Need advice on labs.

[scotch06]

Just got my labs back (Labcorp) and was hoping to get some advice.

LH 5.6 (1.7-8.6)
FSH 1.6 (1.5-12.4)
Total Test 647 (348-1,197)
Free Test 8.5 (8.7-25.1)
TSH 1.95 (0.45-4.5)
Vit D 40.4 (30-100)
Prolactin 7.8 (4-15.2)

31 years old. 14% BF and workout 5 days a week. Eating clean with no alcohol.

Endo says my numbers are fine, and that we should just monitor the free T. My main complaint is fatigue (not terrible, just wish I had more energy sometimes)

[FRDave]

Getting your vitamin D in the upper range will help your free test.

Any other lab work? B-12? Cortisol? Estrogen? SHBG? DHEA? CBC or Comp Metabolic Panels?

[scotch06]

Getting your vitamin D in the upper range will help your free test.

Any other lab work? B-12? Cortisol? Estrogen? SHBG? DHEA? CBC or Comp Metabolic Panels?

These were from a few months ago:

cortisol 27.8 (2.3-19.4)
estradiol 37.7 (7.6-42.6)
estrogens total 70 (40-115)
SHGB 41.2 (16.5-55.9)

I asked endo about the high cortisol, she said it was from an early lab so it was supposed to be high.

How much Vit D would you recommend to get the numbers up?

[bass]

I don't think supplement going to raise free T much. E2 and SHBG would have been a good test to add. what time of the day did you draw blood? look at Finding a Physician sticky in this section, you need to run the labs listed in that thread so we can see ten whole picture.

[bass]

ahhh, you beat me to the post! okay, I see your E2 although not sensitive assay is on the high end, no doubt you are binding there, also SHBG is high and you're binding there. since your doc is not suggesting to take anything you can start with supplements. Definitely vitamin D and Zinc can help raise your free T. i'd start with 20,000 iu vitamin D3 ed, this will lower your SHBG. Zinc will lower your E2 but I'll let LowT mike and others suggest a dose for you.

we still have a problem with your FSH, way too low. did your doc say anything about that? again supplement may help but not sure if they'll be enough.

[scotch06]

ahhh, you beat me to the post! okay, I see your E2 although not sensitive assay is on the high end, no doubt you are binding there, also SHBG is high and you're binding there. since your doc is not suggesting to take anything you can start with supplements. Definitely vitamin D and Zinc can help raise your free T. i'd start with 20,000 iu vitamin D3 ed, this will lower your SHBG. Zinc will lower your E2 but I'll let LowT mike and others suggest a dose for you.

we still have a problem with your FSH, way too low. did your doc say anything about that? again supplement may help but not sure if they'll be enough.

She said nothing about the FSH or SHGB. In fact, she suggested I go on anti depressants to regain some energy.

Her only answer was rechecking the free T in three months. If it was still on the lower end, and anti depressants were not going to fix the problem, then she would start low dose HRT to get the free T up. Not so sure I agree with that plan.

[Low Testosterone]

You're tired because your free test is low. 20-30 would be optimal.

SHBG: You don't have to have an SHBG panel to calculate SHBG. As long as you have Free Test and Albumin you can calculate it.

[bass]

She said nothing about the FSH or SHGB. In fact, she suggested I go on anti depressants to regain some energy.

Her only answer was rechecking the free T in three months. If it was still on the lower end, and anti depressants were not going to fix the problem, then she would start low dose HRT to get the free T up. Not so sure I agree with that plan.

if I were you I wouldn't rely on you doc to fix you, obviously she's not up to date with TRT, other wise she would have done more tests to see where your problem is and get it fixed. low free T is in the tank, waiting three months will not change anything. my advise is try to find a TRT doc and see if they run other tests, and perhaps an MRI to rule out/in pituitary problems.

[LowT Mike]

Download the BIO T app for Iphone and reverse calculate your SHBG using free T, TT, and albumin. Ive attached "The Harvard Protocol" which we follow to a T here at LT.com. This is the Gold standard. Pay attention to Free T. Scotch07 Most men are very symptomatic of andropause at or below 15 pg/ml. Optimal for most men in north of 20.

[scotch06]

How much zinc would you recommend?

Also, would nettle root be beneficial in any way?

[LowT Mike]

Zinc is much more effective as an supplementary AI. Zinc 50mg per day/ 2-3mg of copper/ and DIM. These are all the best OTC AI's WOuld I use them soley on a patient who had significant aromatase...NO! But I can cut a patient's dosing of anastrozole in half with the above.

[austinite]

Zinc is much more effective as an supplementary AI. Zinc 50mg per day/ 2-3mg of copper/ and DIM. These are all the best OTC AI's WOuld I use them soley on a patient who had significant aromatase...NO! But I can cut a patient's dosing of anastrozole in half with the above.

Absolutely. Although my copper dose is lower (not that 3mg is too much), those 3 and slightly dropping my weekly cyp dose eliminated anastrozole for me.

[LowT Mike]

^^^^^There you have it folks. Most men will need anastrozole at first and can be weened off over time with a tailored optimal protocol in place. Im an osteopathic at heart and believe the less meds the better. Especially if your adding medications to counter side effects from another medication. We want the body to run a natural as it can or at least mimic the most natural homeostasis. I too am anastrozole free!

Dont misinterpret what im saying here folks. Nothing wrong with anastrozole. Completely safe med. Better to use if you have high E2 than not use.

[scotch06]

This is for Low T Mike:

I dumped my endo, took my labs to another Doc for 2nd opinion. New Dr agrees E2 high and thinks AI better option than HRT. Was prescribed anastrozole 1mg to be taken daily. What are your thoughts on the dose, too high, not enough, should I go eod?

[FRDave]

This is for Low T Mike:

I dumped my endo, took my labs to another Doc for 2nd opinion. New Dr agrees E2 high and thinks AI better option than HRT. Was prescribed anastrozole 1mg to be taken daily. What are your thoughts on the dose, too high, not enough, should I go eod?

Use zinc/copper & DIM. Even .25mg once a week will shut you down with an E2 level of 37. 1mg daily is insane and will have people on cycle bed ridden. Looks like you need to dump your new Dr now.

[gatornate97]

DIM? I am using the previous 2 Zinc and Copper. Still
Confused as to what DIM is...is that Vitamin D injected muscularly? I'm a newb, I know but am trying to learn as much from you guys as possible to
Help me perfect my P.

[FRDave]

DIM? I am using the previous 2 Zinc and Copper. Still
Confused as to what DIM is...is that Vitamin D injected muscularly? I'm a newb, I know but am trying to learn as much from you guys as possible to
Help me perfect my P.

DIM (Diindolylmethane) is an oral supplement used to lower your E2. Easily found on amazon and/or most supplement stores.

[gatornate97]

DIM (Diindolylmethane) is an oral supplement used to lower your E2. Easily found on amazon and/or most supplement stores.

Gracias!!!

[scotch06]

Bumped for Low T Mike:

This is for Low T Mike:

I dumped my endo, took my labs to another Doc for 2nd opinion. New Dr agrees E2 high and thinks AI better option than HRT. Was prescribed anastrozole 1mg to be taken daily. What are your thoughts on the dose, too high, not enough, should I go eod?

[FRDave]

Bumped for Low T Mike:

He is going to tell you what has already been said: 30-60mg zinc with 2-4mg copper along with 300mg DIM daily.

Your E2 is 37.7... Ideal sweet spot for most is 30. Even at .25mg of arimidex (1/4 the amount your new Dr. recommended), you will be shut down with sore joints and no libido.

Supplement with vitamin D to get it up in the upper range. Majority take 10000iu daily but this will need to be confirmed via blood work. 12000iu daily puts me in the mid 80's. This will help drop your SHBG and up your free test.

[scotch06]

He is going to tell you what has already been said: 30-60mg zinc with 2-4mg copper along with 300mg DIM daily.

Your E2 is 37.7... Ideal sweet spot for most is 30. Even at .25mg of arimidex (1/4 the amount your new Dr. recommended), you will be shut down with sore joints and no libido.

Supplement with vitamin D to get it up in the upper range. Majority take 10000iu daily but this will need to be confirmed via blood work. 12000iu daily puts me in the mid 80's. This will help drop your SHBG and up your free test.

I will try this protocol and repeat labs in six weeks.

Thanks.

[scotch06]

FRDave,

Sorry to bump this but I have one more question slightly off topic. Before doing my homework, I took my first dose of arimidex on Wed, and another on Thursday. How long before this leaves your system?I ask because back pain has fired up big time with fatigue since I took the first dose.

[FRDave]

FRDave,

Sorry to bump this but I have one more question slightly off topic. Before doing my homework, I took my first dose of arimidex on Wed, and another on Thursday. How long before this leaves your system?I ask because back pain has fired up big time with fatigue since I took the first dose.

Some rebound quicker than others. My E2 was 17.8 on my last set of labs and my joints were hurting. I quit taking my arimidex for two weeks then started back up at a lowered weekly dose and I'm good now. Now keep in mind, I aromatize more than others, so for someone like you whom is not on test and were not that high form the get go, it may take much longer.

For the time being, don't take any over the counter AI's or anything. Maybe a good month and you can start zinc/DIM or get new blood work.

Guarantee that first dose of 1mg arimidex shut you down. Stuff is very strong.