Retaking IGF1 test, questions that may affect levels?

[RoachForLife19]

Background
Began HGH regiment in Sept 2010 starting at 1iu/day (everyday), and then increased by 1iu every 3 weeks. So Week 1-3 was 1iu/day, Weeks 4-6 was 2iu, etc. All pins have been just ONCE a day (morning). Im up to 6iu a day and plan to keep to this level for some time. I also take 100mcg of T4 at night on empty stomach before bed

My schedule in the morning looks like this:
630am - pin
715am - 7eggs for breakfast
1000am - next meal, etc


Tested IGF1 this week
Earlier this week I got my IGF1 levels tested. My schedule that morning was almost identical to my usual. Im at 6ius/day now and have been since around Jan 1
630am - pin
715am - 7eggs for breakfast
800am - blood drawn

IGF1 level --> 464



Another members test
With that said, another member taking a different brand posted results of 640 on half the dosage. He then got tested again on 6iu and posted a lower result of 600. The diff? His timing of food. With that in mind Im looking to take another test next week and eat the same way he proposed and see the difference, if any
600am - 7eggs for breakfast
1000am - pin
1100am - blood drawn

As he pointed out, he waited 4 hours after eating to have the blood drawn so there may be significant correlation there


Question on next testing
With that in mind, I am thinking of taking my 6iu/day and splitting to 2 pins of 3iu each. Im wondering how this might affect my levels when tested. Since the morning of I would be getting only 3iu just before the blood is drawn would this lower my numbers? Any other factors I need to consider? Any help on this is appreciated

Thanks guys!

[SlimmerMe]

are you on thyroid medication? or low thyroid?
I just read somewhere and wish I knew where, that thyroid levels can interfere with IGF-1 level testing....I will try to trace back to where I found this....just a thought

what was your baseline level?

plus we are all different.....I was on GH for 6 months with pharma grade and my levels only went up a measly 25 points!

[RoachForLife19]

Actually I forgot to post but Ive been on 100mcg of T4 every evening since September. I dont have known Thyroid issues, had full bloodwork done just between starting (in Aug) and all thyroid stuff checked out

[DCannon]

Did you have only 7 eggs for breakfast after your shot or did you have anything else? Were they whole eggs or egg whites?

[RoachForLife19]

7eggwhites (egg beaters) with some ketchup. That was it

[DCannon]

I wouldn't think that would effect you ogf-1 level then. Not really any carbs or fat there.

[Sgt. Hartman]

I don't have the studies or any actual evidence, but many people say that IGF-1 levels decline rapidly once blood is drawn, especially after 4 hours. Almost all labs send the blood to another facility for testing so this would explain the inconsistent results.

[SlimmerMe]

what was your baseline IGF-1 level? curious.....

[JimInAK]

I have routinely sent blood samples through UPS for my IGF-1 test. It would be impossible to send the sample to the lab in less than 4 hours.

I seriously doubt if the IGF-1 in your blood would "rapidly decline" 4 hours after being drawn.

There are lots of good sources for information and also lots of opportunity for people to make baseless claims....

If IGF-1 routinely crashes after being drawn, why would reputable testing facilities provide testing services that would be proven unreliable? Wouldn't they lose their credibility?

I have NEVER seen or heard of any scientific research or data that supports the crashing IGF-1 claim. Sounds to me like another old wives' tale being repeated.

[Sgt. Hartman]

I have routinely sent blood samples through UPS for my IGF-1 test. It would be impossible to send the sample to the lab in less than 4 hours.

I seriously doubt if the IGF-1 in your blood would "rapidly decline" 4 hours after being drawn.

There are lots of good sources for information and also lots of opportunity for people to make baseless claims....

If IGF-1 routinely crashes after being drawn, why would reputable testing facilities provide testing services that would be proven unreliable? Wouldn't they lose their credibility?

I have NEVER seen or heard of any scientific research or data that supports the crashing IGF-1 claim. Sounds to me like another old wives' tale being repeated.

This is the first place I read it http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...concerns/page4 post 137.

I also spoke with a lab technician at directlabs who said the same thing although he was unsure of the exact time frame for degradation and didn't know exactly the correct method of storing/preserving the blood for the IGF-1 levels to not be compromised.

I am not stating this as a fact but just as a theory as to why IGF-1 blood test results seem to be so inconsistent.

As far as labs losing credibility for performing baseless tests, almost all labs will test for HGH levels and we all know how useless that test is as injectable rHGH will be completely absorbed and gone in less than 3 hours.

[RoachForLife19]

So I took the test again this past Wed, changing nothing but my eating schedule for that day (still on same brand, still at 6iu/day, etc). My results were actually lower, only a tad, but still lower.

Test 1
630am - pin
715am - 7eggs for breakfast
800am - blood drawn

IGF1 level --> 464



Test 2
700am - 7eggs for breakfast
1000am - pin
1100am - blood drawn

IGF1 level --> 445

Could just be variation of my body, or the time it takes before testing. Long story short Im not sure that the timing of the foods as such an impact. I am curious though why Ive seen several people test lower after taking the GH longer (and generally higher amounts) then those starting out. As I mentioned, another member was at 650ish on just 3iu and then down to 600 at 6iu. Could our bodies just get desensitized/immune to the synthetic gh after awhile? Or could 1 large dose a day be utlized less by the body then say 2 smaller one (1x 6iu vs 2x 3iu)? Im trying to understand this better as I continue using this stuff.

With that said I plan to test the new Elites and retest, and possibly test Rips. Not sure if my numbers are low(er) due to the reasons I listed above or are brand related.

Thanks

[GH consumer]

Could our bodies just get desensitized/immune to the synthetic gh after awhile? Or could 1 large dose a day be utlized less by the body then say 2 smaller one (1x 6iu vs 2x 3iu)?

Lowering of the bodies sensitivity to exogenous GH will not happen that fast, if at all.

It is recommended to (if going above 4IU) devide the dose as to mimic the bodies natural GH release. More smaller doses are better then 1 large one (like with food).

Biologically are bodies are developed in such a way that consuming little more frequent meals (and everything else, like GH) are more beneficial then 1 large serving.

When man used to roam the open fields thousands of years ago, he would between fights and active periods, sporadically find food and water and did not have time or enviromental luxury to spend the next few hours eating and drinking it all. He had to go on and find more food and conquer more territory.

An example of this constant enviromental changing and danger in our bodies is the fight-of-flight reaction. Man never knew what was around the corner and our bodies adapted to this reality. As a reaction our bodies are unable to digest large quantities of food at one time (we get tired) because this conflicts with the evolutionary need to always stay active and mobile (and thus safe)

The biological lesson our bodies have learned and since then appreciated is that little portions of everything are more prefered then an overload at one time.