RE: Secondary HCG and DHEA along with my HRT??

March 1, 2010

Here is what I know about SHBG as your Estradiol levels go up so dose your SHBG

and when it's very high it binds up your Testosterone in your body makes it in

active so you get low levels of BIO. and Free T. As you get Estradiol levels

down SHBG falls lower and free's up your Testostreone in your body. But to have

low SHBG from the start you need to look at other things causing this problem

like Diabetes. Better to be safe then sorry and most men low on T there

Diabetes get better.

Co-Moderator

Phil

>

> > From: gviceman77@...

> <gviceman77@...>

> > Subject: Re: Re: HCG and DHEA along

> with my HRT??

> >

> > Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010, 11:33 PM

> > Thank you again. You have a lot

> > of good info. I do exercise and I am on

> > synthroid .1M and Antara 130 mg. I do not eat

> white

> > breads, sugar, rice.

> > I eat whole wheat, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.

> > Complex carbs. no

> > caffeine any more, no sodas, just H2o and green

> > (decafe) tea.

> >

> > " A low SHBG indicates that a greater level of T is

> not

> > bound - more

> > bioavailable - good news. " what do you mean???

> >

> > What is the DHEA supposed to do (burn fat) I hope.

> > It can cause problems

> > for those of us with BPH although that is not

> > confirmed.

> >

> > I have been thinking about the convenience of the

> shots

> > over the gel. I

> > plan my whole day around applying the gel. I

> have to

> > go to the gym early so

> > i can shower and then apply the gel. I cant hug

> my

> > wife without covering

> > my arms, etc.

> >

> > In a message dated 2/28/2010 10:46:05 P.M. Eastern

> Standard

> > Time,

> > kevinh@...

> > writes:

> >

> > Androgel IS BioIdentical Testosterone. Some doctors

> prefer

> > gels; since

> > they are applied daily they deliver T in a daily

> pulsatile

> > pattern more

> > closely mimicking what your body would do.

> >

> > A low SHBG indicates that a greater level of T

> is not

> > bound - more

> > bioavailable - good news. I would resist

> changing to

> > injections. Work with your

> > new doctor using Androgel and move on with the

> other

> > items, IMHO. Add the hCG

> > as they suggest, etc.

> >

> > Belly fat @ 51! Not surprising Ha1c test is good

> idea...

> > also look at

> > glucose and insulin. How's your diet - no simple

> carbs/low

> > carb profile? ---

> > first step. Even though you are exercising I would

> still

> > consider insulin

> > resistance and/or metabolic syndrome.

> >

> > What I have learned since starting on my quest

> is

> > that as we age, several

> > hormone systems may not be optimum or even very

> out

> > of whack. Getting them

> > all optimized is the best plan. So if you

> thought

> > that you would be fixed

> > up with a little T, no such luck for many of us

> over

> > 50 males ... but

> > there is hope.

> >

> > I started only thinking about the symptoms of

> my

> > declining T. Then I was

> > introduced to hCG, then AI. After that

> discovered

> > hypothyroidism caused by

> > Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Now on synthroid. It

> is

> > pretty clear that my

> > cortisol level is low too... but can only get my

> doc

> > to move so fast.... we are

> > working on it! At some point I will need to

> address

> > my declining GH level

> > too. No, I am not overwhelmed since I am feeling

> a

> > great deal better then

> > when I started but realize now I am in it for

> the

> > long haul... that's my story.

> >

> > --- In _ @hypogonadismhyp_

> > (mailto: )

> > , gviceman77@., gvi

> > >

> > > Thank you for your response. I am Secondary

> due

> > to a lesion/ small tumor

> > > on my pituitary gland. The aging canter is

> > recommending Bio Identical

> > > Testosterone (Enanthate). cortisol levels

> are at

> > 17 based on a blood

> > test.

> > > I am doing the Salvia test now for a more

> > accurate cortisol reading.

> > >

> > > SHBG is a 9 which is considered LOW. It

> should

> > be between 18 - 47.

> > >

> > > I work out a lot and cant get rid of the belly

> fat. I

> > am 51 in good

> > > physical cond. weights and cardio 4 times weekly.

>

> > >

> > > In a message dated 2/28/2010 9:10:11 P.M.

> > Eastern Standard Time,

> > > kevinh@... writes:

> > >

> > > LH and FSH are driven low from the feedback of

> your

> > increasing

> > testosterone

> > > levels by the external application of Androgel.

> At

> > this point there

> > isn't

> > > much value in measuring LH and FSH.

> > >

> > > hCG will provide a signal to your testis to

> produce

> > testosterone and

> > other

> > > hormones in a fashion similar to LH. The leydig

> cells

> > in your testis

> > will

> > > be stimulated by hCG; your testis will then

> remain

> > active and should not

> > > atrophy. The addition of hCG should also

> increase

> > your testosterone

> > levels if

> > > you are not primary, that is your testicles

> > don't work. You may then

> > need

> > > only 5 gms of Androgel.... but be sure you

> > follow through with

> > determining

> > > bio-available T.... many suggest

> calculating

> > this using your SHBG level

> > or

> > > use the Quest BioT assay.

> > >

> > > DHEA should be added if the lab results warrant.

> > You can also trial DHEA

> > > but watch for issues. DHEA can cause decreases

> > in cortisol so if you

> > already

> > > have a decreased cortisol level you may be

> > asking for a problem. From

> > what

> > > I understand, both DHEA and cortisol are

> > triggered by ACTH/pituitary; so

> > > if DHEA is seen as high enough then

> cortisol

> > will not be triggered. The

> > > bottom line is that once you start to

> adjust

> > hormones you need to

> > consider the

> > > results and feedback. If you do add DHEA,

> you

> > should split the dose

> > AM/PM.

> > >

> > > The anti-aging center seems to be on track with

> their

> > additional lab

> > tests

> > > but, if it were me, I would not put my full faith

> in

> > them yet. It is

> > best

> > > to be functionally educated, ask questions, and

> > keep reading. I would

> > stick

> > > with Androgel unless proven to be

> ineffective or

> > driving DHT too high.

> > If

> > > cost is the issue then T-Cyp has the

> advantage.

> > >

> > > --- In _ @ --- In _hypogonadism

> > > (mailto:_ @hypogonadismhyp_

> > (mailto: )

> > ) , gviceman77@, gvi

> > > >

> > > > What do the members on this forum

> think

> > about HCG and DHEA along with

> > my

> > > > HRT??

> > > >

> > > > Been on Androgel for three months. 51 in

> > good shape weights and cardio.

> > > >

> > > > test was 230 now about 600.

> > > >

> > > > I went to an aging center and they want me

> > to start HCG shots due to

> > my

> > > LH

> > > > and FSH being below 1.0

> > > >

> > > > They want me to start taking Test. shots

> > instead of the gel.

> > > >

> > > > They also want me to take DHEA.

> > > >

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message

> have

> > been removed]

> > > >

> > >

> > > [Non-text portions of this message have

> been

> > removed]

> > >

> >

March 2, 2010

Initially, my SHBG was low (10.4), too. My estradiols were quite high –

around 115. My insulin was high, but my glucose was normal. My doctor (an

Osteopath) said that my high estradiols were causing insulin resistance and

that was causing my low SHBG. I started taking Arimidex and a couple of

months later, my SHBG went up to something like 12.8. I am due for more

blood tests soon, so it should be interesting to see if my SHBG is still