Would like the input of you guys who have been at this awhile. Not getting any help from doctors. My main question is - do I have any indication what is causing my low testosterone, and do I have any hope of restoring it without supplementation? I wont load you up with lab results. They've already been analyzed by a neuroendocrinologist who is very HRT friendly. I couldn't get a clear answer from him. Maybe someone here will have some insights/brainstorms. So Ill summarize:
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Pre any treatment: Testosterone 296. Estradiol 6 (insanely low). DHT extremely low. However: LH and FSH - normal.
_____
Plan 1: Clomid 12.5mg daily: Testosterone 880. Estradiol 8 (still low). DHT still low. However: LH and FSH - far too high.
Sex drive returned, depression lifted, sleep & energy restored - followed by total loss of libido.
I theorized that I felt like crap because my LH and FSH were too high.
_____
Plan 2: Clomid 6mg daily: Testosterone 730. Estradiol 12 (still low). DHT still low. However: LH and FSH - back in range. Good.
Sex drive back. Felt much better. Followed by bouts of severe afternoon depression.
I theorized that I needed my Estrogen to be pulled up in range. So I added DHEA.
_____
Plan 3: Clomid 6mg + 5mg DHEA: Testosterone 550.
Felt for the most part perfect again. Sex drive still somewhat blah. But for some reason, this combination was my "sweet spot".
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Notes:
* I clearly didn't have low LH and FSH when I started. Probably shouldn't have gone the Clomid route.
* I got insane results from a very small dose (12mg) but this pushed my LH out of range and i felt like crap despite 880 testosterone.
* Lowering the dose got me back in range, but pushed my testosterone down to 550 which is lower than I'd like.
* My estrogen and DHT are still too low. And not moving.
This tells me that the source of my (entire) endocrine system being "low" is not an LH / FSH problem. Its something else.
I'm not sure how to proceed at this point.
* I want my estrogen at about 26. Not 8.
* I want my DHT at a slightly higher level just for overall health.
* I want my Testosterone at about 750 ongoing.
* I do not want to take testosterone to accomplish this
* I prefer to find the true cause and address that.
Any thoughts at all?
* I can't keep taking Clomid forever. And if I start Androgel that's just going to "undo" any endegenous production I may have kickstarted with the Clomid.
* I've been on clomid now for almost 6 months :(
* Granted its only 6mg a day, but still... this can't be a smart approach.
* I have extreme propensity towards heart attacks / stroke / heart disease in my family.
* I got my 23andMe results back and my genetic markers put me at very high risk for all three as well.
* I don't want to mess with Androgel or injections.
Thanks.
_____
Pre any treatment: Testosterone 296. Estradiol 6 (insanely low). DHT extremely low. However: LH and FSH - normal.
_____
Plan 1: Clomid 12.5mg daily: Testosterone 880. Estradiol 8 (still low). DHT still low. However: LH and FSH - far too high.
Sex drive returned, depression lifted, sleep & energy restored - followed by total loss of libido.
I theorized that I felt like crap because my LH and FSH were too high.
_____
Plan 2: Clomid 6mg daily: Testosterone 730. Estradiol 12 (still low). DHT still low. However: LH and FSH - back in range. Good.
Sex drive back. Felt much better. Followed by bouts of severe afternoon depression.
I theorized that I needed my Estrogen to be pulled up in range. So I added DHEA.
_____
Plan 3: Clomid 6mg + 5mg DHEA: Testosterone 550.
Felt for the most part perfect again. Sex drive still somewhat blah. But for some reason, this combination was my "sweet spot".
--------------
Notes:
* I clearly didn't have low LH and FSH when I started. Probably shouldn't have gone the Clomid route.
* I got insane results from a very small dose (12mg) but this pushed my LH out of range and i felt like crap despite 880 testosterone.
* Lowering the dose got me back in range, but pushed my testosterone down to 550 which is lower than I'd like.
* My estrogen and DHT are still too low. And not moving.
This tells me that the source of my (entire) endocrine system being "low" is not an LH / FSH problem. Its something else.
I'm not sure how to proceed at this point.
* I want my estrogen at about 26. Not 8.
* I want my DHT at a slightly higher level just for overall health.
* I want my Testosterone at about 750 ongoing.
* I do not want to take testosterone to accomplish this
* I prefer to find the true cause and address that.
Any thoughts at all?
* I can't keep taking Clomid forever. And if I start Androgel that's just going to "undo" any endegenous production I may have kickstarted with the Clomid.
* I've been on clomid now for almost 6 months :(
* Granted its only 6mg a day, but still... this can't be a smart approach.
* I have extreme propensity towards heart attacks / stroke / heart disease in my family.
* I got my 23andMe results back and my genetic markers put me at very high risk for all three as well.
* I don't want to mess with Androgel or injections.
Thanks.
HRT Experts - your input?
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