Blood work

[Novanut]

When's the best time to have labs done, the day of your injection, the day after, 2 or 3 days after? I pin every 3.5 days.
Thanks

[tectime]

I like the day before or the morning before an evening shot. That way you are at your lowest point.

[Lifted1]

depends on what info you're looking for...if you want to know your lowest level, do it the day you're due for an injection. if you want to know your peak, do it the day after your injection.

[2Sox]

depends on what info you're looking for...if you want to know your lowest level, do it the day you're due for an injection. if you want to know your peak, do it the day after your injection.

Good advice.

[Novanut]

I'm just hoping my levels are fairly consistent. I recently switched to SQ every 3.5 days @80mg. Before I was doing 50 mg IM twice a week and my t levels seemed to stay in the high 700 range with E2 in the mid 30's and free test was decent, can't remember the number... Just recently moved and can't find the paper...

[Lifted1]

Good advice.

thank you sir!

I'm just hoping my levels are fairly consistent. I recently switched to SQ every 3.5 days @80mg. Before I was doing 50 mg IM twice a week and my t levels seemed to stay in the high 700 range with E2 in the mid 30's and free test was decent, can't remember the number... Just recently moved and can't find the paper...

congrats on the move to the dark side lol. im not sure why you lowered your dose when you made the switch to subq, but you will need atleast the same mg to maintain a similar level.

[Novanut]

There's a couple of reasons I lowered my dose...
Biggest reason, I was having a lot of anxiety and heard Dr Gordon talk about test causing anxiety, he mentioned lowering the dose usually helps alleviate the anxiety. Another reason, pushing 50mg subQ seem to hurt more and leave a bump. 40 is pretty painless with no bump. So far I really love subQ over im.

I've dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for a long time, so I can't really blame the test, but it does seem a little bit better. When I get my next labs done I'll see where I'm at and adjust from there.

[2Sox]

There's a couple of reasons I lowered my dose...
Biggest reason, I was having a lot of anxiety and heard Dr Gordon talk about test causing anxiety, he mentioned lowering the dose usually helps alleviate the anxiety. Another reason, pushing 50mg subQ seem to hurt more and leave a bump. 40 is pretty painless with no bump. So far I really love subQ over im.

I've dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for a long time, so I can't really blame the test, but it does seem a little bit better. When I get my next labs done I'll see where I'm at and adjust from there.

I'm not sure which Dr. Gordon you are referring to but I don't completely agree with him regarding T causing anxiety and panic attacks (and apparently you feel the same) - otherwise every boy going through puberty and every man on TRT would be having them. T is nothing more than a substance a man's body already produces naturally so introducing it exogenously should have no bearing on this condition. This of course is my opinion.

[Novanut]

I was referring to Dr. Mark Gordon, he says it raises some chemical in the brain, can't remember the name but lowering the dose usually elevates the panic attacks. My anxiety is most likely due to current events going on in my life.
Once I have my next round of labs, depending on where my levels are I'll adjust from there. I'm curious to see my levels after switching to SQ, though...

[kelkel]

I was referring to Dr. Mark Gordon, he says it raises some chemical in the brain, can't remember the name but lowering the dose usually elevates the panic attacks. My anxiety is most likely due to current events going on in my life.
Once I have my next round of labs, depending on where my levels are I'll adjust from there. I'm curious to see my levels after switching to SQ, though...

He's referring to dopamine.

[Novanut]

He's referring to dopamine.

That's not what it was. I'll have to go back and listen to the podcast he was on. I'm familiar with dopamine, this was something I had never heard of that was produced by the brain.

[2Sox]

He's referring to dopamine.

Thank you, Kel. I remember something you said on another post about how men first react to TRT regarding increased dopamine levels. I related to what you said on a personal level because I remember feeling incredibly horny and filled with remarkable energy in the first few months. Optimism was at maximum. This leveled off gradually. My guess is that if a man is already prone to emotional issues, dopamine MAY be a trigger for anxiety and panic attacks. (It's my understanding that dopamine stimulates quite the opposite response, such as I experienced). But I'm exceedingly skeptical about this until I see some scientific data.

[kelkel]

That's not what it was. I'll have to go back and listen to the podcast he was on. I'm familiar with dopamine, this was something I had never heard of that was produced by the brain.

Serotonin?

[Novanut]

Serotonin?

No, lol.., I'm familiar with that too. I'll listen too the podcast again today and get the name. Seems like it started with a g but I really can't remember.
I don't really think it's the test that's causing it, just circumstantial, as I've been as high as 200mg a week without any issues. I'm just trying everything I can so I don't have to rely on any benzo's to calm me down.

[kelkel]

I'm just trying everything I can so I don't have to rely on any benzo's to calm me down.

I would as well. Good luck with it!