Hypogonadism?

[jon671]

How is it diagnosed? I am a 26 year old male overweight with gyno, ed, fatigue, my testicle feel soft.......I tested my hormones about 3 months ago and here are the results

Dhea(NL) 458ng/DL Ref range142-1410
Testosterone, total (DSL) 346Ng/DL Ref range 190-1037
Estradiol (DSL) 32 PG/ML None given
Cortisol 14.8 Ug/DL None given

I retested a month ago

FSH 5.7 Miu/ml Ref range 1.3-19.3
Lh 3.7 Miu/ml Ref range 1.2-8.6
Total testosterone 230 ng/dl Ref range 190-1037
Free testosterone 51.3pg/ml Ref range 35- 155
Shbg 12 nmol/l Ref range 7-49
Prolactin 15.7 ng/ml Ref range 2.6-13.1
Estradiol 55 pg/ml Ref range <207 (they changed the method of testing)

Does this mean I have hypogonadism? I am seeing an endo and he said all my levels are fine. He wants me to retest and see him again in about a month. I asked him if there is a problem with my pituitary and he said he is not convinced so he wants to retest. He said the prolactin could be high because of breast stimulation when he examined my gyno. That sounds kind of weird is it true? I got the blood test done the next day. I know my balls are okay because i got my wife pregnant less than a year ago and she might be pregnant again. Sometimes I have eye pain and blurry vision. The eye pain is hard to describe, but putting pressure on my eyes helps relieve it. Sometimes I get headaches and feel a little dizzy, but I have been under a lot of pressure lately. He said my fsh and lh are in range, but to me they look low. I mean if they are in fine then wouldn't my testosterone be fine? Meaning the low normal range is okay? Should I seek treatment now or loose weight. What is my best bet besides a endo? A Urologist? I am very limited on doctor choices where I live. What is a DO?

 

[jpk]

Couple of observations:

You're not OK. Your profile is out of whack. Why? Maybe MDs and DOs (Osteopaths) can help you figure it out. If not, there's a lot of help right here on this board available from people who decided to take their endocrine profile under their own control and start feeling and looking better. Read up on this board for at least an hour a day for a couple of weeks and start getting educated.

If you really want to get treated properly, set up an appointment with Dr. John Crisler DO (google for contact info). You can trial and error this kind of thing on your own (lots of us do) but he'll approach the problem with better diagnostics and treatment options. For instance, I can't get my own injectable test or HCG no matter how hard I look, but he can.

Welcome to our community. You're definitely in the right place!

 

[joe143]

You might want to consider an MRI with eye pain and blurry vision. This could be a syptom of a pituitarty adenoma. Pituitary adenomas will cause low testosterone.

 

[jon671]

Couple of observations:

You're not OK. Your profile is out of whack. Why? Maybe MDs and DOs (Osteopaths) can help you figure it out. If not, there's a lot of help right here on this board available from people who decided to take their endocrine profile under their own control and start feeling and looking better. Read up on this board for at least an hour a day for a couple of weeks and start getting educated.

If you really want to get treated properly, set up an appointment with Dr. John Crisler DO (google for contact info). You can trial and error this kind of thing on your own (lots of us do) but he'll approach the problem with better diagnostics and treatment options. For instance, I can't get my own injectable test or HCG no matter how hard I look, but he can.

Welcome to our community. You're definitely in the right place!

Thanks for the reply and the welcome. I have been reading up on this forum quite a bit and others. I have been seeing an endo, but he isn't really telling me anything. As for seeing a doctor in the states it is kinda hard as I live in the Pacific very far away.

 

[jon671]

You might want to consider an MRI with eye pain and blurry vision. This could be a syptom of a pituitarty adenoma. Pituitary adenomas will cause low testosterone.

That is what I thought a pituitary problem, but my endo said he is not convinced and wants to retest my hormones. We'll see one more appointment and if he doesn't treat me he's gone.

 

[B5150]

You may want to consider getting your diet and exercise in order now...regardless. A 6' male does not become 290lb simply because he has low range testosterone.

When was the first test taken. What has your lifestyle been since? Do you exercise?

What's your cholesterol and BP like? How about diabetes or pre diabetes. Not uncommon for a guy your size.

I would take your doctors advice and retest later but you need to get your self quite a bit more fit regardless of what your testosterone levels are.

Having high cholesterol, pre-diabetes or high blood pressure causes hardening of the arteries, which decreases blood flow to the testicles to damage the testicles and lower testosterone. High blood pressure and high cholesterol lower testosterone, so men with low testosterone are at increased risk for heart attacks. That means that every impotent man should have blood tests for cholesterol and diabetes, the two leading causes of heart attacks as well as impotence. The tests your doctor should order include HBA1C, lipid panel, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), homocysteine, Lp(a), prolactin and testosterone. By the time a man has low levels of testosterone, he may already have significant arteriosclerosis.

 

[jon671]

You may want to consider getting your diet and exercise in order now...regardless. A 6' male does not become 290lb simply because he has low range testosterone.

When was the first test taken. What has your lifestyle been since? Do you exercise?

What's your cholesterol and BP like? How about diabetes or pre diabetes. Not uncommon for a guy your size.

I would take your doctors advice and retest later but you need to get your self quite a bit more fit regardless of what your testosterone levels are.

I have changed my lifestyle i.e. diet, exercise, quit smoking and drinking. I have high LDL I think doctor said diet and exercise will bring it down. My fasting Glucose is within range and I am seeing an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes and he said nothing about diabetes. I am not blaming my weight on my testosterone levels. I made myself fat and now I am trying to do something about it. The main reasons I worry about my test levels arev the ed and gyno. I have packed on some muscle and slimmed down a bit. I haven't weighed myself lately though. I think I am going to drop my endocrinologist he has done nothing for me and I have seen him three times already. I feel I have done a lot in the last 3 months to try and turn around my life. Just to also let you know I am overweight, but I am not some obese looking guy. I am big boned a little muscular. I have been big my entire life.

 

[darkblue1]

I have changed my lifestyle i.e. diet, exercise, quit smoking and drinking. I have high LDL I think doctor said diet and exercise will bring it down. My fasting Glucose is within range and I am seeing an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes and he said nothing about diabetes. I am not blaming my weight on my testosterone levels. I made myself fat and now I am trying to do something about it. The main reasons I worry about my test levels arev the ed and gyno. I have packed on some muscle and slimmed down a bit. I haven't weighed myself lately though. I think I am going to drop my endocrinologist he has done nothing for me and I have seen him three times already. I feel I have done a lot in the last 3 months to try and turn around my life. Just to also let you know I am overweight, but I am not some obese looking guy. I am big boned a little muscular. I have been big my entire life.

Are you sleeping well. Are you able to sleep well. If not that may be the reason for eye pain and blurry vision. is it poor vision or blurry vision?

 

[solguy]

You may want to consider getting your diet and exercise in order now...regardless. A 6' male does not become 290lb simply because he has low range testosterone.

When was the first test taken. What has your lifestyle been since? Do you exercise?

What's your cholesterol and BP like? How about diabetes or pre diabetes. Not uncommon for a guy your size.

I would take your doctors advice and retest later but you need to get your self quite a bit more fit regardless of what your testosterone levels are.

anyone have an estimate of how much you can boost your T just by going to the gym and getting in shape?

 

[B5150]

I have changed my lifestyle i.e. diet, exercise, quit smoking and drinking. I have high LDL I think doctor said diet and exercise will bring it down. My fasting Glucose is within range and I am seeing an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes and he said nothing about diabetes. I am not blaming my weight on my testosterone levels. I made myself fat and now I am trying to do something about it. The main reasons I worry about my test levels arev the ed and gyno. I have packed on some muscle and slimmed down a bit. I haven't weighed myself lately though. I think I am going to drop my endocrinologist he has done nothing for me and I have seen him three times already. I feel I have done a lot in the last 3 months to try and turn around my life. Just to also let you know I am overweight, but I am not some obese looking guy. I am big boned a little muscular. I have been big my entire life.

I commend you on the lifestyle changes. Good luck on getting things worked out.

 

[K1212]

do you feel like you are going crazy with hypogonadism, if so I probably have it, I am just awaiting a testosterone blood test

Do you have an increased appetite with lower testosterone? Because I know I have the opposite of that meaning I can eat a bowl of cereal and be fine all day, where as I have read different things saying your appetite is increased with a lower testosterone

 

[jon671]

Are you sleeping well. Are you able to sleep well. If not that may be the reason for eye pain and blurry vision. is it poor vision or blurry vision?

It is more like blurry vision like I can't focus or I am zoning out. And sleep is a problem for me. I started taking a ZMA and hopefully it helps. I also work with computers so that may be the cause.

 

[jon671]

I commend you on the lifestyle changes. Good luck on getting things worked out.

Thanks. I know with me being overweight it is a must not really a choice. I am wondering though in the arena of raising my testosterone how effective will this be? I mean regarding this is it a pointless battle? Does being overweight cause hormone levels to be this off?

 

[jon671]

do you feel like you are going crazy with hypogonadism, if so I probably have it, I am just awaiting a testosterone blood test

Do you have an increased appetite with lower testosterone? Because I know I have the opposite of that meaning I can eat a bowl of cereal and be fine all day, where as I have read different things saying your appetite is increased with a lower testosterone

I'm going crazy trying to find a doctor with answers and that wants to treat me just not test me a couple times and tell me I am fine. Regarding appetite I eat more often now then before and my appetite is up because I workout alot now. Finding out what is wrong is the first step, but finding a good doctor is the hardest part so far for me. The only thing that can tell you if there is a problem is a blood test. You need to test Total testosterone, Free Testosterone, Shbg, Fsh, Lh, Prolactin, and Ultrasensitive Estradiol. I am guessing that you didn't get all of these done? If not you need to retest.

 

[K1212]

I'm going crazy trying to find a doctor with answers and that wants to treat me just not test me a couple times and tell me I am fine. Regarding appetite I eat more often now then before and my appetite is up because I workout alot now. Finding out what is wrong is the first step, but finding a good doctor is the hardest part so far for me. The only thing that can tell you if there is a problem is a blood test. You need to test Total testosterone, Free Testosterone, Shbg, Fsh, Lh, Prolactin, and Ultrasensitive Estradiol. I am guessing that you didn't get all of these done? If not you need to retest.

I dont know, I had a blood test yesterday they said they were going to check for testosterone, I assume they will check for all these things


I know something is wrong with me, I just need the blood tests to confirm it, I am going through an absolute hell on earth now and to top it off my **** isnt working, getting a boner is the least think it is capable, even when I urinate I feel almost a delay

this is a ****ing nightmare I am going through, I cant take it anymore

 

[darkblue1]

It is more like blurry vision like I can't focus or I am zoning out. And sleep is a problem for me. I started taking a ZMA and hopefully it helps. I also work with computers so that may be the cause.

I had the same problem. I work in computers too. Its not problem with pituitary. If you sleep well, then you wont be having vision problems.I even to eye specialist, he told me i have computer fatigue syndrome.But even using them did not stop my vision problems. After I had good sleep for couple of days then I got my vision back.

 

[JanSz]

I have changed my lifestyle i.e. diet, exercise, quit smoking and drinking. I have high LDL I think doctor said diet and exercise will bring it down. My fasting Glucose is within range and I am seeing an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes and he said nothing about diabetes. I am not blaming my weight on my testosterone levels. I made myself fat and now I am trying to do something about it. The main reasons I worry about my test levels arev the ed and gyno. I have packed on some muscle and slimmed down a bit. I haven't weighed myself lately though. I think I am going to drop my endocrinologist he has done nothing for me and I have seen him three times already. I feel I have done a lot in the last 3 months to try and turn around my life. Just to also let you know I am overweight, but I am not some obese looking guy. I am big boned a little muscular. I have been big my entire life.

At 6'
if you are normal, not much muscles -- 150#
if you are real muscular -- 180#

if you are real lean BB (like Arnold) 220-240#

otherwise plain old fat.

The sooner you loose weight the better for you.
.
.

 

[JanSz]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome. I have been reading up on this forum quite a bit and others. I have been seeing an endo, but he isn't really telling me anything. As for seeing a doctor in the states it is kinda hard as I live in the Pacific very far away.

In Pacific you may have tests and medicines just for asking.
If you know what to ask for, you had it made.

 

[thenxtgrt1]

do you feel like you are going crazy with hypogonadism, if so I probably have it, I am just awaiting a testosterone blood test

Do you have an increased appetite with lower testosterone? Because I know I have the opposite of that meaning I can eat a bowl of cereal and be fine all day, where as I have read different things saying your appetite is increased with a lower testosterone

My personal opinion: Decreased appetite comes w/ lower T levels. When I was younger w/ high T levels, I ate like a horse. I could eat 4-5 servings and still want more. Definitely not like that anymore..

 

[jon671]

In Pacific you may have tests and medicines just for asking.
If you know what to ask for, you had it made.

Wrong. I live in a US territory same laws as the states a lot less choices in doctors. I could go to say the philippines or something like that, but where I live is exactly the same as the states.

 

[Gutterpump]

I had the same problem. I work in computers too. Its not problem with pituitary. If you sleep well, then you wont be having vision problems.I even to eye specialist, he told me i have computer fatigue syndrome.But even using them did not stop my vision problems. After I had good sleep for couple of days then I got my vision back.

Good advice on the sleep. The same happens with me, and then I abuse eye drops when my vision gets bad. It's because of dry/tired/strained eyes.

Also, the MRI won't hurt, but it may not be related to the pituitary gland if your LH / FSH are midrange. Still, they should elevate when your test drops, which they don't seem to be doing. You can get checked via MRI for prolactinomas (secreting pituitary adenoma) which can cause low T. You have high prolactin....

Clean healthy diet and excercise, getting in shape, also good advice.