Advice? Thyroid Numbers? Anything else that looks suspect?

[newtohrt]

My Latest thyroid lab tests (LabCorp) are as follows:

TSH 1.7 10 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
Thyroxine (T4) 2.7 4.5-12.0 ug/dL
T3 Uptake 47 24-39 % SE
**Verified by repeat analysis**
Free Thyroxine Index 1.3 1.2-4.9

Total T is 924
Free T is 46
SHBG is 7.5
E2 is 22

Current protocol: Test Prop 50mg EOD, no Aromatase inhibitor (AI), 250 Units Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) E3D

I have been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for 3 years and I don't feel any androgenic benefits from it, other than a very slight increase in energy. I have tried probably every protocol out there at this point, have consulted with several doctors and probably have racked up hundreds of hours researching on the internet and in books. I have also been prescribed thyroid meds (T3 and T4) in the past and took them to no effect. If I take natural thyroid, like Armour for instance, my thyroid levels will all fall back into the normal range, but I don't feel any different - when I don't take Armour, the levels gradually move back to being off from TRT.

I should add that have taken a Spectra-cell test and I am not deficient in anything, plus I supplement DHEA and Preg and both are in the high-normal range. I am not depressed, I am not on, nor have ever used SSRIs, I don't smoke or drink or do recreational drugs, never cycled in the past, never used pro-hormones in the past, and I am not stressed at work or at home. I am 49, 6.0' and 200 lbs probably 15-18% body fat and I have worked out since high school. I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic as my fasting glucose is in the upper 70s to low 80s and my last A1C was 5.0 - its probably under that now as I have been really working on my diet for the last year.

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being most improved after starting Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) vs. before Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), I'd honestly rate my 3 years on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as a 3 at best.

 

[Megatron28]

Well, some of your thyroid results are outside the normal ranges, but you don't need me to tell you that. Unfortunately, I do not really know much about interpreting thyroid panel results.

I do have a point though... What I wanted to ask is did you notice changes in your SHBG when you ran the thyroid meds or came off them? My understanding is that some research out there indicates that being hypo or hyper thyroid affects your SHBG.

 

[newtohrt]

I did not notice any meaningful difference, probably because I am so low to begin with. My SHBG seems to go between 7.5 to 18, but I do not see a correlation with any changes in protocol - its almost like the differences from time to time are just due to testing differences. I spent 3 months supplementing T3 last year because that is supposed to increase SHBG big-time but it made no difference at all, unfortunately.

I should mention that I have always had low SHBG, its not low because I am on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). My SHBG was 18 before I started treatment.

 

[halfwit]

I wonder if you're a hyper-excreter based on such a low Free T given your total test. Have you tried drinking a glass of grapefruit juice daily to suppress the mechanism of excretion? Given such a low SHBG, I'd think it would be higher at least...

I swear one of these days you're going to hop on here and jubilantly exclaim how you've figured it out! I truly wish I knew more, so I could help.

 

[Megatron28]

New: have you ever tried contacting someone who might be considered a leading researcher at a large University? Someone seen as an expert in endocrinology? Or some of the authors of studies you have read? Maybe your issue is beyond what your typical practicing endo can help you with. Just a thought...

 

[newtohrt]

I may well be a hyper-excreter, which is one of the ideas that made me switch to smaller amounts of T, EOD. I used to be on 100 mg E3.5D and I had both higher E2 (barely) and higher total T in the 1050-1100 range. I am doing 200 mgs a week either way so I was a bit surprised to see a slightly lower total. I inject sub-q with a slin pin so its not a problem for me doing shots more often. I have even read of guys with low SHBG doing even smaller daily shots, and I may try that as well. I know many people think that is idiotic with Test Cyp having a 6-7 day half-life and even Test Prop having a 3-4 day half life, but at this point I am up for trying anything. If I could stand on my head and pin, and that was what it took to make it work, I'd be standing on my head and smiling about it.

The grapefruit juice is a great idea and is not something that I have tried yet. I will get some tomorrow and start having a glass a day and see what happens.

 

[newtohrt]

That is a very good idea! I need to do some research and see if I can get into a study. There is a very large research hospital not too far away, so that might just work! Its a shame that male Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is still in the dark ages. I am seeing lots of ND docs in my area just in the past few months started to advertise that they now offer male HRT. I have talked to some them and they don't really know anything about it. They give you 100mg/week in one pin and if that doesn't make you feel like superman, they have no other options, except maybe compounded cream. I ask about Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), Aromatase inhibitor (AI), differing dosing schedules, etc..and they look at me like I either have 2 heads or like I am somehow angling for "steroids" because I "know too much" about it.

 

[halfwit]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Yeah, I love how you get the stare-down for talking about Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS FASHIONABLE TO GROW BOOBIES OR HAVE SMALL NUTS. My bad.