please help. is my thyroid causing low T? (my thyroid is in the range...)

[Michael Red]

Hello. Before I turned 18, I considered my sex drive to be a good one. Then I discovered I was hyperthyroid, and took radioactive iodine to fix the problem. Then I got on thyroid medicine. My levels are consistently within the range and the doctors tell me I'm fine. But soon after I "fixed" my thyroid, I noticed my erections were becoming oddly weak. Eventually I got to the point where I can't even have sex anymore. I checked my testosterone levels, and Total and Free were low (below the range). Then I checked them again, and they were lower. Then I checked AGAIN, and Total T was slightly above the range, and Free was slightly below. Then both were slightly in the range the next time......... My endo wants to check my free T ONCE AGAIN next week. He says he's seeing a trend in a positive shift, but I'm not seeing that at all as they seem to be bouncing all over the low side of the range, and sometimes even out of the range. I have been experiencing fatigue, mind fog, inability to gain muscle mass, and most importantly, ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION, ever since starting my thyroid junk...

Could my thyroid still be the cause?!?!?!?!? Here are the most recent thyroid labs I know of right now (what was ordered, etc.)

T4 - 8.7 (range 4.4-12.4)
TSH - 1.7 (range .5-4.7)

If you guys believe my thyroid could possibly be effecting my T and my sex drive this much, while still in the range, I'll have to see what I can do. Is this a possibility? I'm within range, and the doctors (3 of them) tell me "Your thyroid is not the problem!" I asked my endo last time and he flat out said "no it's not your thyroid."

I don't know what else it could be. I went through puberty just fine. I have no physical damage to my testicles. I don't know why else my testosterone would be so shit. (my LH levels are fine) I have no sex drive, no energy, no libido, can't get erections. Dr prescribed me wellbutrin and it sucks. I'm going back in a few weeks for more testosterone blood test. I don't know how much longer I can do this, I feel awful and I'm going CRAZY!

Help

[FapOLantern]

What meds are you taking? Levothyroxine only? If so, check this website, it's a goldmine of information:
stopthethyroidmadness(dot)com

[Michael Red]

What mds are you taking? Levothyroxine only? If so, check this website, it's a goldmine of information:
stopthethyroidmadness(dot)com

yes just levothyroxine

im reading now thank u

[BallSak]

Possibility that your thyroid caused low T. Do you have a full set of labs free T3, free T4, RT3, TSH and antibodies?

[Michael Red]

well... maybe it's not causing it..... i had low testosterone before i messed with my thyroid. levels of 180. but then they raised to 300-400 after thyroid stuff.

HOWEVER my libido got worse and my erections suffered after thyroid... weird how we are capable of entering the ballpark with ease (thyroid medication) but once inside the ballpark, nobody has any idea what they're doing. and you can't escape the ballpark. lol. i am trapped in this endless loop

[thisAngelBites]

Let me see if I understand the chronological order here: around 18 you got your testosterone levels checked (what caused you to check them?), and they were low. Then you developed hyperthyroidism and had an ablation.

Started taking thyroxine, T levels went up, but you noticed weaker erections. Then you checked 3 more times, and your testosterone levels went consistently down.

I'd say there is chance you need more thyroid medicine, but I am not sure. Trying more is not a dangerous things, provided you back off if you develop any signs of being hyper (which symptoms, presumably, you are familiar with).

It sounds like you have had a lot of blood work, but have only posted a tiny fraction here. I am not sure if I can say something that will help you, but if you post a more complete history, including why you got your testosterone levels done at 18 years old, and those levels, along with all the thyroid blood work you have you have and I think you will have a greater chance of someone noticing something that might help you.

Give us you free T3, free T4 numbers, and reverse T3 if it was done - all this does matter, T3 is needed to convert cholesterol to testosterone and other sex hormones, so how much you have is important.

[Michael Red]

Let me see if I understand the chronological order here: around 18 you got your testosterone levels checked (what caused you to check them?), and they were low. Then you developed hyperthyroidism and had an ablation.

Started taking thyroxine, T levels went up, but you noticed weaker erections. Then you checked 3 more times, and your testosterone levels went consistently down.

I'd say there is chance you need more thyroid medicine, but I am not sure. Trying more is not a dangerous things, provided you back off if you develop any signs of being hyper (which symptoms, presumably, you are familiar with).

It sounds like you have had a lot of blood work, but have only posted a tiny fraction here. I am not sure if I can say something that will help you, but if you post a more complete history, including why you got your testosterone levels done at 18 years old, and those levels, along with all the thyroid blood work you have you have and I think you will have a greater chance of someone noticing something that might help you.

Give us you free T3, free T4 numbers, and reverse T3 if it was done - all this does matter, T3 is needed to convert cholesterol to testosterone and other sex hormones, so how much you have is important.

i dont know if i ever had t3 checked, my endos tell me that since t4 converts to t3 there is no need. but i don't know if i believe that. i think that it has to be my thyroid since symptoms get worse when i change thyroid doses! perhaps t4 goes up but t3 remains low (maybe its not converting) and my symptoms get worse. IDK.

so I should get FREE T3, and FREE T4? I have blood work to chekc testosterone in about 10 days. i dont want to do that, then see the doctor in 2 weeks, then tell him then that id like to check free t3 and t4... Is it possible that I can call his office and request over the phone that I get these two more things checked??? I'd hate to throw down even more money for another lab and doctor visit when I could get it accomplished with one trip.

i am not trying to think of how much it costs to check free t4 and t4 , it costs a lot for free T, but this is my
health and i gotta do whats best!!! moiney should be last on my list of worries... bleh

[thisAngelBites]

If I were you, I would want to know how much free T3 and free T4 I have. If you are paying, there should be no reason the doctor should keep you from doing these tests if you want them.

[MRNJ1992]

I don't think the thyroid is causing low T. I had a thyroidectomy in 1993 and also take thyroid medicine. Usually the low T is caused by using the juice aka steroids. Your only 18 so maybe you never dabbled.

[Michael Red]

just kill me. i hate this. ive done everything right my whole life and look at me. cant even have sex and noone knows whats going on with me.

[BallSak]

Sounds like your doctor is a dumbass if he won't test free T3. That is the most important test for thyroid. Please do what I suggested a few days ago and get a full set of labs and stop guessing. Chances are, being on T4 monotherapy, your RT3 is high and making you feel like hell.

Get your thyroid tuned up properly, make sure your cortisol levels are in good shape, and if your testosterone doesn't improve and symptoms don't subside, then there may be something wrong with either your testicles or your pituitary.

[Michael Red]

Sounds like your doctor is a dumbass if he won't test free T3. That is the most important test for thyroid. Please do what I suggested a few days ago and get a full set of labs and stop guessing. Chances are, being on T4 monotherapy, your RT3 is high and making you feel like hell.

Get your thyroid tuned up properly, make sure your cortisol levels are in good shape, and if your testosterone doesn't improve and symptoms don't subside, then there may be something wrong with either your testicles or your pituitary.

i just called and the doctors assistant or whatever said no i cant do that because they only check it every 6 months, and i told them, NO, you didnt even check t3 and you only checked total t4, not FREE anything... and they said NO because they only do it every 6 months... so the doctor will be more willing to put me on TRT than to chek my FREE T3 first... yeah okay im gonna call them again in the morning and fight as hard as i can for it, this is ridiculous. i doubt theres something wrong with my testicles or my pituitary, physically my testicles are fine and my LH levels in my pituitary are fine so who knows... i'm gonna get free t4 and free t3, i may be pushing it trying to get RT3 checked but who knows... i hope knowing free t3 alone will be enough

[jasondd1]

Go have your blood checked yourself. Order it from private md labs online

[Michael Red]

Go have your blood checked yourself. Order it from private md labs online

i may do that, because theyre not allowing me to do it.

[Times Roman]

I was just going to suggest talking to "thisAngelBites" as she has some pretty good knowledge in this area, but I see she is faster out the gate than I am......

[Michael Red]

thx everyone for all the advice now all i can do is wait 20 more days till i see my doctor and talk 2 him, and needlessly give blood to check my test levels again and surely that will do nothing at all. so yay. this will be a hard 3 weeks.

[rooftop1]

thx everyone for all the advice now all i can do is wait 20 more days till i see my doctor and talk 2 him, and needlessly give blood to check my test levels again and surely that will do nothing at all. so yay. this will be a hard 3 weeks.

Seriously just go to private md labs and pick out the tests you want its your health. My GP made was so ignorant went it came to doing a complete panel for low T. I took matters into my own hands and haven't been back to him since. I found a competent physician who specializes in low T treatment. Just because they have a PhD doesn't mean they have all the answers. I am hypo to but have got it under control. There is a wealth of knowledge on this site it's good you found it.
Good luck

[lovbyts]

thx everyone for all the advice now all i can do is wait 20 more days till i see my doctor and talk 2 him, and needlessly give blood to check my test levels again and surely that will do nothing at all. so yay. this will be a hard 3 weeks.

No it's not. As told several time, go to ************* .com It's not that expensive. Male Hormone Testing Panel $172.49
Thyroid Profile w/ TSH
Complete Blood Count w/ Differential
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
Estradiol Sensitive
Testosterone (Free), Serum With Total
Lipid Profile
Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1)

[1wheelr1]

I too have had thyroid issues for about 15 years and at age 18 (12 years ago) my test levels dropped off the map. Then at age 21 I became diabetic (witch May or may not be due to a drug complication).
Anyway my Endo really doesn't have many answers, just that for some reason my body is attacking my glandular system. I've been on TRT since age 18.
I've finally over the last three years really gotten a Handle on my levels (especially test and blood gloucose)