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11-24-2017, 04:44 AM
So my latest test results showed over 1150ng/dl which I believe is around as high as you can get naturally. However the free test was 2.9pg/ml meaning most of the test is bound to SHBG.
Any ideas on how to increase free test levels as despite my high goal test levels I actually feel symptoms of low test.
Tried fenugreek, stinging nettle, boron, aspartic acid and food like dates so far
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11-24-2017, 08:25 AM
Have you had your vitamin D checked?
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11-24-2017, 04:15 PM
Ok.
3rd question, are you doing a keto diet right now? Or a low calorie diet?
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11-24-2017, 04:18 PM
Nope. No low calorie or high fat/protein diet. Just balanced and super healthy.
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11-24-2017, 04:27 PM
Supplements? Stress level? Alcohol intake?
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11-24-2017, 04:34 PM
Supplements: in addition to ones mentioned in first post
Everyday:
Magnesium 0.6-0.8g,
Zinc 50mg+Copper 1mg,
Vit C 1mg
Turmeric 2.4g
Krill Oil 1g
Vit K2 2g
N-A-C 600mg
Spirulina tablets
Probiotic
Every 3-4 days:
Vitamin A 15,000IU
Vitamin D3 5000IU
Selenium 200mg
Ocean Kelp 300mg
Alcohol: none, don't drink
Stress: When working offshore (more than 50% of the year) usually low to mild but occasionally can be very high. When not offshore, happy as a pig in poo so low stress
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11-24-2017, 04:36 PM
Did you get thyroid values checked?
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11-24-2017, 04:37 PM
Nope, that I have never done (although I have some parameters from a wellman's check done earlier in the year) What specific values?
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11-24-2017, 04:41 PM
TSH, T4, T3.
I'm guessing you're in fairly good shape and fairly lean.
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11-24-2017, 06:53 PM
Ok, TSH and T4 are good, atleast in that test (however without a T3 measurement it's very hard to assess this. T3 levels can fly away from T4 and they're much more potent and indicative). 2.9pg/ml is really really low, are you sure that wasn't a percentage reading of your free Vs total test??
The only other value I would look at is liver enzymes. Are you taking NAC just as a precaution?
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11-24-2017, 06:58 PM
The part im not putting together here is...
Good thyroid, good total t, and you're in great shape.
You don't get to 9% bf with a decent level of muscularity with screwed up test levels.
I'm not a doctor but I do read voraciously on the subject and have a fair bit of knowledge on this.
Any SARMS, AI's or SERMs in the mix here?
I'm trying to solve the puzzle using the info you've given.
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11-24-2017, 07:06 PM
If you can, orally check your temperature first thing upon waking in the morning, before you get out of bed for 3 days. This is a good way to check for hyperthyroidism and is actually more accurate than a thyroid test.
Interestingly enough the closer we get to the extreme end of fitness the worse our SHBG levels tend to get. The body does not want to be a fat burning machine. High T3, high SHBG... usually.
Resting pulse rate is another slightly useful indicator.
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11-24-2017, 07:24 PM
My hamster did some SARM experimentation off and on but found the return on investment too low to bother continuing. LGD and ostarine followed by clomid/nolva/arimistane PCTs followed by a break. Do you reckon high SHBG, low free test can result from this? Before any of this experimentation my total test was similar to what it is now (over 1000) with free test being around 9pg/ml which was still low but nothing like as low as it is now.
Regarding T3 levels - if the test turns out to be way off - do you think the kelp iodine supplement I take could somehow be causing this?
So I should check my temperature 3 times upon waking up and get a T3 blood test? And check pulse?
Regarding N-A-C yeah I decided to start taking it for health benefits. ALT and AST liver enzymes levels are good. The free test reading was not a percentage.
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11-24-2017, 07:58 PM
Well it's up to you to figure out what you want to do. I suggest either finding a doctor who really knows his shit or becoming your own doctor, ordering your own bloods from private MD labs, and doing your own little science experiment.
You could preliminarily rule out hyperthyroidism using temp and heart beat, and then go on to take a blood test for SHBG levels. See what you get and then go from there.
Just depends how far you want to go, youre already fit.
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11-25-2017, 05:17 AM
Yeah I will check those things out and report back.
Yeah fitness is fine but other stuff like libido is not so one way or the other I gotta sort this. Sparrow, I know about that site, thanks for posting it!
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01-20-2018, 10:17 AM
Hey Steelex,
Got another blood test and I can confirm the following:
TSH, T3, T4 are all within range so no thyroid issues
Estradiol once again within range
Testosterone 35.1 nmol/l
Free Test 13.76 pg/ml (now within range but still not high enough for my liking!)
Blood test clinic messed up my order and didn't test for prolactin like I asked them to which was annoying (it was in range before though a little on the high side)
BUT!!!!!
SHBG: 93.48nmol/l!! (52 is the upper limit!)
During the past month I took the following:
-2x500mg D-aspartic acid (stopped taking it after hearing some scary things about it)
- 800mg stinging nettle root empty stomach after hearing it lowers SHBG
- 600mg Fenugreek seed (proven to raise test though my serum blood glucose was below the optimal range!)
- Boron 6mg/day (proven to increase free test)
- Vit D3, K2, Zinc, Magnesium - usual cocktail of test boosting minerals
Recently added mucuna puriens with L-Dopa 20% to the mix which apprently reduces prolactin.
So yeah, I am still wondering how the hell to lower than SHGB!! It seems to be the reason I feel like half the man I was a few years ago despite having very high total testosterone levels! Any ideas?
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01-21-2018, 09:20 AM
Hey man my Vitamin D levels are within range and have been for a year - before that they were too high. I take 5000IU once every few days (my test booster supplement has 1000IU/serving anyway). Prior to a year ago I would take this 5000IU every day.
I've been searching the hell out of the internet but can't find anything that lowers SHBG beyond what I have already attempted. I mean having LOW SHBG is a sign you might have diabetes and other terrible diseases so I am just aiming to have them within range. But how do we do this...? This is clearly the key.
As of yesterday I am increasing magnesium to 1g/day split throughout the day and boron from 6-12mg/day. No idea if it will help.
ilikegirls; I've been doing IF 16-18hours/day every day for almost 3 years - I think this actually increases testosterone so no issues there. Lots of literature says low carb diets are not so good for this however. But if you are on paleo presumably that means you are taking clean carbs so no issues there I guess.
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01-22-2018, 01:48 PM
D3 was 140nmol/L.
D-aspartic acid I stopped first of all because I read it can increase prolactin which can lead to gyno and all sorts at least if it is dosed high and too long. It is meant to be cycled anyway. Interestingly towards the end of the 4 weeks I took it there was a brief period where my libido was on OVERDRIVE. Like powerful as I had not experienced since I was a teenager.
The day after I stopped taking it my libido went back to the very average state I am cursed with these days. I was tempted to keep up the DAA if not for the increased heart rate and increased irritability and anger I was experiencing.
I’m not sure if any of the stuff I am taking is good. Nettle root is meant to take the place of some test being binded by SHBG but this has a knock on effect allowing e2 to rise or something. I guess there is no point going for proviron if it does essentially the same thing. Fenugreek is supposed to increase prolactin as well and lower blood sugar too low (it already has in fact). This is why I am so pissed off the clinic didn’t take my prolactin… L-Dopa should at least partially offset any prolactin gains hopefully.
Been reading a lot of shit about SHBG - seems like there is not really fuck all that can bring it down and that if it is high there are 100s of things that could be causing it including deep rooted problems such as liver damage for instance.
Forgot to mention progesterone was 0.8nmol/L which is double the normal range. I read somewhere this is ALSO linked to high SHBG. So finding a way to lower that might be the way forward.
