Bloodwork back, results included, have a few questions for the HRT Team!

[harley121]

Hello All, been on TRT for a year, Stats: 48years old, 5'6", 172lbs, 15% bf good heath. I just got my bloodwork back from last week (2 attachements) and had a few questions. My Test. levels are low- ON PURPOSE. I skipped my shots 1 1/2 weeks prior to BW AND ate lots of DGL for 3 days (licorice- supposed to lower Test.) Reason is my Dr. is very conservative, wants to keep me around 400-500, I was up to 1120 last time when on 150mg/ week. I dropped to 100mg/wk 2mo. ago and just wanted to make extra sure it was low as he will cut me off and I'm stashing the extra I get for later- or the Global Test. Shortage lol ... So its really around 700-800 you can see in his notes at the top of 1st page.
Anyways, I highlighted a few things: LH- Low, FSH- at the low end, Creatinine Serum- High, Hematocrit- High, Hemoglobin- at the high end.
My estradol dropped from 20 to 11 (Letro / nolva for pre-gyno symptoms worked, but killed sex drive, I discontinued a month or so ago.
Do any of those items (other than the test. ) need attention? If so what is your recommendations? Thanks all!

[bass]

its time to donate blood to take care of Hematocrit and Hemoglobin, Creatinine is fine jusdging from your avi your muscle mass will raise it. if you're trying to keep your test level low to fool your doc i think you went too low and that may raise some flags! your e2 test is not ultra sensitive assay, so you really don't know where you stand, i am assuming you went to labcorp, if so their sensitive assay range is 3-70.

[harley121]

its time to donate blood to take care of Hematocrit and Hemoglobin, Creatinine is fine jusdging from your avi your muscle mass will raise it. if you're trying to keep your test level low to fool your doc i think you went too low and that may raise some flags! your e2 test is not ultra sensitive assay, so you really don't know where you stand, i am assuming you went to labcorp, if so their sensitive assay range is 3-70.

Thanks Bass, I wondered the same thing about the E2 as last time it said labcorp and was 20 w/ a range 3-70. Not sure who he sent it to this time.
Is Creatinine from the Kre-Alkalyn I take? I hear you on donating the blood. What would happen if I didn't donate for awhile? Does your blood get thicker, making it more susceptable to stroke/ heart issues?

[bass]

thick blood is not something to mess around with, yes prolonged you will risk having a heart attack or stroke. also if it gets too thick then you won't be able to donate, you will get rejected then you'll have to get a script for bloodletting, that is if you're lucky enough your doctor will do it, otherwise he'll probably say to get off TRT to bring these levels down!

[Vettester]

Keep working on getting the E2 back up into the 20's ... Too many issues to be concerned with by having it low. It should start increasing once you get more test in the system to convert downstream.

No worries on the LH/FSH. Expected to be suppressed when a male is secondary hypogonadal, and/or using exogenous testosterone.

Follow bass' recommendation with donating blood. It's truly the best thing you can do for yourself, and for those in need.

[harley121]

How often would you guys recommending donating blood as a general rule of thumb? I guess this is the first time they ran the Hemo/ numbers cause I asked for it due to what I have learned here.
Again, I am so very glad to have found this site, I am amazed at how little Dr's know about the total endo. system balancing vs just shoving test in, checking it every few months. They could be setting guys who really care about the quality of their life for unnecessary stroke/ heart attacks among other things and don't even know it.

[38onTRT]

Here in my state, they allow you to donate every 54 days. I donated for the first time Tuesday so I simply put a reminder in my phone for every 60 days to head over and donate.. My levels were OVER the range, I felt like total crap, the next day after donating was like night and day.. Joint pain was almost gone. Today, its gone.

[Vettester]

Agree with the above ... You can donate every 2 months and you will be GTG!

[harley121]

Perfect, thanks for the input