Scary change in blood work

[producer]

Was on 100mg test cyp (weekly) for about 6 months and total test was 440. Everything else was in the normal range. Not feeling great so Dr bumped to 200mg a week. This goes on for 2.5 month before I was just retested.

Tested on 4th day after injection-

Total test 1440 (348-1197)
Free test 39 (7.2-24)
Estradiol 81 (7.6-42)

LH .2 (1.7-8.6)
FHS .2 (1.5-12.4)

I actually feel about the same, only difference is not sleeping quite as well. I am seeing a hormone specialist in a week, but I wanted to see if I could get an opinion or two here as to what he'll likely change. I assume an estrogen blocker and reduction in test?


Thank you!

[The Deadlifting Dog]

when you were on 100mg weekly, did you draw blood 4 days after injection?

[kelkel]

A 100% jump in mg's. Quite reckless by your doc imho. Small, incremental titrations work best followed by blood work for evaluation. Unless you have a very knowledgeable doc, and I don't think you do, it's always best to pull blood work on the day of injection but before your injection. This will show your trough value. Know that test peaks in about 24 hrs or so meaning you would have been even higher on day 2 post injection.

Very few people require 200 mgs per week. What he succeded in doing is putting you at superphysiologic levels. Test turns to estrogen so now your E2 is elevated as well. Speaking of E2, what your doc tested is standard estradiol which can be wildly inaccurate in men as it's geared for women. This inaccuracy causes docs to then unnecessarily dose aromatase inhibitors to men who may not need it. Your elevated dose will also cause your RBC's to ramp up = thick blood.

Last point. Your doc is still testing LH and FSH shows how little he understands hormones. Those values basically shut down when on exogenous testosterone and testing for them beyond the first set of BW after initiation of TRT is of no value.

Just saw it's your first post. Welcome to the forum!

[Youthful55guy]

Was on 100mg test cyp (weekly) for about 6 months and total test was 440. Everything else was in the normal range. Not feeling great so Dr bumped to 200mg a week. This goes on for 2.5 month before I was just retested.

Tested on 4th day after injection-

Total test 1440 (348-1197)
Free test 39 (7.2-24)
Estradiol 81 (7.6-42)

LH .2 (1.7-8.6)
FHS .2 (1.5-12.4)

I actually feel about the same, only difference is not sleeping quite as well. I am seeing a hormone specialist in a week, but I wanted to see if I could get an opinion or two here as to what he'll likely change. I assume an estrogen blocker and reduction in test?

Is this a once per week protocol? If so, why test mid-week?

No matter, if it is once per week, then that's part of the problem. Drop back to 100mg and split into at least 2X weekly injections of 50mg each or 40mg every 3 days (my favorite). Then follow that protocol for 6 weeks and retest immediately before your next injection. If on a 2X per week, use the 4 day injection. If E3D, then it doesn't matter.

Hopefully, your T will be in range and your E will drop down to a more normal range. I do not recommend jumping onto any type of E control now if you are going to follow this advice to alter the injection protocol because you will be chasing a moving target and won't be able to fully evaluate the change in protocol. More than likely, you will crash your E and feel worse.

I'd also be very concerned about your hemoglobin levels as Kel pointed out if you continue on a 200mg/week dose. This is not a sustainable dose and I doubt that even with the maximally allowed blood donation frequency you will be able to keep it under control. You will have to get a prescription for therapeutic phlebotomies and that is going to make the protocol non-sustainable in the long run.

[kelkel]

I you will be chasing a moving target

Great line.