Blood Work Advice Needed

[Leon621]

So I am a 19 year old male with basic low testosterone symptoms (tiredness, low muscle gain, lack of motivation, low sex drive, body type is kind of feminine, etc). I am 6'2 and around 175 pounds. Here is the following relevant blood work:

Free Thyroxine [FT4]. Range: 0.8 - 1.8 Result: 1.2 ng/dL (She said it should be more like 1.5-1.8)

Testosterone , Total. Range: 240 - 1048 Result: 575 ng/dL (Not awful, also was tanked last summer at 260 after coming off accutane)

Free Testosterone. Range: 0.95 - 4.30 Result: 2.63 ng/dL

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH]. Range: 0.5 - 5.20 Result: 1.49 mcIU/mL

Free Triiodothyronine [FT3]. Range: 2.3 - 4.2 Result: 4.7 pg/mL (High, claims it is because FT4 is converting to FT3 too fast or something)

Estradiol [E2]. Range: 0.0 - 40.0 Result: 46.0 pg/mL (High)

Insulin Like Growth Factor I. Range: 182 - Seven Hundred Eighty (censored) Result: 498 ng/mL

So basically she seemed very knowledgeable (much better than some of the doctors people talk about on here that suck). My suboptimal testosterone levels are most likely just genetic, but they are obviously far from what I would like as I am only 19. My mom has Hashimoto's (thyroid issue), so it is possible that could be an issue for me. She said the FT4 may be converting to FT3 possibly too fast, and so the 4.7 would actually make me more tired as my body/mind is over working itself. Will re check these in 10 weeks.

E2 was out of range high, so she has suggested running Arimidex 3 times a week at 1 mg per dose. I feel like that would tank my E2 at that much, but she didn't seem too worried by it. I would re check blood work in 10 weeks, along with the thyroid tests again to see if they are still abnormal.

So any advice on the AI being taken alone? She seemed perfectly ok with it and she also has patients on just Arimidex and they are doing fine. I appreciate any advice.

[Leon621]

Bump, anyone know if just arlmidex would suffice given my blood work results?

[jomamma007]

I would sort out your thyroid issues first and foremost.

3mg is way too much, I wouldn't even take that if I was on 500mg a week of test .

Be careful arimidex is powerful. Tanking your estrogen will make you feel even worse then you do now.

Start slowly and adjust, maybe. 25mg arimidex twice a week is still a little much for a natural guy with lower test levels.

I would try to get it down naturally, eating and training right, supplementing with nettle root and vit D3 and zinc.

Just my 2©

[Leon621]

I figured it was too much. I would take .25mg if I could, but I heard that splitting the pill in half or even quarters doesn't work as well or something.

Other thing we talked about is how it would lower my high estrogen but also up my testosterone a bit, which is just naturally low for my age genetically. My diet has always been very good so I think this is pretty much where I'm at now (best I can do probably is this 575 T and 46 E2)

[kelkel]

Need to see more BW. LH/FSH, Prolactin. Possibly even more thyroid panels including T4, T3, RT3, T3 uptake and antibodies. Maybe an iron panel. Low iron causes fatigue/lethargy and can elevate TSH but it's not happening here.

Is that E2 panel a sensitive assay? Three mg per week will crash your E2 eventually, like Jomamma said. Consider most guys on a cycle of 500mg test usually run .25mg EOD.

Mostly curious about LH & FSH levels right now to try and get a better idea of a cause.

[steroid.com 1]

First, all blood work is snap shot in time and doesn't truly present your bodies natural state on average over time, so keep that in mind when you look at your lab results.

In all honesty, other than somewhat elevated E2, your labs look okay to me.

You may be estrogen dominate as a normal state or it could be lifestyle driven. How much do you weight and do you know your BF%?

As noted, 3 mg of an AI will crash you faster then an Indy car at the Motor Speedway! I would start out with .25 mg twice a week like Monday morning and Thursday night and get tested in 6 weeks.

Thyroid.
Free Thyroxine [FT4]. Range: 0.8 - 1.8 Result: 1.2 ng/dL (She said it should be more like 1.5-1.8)
She's right in that optimally we like to see FT4 at the top of the reference range BUT your 1.2 ng/dl is perfectly fine.

Free Triiodothyronine [FT3]. Range: 2.3 - 4.2 Result: 4.7 pg/mL (High, claims it is because FT4 is converting to FT3 too fast or something)
This is where the rubber meets the road. We want FT3 at the top of the reference range and you are converting very nicely...too nicely in fact. BUT it's not that high to warrant any real concern...just keep an eye on it.

Get E2 down, SLOWLY and measure along the way. When your E2 comes down to more healthy 20's it will free up more Testosterone and you will see an increase in all Testosterone labs.

For a 19 year old, the last thing you need is exogenous Testosterone...trust me on that!

[Leon621]

First, all blood work is snap shot in time and doesn't truly present your bodies natural state on average over time, so keep that in mind when you look at your lab results.

In all honesty, other than somewhat elevated E2, your labs look okay to me.

You may be estrogen dominate as a normal state or it could be lifestyle driven. How much do you weight and do you know your BF%?

As noted, 3 mg of an AI will crash you faster then an Indy car at the Motor Speedway! I would start out with .25 mg twice a week like Monday morning and Thursday night and get tested in 6 weeks.

Thyroid.
Free Thyroxine [FT4]. Range: 0.8 - 1.8 Result: 1.2 ng/dL (She said it should be more like 1.5-1.8)
She's right in that optimally we like to see FT4 at the top of the reference range BUT your 1.2 ng/dl is perfectly fine.

Free Triiodothyronine [FT3]. Range: 2.3 - 4.2 Result: 4.7 pg/mL (High, claims it is because FT4 is converting to FT3 too fast or something)
This is where the rubber meets the road. We want FT3 at the top of the reference range and you are converting very nicely...too nicely in fact. BUT it's not that high to warrant any real concern...just keep an eye on it.

Get E2 down, SLOWLY and measure along the way. When your E2 comes down to more healthy 20's it will free up more Testosterone and you will see an increase in all Testosterone labs.

For a 19 year old, the last thing you need is exogenous Testosterone...trust me on that!

Right, im trying to avoid any exogenous testosterone. I just wish i had higher natural levels, as 575 seems too low for my age.

Is it ok to split a 1mg tablet into fours? I heard splitting arimidex like that makes it less effective or something.

[ZenFitness]

I'm actually on Arimidex right now since Monday (today is Friday). I cut a 1 mg pill in half and take it every day (my doc said 1 mg every other day or 1/2 mg every day). Thus, I don't think cutting the pill makes it less effective.

That said (in light of this thread), is what I'm on really that high a dose? At my rate, I'm at 3.5 mgs of Arimidex a week. I certainly don't want to crater my E2... I'm supposed to get blood work in 3 weeks. If I should pipe up to my doc sooner, then I definitely want to.

(Not trying to hijack... I can start my own thread if I need to)

[steroid.com 1]

Right, im trying to avoid any exogenous testosterone . I just wish i had higher natural levels, as 575 seems too low for my age.

Is it ok to split a 1mg tablet into fours? I heard splitting arimidex like that makes it less effective or something.

When you get your E2 down your Testosterone will increase.

Yes, you can cut your pills accordingly.

[Moparman]

I'm waiting on my results but I was told to take 1 mg anastazole eod too when my ankles started swelling up. I was originally taking 1 mg mon and thurs for a total of 2 mg per week.

I took the bloodtest Monday. Was really hoping it would have posted by now.

[powerlifterty16]

Here is my interpretation of some of your results...
I agree with you that yourt est is low for your age but nott terribly low. I for one wouldnt be happy with that test level at your age, but before trt I would try other things. I think trying to increase it through diet and exercise is hopeeless. Your body us simply not a testosterone machine, doing squats until you puke won;t give you 750...which i think is where a 19 yr old should be.

Your e2 is a little high, however the test used was not the sensitive assay for males.

Your ft4 was low, combined with the suspicion that the ft4 you have is converting to ft3.

If I were you I would take .25 of arimidex once per week for the estrogen, and look into a t4 medicine. Only issue is, if you increase your t4, it might also raise your t3..but as of now your t4 is low especially fi it's converting to t3.

[Leon621]

Here is my interpretation of some of your results...
I agree with you that yourt est is low for your age but nott terribly low. I for one wouldnt be happy with that test level at your age, but before trt I would try other things. I think trying to increase it through diet and exercise is hopeeless. Your body us simply not a testosterone machine, doing squats until you puke won;t give you 750...which i think is where a 19 yr old should be.

Your e2 is a little high, however the test used was not the sensitive assay for males.

Your ft4 was low, combined with the suspicion that the ft4 you have is converting to ft3.

If I were you I would take .25 of arimidex once per week for the estrogen, and look into a t4 medicine. Only issue is, if you increase your t4, it might also raise your t3..but as of now your t4 is low especially fi it's converting to t3.

I asked her about the sensitive assay and she said just based on the range it would be for a male (sounded wrong to me though). I'll get blood work done in another 7 weeks or so after the .25 a week of arimidex . I'll look back into the thyroid issue as well.

My issue is also the fact that the 575 was recorded at 8AM where it is highest. So in reality it's even lower than that on average throughout the day. I don't even want to go on TRT really at 19, but honestly if I'm like in the 400 range throughout the day at age 19, that's pretty bad, and I always think of how I could get it to ~800 and feel much better. I feel like I was just dealt a bad card genetically, but I do know TRT within reason could fix it. I am in no way happy with having ~500 or less total testosterone at age 19, it's embarrassing to say the least.

[powerlifterty16]

I asked her about the sensitive assay and she said just based on the range it would be for a male (sounded wrong to me though). I'll get blood work done in another 7 weeks or so after the .25 a week of arimidex . I'll look back into the thyroid issue as well.

My issue is also the fact that the 575 was recorded at 8AM where it is highest. So in reality it's even lower than that on average throughout the day. I don't even want to go on TRT really at 19, but honestly if I'm like in the 400 range throughout the day at age 19, that's pretty bad, and I always think of how I could get it to ~800 and feel much better. I feel like I was just dealt a bad card genetically, but I do know TRT within reason could fix it. I am in no way happy with having ~500 or less total testosterone at age 19, it's embarrassing to say the least.

i hear yah..i had 277 total test at 19 myself. I upped my vitamin d though and from 20-21 my levels were mostly around 470 with my highest being 535 at 20-21? I havent gotten my levels checked since. I've never taken steroids or trt. I'm now considering it though. My gains in the gym are shit, and im tired. all the time.