First Blood work 6 weeks into TRT

[bruin27]

Got my initial lab work done, I believe I have a few more things pending, but so far so good I think. I've gained about 10 pounds, not good weight either. Been hungry as hell, but gym wise my strength has been crazy. No real change in sex drive though which I thought would change.

[Cylon357]

Got my initial lab work done, I believe I have a few more things pending, but so far so good I think. I've gained about 10 pounds, not good weight either. Been hungry as hell, but gym wise my strength has been crazy. No real change in sex drive though which I thought would change.

Control your diet. I know this is difficult, but get a grip on your eating.

Six weeks is a little early to be getting blood work IMO, as you MAY still have some very little natural production going on. I know we say you are shut down from the first injection, but that is more of a guiding principal than an actual physiological fact.

When was your last injection prior to your blood work being drawn?

You should consider donating some blood, RBC is a little up there and there is rarely a surplus at blood banks.

Your sex drive (and other benefits of TRT) can take time to dial in. Sex drive likely is not helped by the fact that you have put on 10 pounds of fat in 6 weeks, which in turn raises estrogen.

Dial in your diet, give it some time, and post up other numbers when available.

[kelkel]

Everything Cylong said....

Also, know that the standard eclia lab test for estrogen is actually the wrong test. Request your doctor uses the LC/MS version next time. Eclia is geared to women and not sensitive enough in many cases for men's lower E2 levels, thus resulting in higher than normal readings followed by mitigation that may not be needed.

[bruin27]

Also my timing was off it's been 8 weeks since I started.

[bruin27]

Everything Cylong said....

Also, know that the standard eclia lab test for estrogen is actually the wrong test. Request your doctor uses the LC/MS version next time. Eclia is geared to women and not sensitive enough in many cases for men's lower E2 levels, thus resulting in higher than normal readings followed by mitigation that may not be needed.

Yea my doc suggested lowering my dose of test or giving me arimidex 1mg/week split into 2 doses.

I went ahead and got the dex since it's basically free with insurance but haven't taken it yet. Figured I'd ask on here to see if I should take it or not.

[bruin27]

Control your diet. I know this is difficult, but get a grip on your eating.

Six weeks is a little early to be getting blood work IMO, as you MAY still have some very little natural production going on. I know we say you are shut down from the first injection, but that is more of a guiding principal than an actual physiological fact.

When was your last injection prior to your blood work being drawn?

You should consider donating some blood, RBC is a little up there and there is rarely a surplus at blood banks.

Your sex drive (and other benefits of TRT) can take time to dial in. Sex drive likely is not helped by the fact that you have put on 10 pounds of fat in 6 weeks, which in turn raises estrogen.

Dial in your diet, give it some time, and post up other numbers when available.

Its actually been 8 weeks since 1st shot. I inject mon and Thurs, I did bw the Thursday before I inject. Doc thinks I'm just bloated and not actually gaining fat or muscle in the 8 weeks and suggested arimidex 1mg a week, I took the prescription because insurance covered it 100% but I haven't taken it yet.

[Cuz]

Yea my doc suggested lowering my dose of test or giving me arimidex 1mg/week split into 2 doses.

I went ahead and got the dex since it's basically free with insurance but haven't taken it yet. Figured I'd ask on here to see if I should take it or not.

1mg per week of dex is just too much for the majority of guys on just trt.

[bruin27]

1mg per week of dex is just too much for the majority of guys on just trt.

Got it, I'm wondering if I should even take it then? Or should I just do .5 1x a week or is that even worth it? The other option is lowering my TRT dosage to see if things drop down.

[kelkel]

Pretty much zero need for adex on TRT. Remember what I said above, the eclia test is flawed and can read higher in men causing an unnecessary need for adex when it actually is not needed. Even if the test you had done is accurate, it's not that high at all. If you don't have symptoms leave it alone. Estrogen is healthy for men and is quite anabolic as well.

[Cuz]

Pretty much zero need for adex on TRT. Remember what I said above, the eclia test is flawed and can read higher in men causing an unnecessary need for adex when it actually is not needed. Even if the test you had done is accurate, it's not that high at all. If you don't have symptoms leave it alone. Estrogen is healthy for men and is quite anabolic as well.

The only thing I will add to Kels post is keep a check on your BP. You likely as said do not need dex at all. The no visible symptoms statement is the gold standard for TRT we arent talking cycling. I actually feel better when my E2 is a little higher than norm. Helps joint paint helps libido, makes bones stronger lot of positives. Could increase BP? Possibly. Could effect prostate? Possibly. This is why bloodwork is crucial, keep a check on it

[bruin27]

Pretty much zero need for adex on TRT. Remember what I said above, the eclia test is flawed and can read higher in men causing an unnecessary need for adex when it actually is not needed. Even if the test you had done is accurate, it's not that high at all. If you don't have symptoms leave it alone. Estrogen is healthy for men and is quite anabolic as well.

The only thing I've noticed is retaining alot of water, and energy/sex drive has been up and down. I think this is why my doc prescribed it.

[bruin27]

So the weird thing is, they ordered 2 sets of labs, same tests basically but one had PSA in it, so i got blood drawn twice in a minute, in the 2nd set of labs my total test is lower, rbc alittle lower seems odd my levels would change from a different blood draw 30 seconds later?

[Quester]

To support and help others with the estrogen vs estrodiol test. Is that the right way to say it, I hear it a lot in the clinics?
LC/MS vs others including ECLIA

https://www.labcorp.com/tests/related-documents/L8815

In my opinion, since this is TRT, lower your dose without telling your doc. With regard to RBCs, when my RBC and Hemoglobin/Hematocrit are high, I feel strong but I feel like shit and my endurance is low. Adex is strong and it raises BP which exacerbates the problem. Its possible, it was for me, that you may not need an E-blocker at all.
Perhaps the difference in the blood tests taken seconds apart are due to lab causes, like storage differences at the clinic, on the transporant and at the lab, and other similar things? I'd assume as much but also consider that our tests would be better if they were more accurate however, we can still use them comfortably if we look at them with a built-in liability for error percentage.

[Powrbuild89]

Personally I would lower the dose. If your at close to 1200 at the lowest part of the week your in a good spot. I think that plus donating blood will keep your levels in check. I’d shoot for a T level of 900 on that Thursday morning. To many people let levels stay out of whack just for a few hundred points of total T which they wouldn’t feel the difference anyway. How’s your BP?

Also I’d go with Exemestane. 1/4 pill (6.25) with injection should help. Maybe a half a pill