What bloods and what to do next?
So I'm considering my options, next cycle or maybe going TRT
I'm getting on a bit - 44
BF is around 16 to 18 but I can drop it down without a problem, I'm ectomorph with a fast met
I eat around 4000 to 4500cals a day without an issue. healthy balanced diet
195
92 kg
Train 4 times a week - cardio (fight club training), push, pull, legs.
Have a few basic cycles under the belt - Test only, Dbol/test, Drol/test.
Why am I thinking this? to be honest I'm struggling here. My diet is good, I probably don't sleep as much as I should but its not like I'm living on 4 hrs a night.
Work is tough but not extreme. I don't have a particularly hard life.
But still, I'm dying on my feet here. Tired all the time, no energy, training twice as hard and getting half as much as I used to. I's been a year since my last cycle and my after cycle bloods didn't show anything to be worried about. Am I quite simply over the hill or is something wrong?
As usual the GP has come up with nothing - Fatigue he says - you are getting older, take some vitamins and some time off.... pfffft - useless!
I want to do something, get my game on again, feel like man I used to be.
I want to seriously consider my options, TRT is a life time decision, not to be taken lightly.
Maybe I can adjust something naturally and get myself back on track?
I want to start by paying extra attention to bloods this time and getting the right ones.
The lab I use can offer the the following for around £140 or $200
Its In Swedish (as I live in Sweden) but I put some translations in brackets, but I'm sure the guys who know the score will recognize the abbreviations anyway
My question is, are these all the tests I need or is there something else not in the list needed to make a proper judgment for what to do next?
Thanks for any advice
Sköldkörtelrubbning (thyroid tests)
TSH
Risk för hjärtsjukdom (Heart disease)
HDL Kolesterol
LDL Kolesterol
Kolesterol-total
Diabetes/Metabolstörning (metabolic imbalance)
Glukos
Blodbrist / Anemi (Blood deficiency)
Hemoglobin (Hb)
Leukocyter (LPK)
Trombocyter (TPK)
MCH
Erytrocyter (EPK)
Hematokrit (EVF)
Vitaminer / Mineraler
Järn
Leverfunktion (Liver Function)
ASAT | ALAT
Njurfunktion Kidney function
Kreatinin | Natrium | Kalium
Inflammation (Infection)
CRP
The hormones ........
Östrogen (Östradiol)
Testosteron
SHBG (Sex hormone-binding globulin)
LH (Luteiniserande hormon)
PSA-kvot
- Bookmark
- 0
- 0
basskiller89Test makes me more tired and I breathe heavier
More muscle is more tears which can make you sore for longer
Maybe read into GHRT while you look into TRT
Maybe your over training. Wish I could eat that many calories...
Trust me I am not over training, if anything it's not enough.
Like I said I have a super fast metabolism and a busy job where I spend all day on my feet.
I have Trained myself to eat 4000 calories a day, it wasn't easy and still isn't some days. However I can eat more when I'm on cycle and Training hard.
Living4ThePumpMost GP's are useless... I'm from Germany and I know what I'm talking about. Oftentimes you'll have to help yourself, otherwise you'll get lost here. Don't know how it's for you guys in Sweden though. Better chances in the US, there are plenty of TRT and Anti Aging clinics that are specialized on that.
As far as blood work, looks fine. I would definitely add FT3 and FT4 to the thyroid panel, as these are the two most important thyroid hormones. TSH alone can tell something but definitely not all you need to know. For your hormones, maybe add FSH, since the half life of LH is very short and you could get many different values for it over the course of the day. FSH has a longer half life and thus is a better indicator for LH levels. Free Testosterone would be nice to have, but no must since you can calculate it.
And make sure to do the blood test first thing in the morning fasted.
Regards
Thanks
The clinic offer ft3 to guys but not ft4, that's only available to women for some reason.
I can add fsh, and ft3 but it would be another $60!
So I'm only inclined to do that if it's really worth it.
I looked into free testosterone, from what I understand it is SHBG or do I have that wrong?
Living4ThePumpThen add Ft3. Ft3 is THE active thyroid hormone. Ft4 gets converted into Ft3 so Ft3 is super important. It regulates your thyroid activity (BMR, body temperature etc.).
SHBG tells you how much of your total Testosterone is bound to proteins in the blood. The Testosterone that's not bound is available for your body = free Testosterone. Total Testosterone and SHBG should be plenty.
regards
Ok gotcha, now when I think of it I had some thyroid
tests just recently that a doctor ordered for another issue. I'll see if I can dig them out. They may have taken ft3 and more
Living4ThePumpthat will be helpful. regards
Well, I have gone through my bloods over the past few years and found the following,
2014
TSH - 1.2
FT4 - 11
2015
TSH - 1.4
FT4 - 12
2016
TSH - 1.5
2017
TSH - 1.5
FT4 - 10
All these results were either pre or post cycle completely natty. Does this say anything to you ?
Also I looked further into the tests offered by the lab I have to use, and I can get the FSH you mentioned for a little extra cost but the thyroid tests are a killer. I would rather try and avoid them if I could. The last test was late 2017 could this and the history be enough to make a judgment along with the other tests I proposed?
Your tsh is perfect. But your free t4 is in the gutter.
So yes definitely a problem there.
A general practitioner doctor (normal MD in usa or prinary care??) Wont really be able to help.
I appreciate the costs but you need to see an endocrinologist experienced with thyroid issues.
If tsh is on point it means the brain is ok. If t4 is not its likely a glandular issue of some sort. You need a full thyroid panel done now fella.
Yeah all these tests were ordered by an endocrine doctor where I live. I knew something was wrong so I kept going back even though she said everything was ok.
The reference values are 8 to 16 so I guess she considered it to be in range she said she was out of ideas so she referred me to a university hospital to see a consultant, still waiting to hear from them.....
What readings should I expect to see?
Just so i am not filling you full of shit....
8 to 16 of what measurement? I am presuming it is: pmol / L???
If so 16 is low for top end. (Ranges are bullshit - personal opinion)
Either way for ft4 ft3 you wannt be in top quarter of range to be optimal.
For tsh around 1.2 is literally perfect.
I normally cringe at men attending women doctor... but... way more women get affected by thyroid.
Tell us about reference range measurement value. ...
On my test papers it reads like this
S-TSH mU/L 0.4-40 1.5
S- T4, free pmol/L 8-16 10
I looked up endocrineweb.com and a few others and they give a reading in units - ng/dL
So it seems the lab I have been to are using a different measurement unit to those I see on the web...
Yeah ok. So tsh level is normal. Free t4 is low.
On my bloods, free t4 range is 12-22pmol/l
Normal or optimal would be perhaps 17-22.
Now i said the brain/pit os probably ok, but i could be wrong. Its oissible pit gland is only able to pump out normal level in response to low ft4. .. meaning its underperforming. OR the actual thyroid gland may not be creating enough t4.
So.... its guesswork and you need to avoud that. You need an endo with a modern patient-centric approach.
Read here:http://thyroidlovingcare.com/rethinking-normal-ranges
Range 1-1.53 ng/dl = 12.8 - 19.7 pmol/l
So 10 is a good bit lower than the bottom end of optimal. Also, new thinkers feel you would want to be in the top quarter so.... 17-20 to be right on.
Thanks for the advice giardap
I don't get much choice in who I use as an endo doctor. It's been nearly 4 years and she ain't come with nothing.
Like I said though I'm waiting on a referral to a bod who is a pay grade above the endo doc I have already seen.
Will chase that up and see what they come with.
Any thing I can do to boost my t4 myself?
And I guess it's no idea to start on the juice again the way things are?
I have noticed a major difference in growth and recovery at 39 compared to 20s and 30s. It takes me a lot longer to get in shape and a lot longer to recover from training. These blood tests all look good. Get it done and check thyroid and testosterone levels and let us know what you find. I will help you when you get that done. Trt might help your issues but wait until you feel ready. Possibly think about hgh at a small replacement dose because it can make a big difference also