full disclosure

**teedoff** · 01-29-2021, 08:35 PM

So doing a var cycle right now. I had them left from last year and wanted to use them before I do a test cycle.

I'm currently on prescribed test gel for 2 years now, and so I already have to have regular blood work. My next one is coming up March 8th. I'm in the first week of this 8 week cycle, so I'm wondering if I should either postpone my lab work or go ahead and have it and come clean that I'm on the var.

Any advice? Thanks.

**kelkel** · 01-29-2021, 09:00 PM

Never come clean. Your doc may put in in your file which can have ramifications later.
Just stop the var a couple weeks before the BW, you'll be fine assuming you're not using a horrendous amount.
Only thing a doc may notice is elevated liver values (alt and ast) but again, those are dose dependent.
Minimal effect on lipids.
Zero effect on testosterone levels if you're thinking that.
Always a good idea to take a few days off from working out prior to blood work as muscular trauma elevates liver values.

**teedoff** · 01-29-2021, 09:30 PM

Thanks. I'm taking 75 mg a day. Same as last year. And I had a blood test 3 weeks after my cycle ended last year and my test levels were >1500 I think....so they had me come back several weeks later for another lab. They were normal that time.

may just postpone this one a bit. March 8th will be week 8 of my cycle. I can put it off for 3 or 4 weeks.

**kelkel** · 01-30-2021, 08:59 PM

Never hurts to postpone it. Not sure how your T levels were greater than 1500 unless you put your gel on first thing in the morning and subsequently had your BW pulled, which could explain as you caught it a peak levels.

Androgel I assume? How do you like it so far?

**teedoff** · 01-30-2021, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Never hurts to postpone it. Not sure how your T levels were greater than 1500 unless you put your gel on first thing in the morning and subsequently had your BW pulled, which could explain as you caught it a peak levels.

Androgel I assume? How do you like it so far?

I assumed I still had the var in my system. They made me take another blood test a month later, and I had plans to tell the PA then, but she wasn't in so all they did was draw blood.

Eh... Not sure I can tell anything with the gel. I really wasnt having issues as far as sex drive and getting erections, but most of my life I've never felt like I got enough sleep. Was diagnosed with apnea 20 years ago. Tried wearing the mask but it kept me waking up to adjust it so much, it just wasn't worth it. I lost weight then, about 50 pounds hoping that would help. Anyway, was hoping the gel would help with that. I can't tell anything.

Now on the var, I can tell some differences. lol

**kelkel** · 02-01-2021, 11:20 AM

If you're not feeling better with gel then it's time to switch to injections.

**teedoff** · 02-01-2021, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

If you're not feeling better with gel then it's time to switch to injections.

Even if my test levels are in the normal range with the gel?

**kelkel** · 02-01-2021, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by teedoff

Even if my test levels are in the normal range with the gel?

Total test really is irrelevant. Whats your Free T level and range.
Also consider adding HCG to your protocol as well.

**teedoff** · 02-01-2021, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Total test really is irrelevant. Whats your Free T level and range.
Also consider adding HCG to your protocol as well.

hmm I'll try to find my test results.

**kelkel** · 02-01-2021, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by teedoff

hmm I'll try to find my test results.

Post up. Remember, Free T is what works for us. You could have a 3k Total T level but if your FT is low then you can still suffer from low T.
If you can find your SHBG level post that as well. Most doc's don't test for it though unfortunately.

**teedoff** · 02-01-2021, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Post up. Remember, Free T is what works for us. You could have a 3k Total T level but if your FT is low then you can still suffer from low T.
If you can find your SHBG level post that as well. Most doc's don't test for it though unfortunately.

Cool will do. I'm thinking more an more I may need to got to a TRT specialist. The place that prescribed me the gel is just a general family practice with a PA. I mentioned about my tiredness, and refused to get another sleep study done, so she suggested checking my test.

**kelkel** · 02-02-2021, 09:19 AM

Gel worked great for me initially. I remember feeling quite good on it. After time though I seemed to need more and more to keep decent numbers and feel ok.
Most primary docs write scripts for gel as it's simple for them.

A little trick to improve absorption is to apply moisturizer about an hour after gel. Doing this increases absorption by about 17% if I recall correctly.

**teedoff** · 02-02-2021, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Gel worked great for me initially. I remember feeling quite good on it. After time though I seemed to need more and more to keep decent numbers and feel ok.
Most primary docs write scripts for gel as it's simple for them.

A little trick to improve absorption is to apply moisturizer about an hour after gel. Doing this increases absorption by about 17% if I recall correctly.

They offered me the shot option, but didn't want the hassle of having to go to their office for it.

I'm not doing the gel right now since i'm on var, but I'll try that with the moisturizer when I get back to using it, thanks. still trying to find my lab results.

**teedoff** · 02-02-2021, 03:42 PM

This website needs some help. I'm a web programmer lol

Trying to upload the pic in mobile version and the buttons are hidden in the upload pop-up.

Go to my laptop and for some reason I can't open the image. Not my day.

**teedoff** · 02-02-2021, 09:43 PM

ok well not sure why I cant upload an image.

But the paper I have are the high test results right after the anavar cycle last fall.

But free test level is 45.1

The 7 months ago lever was 12.5

and weird...the day before was 22.4. not sure how they calculated my day before levels.

**kelkel** · 02-04-2021, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by teedoff

They offered me the shot option, but didn't want the hassle of having to go to their office for it.

I'm not doing the gel right now since i'm on var, but I'll try that with the moisturizer when I get back to using it, thanks. still trying to find my lab results.

If a doctor makes you come to their office for shots, find another doctor as that's so old school.

**teedoff** · 02-04-2021, 11:34 AM

Well, I assumed that would be the procedure....not really sure to be honest. May ask again...or may see about going to a specialist, like an HRT clinic.

**kelkel** · 02-04-2021, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by teedoff

Well, I assumed that would be the procedure....not really sure to be honest. May ask again...or may see about going to a specialist, like an HRT clinic.

Definitely ask again. Tell him what you want and be able to back it up with knowledge. If what you're doing now is covered by insurance it may not be going to a clinic, unless you can submit it yourself and get reimbursed.

**teedoff** · 02-04-2021, 07:15 PM

Yes my insurance covers the gel. It's 10 bucks for the bottle. Bottle says a dose is two pumps, but the dr told me only one pump was needed. So the bottle lasts me two months.

I'm not even taking it right now while on the var.

**kelkel** · 02-04-2021, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by teedoff

Yes my insurance covers the gel. It's 10 bucks for the bottle. Bottle says a dose is two pumps, but gjendr told me only one pump was needed. So the bottle lasts me two months.

I'm not even taking it right now while on the var.

Good insurance. If you had to pay out of pocket I believe it's around $1500 per bottle. At least that's what my insurance was paying years ago.
You need to take the gel while on var. Var does not function like test and vice versa.

**teedoff** · 02-04-2021, 08:05 PM

10-4

Found my full blood work paper. Its the one that everything was elevated, but has the previous numbers as well.

Anything else I should post up? I see LDL and HDL and hemoglobin stuff. Not sure what other numbers to post.

**kelkel** · 02-07-2021, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by teedoff

10-4

Found my full blood work paper. Its the one that everything was elevated, but has the previous numbers as well.

Anything else I should post up? I see LDL and HDL and hemoglobin stuff. Not sure what other numbers to post.

You can just redact your personal info and post all of it if you like.

**teedoff** · 02-08-2021, 11:22 AM

This site sucks. lol

**teedoff** · 02-08-2021, 11:23 AM

**teedoff** · 02-08-2021, 11:31 AM

**teedoff** · 02-12-2021, 04:38 PM

Anything stand out?

**Cuz** · 02-12-2021, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by teedoff

Anything stand out?

Lipids are a little off but not “that” much

**teedoff** · 02-12-2021, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Cuz

Lipids are a little off but not “that” much

Thanks. So looking again at my test levels. Before the last one.....the high one when I'd just come off the var cycle ' I seem to be running about middle of the ranges. Wondering if I bump up my gel dose and get my levels towards the high end of that would be good. Dr keeps telling me to only take one pump which is half a dose going by the bottle dose indication. I mean off cycle for maintenance that is.

Eventually I may start a test e maintenance regimen.