very scared

[mfk14]

Hello, I first saw an endocrinologist a couple years ago.  he told me I had hypothyroidism and SECONDARY (not primary) hypogonadism.  he did a TON of blood work and told me that it's NOT because of a pituitary tumor.  he said, "If I want to be really strict, I'd order an MRI".  He did something like $13,000 in bloodwork on me and there were no major results.  He was a wonderful doctor.  I no longer see him because I moved.  He also said, "I see hypothyroidism and secondary hypogonadism all the time in men who are chronically depressed.........it's a constellation."  (I have suffered from treatment-resistant depression for about 25 years.) He offered me Androgel, which I accepted and still use.  

So, I just had a conversation over the phone with a new endocrinologist in my new town in order to establish an appointment.  The first thing she said when I told her I suffer from secondary hypogonadism is, "Is this because of a pituitary tumor?"  I assured her my former endo did every test on God's green earth and always maintained the he knows I don't have a pituitary tumor, she said, "Well, it's coming from somewhere.  She scared the daylights out of me.  Then again, she doesn't know me from Adam and she sounded a little irritable, to be honest.  

Like I said, my former endo says he sees secondary hypogonadism in guys like me who are chronically depressed, have Hashimoto's, etc.  What do you have to say about this?  I am the biggest hypochondriac and I don't know if I want to see this new endo or not.  I could use some reassurance.  If anyone has information about the link of chronic depression, Hashimoto's, and secondary hypothyroidism, I'd love you for it.  I can't tolerate worrying excessively about anything superfluous right now.  Thanks a lot.  I should also mention that I got punched in the nose! - about a year ago, ended up in the emergency room, they gave me a CAT scan, which they said was "fine" or "okay".  

Thanks so much for the reassurance and bless you!

[Red_Star]

It is likely your husband will no longer needs testosterone shots when thyroid hormone levels are back to normal. But of course this also depends on his overall health.

Excerpt from Medical News Today - Testosterone Does Not Necessarily Wane With Age...

"For many men, testosterone levels drop as they get older, but new research presented at a conference this week suggests this is not necessarily a consequence of age itself, but more to do with behavior, such as smoking, and changes in health, such as obesity and depression.

Study co-author Dr Gary Wittert, professor of medicine at the University of Adelaide, told the press:

"It is critical that doctors understand that declining testosterone levels are not a natural part of aging and that they are most likely due to health-related behaviors or health status itself," he added."

[kevieb]

red star---my hubby has hashimoto's---we haven't gotten him to an endo yet, but i told the doc's office what tests to order--his TSH came back at 14.12, his antibodies were high, and he is hypothyroid--he is on 2 grains of dessicated thyroid.

He also has had two failed hydrocele surgeries, and finally opted to have the testicle removed in Dec.  His Testosterone levels were pretty close to the bottom before surgery----3 months out, he is now low enough to be treated---we found out the low T results along with the Antibody results.

He is taking testosterone shots right now--but it sounds like if we can get his thyroid under control, that maybe he might not need the testosterone eventually?  am I understanding you right?

He tried to go off his thyroid medication 2 years ago--and his face started to swell.  I found his lab work from that time---his TSH was 71.12--or somewhere near that.

He was supposed to be on suppression therapy for the last 18 years--but I think somewhere slong the line he may have been treated as hypothyroid, instead---which he apparently is, now with his hashimoto's.

I have suspected for a number of years that his testosterone was low.

[Red_Star]

I forgot to add this from the first study: "Free testosterone concentrations are reduced in men with primary hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone replacement normalizes free testosterone concentrations."

[Red_Star]

Excerpt from the study: The interrelationships between thyroid dysfunction and hypogonadism in men and boys. Thyroid. 2004;14 Suppl 1:S17-25...

"Primary hypothyroidism is associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, which is reversible with thyroid hormone replacement therapy."

Excerpt from: Journal Of Thyroid Research - The Link between Thyroid Function and Depression...

"Both excess and insufficient thyroid hormones can cause mood abnormalities including depression that is generally reversible with adequate thyroid treatment."

[Barb135]

Hypothyroidism can cause depression, or worsening of.......

What are your current thyroid hormone test results?  You should be getting tested for Free T3, Free T4 and TSH on a regular basis.  Please post the results of your most current labs, and be sure to include reference ranges, as those vary lab to lab.

Did your old endo not give you copies of all the tests he did, so you can give copies to the new endo?  If not, you need to get them, so she can go over them and become familiar with what's been done and what hasn't.