What would you do? HCT vs. BP

GreenMachineX · Friday at 3:38 PM

After years of playing around with different test cyp doses and such, daily seems to be the best for me. But, I’m at a crossroads.

Would you rather have…using Quest’s best labs…

HCT 54%
Free Testosterone 150 pg/mL
Ultrasensitive E2 30 pg/mL
Blood Pressure 125/80

Or…

HCT 50%
Free Testosterone 110 pg/mL
Ultrasensitive E2 15 pg/mL
Blood Pressure 140/80

I know the E2 is helping my BP come down which gets in range with the higher free test, but that brings the HCT up. I’m doing one last protocol to hopefully get in between those, but I’m not hopeful it’ll work after numerous labs over the years.

Seagal · Saturday at 7:09 AM

Please don't say the only difference between the two labs is a different dose of TC?

How do you feel on both settings?

GreenMachineX · Saturday at 7:25 AM

Seagal said:
Please don't say the only difference between the two labs is a different dose of TC?

How do you feel on both settings?

The differences are 7mg vs. just over 8mg, but I wasn’t careful on the 7mg strictly subq or shallow IM.

The 8mg daily was pretty steady shallow IM 2 days, subq 1 day, repeat, except I did add quad shots the past 12 weeks.

Right now, I’m doing 7mg alternating between shallow IM and subq every day, but I doubt it’ll matter since I use the same spots (except the quad shots) pretty much throughout the week. We’ll see in 8 weeks.

How I feel…on just above 8mg daily, my hands and feet were sweaty all the time and I actually had BO But stronger in the gym, possibly better libido but tough to say since I’m a unique situation right now. The water retention though is no good.

On 7mg, I’m leaner, less panicky and calmer. But gym recovery is slower.

Unsure about mood overall with both but that’s rarely a problem anyway and more influenced from cutting weight.

Seagal · Saturday at 8:19 AM

Based on this information I would go with the better 'feeling' setting for TRT.
Maybe you can optimize it with dhea, and regarding gym maybe more creatine, coffeïne pre-workout or oral AAS pre-workout for cns stimulation.

GreenMachineX · Saturday at 8:56 AM

Seagal said:
Based on this information I would go with the better 'feeling' setting for TRT.
Maybe you can optimize it with dhea, and regarding gym maybe more creatine, coffeïne pre-workout or oral AAS pre-workout for cns stimulation.

So you’d rather have slightly higher BP with less thick blood basically? I wonder what the long term trade off is viewing from the longevity lens only.

GreenMachineX · Saturday at 8:58 AM

Curious to what @Nelson Vergel would think strictly from a longevity view point.

Seagal · Saturday at 10:05 AM

GreenMachineX said:
So you’d rather have slightly higher BP with less thick blood basically? I wonder what the long term trade off is viewing from the longevity lens only.

The BP difference is strange. I'm no longer sure what's the best BP is. That's why I asked how you feel.
Are you sure the resting BP is consistently higher? If you add dhea, does it make a difference?

GreenMachineX · Saturday at 10:32 AM

Seagal said:
The BP difference is strange. I'm no longer sure what's the best BP is. That's why I asked how you feel.
Are you sure the resting BP is consistently higher? If you add dhea, does it make a difference?

DHEA has consistently made me feel worse and more bloated, even though my levels are low. Doesn’t seem to matter the type either.

I’m sure at night my BP goes down to more acceptable levels because if I take long enough in the middle of the day to relax I can get it to 120’s over 70’s. I’m on 40mg telmisartan also for note. So I’m really just comparing random BP’s at doctor offices and blood donations when I say in the OP.

Mastodont · Sunday at 2:17 AM

Are you drinking coffee, i am not the only one who had a significant drop in BP after giving up coffee.

FunkOdyssey · Sunday at 4:42 AM

GreenMachineX said:
Would you rather have…using Quest’s best labs…

Neither, switch to prop and break out of this false dichotomy you've created here. I predict you'll see lower HCT despite higher peak free T and E2 with prop, less water retention, lower BP.

GreenMachineX · Sunday at 5:32 AM

FunkOdyssey said:
Neither, switch to prop and break out of this false dichotomy you've created here. I predict you'll see lower HCT despite higher peak free T and E2 with prop, less water retention, lower BP.

A doctor can prescribe that too?

GreenMachineX · Sunday at 5:32 AM

Mastodont said:
Are you drinking coffee, i am not the only one who had a significant drop in BP after giving up coffee.

Nope, no caffeine.

FunkOdyssey · Sunday at 6:15 AM

GreenMachineX said:
A doctor can prescribe that too?

Yes, from a compounding pharmacy. It will be harder to get than cypionate but probably worth the trouble for you.

Guided_by_Voices · Sunday at 10:27 AM

Also, you need to get a BP measuring device and take multiple readings throughout the day. A single reading, especially in an unfamiliar setting is notoriously unreliable. And step one for blood pressure is to make sure you're getting plenty of potassium.

GreenMachineX · Sunday at 10:46 AM

Guided_by_Voices said:
Also, you need to get a BP measuring device and take multiple readings throughout the day. A single reading, especially in an unfamiliar setting is notoriously unreliable. And step one for blood pressure is to make sure you're getting plenty of potassium.

Those BPs are pretty well established; I have a monitor.

GreenMachineX · Sunday at 11:00 AM

FunkOdyssey said:
Neither, switch to prop and break out of this false dichotomy you've created here. I predict you'll see lower HCT despite higher peak free T and E2 with prop, less water retention, lower BP.

Brother than that, let’s say it doesn’t work…would you rather have thicker blood, or a mildly high BP?

FunkOdyssey · Sunday at 8:20 PM

GreenMachineX said:
Brother than that, let’s say it doesn’t work…would you rather have thicker blood, or a mildly high BP?

I would rather have thicker blood with lower BP. High BP is a well-documented killer, while the high hematocrit might be associated with a high blood viscosity or it might not, depending on levels of inflammation and other individual factors. But again, I truly believe it is possible for you to have both of them low by leaving the cyp behind.

Systemlord · Sunday at 11:21 PM

GreenMachineX said:
On 7mg, I’m leaner, less panicky and calmer. But gym recovery is slower.

I think your problem is the steady hormones isn’t agreeing with you and is causing less than optimal results. You need to look for a solution where you can have your cake and eat it too.

Have you tried oral testosterone, Jatenzo/Kyzatrex?

This way you can have high testosterone to get optimal results without jacking up your hemoglobin.

GreenMachineX · 2025-04-21T05:02:39-0500

Systemlord said:
I think your problem is the steady hormones isn’t agreeing with you and is causing less than optimal results. You need to look for a solution where you can have your cake and eat it too.

Have you tried oral testosterone, Jatenzo/Kyzatrex?

This way you can have high testosterone to get optimal results without jacking up your hemoglobin.

Right, but which scenario would you prefer out of the two if none of those suggestions turn out well either?

Vince · 2025-04-21T09:39:32-0500

GreenMachineX said:
After years of playing around with different test cyp doses and such, daily seems to be the best for me. But, I’m at a crossroads.

Would you rather have…using Quest’s best labs…

HCT 54%
Free Testosterone 150 pg/mL
Ultrasensitive E2 30 pg/mL
Blood Pressure 125/80

Or…

HCT 50%
Free Testosterone 110 pg/mL
Ultrasensitive E2 15 pg/mL
Blood Pressure 140/80

I know the E2 is helping my BP come down which gets in range with the higher free test, but that brings the HCT up. I’m doing one last protocol to hopefully get in between those, but I’m not hopeful it’ll work after numerous labs over the years.

I really don't believe your blood pressure readings are right. You need to check your blood pressure daily, not just occasionally. It can fluctuates so much.