Just got bloodwork back. What ya think?

[ElDude]

Just got test levels back...

Test Serum is 371
Free Test is 13.9

I guess 371 is in the "normal" window, but that number seems low to me. I am 26! Shouldn't it be higher?! My doctor wants me to do another blood test this week so they can get an average. Don't know what to think of that number though...

[Ricci82]

Do you have any more BW. Read the sticky for finding a physician, there is a list of BW you should be getting done. Total test and free is just scratching the surface.

BTW: if you are using the same range as I do, you test serum is at the very low end of the spectrum.

The sticky is labeled: Finding a TRT Physician

[jasondd1]

You definitely have a major problem. But yes the guys in the know here need more info to really help you

[Mario L]

Well the good news is your doc wants to retest to get an average. You might test better as the body is always fluctuating. I would say for your age that score is a bit low. If your retest results turn out similar have him run the rest of the tests on that list. LH,FSH, SHBG… ect. What are your symptoms to ask for the initial testing?

[lovbyts]

You definitely have a major problem. But yes the guys in the know here need more info to really help you

You cant tell someone they have a major problem with that little of information or with only one blood test.

Well the good news is your doc wants to retest to get an average. You might test better as the body is always fluctuating. I would say for your age that score is a bit low. If your retest results turn out similar have him run the rest of the tests on that list. LH,FSH, SHBG… ect. What are your symptoms to ask for the initial testing?

Agreed, it's good your doctor wants to do more than one test to get a base line. Many things can effect your levels for the day. Time it was drawn, sleep, drinking alcohol, sex and other things.

[ElDude]

Well the good news is your doc wants to retest to get an average. You might test better as the body is always fluctuating. I would say for your age that score is a bit low. If your retest results turn out similar have him run the rest of the tests on that list. LH,FSH, SHBG… ect. What are your symptoms to ask for the initial testing?

Thanks for the info everybody, I am glad the doc wants to re-take bloodwork as well, I know that Test can fluctuate throughout the day, with Test levels being highest in the morning (normally). I did get this sample taken @ 10a. I spoke with them this morning and they are going to send me a copy of the BW results and i will post any other hormone levels I see.

I got the BW done because I have been more tired lately and a decrease in energy, sex drive in the past 3-4 months has been noticeably down, little bit of a depressed mood.

[steroid.com 1]

Read the sticky on Finding a TRT Doctor, in there you will see a list of labs you will need to make any type of assessment.

Make sure to get Prolactin tested as well, this is very important in determining if your low testosterone is being caused by a Pituitary tumor.

At your age your testosterone serum levels should be at peak value and you present more like a man in his 60's.

There are any number of pathological reasons why you are low and it's certainly not age related.

Make sure your Doctor is knowledgeable about these things.

[ElDude]

So the doc wants to re-take tests in 4 weeks? Is this amount of time normal between tests? The doc said my test level was normal and I told her i disagreed, I may have also told her she is bat-shit crazy.

I am looking at my BW now and don't see any of the things you named except prolactin which was a 10.5 (normal 4.0-15.2)
Thyroxine- 1.38 (normal .82-1.77)
TSH 1.330 (thyroid normal is .450-4.5)

Probably doesn't help... I am curious why she did not run these other hormone tests...

[ElDude]

was able to make an appointment with a place that was in the A4M directory in my area, but just from looking at website/talking to the people on the phone, i feel like this place is a "pill mill" for AAS

[steroid.com 1]

So the doc wants to re-take tests in 4 weeks? Is this amount of time normal between tests? The doc said my test level was normal and I told her i disagreed, I may have also told her she is bat-shit crazy.

I am looking at my BW now and don't see any of the things you named except prolactin which was a 10.5 (normal 4.0-15.2)
This is in the normal range and would suggest there is no Pituitary tumor.
Thyroxine- 1.38 (normal .82-1.77)
This is either Thyroxine 4 or 3...which is it?
TSH 1.330 (thyroid normal is .450-4.5)
This is find and would suggest the thyroid is functioning correctly but we'd need to see more labs. What's here is not enough to make an accurate assessment.

Probably doesn't help... I am curious why she did not run these other hormone tests...
Most likely because she doesn't know what she is doing.

In bold.

[ElDude]

The Thyroxine was T4

[steroid.com 1]

The Thyroxine was T4

Need to see FT3 but T4 and TSH look fine meaning probably no issues with your Thyroid.

[ElDude]

Went to a Low T doctor today and he wants to put me on Test, HCG and an AI. This shit is EXPENSIVE! I don't even know if I can afford to go to this doc. What are some monthly payments people make to their docs who prescribe test?

[steroid.com 1]

Went to a Low T doctor today and he wants to put me on Test, HCG and an AI. This shit is EXPENSIVE! I don't even know if I can afford to go to this doc. What are some monthly payments people make to their docs who prescribe test?

Click on the banner at the top of the forum on Loewtesterone.com...you will be helped!

[ElDude]

Click on the banner at the top of the forum on Loewtesterone.com...you will be helped!

I actually tried putting my info in for that about a month ago but have yet to be contacted. That place sounds almost too good to be true @ $199/month for everything mentioned above. There is a center hopefully popping up about 2 hours away from where I am. Can definitely make the trip up if it opens.

[ElDude]

So I went to the TRT doc again yesterday and was "approved" for treatment. My second round of bloodwork came back with a Serum of 402 and Free test at 13.6. So baseline test serum is 386- low. Free Test average is 13.7- Low

His Rx is:
200mg Test Cyp/wk - Would it be cool to do 100mg Test Cyp 2x per week? Monday and Thursday?
Arimidex - .5mg- I think it said EOD? Will double check when i get script filled today.
hCG - I believe it is 500iu 2x per week, again, will check script when I pick it up today.

Then he gave me A TON of syringes (like 300)... I hate seeing these damn things

Good news about insurance is that they actually covered all prescriptions. Test is going to be $10, Arimi is $10 and the hCG is about $50. Syringes I think should be pretty cheap.

What can I expect to feel with a "normal" test level?! I feel like I haven't had one in years! I am pretty PUMPED!

[Mario L]

Depending on your symptoms of your low t. With a normal t level you should just feel normal.

Most people don't need 200 mg a week. Who knows you may metabolize the testosterone quick. Your 6 week blood work follow up will determine that. If 200 mg a week is to high a lower dose to get you to the top of normal range is much better possibly eliminating the need for the AI. Especially if you divide your weekly shot into 2 Sub cutaneous shots.

[ElDude]

Depending on your symptoms of your low t. With a normal t level you should just feel normal.

Most people don't need 200 mg a week. Who knows you may metabolize the testosterone quick. Your 6 week blood work follow up will determine that. If 200 mg a week is to high a lower dose to get you to the top of normal range is much better possibly eliminating the need for the AI. Especially if you divide your weekly shot into 2 Sub cutaneous shots.

Hmmm. Normal to me is not having much of a sex drive. Tired by 3pm. No energy. Having to force myself outta bed in the morning. Lower confidence. Not seeing much progress from diet lifting for > 6 months. I have been feeling like this for a while! So this is my normal, hoping these things change a good amount!

[Mario L]

No I mean normal should have a great sex drive. Motivation. Normal Energy though out the day. Confidence of a man. You will see great progress in body change and feeling once you are dialed in. Remember more isn't always better with TRT.

[ElDude]

No I mean normal should have a great sex drive. Motivation. Normal Energy though out the day. Confidence of a man. You will see great progress in body change and feeling once you are dialed in. Remember more isn't always better with TRT.

These are the effects I am looking for! What is an average does for TRT? After researching a bit in here I am seeing anywhere from 50-125 and up to 200mg every week.

Are there things I should be looking for? Sides that may indicate my starting dose is too high?

[ElDude]

So here is my more extensive lab work... Pre TRT


Insulin -like Growth factor I- 254 ng/ml
IGF- BP3- 4.7 mg/L
Iron bind cap (TIBC)- 311 ug/dl
UIBC- 188 ug/dl
Iron, Serum- 123 ug/dl
Iron Sauration- 40%
LH- 6.3
FSH- 2.6
Test serum- 402 (last was 371) baseline is 380ish?
Free Test- 11.1
Pregnenolone- 95
T4 Free- 1.25
DHEA- 483 HIGH!! Why is this? Not taking any DHEA supp?

TSH 1.710
Estradiol- 33.7 is this high?!
Thyrotropin Receptor Ab- <0.51
Prostate-Specific Ag, Serum- 0.4 is this low? What does this mean?

Iodine- 41.3
Reverse T3, serum- 11.4
Vitamin D- 25.1 LOW!
Progesterone- 0.8
Insulin- 13.8
Thyroid Peroxidase- <6 IU
Antithyroglobulin Ab- <20IU
Triiodothyronine,free,serum- 3.6
Sex hormone binding glob, serum- 16.5 Is this Low?!

Thanks for any help/input! Decided to start TRT on Monday. A little freaked out to pin so if anyone has tips that would be awesome- otherwise going to doctor on Monday to find out how to inject IM.

[Trific]

If I were you, after the reading and evaluating I have done, I would try 50mg of test every 3.5 days and 250iu of HCG every Mon, Wed & Fri. and I wouldn't take any AI unless my nips became itchy and puffy....I would do that for six weeks and then do BW and adjust from there and I'd do this with my doc's approval of course.

[Trific]

Here's a pinning video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQor4...08F599100DC2F0

If you had your lab ranges you can edit them into your post as the guys like to have them.

[Mario L]

With your drs approval I would do 50mg e3.5d and 250iu HCG e3.5d day before T shot. No AI. Then have him retest in 6 weeks.

[ElDude]

With your drs approval I would do 50mg e3.5d and 250iu HCG e3.5d day before T shot. No AI. Then have him retest in 6 weeks.

Based on what you guys are telling me, why do you think my doc is Rxing:

200mg/wk of Test Cyp
.5mg 2x per week
1000iu per week hCG

[38onTRT]

What are your stats ie height weight bf% and your goals? 200mg a week is too much IMHO..

[Trific]

It could be that you'll do just fine as he prescribed it...he maybe has got good results in the past....it's just that we are taught here that most don't need 200mg per week and that it's best to not dose high enough to need any AI, and it better to start out with a lower dose and later maybe take more than it is to start out too high and have to lower the dose in time.

There are several here though that do dose 200mg per week.

[ElDude]

What are your stats ie height weight bf% and your goals? 200mg a week is too much IMHO..

Stats:
6'0
225-230
BF is 20-22%

[ElDude]

I have an appointment with doctor next Thursday just pinned 100mg test cyp a couple hours ago. First pin went well, no pain or irritation.

Going to talk to doc about why I am on 200mg/ml once a week. If anything I will pin 100mg once a week, maybe 50mg 2x per week to save up for a blast or cycle.

[Trific]

Sounds like a good plan, you can always increase down the road if needed.