Do I need to fear?

[Guest guest]

Hi there!

I have not yet seen my endocronologist (sp?) but I have been referred

to one. Here's the deal: I went to the doctor last week because I

was getting tired of having barely existant sex drive, regular and

unjustified mood changes (mostly anger and irritation) and slight

depression, and I was exhausted after 5 p.m.--like I just wanted to

go to bed.

For me---a 33 year old guy, who's 6 foot 157 pds, who works out

often, watches my diet and gets at least 7-8 hours of sleep each

night--my symptoms were not acceptable.

So she ordered some blood tests. My total testosterone is 341 ng/dl

(lab range is 241-872); my total estrogens is 150 ph/ml (range of 0-

130) and my progesterone is 1.0 (in a range of 0-1.4 ng/ml). Those

were the only hormone tests she did. The others were for HEP and HIV,

which were all non-reactive.

She referred me to an endro for this, and I was wondering what could

be wrong. Am I turning into a woman? I looked some things up, and

many of them pointed to hypogonadism. Do you think, based upon these

results, that I should worry? Are there treatments you think I

should discuss with my endo when I visit?

I really would appreciate any information or advice you could lend. I

thought I was going bonkers, and now it seems that my body feels the

same way.

Thanks for reading and for your help.

Markus

[Guest guest]

Markus,

You have nothing to worry about, and I don't think you are turning

into a woman :-) There are conditions that can cause this but odds

are, you're fine. What you will find likely is that over the next

several months you will run into Endo's and other Doctor's that will

not understand what you are going through and will think that because

your T is 341 that you are normal. Note: you were in the range...

That's what most docs will tell you. But the reality is, you are not

feeling right. And it is especially an issue for you in that you are

young, atheletic, fit, and try to take care of yourself. I know how

you feel, I'm in the same boat. Very active, 37, 6-1, 180, 8% BF,

workout bunches. Play soccer several times a week, run, swim,

tennis.. Very active, I eat healthy etc.. But then this thing jumps

out of nowhere and makes you start questioning what could be wrong.

You tell yourself " I'm healthy, vital, etc.. So it must be some

desease or tumor " , right? Well, that's what I thought. But luckily,

and hopefully for you as well, that was not the case. In my case, T

has been measured as low as 128 ng/dl and I also show high estrogens

in the 190 pg/ml range.

Ask yourself some questions though about suppliments and such you

might have taken. There are many prohormones and steroids that will

supress your testosterone production. Including leagal steroids that

are available over the counter. In may be possible that you have

suppressed your own production by taking some of these products. In

my case, the doctors feel it's related to previous use of cortizone

shots (prescribed by an orthopedic surgeon) for a seaparated shoulder

and several knee injuries. Cortizone shots will also shut down you

testosterone production.

Good luck. A good resource for you is the book by Dr. Eugene Shippen

entitled " The Testosterone Syndrome " . The sections on Estrogen are

particularly good.

y

> Hi there!

>

> I have not yet seen my endocronologist (sp?) but I have been

referred

> to one. Here's the deal: I went to the doctor last week because I

> was getting tired of having barely existant sex drive, regular and

> unjustified mood changes (mostly anger and irritation) and slight

> depression, and I was exhausted after 5 p.m.--like I just wanted to

> go to bed.

>

> For me---a 33 year old guy, who's 6 foot 157 pds, who works out

> often, watches my diet and gets at least 7-8 hours of sleep each

> night--my symptoms were not acceptable.

>

> So she ordered some blood tests. My total testosterone is 341

ng/dl

> (lab range is 241-872); my total estrogens is 150 ph/ml (range of 0-

> 130) and my progesterone is 1.0 (in a range of 0-1.4 ng/ml). Those

> were the only hormone tests she did. The others were for HEP and

HIV,

> which were all non-reactive.

>

> She referred me to an endro for this, and I was wondering what

could

> be wrong. Am I turning into a woman? I looked some things up, and

> many of them pointed to hypogonadism. Do you think, based upon

these

> results, that I should worry? Are there treatments you think I

> should discuss with my endo when I visit?

>

> I really would appreciate any information or advice you could lend.

I

> thought I was going bonkers, and now it seems that my body feels

the

> same way.

>

> Thanks for reading and for your help.

>

> Markus