Started first testosterone cycle after very low blood work

[vetvso]

I am new to posting here, but thought I would share my experience, and what results/problems have occurred.

First of all I am 43 and have been weight lifting since I was a teenager. However with my travel schedule over the years it became very difficult and downright impossible at times.

While working in Alaska several years ago I started feeling bad and exhausted but needed to continue working anyway. I went to the doctor and asked for testosterone blood test. All I was told was that it was normal. I did my own research and also discovered my D3 was most likely very low as well. The D3 helped but not totally.

Fast forward to this year July here in Taiwan; I did the same blood work up and much more. My test results where 194, and that was very low.

Started first testosterone cycle after very the low blood work and it has been about 4 weeks now. I still feel tired, and have loss some muscle strength/endurance in the Gym. My weight (265pds )is too high now and it is effecting my blood pressure. I believe I have water weight due to increase in estrogen binding to the test but am unsure if I should use a estrogen blocker.

I also would like to raise my HGH up with a peptide stimulator along with Test, estrogen blocker, and maybe a T3 medication.

If some has some helpful information I would appreciate it.

[austinite]

Hey vetvso, Sorry to hear about the issues you're having.

Did you get any other blood work besides test levels? If so, can you post all results including ranges?

Feel free to come hang out with us in the HRT forums, you will gather a plethora of information and learn how to find a good doctor.

[vetvso]

9/17/2012

ACTH 15.30 pg/ml <46
Cortisol 6.80 ug/dL 7-9AM: 4.3-22.4 ug/dL 3-5PM 3.1 - 16.7 ug/dl
Testosterone 192.00 ng/dl M:241-827 F:14-76
PRL(Prolactin) 13.17 ng/mL 2.58-18.12
LH 2.68 mIU/m 1.26 - 10.05
Free T4 1.13 ng/dl 0.71-1.48
TSH 1.0010 uIU/ml 0.35-4.94
FSH 2.51mIU/m M:0.95-11.95

10/16/2012
Testosterone 584.00 ng/dl M:241-827
HGH 0.022 M:0.003-0.971

[austinite]

You should certainly use a blocker. When exactly did you run your cycle? What doses, and are you still on?

[vetvso]

Looks like
9/17 200mg injection
10/8 200mg injection
10/15 blood test
10/22 200mg injection

What blocker do you reccomend? what do you think about the T4 and HGH levels? I will go train in about an hr and see how it goes.

I have been all over the map in training my job here in Taiwan is very busy.

[vetvso]

9/6/2012
Blood examination
Hb 13.7 13.0-18.0 gm/dL
Ht 39.6 40.0-54.0 %
RBC 4.56 4.50-5.70 X10^6/uL
MCV 87.0 80.0-98.0 fl
MCHC 34.5 32.0-36.0 %
Platetet 306 140-450
WBC 6.10 4.0-10.0
Blood biochemistry
Liver Function
SGOT 23 15-41u/L
SGPT 29 14-40 U/L
Renal function
BUN 8 8-20 mg/dl
Creatinine 0.8 0.4-1.2 mg/dl
Uric Acid 6.8 4.4-7.6 mg/dl
Plasma Glucose
Glucose AC 95 70-99 mg/dl
Lipid
Total Cholesterol 224 130-200 mg/dl
Triglyceride 178 35-150 mg/dl
Serology test
Tumor markers
AFP 2.24 1.09-8.04 ng/ml

OK I have a few Urinaliyis that I will post later. I was working 16-18hr days for months and I think I totaly screwed my body up. I have been rest better for several months but the weight never came off; but some streanth in the gym has returned to early 2011 levels.

[kelkel]

9/17/2012

ACTH 15.30 pg/ml <46
Cortisol 6.80 ug/dL 7-9AM: 4.3-22.4 ug/dL 3-5PM 3.1 - 16.7 ug/dl
Testosterone 192.00 ng/dl M:241-827 F:14-76 In the tank as you know
PRL(Prolactin) 13.17 ng/mL 2.58-18.12 Ok but prefer lower
LH 2.68 mIU/m 1.26 - 10.05 Low
Free T4 1.13 ng/dl 0.71-1.48Good. Mid-range is what you want. To high/low can be indicator of hyper/hypo thyroidism
TSH 1.0010 uIU/ml 0.35-4.94 Good but always a weak indicator of thyroid function
FSH 2.51mIU/m M:0.95-11.95 Low

10/16/2012
Testosterone 584.00 ng/dl M:241-827Getting better. Modern scale is app 348 -1197
HGH 0.022 M:0.003-0.971

Not familiar with that scale

First. Your injection protocol needs to be weekly at a minimum. Test has a half life of app 5-7 days influenced by your metabolism. So, you need to drop your dose to arguably 100mg per week. For even more stable levels of T I'd recommend splitting that 100mg to 50mg every 3.5 days. Less injected = less spike in E = less AI needed. Makes sense, right?

Second. Did your doc determine the causative factor for the low T? Are you primary or secondary? The labs posted would indicate possibly secondary (pituitary related) as your lh/fsh is low as is your T. If you were primary (testical related) your lh/fsh would be high and your T low. Your doc should have sent you for an MRI to rule in or out pituitary adenomas as they can cause low T/elevated prolactin, etc. Trust me, I have one. Be great to find the cause and fix it and not need T therapy!

You also need to have your E2 tested with a sensitive assay specific to males to find out where you are. E follows T so as your T rises so does your E. Also the higher BF level you have the more T you will turn to E. The aromatase enzyme lives in the skin with a high preponderance in stomach fat.

Do you happen to know your IFG-1 Level as well? And like Austin said. Come over to the HRT Forum and hang out. Read all the stickies there. It's really where you should be. The education value there is high.

kel

[vetvso]

What about water weight; should I take a water pill? I think I carry 3-5pds of water now and it raises my blood pressure 7 points.