Should I start TRT and T3 replacement therapy at 20yrs old?

[Luke391]

20M 5'6 ~145lbs, skinny-fat at the moment.
I was quite lean a couple month ago but I started to feel worse and worse to the point I couldn't workout anymore and even daily life was extremely hard, so here I am.

What I currently take (supplements & peptides):
Tirzepatide 15mg once weekly (as I used to be obese)
L-Carnitine 400-500mg sporadically
NAD+ 50mg 3-4x week (started only 2 weeks ago)
Glutathione 200mg 3-4x week (started only 2weeks ago)
SLU-PP-332 5mg sporadically
fish oil, creatine, taurine, NAC, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, vitamin C, vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Ashwaganda

Sleep is good, diet is bad at the moment (too much junk due to binge eating) but still very nutrient dense (tons of vegetables, red meat, organ meats everyday, fatty fish, eggs, minimally processed dairy).

I used to train hard and do cardio regularly but in the past 6months the way I feel has gone so downhill now I can only go for a walk or do a couple sets maybe once a week and mentally I have terrible brainfog and no motivation for anything.

I finally got my bloodwork results so I'm posting them here.
I only have paper copy and it's in italian so I'll just write down the markers.

Fasting Glucose 65mg/dl
Fasting Insulin 1uIU/ml
Hba1c 4.6%
Urea 24mg/dl
Uric acid 4mg/dl
Creatinine 0.89mg/dl
Creatinkinease 270U/L (high)
C reactive protein 0.5mg/ml (kind of high)
Homocystine 6umol/L

Total Colesterol 181mg/ml
HDL 85mg/dl
non-HDL Colesterol 96mg/dl
Triglicerides 51mg/dl
Apo A1 171 mg/dl
Apo B 77mg/dl
Lipoprotein (a) 8.8mg/dl

AST 30 U/L
ALT 26 U/L
GGT 9 U/L

Pancreatic Amylase 17 U/L
Lipase 7 U/L

Sodium 138mEq/L
Potassium 4.4 mEq/L
Iron 63um/dl
Ferritin 120ng/dl
Vitamin B12 >1500pg/ml (very high)
Folic acid 15.2ng/ml
Vitamin D-25-OH 63.5ng/ml

TSH 5.22 uUI/ml (high)
Free T4 13.1 pg/ml (high)
Free T3 2.4 pg/ml (low)
Anti TG 1IU/ml
Anti-TPO 1IU/ml
TRAb Ab. Anti TSH receptors <1.26UI/L

Total testosterone 240ng/dl
Free testosterone 5.3ng/dl
DHT 0.37nmol/l
SHBG 37.8nmol/L
Estradiol E2 <19 pg/ml
Prolactin 8

Hematocrit 44.6%
Red blood cells 4.77 mil./mmc
White blood cells 6.76migl./mmc

Urine exam: all good
ph 6.5


I'm not sure what to try other than getting my Test and T3 up. At this point I'm not sure if my issues are depression or low test and thyroid.

I don't know if TRT is the right choice but I feel so terrible all the time and I'm not sure what else to try. Libido is absolutely zero also.

TSH and T4 are high but T3 is low, so I have a problem converting T4 into T3. I don't supplement iodime but I should be getting tons of it from all the eggs and sardines/mackerel that I eat.

I also asked for the eGFR marker to check the kidneys but they just put it down as ">60" instead of giving me the actual value.

My B12 is extremely high which I read could be a sign of kidney or liver issues but my liver markers seem fine. tho my Creatinine and Creatinekinease is high so I am a little concerned for the kidneys. But it could also be the organ meats I eat.

Healthcare is super slow and generally shit in Italy so I have no point in going to an endocrynologist or a phychiatrist for depression, gotta self-medicate and hope for the best.
I tried that route many times but doctors were aleways useless.

I know my total cholesterol is on the higher end but I'm not worried since I don't belive in the lipid-heart hypothesis. Artherial plaque is only 1-2% cholesterol and 98-98% calcium buildium and scar tissue from hypertension.
And artherial plaque only happens where there is turbolent blood flow, not everywhere, if it was due to cholesterol buildup it would happen in your veins as well

 

[Duraclear]

Should you start TRT and T3 replacement therapy at 20yrs old?

No. Absolutely not. You're overthinking and overanalyzing all of this. This is way, way too much analysis for you to be doing at 20 years old. There's nothing physically wrong with you.

I know you don't want to hear this, but you're depressed and purposeless and you're looking for some physical reason to explain it. Yes, body/mind/spirit are all interconnected and affect each other, but your issue here is not physical. Step away from all of this, stop screwing around with all these substances thinking that they're going to "fix" you, and go live your life.

You will not find the answers you're looking for by scrying endlessly through random lab numbers and injecting yourself with exotic substances. It's just a distraction getting in the way of you doing the real work that you know you need to do.

I am speaking from experience. I went through a similar period when I was around your age. Good luck.

 

[BigDadd7]

No

 

[buck]

How long has your blood work been like that?
If it was just 1 time then. Then work on lifestyle and mental attitude. Then recheck several months from now.

 

[OldGHGuy]

Get your shit together young man. What I wouldnt do to be 20 again! Take a before picture. Diet, rest, training, lifestyle. Tighten all that up and maintain it for 3 months. Take another picture and compare. Thats what you can do naturally if you are tough enough. Only consider drugs when you have run nature's course completely - and only then. You're nowhere close. Protect your health at all costs. Make it happen.

 

[Maiandros88]

20M 5'6 ~145lbs, skinny-fat at the moment.
I was quite lean a couple month ago but I started to feel worse and worse to the point I couldn't workout anymore and even daily life was extremely hard, so here I am.

What I currently take (supplements & peptides):
Tirzepatide 15mg once weekly (as I used to be obese)
L-Carnitine 400-500mg sporadically
NAD+ 50mg 3-4x week (started only 2 weeks ago)
Glutathione 200mg 3-4x week (started only 2weeks ago)
SLU-PP-332 5mg sporadically
fish oil, creatine, taurine, NAC, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, vitamin C, vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Ashwaganda

Sleep is good, diet is bad at the moment (too much junk due to binge eating) but still very nutrient dense (tons of vegetables, red meat, organ meats everyday, fatty fish, eggs, minimally processed dairy).

I used to train hard and do cardio regularly but in the past 6months the way I feel has gone so downhill now I can only go for a walk or do a couple sets maybe once a week and mentally I have terrible brainfog and no motivation for anything.

I finally got my bloodwork results so I'm posting them here.
I only have paper copy and it's in italian so I'll just write down the markers.

Fasting Glucose 65mg/dl
Fasting Insulin 1uIU/ml
Hba1c 4.6%
Urea 24mg/dl
Uric acid 4mg/dl
Creatinine 0.89mg/dl
Creatinkinease 270U/L (high)
C reactive protein 0.5mg/ml (kind of high)
Homocystine 6umol/L

Total Colesterol 181mg/ml
HDL 85mg/dl
non-HDL Colesterol 96mg/dl
Triglicerides 51mg/dl
Apo A1 171 mg/dl
Apo B 77mg/dl
Lipoprotein (a) 8.8mg/dl

AST 30 U/L
ALT 26 U/L
GGT 9 U/L

Pancreatic Amylase 17 U/L
Lipase 7 U/L

Sodium 138mEq/L
Potassium 4.4 mEq/L
Iron 63um/dl
Ferritin 120ng/dl
Vitamin B12 >1500pg/ml (very high)
Folic acid 15.2ng/ml
Vitamin D-25-OH 63.5ng/ml

TSH 5.22 uUI/ml (high)
Free T4 13.1 pg/ml (high)
Free T3 2.4 pg/ml (low)
Anti TG 1IU/ml
Anti-TPO 1IU/ml
TRAb Ab. Anti TSH receptors <1.26UI/L

Total testosterone 240ng/dl
Free testosterone 5.3ng/dl
DHT 0.37nmol/l
SHBG 37.8nmol/L
Estradiol E2 <19 pg/ml
Prolactin 8

Hematocrit 44.6%
Red blood cells 4.77 mil./mmc
White blood cells 6.76migl./mmc

Urine exam: all good
ph 6.5


I'm not sure what to try other than getting my Test and T3 up. At this point I'm not sure if my issues are depression or low test and thyroid.

I don't know if TRT is the right choice but I feel so terrible all the time and I'm not sure what else to try. Libido is absolutely zero also.

TSH and T4 are high but T3 is low, so I have a problem converting T4 into T3. I don't supplement iodime but I should be getting tons of it from all the eggs and sardines/mackerel that I eat.

I also asked for the eGFR marker to check the kidneys but they just put it down as ">60" instead of giving me the actual value.

My B12 is extremely high which I read could be a sign of kidney or liver issues but my liver markers seem fine. tho my Creatinine and Creatinekinease is high so I am a little concerned for the kidneys. But it could also be the organ meats I eat.

Healthcare is super slow and generally shit in Italy so I have no point in going to an endocrynologist or a phychiatrist for depression, gotta self-medicate and hope for the best.
I tried that route many times but doctors were aleways useless.

I know my total cholesterol is on the higher end but I'm not worried since I don't belive in the lipid-heart hypothesis. Artherial plaque is only 1-2% cholesterol and 98-98% calcium buildium and scar tissue from hypertension.
And artherial plaque only happens where there is turbolent blood flow, not everywhere, if it was due to cholesterol buildup it would happen in your veins as well

Go get train and eat hard

 

[eery]

No, you need structure and a goal to work towards. Living a low test lifestyle will give you low test.

If you live a lifestyle and eat, training and live like you should, your markers should improve. Sleep properly, at the right times. Get sunlight, get exercise, eat enough micro and macronutrients to support your body, health and wellbeing.

Perhaps drop most of your supplements and see if it makes a difference, some of them might be causing you negative effects that you aren't aware of. The ashwaghanda., SLUPP332 or tirzepatide for example.

Sign up for what you can in regards to your healthcare and wait. Do what you can do on your own in the meantime.

Dont rely on motivation, set yourself a daily challenge or goal that can improve your situation and focus on that. Daily wins, step by step.

good luck, keep us updated

 

[IndividualMan]

20M 5'6 ~145lbs, skinny-fat at the moment.
I was quite lean a couple month ago but I started to feel worse and worse to the point I couldn't workout anymore and even daily life was extremely hard, so here I am.

What I currently take (supplements & peptides):
Tirzepatide 15mg once weekly (as I used to be obese)
L-Carnitine 400-500mg sporadically
NAD+ 50mg 3-4x week (started only 2 weeks ago)
Glutathione 200mg 3-4x week (started only 2weeks ago)
SLU-PP-332 5mg sporadically
fish oil, creatine, taurine, NAC, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, vitamin C, vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Ashwaganda

Sleep is good, diet is bad at the moment (too much junk due to binge eating) but still very nutrient dense (tons of vegetables, red meat, organ meats everyday, fatty fish, eggs, minimally processed dairy).

I used to train hard and do cardio regularly but in the past 6months the way I feel has gone so downhill now I can only go for a walk or do a couple sets maybe once a week and mentally I have terrible brainfog and no motivation for anything.

I finally got my bloodwork results so I'm posting them here.
I only have paper copy and it's in italian so I'll just write down the markers.

Fasting Glucose 65mg/dl
Fasting Insulin 1uIU/ml
Hba1c 4.6%
Urea 24mg/dl
Uric acid 4mg/dl
Creatinine 0.89mg/dl
Creatinkinease 270U/L (high)
C reactive protein 0.5mg/ml (kind of high)
Homocystine 6umol/L

Total Colesterol 181mg/ml
HDL 85mg/dl
non-HDL Colesterol 96mg/dl
Triglicerides 51mg/dl
Apo A1 171 mg/dl
Apo B 77mg/dl
Lipoprotein (a) 8.8mg/dl

AST 30 U/L
ALT 26 U/L
GGT 9 U/L

Pancreatic Amylase 17 U/L
Lipase 7 U/L

Sodium 138mEq/L
Potassium 4.4 mEq/L
Iron 63um/dl
Ferritin 120ng/dl
Vitamin B12 >1500pg/ml (very high)
Folic acid 15.2ng/ml
Vitamin D-25-OH 63.5ng/ml

TSH 5.22 uUI/ml (high)
Free T4 13.1 pg/ml (high)
Free T3 2.4 pg/ml (low)
Anti TG 1IU/ml
Anti-TPO 1IU/ml
TRAb Ab. Anti TSH receptors <1.26UI/L

Total testosterone 240ng/dl
Free testosterone 5.3ng/dl
DHT 0.37nmol/l
SHBG 37.8nmol/L
Estradiol E2 <19 pg/ml
Prolactin 8

Hematocrit 44.6%
Red blood cells 4.77 mil./mmc
White blood cells 6.76migl./mmc

Urine exam: all good
ph 6.5


I'm not sure what to try other than getting my Test and T3 up. At this point I'm not sure if my issues are depression or low test and thyroid.

I don't know if TRT is the right choice but I feel so terrible all the time and I'm not sure what else to try. Libido is absolutely zero also.

TSH and T4 are high but T3 is low, so I have a problem converting T4 into T3. I don't supplement iodime but I should be getting tons of it from all the eggs and sardines/mackerel that I eat.

I also asked for the eGFR marker to check the kidneys but they just put it down as ">60" instead of giving me the actual value.

My B12 is extremely high which I read could be a sign of kidney or liver issues but my liver markers seem fine. tho my Creatinine and Creatinekinease is high so I am a little concerned for the kidneys. But it could also be the organ meats I eat.

Healthcare is super slow and generally shit in Italy so I have no point in going to an endocrynologist or a phychiatrist for depression, gotta self-medicate and hope for the best.
I tried that route many times but doctors were aleways useless.

I know my total cholesterol is on the higher end but I'm not worried since I don't belive in the lipid-heart hypothesis. Artherial plaque is only 1-2% cholesterol and 98-98% calcium buildium and scar tissue from hypertension.
And artherial plaque only happens where there is turbolent blood flow, not everywhere, if it was due to cholesterol buildup it would happen in your veins as well

eat more carbs, add some salt if it gets extra iodine added where you live

 

[cousinmuscles]

The diet you mentioned may be causing that low test, along with other factors.

Growth hormone will increase T4 to T3 conversion.

Think very hard on whether you want to go on TRT and T3. If you are on them long enough, coming off them won't be an option.

You are only 20 so I agree with above posters, first fix your lifestyle and your habits.

By the way, if a high dose of a GLP is not enough to stop you from binge eating, you have to work on your self control.

 

[thejumpingsheep]

Welcome to post high school... aka adulthood. Fun right?

Going on TRT means you will shut down your natural production and be dependent on injections. Not ideal at any age honestly.

The reason most will tell you no is because, at your age, it might be fixable without injections, especially since you are out of shape. You should at least put in an honest effort to get in shape. That alone might fix your levels. So might as well do that 1st, take bloods again, then see where you land.

 

[hellerhiwater]

you've identified a couple things you're dissatisfied with, that is step one for any meaningful change.

if you start trt or t3 replacement right now, it will be a lifelong mental and emotional wound. you may be able to push it down, but it will always be there; when you needed yourself the most, you gave up on yourself and sought the "easiest" way out.

there is always the possibility that there is some systemic issue causing your symptoms, no one who has commented yet has identified themselves as a medical doctor, and i am not either. so a very solid step one would be to consult a medical doctor about how you're feeling and your test results.

of course they're not all-knowing beacons of truth and light, but a majority of them are smart enough to do complicated math and at the very least memorized enough about the human body to get certified to practice medicine. so its still a valuable perspective to seek.

in my opinion, you've got a great head on your shoulders. you can recognize things that aren't right in your life, you want to address and/or change them, you got fucking blood work done (seems basic and simple but MANY dont), and you're in a forum asking opinions instead of jumping headfirst into self-administered hormone therapy.

you, my friend, are one of the good ones.

I was able to lose 80lbs and hit the gym 3-5 times per week (lifting for 1.5-2 hours and doing a minimum of 30 minutes of 100-140bpm cardio) with NO BREAKS and with a 400lb body and testosterone levels lower than a newborn baby GIRL (39 ng/dl). i kept this up for 8 months before starting trt for the first time at 33.

my prolactin was also sky-high at just under 40, and I was depressed as FUCK.

it was honestly one of my "this better work bc idk if i have more in me" kind of moments, but the message remains; if i was able to do that, you can do it too bro. i promise i was feeling worse. i promise im not as smart as you. i promise you'll do better than i did (i ignored the problems you're isolating at 20 years old for over a decade).

you have it in you.

see what you can do to fix your sleep, your schedule, and your diet. stay active and get out in the sun. my depression was all but cured by week 6.

you will never regret fighting for yourself.