diagnosed with Hypothyroidism very easily.

Many factors determine the symptoms of Hypothyroidism like age, gender, disease state and causes.

The common causes of hypothyroidism in adults are:
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (This is the one that makes hypothyroidism hereditary)
Cancer
Lymphocytic thyroiditis (which may occur after hyperthyroidism)
Thyroid destruction (from radioactive iodine or surgery)
Pituitary or hypothalamic disease
Medications
Severe iodine deficiency (we don't get enough iodine in our diets anymore)

Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
Hair Loss
Feeling Cold
Poor Digestion
Low Resistence to Infections
Fatigue
Cardiac Arythmia
Dry Skin
Weight Gain
Constipation
Cold intolerance

There is a wonderful interview with Dr. John Crisler on super human radio dot com on Friday May 7, 2010 regarding Thyroid Function and Optimization. I urge you to search for it and listen to what the good Doctor has to say...it's very interesting.

I mentioned my doc along with my TRT has now put me on Armour. Is this the common/best treatment. How long before I might be able to feel/see results or will that only showup in bloodwork?

[steroid.com 1]

I mentioned my doc along with my TRT has now put me on Armour. Is this the common/best treatment. How long before I might be able to feel/see results or will that only showup in bloodwork?

Yes, for the most part Armour is the Gold Standard for treating underperforming thyroids.

It's for oral use only and is naturally made from porcine (pigs) thyroid glands believe it or not and usually has a strong odor.

It increases T4 and T3 in the blood stream and take some pressure of the thyroid to perform.

It's safe and been around a long time.

[kelkel]

My referece to hyper/hypothyroidism included both set of symptom thus "weight loss"...I should have been a bit more definitive between the two.

Hypothyroidism, as the term suggests, results in a pretty dramatic slow down in metabolism and as a result weight gain is one of the clear signs - but not always, a very lean man could be diagnosed with Hypothyroidism very easily.

Many factors determine the symptoms of Hypothyroidism like age, gender, disease state and causes.

The common causes of hypothyroidism in adults are:
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (This is the one that makes hypothyroidism hereditary)
Cancer
Lymphocytic thyroiditis (which may occur after hyperthyroidism)
Thyroid destruction (from radioactive iodine or surgery)
Pituitary or hypothalamic disease
Medications
Severe iodine deficiency (we don't get enough iodine in our diets anymore)

Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
Hair Loss
Feeling Cold
Poor Digestion
Low Resistence to Infections
Fatigue
Cardiac Arythmia
Dry Skin
Weight Gain
Constipation
Cold intolerance

There is a wonderful interview with Dr. John Crisler on super human radio dot com on Friday May 7, 2010 regarding Thyroid Function and Optimization. I urge you to search for it and listen to what the good Doctor has to say...it's very interesting.

Hey, I live in the North-east, are any of them disease states? Ha!

Awesome thyroid info as always G!

kel

[brazilian86]

What kind of lab numbers you getting on 200 mgs a week?

Check my latest blood work in a recent post I had. It should be under blood work if you search it.

[steroid.com 1]

You guys asked and I've been meaning to respond as to how Hypothyroidism and cause Hypogonadism.

Prolactin serum levels may increase when T4 serum levels are in low amounts. Increasing levels of Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) which increases Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) to increase T4 production.

When raised Prolactin levels that are outside of the normal range can cause Secondary Hypogonadism.

Increasing levels of Prolactin can also lower LH and FSH.

[Brazensol]

You guys asked and I've been meaning to respond as to how Hypothyroidism and cause Hypogonadism.

Prolactin serum levels may increase when T4 serum levels are in low amounts. Increasing levels of Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) which increases Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) to increase T4 production.

When raised Prolactin levels that are outside of the normal range can cause Secondary Hypogonadism.

Increasing levels of Prolactin can also lower LH and FSH.

Is there a reliable way to reverse hypothyroid and return to a natural production of thyroid hormones?

[Viking13]

Is there a reliable way to reverse hypothyroid and return to a natural production of thyroid hormones?

Yes. Diet is key here. Based off of my 4.6 TSH READING and multiple high readings after years of blood work I cut out the remaining inflammatory foods from my diet and my past bloodwork showed scores of 2.4 and 1.8. I also tested negative for TPO antibodies and any swelling I had related to my thyroid had dissipated. All this after the endo bet his practice I had hashimotos disease. It was all about the diet for me.

[steroid.com 1]

What Viking said plus you can start taking supplements like iodine, iodide, selenium, zinc...there are more.

Also, make sure your table salt is iodized and use it as salt is good for you contrary to popular belief.

[kelkel]

Yes. Diet is key here. Based off of my 4.6 TSH READING and multiple high readings after years of blood work I cut out the remaining inflammatory foods from my diet and my past bloodwork showed scores of 2.4 and 1.8. I also tested negative for TPO antibodies and any swelling I had related to my thyroid had dissipated. All this after the endo bet his practice I had hashimotos disease. It was all about the diet for me.

Viking that is fantastic! If you haven't, you should post a thread about your experiences with this! Be a great read for the many individuals that come here with thyroid issues!

[steroid.com 1]

^^^^+1 on that!