Extremely Low Testosterone- Recommendations Encouraged

[BigArms42]

Also my MRI test came back without issues with my pituitary gland, so they believe my low T was either a symptom of post covid syndrome or a side effect of my obstructive sleep apnea because I still have yet to be prescribed a cpap machine. I contacted the VA and I am currently awaiting the orders for the full hormone blood panel test to my ordered and conducted. Once I get that LAB i will post the results here.

If you have a pituitary glad issues thats going to cause problems. Lets see those bloods.

 

[danshep89]

here is my current bloodwork. They did everything but my new testosterone level for some odd reason. So I posted my fsh/lh/ and testosterone results from last april for context.

 

[danshep89]

Essentially it appears my white blood cell and red blood cell numbers are down, and my cortisol is high for that time of day. Im kinda pissed that they didnt retest my testosterone this time around but Aug 1st they have me scheduled for testosterone, fsh/lh, prolactin, and estradiol. And I have a sleep study consult july 12 because I wake up constantly around 2-3 am every night and gasp for air about 10-15 times per hour. Extremely hard to get sleep and I'm a zombie all day at work. I work on planes so pretty active individual, drink water throughout the day, and I just started working out again finally because before I would pass out after picking up weights. The bloodwork seems to point to possibly anemia as well from what I could tell but is that because the low t or the cause of the low t ... i dont know... but all of this stuff started in october of last year.

 

[TrenTrenTren]

Last October I got extremely sick and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I believe it was covid but the doctors said it wasn't because I didn't test positive. By December I noticed my sexual function was declining. Super emotional, no more morning wood or erections, barely any jizz coming out on orgasm, hot flashes, weak bones, and muscle melted off my body. I have also been experiencing tiredness, insomnia, sleep apnea, and TMJ issues where my jaw is aching after eating any amount of food. Went from squatting about 550lbs and being able to single-arm curl 60lb dumbbells to barely being able to pick up 10lbs dumbbells. My muscle is all completely gone, lost about 13 pounds-sitting at about 155lbs. Originally was 168lb, 5'9", training for over 10 years. Now when I try to work out with 10lb dumbbells I immediately get dizzy and pass out. Only the treadmill is doable but the doctor recommended I stop all exercising. Being prior military I go to the VA and they suggested I get my Testosterone checked. I'm 33 years old and my testosterone a couple of years prior was 530 total. My test in MARCH came back and it was 65 total testosterone, FSH 85, LH 80. They said this was probably just temporary. Retested in late April. 76 total testosterone, FSH 88, LH 84. They have since transferred me to an Endocrinologist who was a female. She couldn't tell me much as she claims that males are not her specialty. That's the VA for you. She explained that my primary care did not pull the right blood work as she would need a full hormone panel to see what is going on, but not until I get my pituitary checked. I Just got an MRI last week with contrast for my pituitary gland. I was curious if anyone knows what a super elevated LH and FSH signify because the female doctor could not explain it to me. Everywhere I look online it is telling me my testosterone levels are deadly and an emergency but the VA has been dragging its feet on my treatment. I wanted to know everyone's opinion on my treatment options. I asked the doctor about HCG with TRT and she said HCG would not be recommended and that realistically they would just put me on TRT until I hit a level of at least 250. Do I run risks of loss of fertility and/or overall health due to not being treated immediately? Are there any recommendations anyone has for me while awaiting treatment?

Most doctors are worthless when dealing with hormone related issues, especially for males. I feel good when my free test is around 1000-1200. You need to experiment and find out the replacement dosage that you feel the best at, and where you can avoid any unwanted sides.

 

[danshep89]

I also just got my new results back for this month: ESTRADIOL 7 pg/ml, Free Testosterone 17.2 pg/ml, Total Testosterone 71 ng/dl.

 

[SteveSmi]

where are you at right now in terms of cycle/pct time in between

 

[starboy]

Essentially it appears my white blood cell and red blood cell numbers are down, and my cortisol is high for that time of day. Im kinda pissed that they didnt retest my testosterone this time around but Aug 1st they have me scheduled for testosterone, fsh/lh, prolactin, and estradiol. And I have a sleep study consult july 12 because I wake up constantly around 2-3 am every night and gasp for air about 10-15 times per hour. Extremely hard to get sleep and I'm a zombie all day at work. I work on planes so pretty active individual, drink water throughout the day, and I just started working out again finally because before I would pass out after picking up weights. The bloodwork seems to point to possibly anemia as well from what I could tell but is that because the low t or the cause of the low t ... i dont know... but all of this stuff started in october of last year.

first your testosterone is low thats not good

your sleep issue, thats sleep apnea 100% seems
you need to get a cpap machine and it will fix it

your blood issues are because you have low iron levels I bet
add daily iron supplement 2 x/day and take it with vitamin C

can you post up a LOG?
your training and diet, diet would be important for us to see to measure your issues

 

[starboy]

I also just got my new results back for this month: ESTRADIOL 7 pg/ml, Free Testosterone 17.2 pg/ml, Total Testosterone 71 ng/dl.

71 is in those results above I saw thats low
and what range are they using for estradiol?

 

[JasonPriest]

71ng/dl is low. you are either still suppressed hard or you need more time

 

[CEO]

bros you have a few issues
sleep apnea is causing your sleep problems fix it asap

how about you log your training diet for us

 

[ROIDDERS]

those are low test levels imo

read this about sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea. The main types of sleep apnea are: Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax

thats your symptoms
you nee the cpap machine asap

and can you asap post a LOG

 

[QuadSweep]

this is low iron and low zinc levels and sleep apnea in 1 combo

you need to deal with these issues asap

and you need to post a log asap

 

[Ulter]

that is very low test levels

you have sleep apnea if I had to guess
and an iron deficiency on top of it

we HAVE to see your LOG
what you are supplementing?eating?training?

 

[e2]

lots of issues here but can be corrected
guys gave you good points on cpap and iron
add a LOG soon

 

[2Thick]

1 sleep apnea
2 low iron
3 diet issues
you need to LOG and show your diet training and supplements

 

[MONSTRO]

guys gave you the deal
you need a cpap machine NOW
and you need a LOG now

 

[StevenDarwinMD]

LOG APPROVED - PLEASE POST A LOG

This thread/post was reviewed by our Medical Review board.

This thread/post/message was also fact checked by Steven Darwin, MD and our medical review board.

Full editorial process was followed, and please read our medical disclaimer, check our editorial process.

 

[Mobster]

Stevesmi is our blood tests guy

 

[Vadim Fedorov]

Start fixing your issues one by one, control your diet and you will recover

 

[danshep89]

For those that are confused. I'm not on trt or anything. I found the site through Dylans videos on youtube. I was looking into help on using future trt and health issues correlated, due to a drop in testosterone I've been experiencing since dec/jan time frame. My levels have been below 80 since March on paper. But my undiagnosed sleep apnea started in Oct following a recovery from a Covid Omicron variant I had from Aug to late Sept. I have been going to doctors nonstop since and they have just diagnosed my low testosterone in March, I finally get a sleep study consult next Tuesday. It took so long because they focused primarily on MRI and heart tests for the first couple of months. It will probably be a little longer before a CPAP is given or TRT treatment so I was looking for anything I could do to help my situation. Diet wise I currently use myfitnesspal and eat 1800 calories per day - 240g protein, 120g carbs, and 38g fat. This has been my diet for a huge purpose of my life and sometimes I go up to 2100 calories. I only drink water as I currently work outside fixing planes. My doctors currently have me taking Lisinopril for the hypertension issues during sleep and during the day. Lately, the sleep apnea has really ramped up and it has caused me to become hypotensive upon waking and throughout the day following incidents rather than hypertensive. I will definitely start the zinc and iron supplements, I am currently taking about 8 different vitamins. My typical blood pressure has been stagnant from around 96/55 to 106/65 and upper 140/100 to 180/100 during some sleeping and waking incidents during the night. My blood was doing very well till about june when the sleep apnea got worse and the blood pressure levels im showing is what I experience daily now. The reference range given for estradiol is greater or equal to 29 pg/ml, mine is 7. The reference range given for Free Testosterone is 35-155, mine is 17.2. Total Testosterone range is 250-1100, mine is 71.