Androgel + Armour

[Mmartin]

Hey guys,

Got another update on what's going on. My symptoms seemed to be getting worse and worse; even though I have tons of tests to study for and lots of things to do, I just couldn't get out of my chair. Just watching T.V. made me feel completely exhausted. So, I started seeing doctors again and found one who was receptive to starting TRT up all over again. She gave me the option of 10g androgel/day or 100mg/week of test. enanthate based on the following labs:

07/2004:
TSH 2.86 (0.3-5.5)
FSH 4.2 (2.0-18.0)
LH 1.9 (1.9-18.0)
Testosterone (total) 17.2 (8.4-28.7)
Ferritin 32 (15-250)

02/2005:
Free Testosterone 22.1 (22-92)
Estradiol 126 (<206)

03/2005:
TSH: 3.5 (0.3-5.50)
Free T4: 20 (11-22)
Free T3: 5.7 (4-7.8)

09/2006:
TSH: 2.4 (.38-5.5)
Free Testosterone 38.4 (22-95)
A.M. Cortisol 784 (140-690)
Vitamin B12 880 (150-650)
Glucose Fasting 4.8 (3.3-6.0)

I also took my avg. temperature over a week and it always came out to 97.8 (oral)

I decided to go with 10g of androgel/day for ease of application, and that was 1 week ago.

I also had a previous appointment with another doctor who, after seeing my labs decided to start me on Armour Thyroid. I'm not really sure how to interpret my results though, as my FT3 and FT4 seem optimal, but my TSH seems really bad. This other doctor wanted me to start with 4grains of armour/day (2morning and then 12 hours later 2 more). That was yesterday.

So every day I take 10g of androgel, and I just started taking 2grains of armour/day, despite the doctor recommending 4. Unfortunately I haven't seen too much of an improvement in my symptoms; I still have no libido, I still get tired really easily, my eyes still sting all the time, I am very nauseous in the morning (can barely take solid food), and all my other problems. What is interestesting to note is that all throughout last night I had nocturnal erections, but I only know this because I was still waking up all night. I also have started to get constant, low-grade headaches. After I take my Armour I get a little bit hyper (heart beats very fast, resting pulse is 90 but blood pressure is 120/71) which is understandable given the large initial dose.

I don't know where to go from here. Obviously I need to give the treatment more time, I need to get labs, and I need to try and consolidate my care into one doctor, but I really don't feel that much better. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[pmgamer18]

If your just starting on Armour better cut the dose back to 30mgs. or your going to have big problems go to this site and read how to start on armour. Some can start at one grain but most start at 1/2 a grain and go up slow.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned

Hey guys,

Got another update on what's going on. My symptoms seemed to be getting worse and worse; even though I have tons of tests to study for and lots of things to do, I just couldn't get out of my chair. Just watching T.V. made me feel completely exhausted. So, I started seeing doctors again and found one who was receptive to starting TRT up all over again. She gave me the option of 10g androgel/day or 100mg/week of test. enanthate based on the following labs:

07/2004:
TSH 2.86 (0.3-5.5)
FSH 4.2 (2.0-18.0)
LH 1.9 (1.9-18.0)
Testosterone (total) 17.2 (8.4-28.7)
Ferritin 32 (15-250)

02/2005:
Free Testosterone 22.1 (22-92)
Estradiol 126 (<206)

03/2005:
TSH: 3.5 (0.3-5.50)
Free T4: 20 (11-22)
Free T3: 5.7 (4-7.8)

09/2006:
TSH: 2.4 (.38-5.5)
Free Testosterone 38.4 (22-95)
A.M. Cortisol 784 (140-690)
Vitamin B12 880 (150-650)
Glucose Fasting 4.8 (3.3-6.0)

I also took my avg. temperature over a week and it always came out to 97.8 (oral)

I decided to go with 10g of androgel/day for ease of application, and that was 1 week ago.

I also had a previous appointment with another doctor who, after seeing my labs decided to start me on Armour Thyroid. I'm not really sure how to interpret my results though, as my FT3 and FT4 seem optimal, but my TSH seems really bad. This other doctor wanted me to start with 4grains of armour/day (2morning and then 12 hours later 2 more). That was yesterday.

So every day I take 10g of androgel, and I just started taking 2grains of armour/day, despite the doctor recommending 4. Unfortunately I haven't seen too much of an improvement in my symptoms; I still have no libido, I still get tired really easily, my eyes still sting all the time, I am very nauseous in the morning (can barely take solid food), and all my other problems. What is interestesting to note is that all throughout last night I had nocturnal erections, but I only know this because I was still waking up all night. I also have started to get constant, low-grade headaches. After I take my Armour I get a little bit hyper (heart beats very fast, resting pulse is 90 but blood pressure is 120/71) which is understandable given the large initial dose.

I don't know where to go from here. Obviously I need to give the treatment more time, I need to get labs, and I need to try and consolidate my care into one doctor, but I really don't feel that much better. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[love_en]

Also note that you need to have NO adrenal output at all before an AM cortisol test will catch it. An ACTH stim test is a little better, but the problem lies in how the test is interpreted. One hour after the ACTH injection, your cortisol level should be double of whatever your base reading was if you started high, going to a set minimal number given by the testing lab suggests low adrenal reserve. That 784 is a cause for concern if that is your maximal adrenal output. Many trust the accuracy of a 4X a day saliva cortisol test done at home more than a random draw. Reason is hurrying to the testing lab and getting stuck with a needle elevates cortisol levels in most people causing lots of false negative results.