Need advice on 6 month bloodwork

[dfwo]

I just got my 6 month BW results this afternoon and would love some opinions. Just not sure if I should consider myself dialed in now, or continue making changes.

Some background; I'm 44, and my initial total testosterone was 155 in October '11. Dr prescribed 300mg Test Cyp every two weeks, no AI or HCG. I decided to do 150mg every week. I have since changed my dosage a little at a time and added in some Arimidex.

The only initial testing I had done was total test , so I have nothing to compare the other results to.

My results from 11/28 (150mg Test Cyp 1xWeek, no AI);

Testosterone , Serum 340 (348-1197)
Testosterone , Free 7.51 (5.00-21.00)
% Free Testosterone 2.21 (1.50-4.20)
PSA .5 (0.0-4.0) [was also .5 six weeks ago]
IGF -1 219 (101-267)
Estradiol, Sensitive 38 (3-70)

And results from 2/6 (160mg Test Cyp 1xWeek, no AI);

Testosterone , Serum 452 (348-1197)
Testosterone , Free 16.18 (5.00-21.00)
% Free Testosterone 3.58 (1.50-4.20)
PSA .5 (0.0-4.0)
IGF -1 269 (101-267)
Estradiol, Sensitive 55 (3-70)

And my current results (increased Test Cyp to 180mg 1xWeek, and added .25 mg of Arimidex day after my injection)

Testosterone , Serum 603 (348-1197)
Testosterone , Free 22.31 (5.00-21.00)
% Free Testosterone 3.70 (1.50-4.20)
PSA .6 (0.0-4.0)
IGF -1 273 (101-267)
Estradiol, Sensitive 35 (3-70)

[Vettester]

Looks like your heading on the right track!! How long was it that you ran the labs after taking the last injection?

How do you feel at this point? Personally, I tend to have a little better libido when my E2 is in that 30-35 range, but it's all personal preference. If you feel that needs improved, or you're a little more bloated than what you would prefer, then possibly bump up the AI to .25mg x 2/wk and see if tapering your E2 into the 20's gives you better well being.

No complaints with that IGF!! Healthy GH axis!! Lots of free test, probably as a result of low SHBG (same here). So, at 603 total serum, you can match up equally and even better than a person who has a 850 total serum score and 2.5% free test score, which would be pretty standard in a lot of guys.

Would definitely like to see other labs to make sure other areas are in balance (DHEA, D3, Cortisol, B12 etc.) and if any of the CBC's, lipids, metabolic labs, etc. are out of range. Also, maybe at some point you can also look at adding HCG to the protocol, which should allow you to taper back the test dosage; all depending on how receptive your testes are to it.

Again, looks like you're making progress ... Good job!

[dfwo]

I did my BW the day before my next injection. So, I injected on Thursday and had blood drawn 6 days later on Wed.

I certainly feel better. My energy level is up and I'm horny almost all the time. I'm also single and not getting laid on a regular basis, so that may explain the horniness. If I had a regular girlfriend, it would probably be pretty manageable. I'm also pretty irritable. I was feeling so much better with the testosterone that I came off of some anti-depressants I had been taking. And that could be part of the irritibility. My mistake trying to make two changes at once.

Everything else was in balance. I'm a little concerned that my free test is so high compared to my total #. I'm guessing my doctor is going to wig out over that one.

[Vettester]

Well, it's probably good you tested on the 6th day, your doctor would be wigging a bit more if you had tested 2 or 3 days after, which is the peak period. Again, it's more than likely the SHBG. Maybe see if he will run a panel to confirm that for you.

Horny is good!! And coming off the Anti-D's is even better!!! Sounds like you're just a bit irritable due to needing some action. High testosterone with the right mix of E2 is a healthy place Happy hunting with the she-wolf!

[steroid.com 1]

Testosterone , Serum 603 (348-1197)
Nice, mid to higher range is where you'd like to see this panel.

Testosterone , Free 22.31 (5.00-21.00)
This appears high. Can you please provide the measurement i.e., pg/ml

% Free Testosterone 3.70 (1.50-4.20)
This IS high. % Free is best at about 2.5% which for a lot of men difficult to reach. I'd like to see your SHBG and Albumin panels if you have them.

PSA .6 (0.0-4.0)
Sweet!

IGF -1 273 (101-267)
Really nice...no need for expensive HGH for you young man

Estradiol, Sensitive 35 (3-70)
Ok, but for me a tad high but nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye for sides.

Might want to consider lowering your dosage just a bit. The % Free is the one we want to look at along with bio-available and we want these in the optimal youthful range and 3.70% Free is high.

Other than that good stuff my friend!!!

BTW, any Thyroid panels you can share?

gd

[Brohim]

why is it bad to have high free test?

[dfwo]

Free testosterone was 22.31 ng/dL. Test was run by LabCorp.

I don't see SHBG, but I see these two;

Albumin, Serum 4.4 g/dL (3.5-5.5)
Globumin, Total 2.4 g/dL (1.5-4.5)

And Thyroid panel;

TSH 1.680 (0.450-4.500)
Thyroxine (T4) 8.0 (4.5-12.0)
T3 Uptake 32 (24-39)
Free Thyroxine Index 2.6 (1.2-4.9)

[dfwo]

why is it bad to have high free test?

I have noticed quite a few people here with higher free results in relation to their total #

I wonder if introducing outside testosterone is converted to free test easier?

[Vettester]

GD or someone can double check my calculation, but I'm showing your SHBG at 5.5. Damn, that's lower than mine! This is probably a result of your higher IGF-1 score, which is known to drive SHBG down.

Brohim, having high free testosterone isn't a bad thing. It just needs to be managed accordingly so that a patient doesn't start getting sides, or the body/organs start stressing because levels are over elevated for a long period of time. This is why you will hear us talk about not being too glued into only the total serum score. What the body actually uses is free and unbound, which in most cases is around 1.5% to 3% of the total serum. So in DFWO's case, there's a BIG difference with being at 603 total serum, as opposed to another guy with the same score who is at 2%. You could look at the same score and not realize that DFWO is actually utilizing almost double the amount of actual testosterone as opposed to the same guy, same serum score.

DFWO, introducing exogenous testosterone is simply received by the body as bio identical testosterone. Certain forms, such as gels will have tendencies to convert higher rates of DHT, but prior to conversion it's still channeled and received as bio test, just as your own natural production. To conclude, it is in a state of being bound, loosely bound, or free, factors dependent on SHBG and albumin.

[zaggahamma]

way to dial yourself in...perfect way to start and change doses and monitor

congrats on the benefits

[dfwo]

Would it be worth testing free and weakly bound?

[steroid.com 1]

I can't add to what Vette said; he's 100% accurate and articulate as usual.

Is it worth testing free and weakly bound?

You're % Free is very accurate but it only reflects Testosterone not bound to SHBG and Albumin.

Bio Available is both Free and Testosterone bound to Albumin (it's loosely bound and will become available) so this panel would be very interesting to see. It's really what is available for the body to use and probably the most important Testosterone panle of them all IMO.

Giving your elevated % Free panel and low SHBG I am willing to bet a lap dance at The Cheta that your Bio Available is higher then normal physiological range.

[dfwo]

Giving your elevated % Free panel and low SHBG I am willing to bet a lap dance at The Cheta that your Bio Available is higher then normal physiological range.

So, I might have free and weakly bound tested, and if it's out of the high range, drop my dosage slightly?

[kelkel]

Just get the lap dance. Great advice above. Love that IGF-1 score! Congrats.

[steroid.com 1]

So, I might have free and weakly bound tested, and if it's out of the high range, drop my dosage slightly?

Yes, get the Bio-Available assay.