My Bloodwork and some questions

[Vibrantred94gt]

Attached is my blood work for review. I couldn't get some of the preferred tests done. The doctor was concerned that insurance would not cover them. I kind of went at this backwards so that's my fault.

1) What are the best numbers to aim for better cholesterol? I inherently have high cholesterol, and take the max liptor dose currently. Anything that can help with the lipid profile is excellent.

2) I have very high blood pressure at the doctor's office, but if I lay down and relax I'm pretty normal after the 2nd or 3rd test. I tested it at RITE AID the other day and it was barely high. At the doctor I'm as high as 140/112. Still, I've never been that high at the doctor and I'm chalking it up to TRT.

3)My dose is high, 250/week, and that shows in my test results. I started with less but felt better where I ended up at 250. I will get down to the high end of ~1200 for health reasons.

Looking for any input as well as point outs to anything in the numbers I'm missing. To be honest I feel great. Better than I ever have.
I want to be prepared when I go back and chat with my doc.

[jomamma007]

1. mid lower range cholesterol levels seem optimal
2. you could just get a little nervous at your docs office and have higher readings. Happens to me sometimes, but when I test in my own home numbers are usually lower.
3. what's your protocol?

Your test levels are way too high bud, and your estrogen is too low imo. That's not even a sensitive test and your at 12.. Anecdotal evidence would put you under 10 on a sensitive estradiol assay. Optimal is 20-30. There are many health risks with having too little estrogen.

The problem is that guys think they need uber testosterone levels, when it's like no crap you're going to feel better with a 1600 testosterone level if everything else is in range. But we aren't meant to have those kind of levels. There's a reason the range cuts off at 1200.
I'd say 95% of guys on this forum are between 6-900 total test levels and feel great. Look at your Hemo and Hema, there too high bud and only going to get higher you need to donate blood asap. As you see you run into problems like higher cholesterol and high hemo and hema, elevated liver enzymes too etc with supra-physiological levels and ai's.

Your free test is over double the top of the range. Do you honestly think you need that to "feel good". That would mean every single natural guy even with top natty levels feels like crap. IMO you need to lower your dose and let your estrogen come up a bit as well. If you don't feel good at a 1000 test level then something else is a midst (estrogen, thyroid, sleep apnea), it's not because your test isn't high enough. Getting dialed in is a pain but don't just up your dosage to try and feel good. That's just putting a band aid on things, and trt is marathon not a sprint. We're in this for the long run!

[bass]

^^^ yes, donate and your BP will go down. at these Test levels you need to make it a habit to donate as often as you can.

[Vibrantred94gt]

1. mid lower range cholesterol levels seem optimal
2. you could just get a little nervous at your docs office and have higher readings. Happens to me sometimes, but when I test in my own home numbers are usually lower.
3. what's your protocol?
Your test levels are way too high bud, and your estrogen is too low imo. That's not even a sensitive test and your at 12..
The problem is that guys think they need uber testosterone levels, when it's like no crap you're going to feel better with a 1600 testosterone level if everything else is in range. But we aren't meant to have those kind of levels. There's a reason the range cuts off at 1200.
I'd say 95% of guys on this forum are between 6-900 total test levels and feel great. Look at your Hemo and Hema, there too high bud and only going to get higher you need to donate blood asap. As you see you run into problems like higher cholesterol and high hemo and hema etc with supra-physiological levels

Your free test is over double the top of the range. Do you honestly think you need that to "feel good". That would mean every single natural guy even with top natty levels feels like crap. IMO you need to lower your dose and let your estrogen come up a bit as well. If you don't feel good at a 1000 test level then something else is a midst (estrogen, thyroid, sleep apnea), it's not because your test isn't high enough,

Getting dialed in is a pain but don't just up your dosage to try and feel good. That's just putting a band aid on things, and trt is marathon not a sprint. We're in this for the long run!

Thanks buddy.... as I noted in my first post I realize I need to get down to the upper limits of ~1200, and that is exactly what I plan to do.

1) What are you saying about mid lower range cholesterol levels seem optimal? I was asking what the ideal e2/test numbers are to achieve the best cholesterol results. Being that I'm naturally sky high with cholesterol I really need to pay attention to anything that affects the lipid profile. As you can see from the results my liver enzymes are a bit high, most likely from the max Lipitor dose that I take.

2) Yes, my doctor calls it white coat syndrome haha. The thing is.... it's NEVER been that high at the doctors office. Ever.

Thank you for your input. I was concerned the E2 was too low as well. But I feel great! No E2 symptoms. Morning and middle of the night wood is so hard sometimes it hurts.

What would you suggest I do as a whole to make the adjustment? I.E. lower test x amount and lower ldex at x amount?

I'm also reading another thread right now that says ldex could be the cause for a worsening lipid profile. Any input on this?

My total cholesterol was 287. This is on par with years of past tests and being on lipitor, my current diet, etc.... so I'm not really sure if anything I'm taking on the TRT front is affecting the lipids at all. But, anything I can do to lower the profile is good.

[Vibrantred94gt]

^^^ yes, donate and your BP will go down. at these Test levels you need to make it a habit to donate as often as you can.

These test levels are coming down. Promptly. This is a long story, but to make it short I started a cycle last year in October. 500/week of test e. When I went to come off I crashed hard and nothing seemed to get me going natural again. So I made the decision to fine tune things until I felt good and then get some blood work. I started at 75 2x week and that wasn't enough. I was still fatigued and had zero sex drive. So I upped it, apparently a bit too much.

Now my doctor is up to speed soI will be fine tuning further for health reasons.

[jomamma007]

Keeping your numbers in the ranges should help your cholesterol. Optimal? Who knows. But going over the ranges probably will make things worse, even being at the top could be a prob.

Once again you're already wanting to get to the top of the ranges but still be withing range. You seem to be chasing levels. My total t is 816 with a free t of 20(9-26).That's a great level for a guy to be at. Studies show the average level for a man 20-25 is between 6-700.

The experts on this forum will tell you if anything, to chase free test numbers. As long as your top 1/3 range you're golden. You're at 52(9-26).

I'd say there is a very strong possibility that the adex is causing your poor lipids as many have had this same experience after starting an ai.

But what is your Protocol? Test dosage, ai dosage, hcg dosage, frequency??

Are you overweight? Losing some weights obviously going to make the biggest impact on lowering your cholesterol.

[jomamma007]

These test levels are coming down. Promptly. This is a long story, but to make it short I started a cycle last year in October. 500/week of test e. When I went to come off I crashed hard and nothing seemed to get me going natural again. So I made the decision to fine tune things until I felt good and then get some blood work. I started at 75 2x week and that wasn't enough. I was still fatigued and had zero sex drive. So I upped it, apparently a bit too much.

Now my doctor is up to speed soI will be fine tuning further for health reasons.

I mean with a total t of 1000, and an estradiol of 12 on the standard female test you'd feel like crap. Low E symtpoms are just as bad as Low T. This is why I'm saying I think you might have upped your dosage too quickly without addressing other issues.

[Vibrantred94gt]

Once again you're already wanting to get to the top of the ranges but still be withing range. You seem to be chasing levels. My total t is 816 with a free t of 20(9-26).That's a great level for a guy to be at. Studies show the average level for a man 20-25 is between 6-700.

A side for health reasons I could care less about the 'numbers'. I started at lower doses as stated above, and did not feel as good as I do now. NOW my numbers are too high, so to say I am chasing a number is very accurate. However I'm chasing that number based on two things- one- how I feel- two the upper limit allowed to still be considered healthy. I'm not chasing a number to be 'at the upper limit'. If my numbers now were 900 I would be happy, because I feel good.

The experts on this forum will tell you if anything, to chase free test numbers. As long as your top 1/3 range you're golden. You're at 52(9-26). Again- I really don't care about chasing numbers for the purpose of getting more test in my shoulder every week. I only care about the numbers because they tell me I AM sticking to much in my shoulder every week. Which equates to health problems.

I'd say there is a very strong possibility that the adex is causing your poor lipids as many have had this same experience after starting an ai.

But what is your Protocol? Test dosage, ai dosage, hcg dosage, frequency?? I've stated my test dosage and dosing frequency in post number one. My ldex dosage is .25 EOD. No HCG.

Are you overweight? Losing some weights obviously going to make the biggest impact on lowering your cholesterol. I am a bit overweight, but not tremendously. Is my diet and workout routine 100%? Far from it. Far far from it. I have been on cholesterol meds for 10+ years. I'm pretty familliar with what the numbers should be depending on my current dietary and lifestyle habits. As I said above, my lipid profile is pretty on par with my current lifestyle. However I don't want to be doing anything that might raise the number even just a little bit.

replies in bold

[Vibrantred94gt]

I mean with a total t of 1000, and an estradiol of 12 on the standard female test you'd feel like crap. Low E symtpoms are just as bad as Low T. This is why I'm saying I think you might have upped your dosage too quickly without addressing other issues.

I feel great! Mentally, ..... with both heads.

[jomamma007]

With a 1600 test level and only .875mg of arimidex a week, your estrogen is very low. You might not even need an ai if your test was in range. This is a good thing as arimidex is known to wreak havoc on lipids.

Do you have blood work from when you were on 75mgs 2x per week? Were you taking an ai at that dose? And were you self medicating at that time? As we know underground gear is often under dosed. 150mgs of pharma grade test would put most men over the ranges, but everybody is different. Some need 300mgs a week just to get mid-range. Nothing wrong with how much you take as long as you're in ranges.

Similarly at a 1600 test level on 200mgs per week, the dosage I started out on my estradiol sensitive was 51. Now on 80 mgs it's 19 without an ai with free test near the top of the ranges. I take hcg as well. Granted I do not feel as good without the super high levels but when we get spoiled with supra physiological levels we think we should feel like a god 24/7. Then when are levels are where they should be we think somethings wrong because we don't feel like we do on cycle.

[Vibrantred94gt]

With a 1600 test level and only .875mg of arimidex a week, your estrogen is very low. You might not even need an ai if your test was in range. This is a good thing as arimidex is known to wreak havoc on lipids.

Do you have blood work from when you were on 75mgs 2x per week? Were you taking an ai at that dose? And were you self medicating at that time? As we know underground gear is often under dosed. 150mgs of pharma grade test would put most men over the ranges, but everybody is different. Some need 300mgs a week just to get mid-range. Nothing wrong with how much you take as long as you're in ranges.

Similarly at a 1600 test level on 200mgs per week, the dosage I started out on my estradiol sensitive was 51. Now on 80 mgs it's 19 without an ai with free test near the top of the ranges. I take hcg as well. Granted I do not feel as good without the super high levels but when we get spoiled with supra physiological levels we think we should feel like a god 24/7. Then when are levels are where they should be we think somethings wrong because we don't feel like we do on cycle.

What should I drop the AI to? Or maybe I should just stop it? What's the half life of the ldex? That might help me to make my own decision.

I have always been self medicating, but I am using pharma test vials from Iran. I am working towards getting the doctor 1) involved and 2) fully involved.

No blood work at all except the what I posted.

[jomamma007]

half life is 48 hours. Were you taking the ai on 75mgs 2x per week? If you were, this might have been why you didn't feel great.
General opinion on the healthiest hrt protocol is testosterone +hcg without the use of ai with free test in the upper 1/3 range with estradiol sensitive around 20-30. Again everybody's different but these are just the commonly accepted guidelines at this time. Try your best to get blood work from here on out before adjusting anything, or you might just be chasing your tail forever.

[EverettCD]

Are you injecting 250mg once per week? Why are you not using HCG?

[Vibrantred94gt]

Bump