6 replies to this topic

[tk112233]

i had blood work done twice last year. here are the results and types of medication i was on for each time.

first blood work: taken in april 2011. i was only on YAZ birth control.

FREE TESTOSTERONE: 0.7 pg/mL LOW (normal range is <1.1-6.3>)

TESTOSTERONE: 24 ng/dL NORMAL (normal range is <14-76>)

SODIUM: 136 mmol/L LOW (normal range is 137-145)

RBC: 4.04 M/cumm LOW (normal range is 4.2-5.4)

POTASSIUM: 3.4mmol/L LOW (normal is 3.6-5.0)

NEUT%: 38% LOW (normal is 45-70)

LYMPH%: 14% LOW (normal is 20-45)

LDL-CHOL: 140 HIGH (normal is 0-130)

HDL-CHOL: 74 mg/dL HIGH (normal is 38-42)

CHOLESTEROL: 240 mg/dL HIGH (normal is <199)

DHEA: 58 NG/DL LOW (normal is 100-710)
there were other things included in this blood work but they were all in the normal range.


second blood work: taken in september 2011. i was on yaz AND spironolactone.
TRIGLYCERIDES: 169 mg/dl HIGH (normal is <150)
SODIUM: 137 NORMAL
POTASSIUM: 4.0 NORMAL
LDL-CHOL: 94 NORMAL
HDL-CHOL: 77 HIGH
CHOLESTEROL: 205 HIGH (normal is 125-200)

the only thing my doctor and dermatologist were concerned about was my cholesterol. but it has gone down 35 points as you can see in the second blood work results. it is most likely in the normal range right now since i've been working on bringing it down more these past months. i think the triglycerides were high in the second one because im on spiro. i was doing research on triglycerides and it says that diuretic medication can bring it up and spiro is a diuretic.

anyways, my testosterone and dhea levels are low (most likely due to being on birth control) and my derm says that's good. but if that's the case, then why do i still have acne?
from my results, is there anything else that could be wrong with me?

[chunkylard]

Having high cholesterol doesn't mean anything really. It's more so the ratio that matters.
Your HDL is in the supposed high range now, but you can raise it by doing some resistance exercise as well.

Include more herbs in your diet as they're often good sources of potassium.

Testosterone (good) does not = dihydrotestosterone (bad.) DHT gives you acne and contributes to prostate problems and male pattern baldness, but DHT is just one factor in acne and definitely not the most important one either.

You can take a DHEA supplement or adrenal tissue to improve your DHEA levels. Also cut out caffeine.

[tk112233]

so my DHEA levels should be high? and i don't drink any caffeine

[dcarver]

Was a serum estrodiol, FSH, LH, TSH, free T4, total T4, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, or 1,25 dihyroxycholecalciferol (vitamin D) tested and were they all within normal range?

[alternativista]

You should worry that your triglycerides are high.

What do you eat? How do you sleep? Exercise? And yes, was your thyroid tested? Thyroid hormone stimulates the receptors that take in cholesterol. It's when the cholesterol doesn't get taken into the cells that it becomes oxidized and causes vascular disease. And of course, low thyroid can be a factor in acne.

Your lymph is extremely important but I don't know what they test so don't know what the results mean. Move around a lot to keep it flowing.

And what about any inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein?

Inflammatory markers and vitamin D are two things that should be checked regularly.

Edited by alternativista, 20 January 2012 - 07:46 AM.

[tk112233]

the first blood work said my triglycerides were normal. but they were high in the 2nd one because i'm on spiro. and diuretic medication can increase triglycerides.
i eat well..and i don't eat a lot everyday. i sleep well. and i exercise few times a week. and i move around a lot everyday cause of my job.
i haven't gotten my thyroid tested but i think i'm going to do that soon

[tk112233]

i'm still confused about my DHEA levels. are they supposed to be higher?? i was reading about DHEA supplements and it says taking these can cause acne. i obviously don't want anymore acne so why would i take them? can someone explain more about this. why did my derm tell me that it's good my dhea levels are low?