Losing hope. Please help

[evolution83]

Maybe it's your meds, antidepressants are known to destroy libido. What exactly are you taking, if you don't mind?

I'm not on any, but thanks for assuming.

your thyroid needs to be addressed.
(your TSH is too high)

It's fine actually. Doctor isn't concerned as it's not at a dangerous level, and I believe I had just gotten done having a cold or something.

Testosterone, TOTAL - 891 ng/dL
Standard range: >=240 ng/dL
*note* because my Total test was high, they did not do a complete hormone panel. I'm in my early 30s.

I recommend get it done yourself. Your Total T is at the high range, which makes me suspect that SHBG is high and Free T is low. Just a theory, but your problems are similar, but a little earlier and more severe than I experienced at your age. It only gets worse from here if SHBG continues to rise (if that's the case for you). Get the full T panel. Also get the Estradiol sensitive test. If you are in the USA, I highly recommend the ED panel offered by Discount labs: https://www.discountedlabs.com/ed-panel

Shouldn't my total Test be high anyway? I know it just means it's the total amount floating around and doesn't really say how much is available or being used, but I thought having it high was a good thing?

I believe my SHBG was always high since past results always had it in the 50 range.

What exactly did you experience at my age, and if my results for SHBG and estradiol is high, with low free T, what would you suggest I do?

Would this also explain why I'm still having beard development and body hair growing / losing in certain areas? Lol

[Ephemeral]

I'm not on any, but thanks for assuming.

I've read in one of your previous threads that you were on meds and likely for the rest of your life, that's why I assumed. But I'm glad you're not on them anymore.

[evolution83]

I've read in one of your previous threads that you were on meds and likely for the rest of your life, that's why I assumed. But I'm glad you're not on them anymore.

I was on an anti-depressant for several years but took myself off because I was becoming a zombie with the feeling of just existing. My doc wasn't too happy and suggested I go back on, but I said no and I decided not to see him ever again.

I've had some anxiety pop back up recently but I'm managing it.

[hammerheart]

It's fine actually. Doctor isn't concerned as it's not at a dangerous level, and I believe I had just gotten done having a cold or something.

Well no, not really, I'd feel like beaten down crap with those levels, but it depends on the person, some do fine even if minor thyroid dysfunction, but I think your doc is wrong and should be looked into.

I too recommend you get your SHBG tested, I coulnd't get any benefit from TRT even with Test level through the roof cause mine was high.

[Youthful55guy]

I'm not on any, but thanks for assuming.



It's fine actually. Doctor isn't concerned as it's not at a dangerous level, and I believe I had just gotten done having a cold or something.



Shouldn't my total Test be high anyway? I know it just means it's the total amount floating around and doesn't really say how much is available or being used, but I thought having it high was a good thing?

I believe my SHBG was always high since past results always had it in the 50 range.

What exactly did you experience at my age, and if my results for SHBG and estradiol is high, with low free T, what would you suggest I do?

Would this also explain why I'm still having beard development and body hair growing / losing in certain areas? Lol

Hi SHBG will push Total T up because it protects T from liver metabolism. However, the T is not bioavailable, so it does not pass through the blood brain barrier where you need it to feel normal and for normal libido. I suspect this may be your problem. About 10% of guys are genetically programmed for high SHBG (myself included). We add an extra sugar molecule to the SHBG protein and that more than doubles the half life of the protein. So, even though we produce SHBG at the "normal' rate, we effectively have more than twice the circulating amount of the protein because it is metabolized slower then the other 90% of men.

As we age, the rate of SHBG production increases for all of us, but for those of us with this genetic anomaly, it has a much greater effect. When we are young, the total amount of T we produce is enough to saturate the protein and enough spills over into free T to feel normal and to have normal libido, erections, and ejaculations. However, as we age and the SHBG goes way up, we can no longer saturate the protein and Free T falls below a critical amount. That's when we start to notice it.

For me there were slight indications at age 30. By age 40, definite indications (but still not as bad as you), by 50, my libido, erections. and ejaculations were in the dumpster and I was feeling depressed, even though I knew deep down that it wasn't clinical depression. I went through a series of doc that were more than willing to hand out antidepressants like candy (I turned them all down) before I came across one that accurately diagnosed my condition. I got the help I needed and the rest is history.

[evolution83]

Well no, not really, I'd feel like beaten down crap with those levels, but it depends on the person, some do fine even if minor thyroid dysfunction, but I think your doc is wrong and should be looked into.

I too recommend you get your SHBG tested, I coulnd't get any benefit from TRT even with Test level through the roof cause mine was high.

I feel fine. I'll have it tested again but my thyroid has never been an issue.

Hi SHBG will push Total T up because it protects T from liver metabolism. However, the T is not bioavailable, so it does not pass through the blood brain barrier where you need it to feel normal and for normal libido. I suspect this may be your problem. About 10% of guys are genetically programmed for high SHBG (myself included). We add an extra sugar molecule to the SHBG protein and that more than doubles the half life of the protein. So, even though we produce SHBG at the "normal' rate, we effectively have more than twice the circulating amount of the protein because it is metabolized slower then the other 90% of men.

As we age, the rate of SHBG production increases for all of us, but for those of us with this genetic anomaly, it has a much greater effect. When we are young, the total amount of T we produce is enough to saturate the protein and enough spills over into free T to feel normal and to have normal libido, erections, and ejaculations. However, as we age and the SHBG goes way up, we can no longer saturate the protein and Free T falls below a critical amount. That's when we start to notice it.

For me there were slight indications at age 30. By age 40, definite indications (but still not as bad as you), by 50, my libido, erections. and ejaculations were in the dumpster and I was feeling depressed, even though I knew deep down that it wasn't clinical depression. I went through a series of doc that were more than willing to hand out antidepressants like candy (I turned them all down) before I came across one that accurately diagnosed my condition. I got the help I needed and the rest is history.

So, this has been a problem since I was leaving my teens and entered my twenties, and has been present ever since. My SHBG has always been in the high 40/50s from past blood work, so idk what the optimal value should be.

I'm tired of doctors saying I'm fine, and I really don't know what else to do or tell them otherwise to convince them I'm not, because all they see is a high test value and assume all is well.

I'm with Kaiser, and if I get blood work done elsewhere I'm not sure how to explain to a PCP who isn't specialized in that area to help me.

Just exactly how did you you go about finding a doc to help you because I'm totally stuck and feeling lost. I'm no expert on this stuff and it's hard to find someone who is that will actually help instead of saying "here's a dick pill"

[Youthful55guy]

I feel fine. I'll have it tested again but my thyroid has never been an issue.



So, this has been a problem since I was leaving my teens and entered my twenties, and has been present ever since. My SHBG has always been in the high 40/50s from past blood work, so idk what the optimal value should be.

I'm tired of doctors saying I'm fine, and I really don't know what else to do or tell them otherwise to convince them I'm not, because all they see is a high test value and assume all is well.

I'm with Kaiser, and if I get blood work done elsewhere I'm not sure how to explain to a PCP who isn't specialized in that area to help me.

Just exactly how did you you go about finding a doc to help you because I'm totally stuck and feeling lost. I'm no expert on this stuff and it's hard to find someone who is that will actually help instead of saying "here's a dick pill"

Good docs are hard to come by. Are you in CA (I.e. Kaiser)? If so where? I had to pay through the nose for a great doc in the LA area. He does not take insurance, but he got me on a great protocol. After a while, I got my PCP to take over.

Most docs don't know jach $#it about SHBG.