Let’s talk about a total mindfuck shall we? Back in December, just for shits and giggles, I got my testosterone levels tested, which began a cascade of psychological trauma resulting in my spending a lot of time, money and effort on trying to rescue my aging body’s apparent androgen deficiency. I tested again about 45 days later, and saw improvement in TT levels, but decrease in FT due to an increase in SHBG, and fairly low E levels, likely due to all the AI’s I was taking. Distraught, I discussed my concerns with my doctor and he scheduled me for yet another test. I did not tell him about my own tests so I could have a clean slate to start my TRT discussions with him.
One thing I learned before going in for the last test is that fasted T testing, first thing in the morning, is the most accurate means of determining T levels, since they peak in the morning and meals, glucose consumption, etc. will have an impact on the results. So this most recent test should produce the most accurate results since neither the Dec test or the Jan test I did on my own were fasted, and both were a few hours after the optimal 8:00 AM draw. I fully expected my levels this time to be higher as a result, but certainly not dramatically so.
Lab results were posted to my personalized health tracking site and I nervously opened them to find they were not the T tests, but some basic blood work done in conjunction with them. I am still waiting on the actual T results to post, but I did get an email response from the doctor’s office which I’ll elaborate on in a moment. First up, my blood work showed what I can only assume was the result of giving up 18 vials of blood in a 6-8 week period: Iron deficient anemia. Not dramatically low, but low enough that I started taking an 18 MG iron supplement and will for 30 days. From what I’ve read, donating a unit of blood is enough to suggest supplementing iron for 60 days. My rough calculations are that all my blood draws equate to about half a unit, so I’ll go with 30 days. I also have elevated liver enzymes, which I knew already, but one increased even more so I’m going to take some milk thistle for 30 days to try to bring that down, and stop taking so much damned acetominaphin.
Now to the alleged results of my test:
- Total Testosterone: 663 ng/dl
- Free Testosterone: 8.75 ng/dl
Considering my Dec test was 364 TT and 3.37 FT, and my January test was 476 TT and 4.33 FT, this result is shocking in the “that can’t be my blood” kind of way. Not only would I clearly not be a TRT candidate, I would have the total testosterone levels of the average 25-year old male, with Free Testosterone more in line with my age group:
- 25-29 average Total T: 669
- 25-29 average Free T: 12.3
- 45-54 average Free T: 9.1
- 55-64 average Free T: 8.3 (1)
I’m torn about what to make of all this. It’s certainly possible that my personal test results were inaccurate due to the factors I described; i.e. not fasted and later in the morning. It’s also possible that my Free T improved to 1.32% of my total from <1% in the prior tests due to the changes in my diet and the growth hormone secretagogue I’m taking, that may have lowered my SHBG. Unfortunately, the most recent test did not check SHBG levels, so I’m left guessing on that score, but that’s the most likely explanation for an increase in Free T. I doubt they checked estradiol (E) in this most recent blood draw, so I won’t know the impact of my halting the AI supplements I was taking.
As I sit here right now, digesting all of this in real time as I write this post, I think I have to accept that my most recent test is accurate, and that my levels are pretty damned good after all. It hasn’t fully penetrated the cerebellum yet, as I was convinced over the last few months that I was an androgen deficient aging male. But let’s face facts: my lifestyle is conducive of excellent health outcomes. I don’t drink, smoke or use drugs. I lift heavy weights on the regular and have for decades. My diet is far and above superior to the average American male, and I continue to try to improve it. A doctor recently told me I had the prostate of a teenager (and my PSA levels confirm it). It is all too possible that I sent myself spinning out with a suboptimal test back in December. Knowing myself as I do, I’m not all that surprised. I tend to react immediately to new information, and to react aggressively.
There’s only one thing to do at this point, and I’m doing it.
- Stop taking all testosterone related supplements.
- Continue the nutritional ketosis diet I’m using, without added oleic acid in the form of olive oil, avocado, almonds and excessive egg yolks.
- Continue the MK 677.
- Retest a complete panel, including SHBG and E in 60 days, and do it right: 8:00 AM, fasted.
Daniel Dennett, one of my favorite philosophers, said in his book Intuition Pumps and other tools for Thinking that we should cherish our mistakes. They’re the best tool we have for learning. We should hold them up, and look them over like a sculpture. “Learn to take a deep breath, grit your teeth, and then examine your own recollections of the mistake as ruthlessly and as dispassionately as you can manage.”
Let’s look at my “mistake” and see what, if anything, I can learn from it.
- I learned about testosterone production, and how age, BMI, diet and lifestyle factors impact it.
- I learned about the circadian rhythm of testosterone.
- I learned about how important estrogen is for men, and what the ideal ratio of estrogen to testosterone is.
- I learned about sex hormone binding globulin and how it impacts free testosterone and how diet can influence sex hormone binding globulin production in the liver.
- I learned which supplements are effective at blocking the aromatase enzyme, thereby lowering estrogen and causing increased testosterone production.
- I learned how anabolic steroids, and to a lesser degree SARMs, suppress natural testosterone production and how important post-cycle therapy is to restore them.
- I learned about testosterone replacement therapy.
I’d say that was one hell of a productive mistake!
(1) https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/normal-testosterone-levels/
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