Hypogonadism - 25 yr old male, blood work
Hi,
So early 2009, I lost my erection while trying to have sex, not once but 3 times( I was using a natural test booster at the time, product was called IronMagLabs Anabolic Matrix which I stopped using imediately. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link here). So I went to my family doctor and he prescribed me six pills of viagra because he thought it was confidence related. Well the viagra didnt work. So I stayed away from women and sex :((
Early 2010, different woman, Still no erection. I went to see the doctor again and asked him to measure my free and total test levels (on a friends suggestion). Total test came out at 552 ng/dl (range of 280-800 ng/dl), free was at 7.7 pg/ml (range of 9.3-26.5 pg/ml)(Labcorp). So he referred me to an endocrinologist.
The first endocrinologist was a senior doctor at UMDNJ. Hey completely dismissed the free testosterone test, saying its useless and all he cares about is the total test. Results of his bloodwork :- Blood test done at UMDNJ
Estradiol.............15 pg/ml
SHBG..................39 nmol/L (11-80)
Prolactin..............2 ng/ml (2-18)
LH........................3.8 mIU/ml (1.3-13.0)
FSH......................4.0 mIU/ml (0.9-15.0)
TSH......................1.16 mIU/L (0.35-5.50)
CHEM EXT
Na.........................139 mEq/L
K............................4.7 mEq/L
Cl...........................104 mEq/L
Co2........................30.0 mEq/L
Calcium,Glucose, BUN, Creatinine, Protein, Albumin, Bilirubin Total, Alk Phos, AST, ALT....normal.
All the values here were normal, except something called Anion Gap........5.0 mEq/L (7.0-15.0)
DIFF
Neutrophils, Lymphs, Monos, Eos, Basophils.............all normal
CBC
WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, Platelet ............normal. MPV...............7.5 fL (8.0-15.0)
So he didnt say thing after the blood test....so i went to a different doctor
She assigned the same tests and more, most of which were normal, the only changes were :-
Labcorp
Vit B12..............1770 (211-946)
Cortisol.............21.7 ug/dL (2.3-19.4)
Hep B surface Ab........ >100 (0.00-0.99)
IGF-1.................392 ng/mL (116-358)
T4, free..............1.50 ng/dL (0.82-1.77)
Vit D...................44.0 ng/mL (32.0-100)
LH......................5.5 mIU/mL (1.7-8.6)
FSH...................4.5 mIU/mL (1.5-12.4)
HCV Ab.............Negative
Test, Free.........7.8 pg/mL (9.3-26.5)
Test, Total.........412 ng/dL (280-800)
SHBG, serum...27.2 nmol/L (14.5 - 48.4)
Chromosome Test
Cytogenetic Result : 46, XY
Interpretation: Normal Male Karyotype
Next she sent me for GH test cos my IGF was elevated
Labcorp
Growth Hormone, serum (spec 2)
HGH #1.............0.1 ng/mL (0.0-6.0)
IGF-1..................456 ng/mL (116-358)
Cortisol..............20.3 ug/dL (2.3-19.4)
100 G Glucose Drink
HGH #2.............0.2 ngl/mL
MRI of the brain and pituitary with and without contrast
Technique: Axial T1, FSE T2, DWI, T2 FLAIR, sagittal T1, coronal SSFSE, post contrast axial, coronal and sagittal T1. Sella turcica pre and post contrast coronal T1. Postcontrast sagittal T1. Coronal FSE T2.
Impression: No evidence of Pituitary adenoma.
She prescribed me Testim 1% testosterone Gel..........which i didnt use and instead went for a second opinion to a different doctor. Testim is my last resort, i want my body to naturally produce normal levels of test.
So diff doctor, male older, like 50-60 yrs old. He doesnt believe in the free testosterone test either....dismisses it. He says that my total test is in the normal range so he doesnt see any problem, but to address my libido issues (i have no libido :/ ) he prescribes a blood test.
Results of his blood test :-
Labcorp
Comp Metabolic Panel..........All normal
Testosterone, Serum..........425 ng/dL (280-800)
Cortisol..................................18.4 ug/dL (2.3-19.4)
IGF-1.......................................427 ng/mL (116-358)
Prolactin.................................26.3 ng/mL (4.0-15.2)
Growth Hormone, serum....0.1 ng/mL (0.0-6.0)
100 g Glucose drink
Growth Hormone, serum....0.1 ng/mL (0.0-6.0)
So he prescribes me Cabergoline, like 0.250 mg/once a week (very small dose) for 10 weeks.
As i'm writing this i'm on the 4th week and have 6 weeks to go.
Here are some of the things i've noticed about myself
-No morning erections
-Extremely groggy and unable to get out of bed even after 8-9 hrs of sleep.
-tired and sluggish all day
-no sexual desire/libido, weak erections(even to porn)
-feeling cold in 73-74 degree temperature at home or outside
-no erections anytime after evening workout.
-more iritable and easily agitated
-less outgoing, less confident
-stubbord fat in the midsection, no matter how hard i workout or how clean my diet
is.
-loss of strength.
-very low ejaculate volume, like 3-4 times lower than i used to have a few yrs ago
A brief supplement history :-
Been working out for 7 yrs now, since 2003. I used Whey Protein from late 2003.
2005
Tribulus terrestris 500mg-750/day both taken as directed on bottle, 5 days on, 2 days off (Vitamin shoppe brand)
ZMA - 30mgZn/450mgMg/6mg VitB6
libido was good
Noticed acne
stopped use cos of acne
libido down to "normal" (i dont know what was normal for a 20 yr old guy)
2006
Tribuloid (Goliath Labs) - used as directed, 2 pills/day for about 3 weeks.
libido goes up
no acne cos product has DHT blockers saw palmetto etc and estrogen blockers
Libido suddenly down
stopped use, libido back to "normal"
2007
Tribulus terrestris 666mg-999mg/day (Primaforce brand)
pygeum/saw palmetto blend to kill acne by blocking DHT (Vitamine Shoppe brand)
libido up initially and suddenly declines.
read some similar reviews about supplements containing saw palmetto
stopped both supplements
2008
Tribulus terrestris 333-666mg once a week on and off.
dec 2008-jan 2009
Anabolic matrix by ironmag Labs taken as directed on bottle.
libido up initially and suddenly down, stopped use.
Supplements used jan 2010 - may 2010
Multivitamin
Fish oils
Glucosamine/chondroitin sulphate/msm - recommended by orthopedic doc, cartilage wear in right knee, behind knee cap.
vit D - 2000UI/pill. 1 pill/day
calcium - 500 mg/day
Supplements currently used as of June 2010
Animal Flex for joints - Universal nutrition
Fish oil
Nothing else, not even Whey protein.
Stats :-
Age 25
Height 6 feet
Weight 180-185 lbs