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This was a great read. Thanks.

I knew that dehydration can affect hematocrit, so I try to make sure I'm hydrated before my blood work. But I do a pretty bad job overall of staying hydrated on a regular basis and I have high hematocrit issues too. I need to work harder at this. I didn't realize though that it would impact it...

I've watched Dr. Rand's videos before and he's very knowledgeable. Thanks for interviewing him!

Neither HCG (unmixed) or DHEA (oral or cream form) need to be cold packed. It's the troche's of Tadalafil that need to be cold packed, and that does cost extra for overnighting.

I get everything through Defy. They work directly with compounding pharmacies, so I just place my order with them and it's all shipped to me. Other than paying shipping costs, it's a great setup.

HCG can also contribute to an increase estrogen, which then can lead to hot flashes.

So I had my consult with Dr. Saya as a follow up to the last bloodwork I posted above. Here's the plan for now: try to lower my E2 slightly, while maintaining my T levels as much as possible. To do this we won't be using an AI, thankfully. We're going to adjust my T dose ever so slightly...

Not sure who you're asking, but if it's me I do mine IM. Tried SubQ for about 2 months (when I was doing every 3.5d injections) and I didn't like it.

Thanks for the advice. For me, each step toward more frequent injections has been a stabilizing positive. I feel especially stable since going on EOD injections (my mood is the big indicator for me and the #1 reason I'm on TRT). Have a consult with Dr. Saya today, so we'll know more where things...

I too have wondered this. I can't donate, but next time I go in to do a phlebotomy I'll ask the blood center more details and see if I can't get a solid answer on it.

This might be my case in the near future as well. Started out over a year ago with weekly injections at the docs, then went to weekly at home, then to every 3.5 days, now every other day. I feel great, but my E2 is rising and I really, really don't want to take an AI, so maybe this is the ticket...

Welcome! We're glad to have you here.

Thanks, these are useful! But isn't there also one that has all of the benefits on one wheel? I think I may have seen it on a pharma companies website...I'll have to look there too.

I know some of you have seen this before. It's a graph in the form of a wheel with concentric circles showing the various benefits of TRT, when they kick in, and how long until they peak. Anyone know where I can find this online?

It's a 15mg/ml cream and she does 2 clicks right now (I believe 4 clicks is 1ml). So that's 7.5mg. Over the next 4 weeks she has the leeway to move all the way up to 4 clicks depending on symptom relief and side effects. But remember, just like men, the dosage needed is variable depending on...

Yes, but there's no concern there or with me since she does this in the AM and puts on clothes soon after. I believe the transfer concern is much diminished after about an hour or so anyhow.

She applies it to her inner thighs every morning before she gets ready for work (after showering, or wiping her legs clean with a cloth). It dries in about 5 minutes and then she just goes about her day (being careful for the first hour or so not to rub them on clothing or whatever...

My wife just started with Defy about 3-4 weeks ago. She's currently on testosterone cream applied daily, and Lipo-C (which I believe was just to shore up her energy levels until the hormones are more settled in). Not sure what's typical, but I'm pretty sure the cream is preferred for women...

In my mind you want to compare apples to apples, so for instance if you had your pre-TRT testing done in the AM, I'd try to always have it done in the AM if possible.

I haven't had to do this yet, but if I did this is how I would go about it as well.

I've often wondered about this. I know the technical answer, as you stated above, is don't do it. But is there a huge problem doing this say overnight? I inject EOD and I've taken to loading it the night before (8-9pm) and injecting the next morning (6-7am).

You're still in a good place with HCT, but definitely mention the altitude factor. Glad you're getting baselines, those are important!

You can sign up with Labcorp at their website and results will be automatically posted to your account after they've been sent to the doc (usually 1-2 days after they get it).

I'm just outside of the Denver metro, so a bit higher at 6,500. It's definitely a factor, so for sure mention it to your doc. What was your hematocrit before starting TRT? And after?

Yes, most definitely.

Yes, here are the numbers from that: January 2015: Hemoglobin 18.4 g/dL (range 12.6-17.7) Hematocrit 53.7% (range 37.5-51) March 2015: Hemoglobin 18.6 g/dL (range 12.6-17.7) Hematocrit 54.0% (range 37.5-51) I have typically had a high hematocrit even before I started TRT (it was 51.3 before I...

So then the ratio might not mean much? I'll be interested to hear Dr. Saya's explanation on my E level and why it went up, but I still feel better.

Yeah, he took me off the cream when it didn't seem to be upping my DHEA numbers and my E went up (he said it could partly have been the pregnenalone). I now take micronized 25mg per day orally and that seems to have been a much better thing for me, since my DHEA number rose quite a bit (the...

I was having hot flashes and some water retention and moodiness BEFORE the change when it was 46, but now with the protocol change all of that is gone and it still went up to 49. So the T/E ratio must be the explanation there.

Results are finally in! I felt like a kid in 1985 getting a Nintendo for Christmas when Defy told me they were finally here (it's been 13 days since the draw). Before I post results, I'll just mention the symptom improvements I've seen since the protocol change we made 8 weeks ago (see post...

The one thing that stuck out to me was the opiate abuse. Opiates can definitely lower T, maybe permanently...not sure about the rebound after that.