Discounted labs test recommendation

[Pucker5]

Hey everyone

First post on this forum. This forums rocks! So much great info.

Quick background
1. Went to Kaiser with concern of brain fog, low libido trending infrequent ed and general feeling of meh.
2. Kaiser tests me for test levels, sleep apnea testing, blood, etc. everything within “normal range”…or basically a not broken diagnosis
3. I started a ugl trt regiment of 200mg cipionate divided into two shots per week and an hcg regiment of 500iu in that same interval. Taking 5mg of liquid Taldalafil (petides) daily for pwo and secondary benefits (stopped taking crazy stim/pump pwo sold otc) still taking citrulline 7mg prior to workout
4. Im seven weeks in and feeling really great (brain fog and general life fatigue dissipating, body composition and fitness recovery improved.)
5. Libido, sex desire, random boner frequency all up but experiencing below average erection quality when it’s finally go time.

Here’s my question, although I’m not going through a clinic (yet, probably transitioning) I have access to a doctor friend that although cannot order tests has agreed to review my progress. That said, what lab set do you guys recommend

Complete Hormone & Wellness Panel for MEN

Complete Blood Lab Test Panel for Men

www.discountedlabs.com

+ prolactin

Or

TRT Male Hormone/Wellness Follow Up Panel

This panel includes main blood test variables monitored by many clinics that treat men with low testosterone. This panel is for men who are already on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and who want to monitor their main blood tests. The panel includ

www.discountedlabs.com

+ prolactin
+ psa

Any other adds you recommend? Also please don’t flame too hard…any discount codes floating around?

Thanks

 

[sammmy]

Your second option of tests is better, since it includes free T and SHBG. Since you are already pumping exogenous T, tests like LH and FSH are irrelevant - they will be suppressed.

Your dose of T is too high and that is what the tests will show - do them at trough in the morning before the next injection.

Reducing the T dose may improve erection. Wait a few months on a lower dose to verify. If erection doesn't improve, do a venous study of penis with ultrasound to check for blood vessel integrity.

 

[Systemlord]

Went to Kaiser with concern of brain fog, low libido trending infrequent ed and general feeling of meh.
2. Kaiser tests me for test levels, sleep apnea testing, blood, etc. everything within “normal range”…or basically a not broken diagnosis

Generally Kaiser is very bad for TRT. Kaiser doesn’t follow endocrine or AUA guidelines, they follow their own, <264 ng/dL. Should you be lucky enough to get TRT through Kaiser, most of the doctors are still prescribing 150 mg every two weeks, far from an optimal protocol.

 

[Pucker5]

Your second option of tests is better, since it includes free T and SHBG. Since you are already pumping exogenous T, tests like LH and FSH are irrelevant - they will be suppressed.

Your dose of T is too high and that is what the tests will show - do them at trough in the morning before the next injection.

Reducing the T dose may improve erection. Wait a few months on a lower dose to verify. If erection doesn't improve, do a venous study of penis with ultrasound to check for blood vessel integrity.

You think 200 total per week is too high? My total was 397 prior to start. I was deliberating drawing it back down to 150 total weekly. That’s really what I wanted to start with but went with 200

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I would lower the T dose to 50 mg twice weekly, and keep the hCG as is.

I like this panel:

ED Test Panel: Detecting Erectile Dysfunction

Do you suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED)? This lab test panel includes hormones that can affect erectile function and libido. Some physicians forget to test for hormones beyond testosterone in men with ED.

www.discountedlabs.com

 

[Pucker5]

Following up on my labs. I went with option 2 of the test plans above and here’s what came back

Current regimen: started 12/6, first labs 3/14 (14 weeks)
100mg test cyp Tuesday and Friday
500iu hcg Tuesday and Friday

Total t - 1286
Free 375

Amounts to what @Nelson Vergel and @sammmy said, dosage of 200mg is probably high

Hematocrit was 50.6

I’ll mediate this by doing and giving blood starting at every 12 weeks when in plan to get my panels

Fsh was <.7
Lh was <.2

Prolactin 6.8
Psa .61

Shbg 25
Estradiol ultra sensitive 97

I was reading on estradiol on this forum and it seems the smarter approach is to look at it as a t/e ratio but even tt x .004 x 10 puts it at 50. And contributors to post below indicate they hcg as part of regiment elevates estradiol

High Estradiol in Men: How High is Too High?

So no sexual issues from the high prolactin? To be honest if I've noticed anything it's been a SLIGHT increase in EQ.

www.excelmale.com

Appreciate the thoughts and feedback

 

[Deleted member 16042]

Following up on my labs. I went with option 2 of the test plans above and here’s what came back

Current regiment: started 12/6, first labs 3/14 (14 weeks)
100mg test cyp Tuesday and Friday
500iu hcg Tuesday and Friday

Total t - 1286
Free 375

Amounts to what @Nelson Vergel and @sammmy said, dosage of 200mg is probably high

Hematocrit was 50.6

I’ll mediate this by doing and giving blood starting at every 12 weeks when in plan to get my panels

Fsh was <.7
Lh was <.2

Prolactin 6.8
Psa .61

Shbg 25
Estradiol ultra sensitive 97

I was reading on estradiol on this forum and it seems the smarter approach is to look at it as a t/e ratio but even tt x .004 x 10 puts it at 50. And contributors to post below indicate they hcg as part of regiment elevates estradiol

High Estradiol in Men: How High is Too High?

So no sexual issues from the high prolactin? To be honest if I've noticed anything it's been a SLIGHT increase in EQ.

www.excelmale.com

Appreciate the thoughts and feedback

Ratio is pretty moot at that kind of high level. Your E2 is sky high as well.

Can you please post the range for your free T? and what kind of free test was it?

Also, common mistake, for future reference, you are on a regimen. Cheers! ;>)

regiment
rĕj′ə-mənt

noun​

1. A military unit of ground troops consisting of at least two battalions, usually commanded by a colonel.
2. A large group of people.
3. Rule; government; authority.

 

[Pucker5]

https://www.questdiagnostics.com/healthcare-professionals/clinical-education-center/faq/totaltestosteronelcmsms

That gave me the only details on the test

 

[Deleted member 16042]

https://www.questdiagnostics.com/healthcare-professionals/clinical-education-center/faq/totaltestosteronelcmsms

That gave me the only details on the test

Your reference is for total testosterone. I am talking about free testosterone.

It would be in the printout of your results.

This is my last result for Free T. The 35.0-155.0 is the range. You can see your number has a different number of digits:

TESTOSTERONE, FREE 49.9 35.0-155.0 pg/mL

It is important to know the reference for your number of 375.

 

[sammmy]

It looks like it is calculated free T test:

37.7 ng/dL = 377 pg/mL

 

[Pucker5]

Your reference is for total testosterone. I am talking about free testosterone.

It would be in the printout of your results.

This is my last result for Free T. The 35.0-155.0 is the range. You can see your number has a different number of digits:

TESTOSTERONE, FREE 49.9 35.0-155.0 pg/mL

It is important to know the reference for your number of 375.

35.0-155.0 pg/mL

 

[Deleted member 16042]

35.0-155.0 pg/mL

So looks like the equilibrium dialysis, ultrafiltration method. That is good.

So now what do you think about taking 200mg/week?

Simple rational thought would tell you my opinion!

 

[Pucker5]

It looks like it is calculated free T test:

View attachment 30110

37.7 ng/dL = 377 pg/mL

Thanks, What can i interpret from the calculation

 

[Pucker5]

So looks like the equilibrium dialysis, ultrafiltration method. That is good.

So now what do you think about taking 200mg/week?

Simple rational thought would tell you my opinion!

High? Other then a number what would that higher e2 contribute to? Other than less than amazing rigid boners, im not experiencing any unfavorable sides that I’ve read about. That said What is tradeoff of lowering test dose vs adding Anastrozole .125mg twice weekly at time of test and hcg intake

 

[sammmy]

Thanks, What can i interpret from the calculation

It means your are flying high like a kite on free T, double the upper normal range, and that is at your trough.

 

[Deleted member 16042]

35.0-155.0 pg/mL

High? Other then a number what would that higher e2 contribute to? What is tradeoff of lowering test dose vs Anastrozole .125mg twice weekly at time of test and hcg intake

If that is your correct test range, you are more than double the highest normal value. This is not TRT, greater than double Free T is far beyond supraphysiological.

You are going to get different answers from different people about anastrozole, but you should know that using it can crash your estrogen. It is super powerful. I took it for a while to reduce my E2 by 5-10 points at .006mg every other day... yes, hundredths, less than 0.025/week. 0.125mg 2x/week seems pretty reasonable with E2 in the 90s, but it also could crash you. I personally would not take that large a dose. The hihest I've been is around 70 E2, and reducing my T dose lowered it well. I just needed that last small increment for a whi.

Much better to get your T to a level that E2 naturally falls into place.

This is a TRT forum. If you are taking testosterone for a different reason, you might want to ask on AAS body building forums. For TRT, to me it is obvious that you should reduce your testosterone dosage by half for starters.

 

[Pucker5]

If that is your correct test range, you are more than double the highest normal value. This is not TRT, greater than double Free T is far beyondsupraphysiological.

You are going to get different answers from different people about anastrozole, but you should know that using it can crash your estrogen. It is super powerful. I took it for a while to reduce my E2 by 5-10 points at .006mg every other day... yes, hundredths, less than 0.025/week. 0.125mg 2x/week seems pretty reasonable with E2 in the 90s, but it also could crash you. I personally would not take that large a dose. The hihest I've been is around 70 E2, and reducing my T dose lowered it well. I just needed that last small increment for a whi.

Much better to get your T to a level that E2 naturally falls into place.

This is a TRT forum. If you are taking testosterone for a different reason, you might want to ask on AAS body building forums. For TRT, to me it is obvious that you should reduce your testosterone dosage by half for starters.

Thanks for The for the feedback man! Honestly i
Never anticipated being supraphysiological In fact I considered starting at 125mg (.5cc) a week but I chose 200 because three guys across my friend circle have a trt regimen ranging 200-246/week and that’s to keep their levels at around 700-800.

I’ll probably knock down my weekly intake to 150

 

[Deleted member 16042]

Thanks for The for the feedback man! Honestly i
Never anticipated being supraphysiological In fact I considered starting at 125mg (.5cc) a week but I chose 200 because three guys across my friend circle have a trt regimen ranging 200-246/week and that’s to keep their levels at around 700-800.

I’ll probably knock down my weekly intake to 150

I predict 150 will not solve your issues. I agree with @Nelson Vergel in post #5 as a starting point.

 

[Pucker5]

I predict 150 will not solve your issues. I agree with @Nelson Vergel in post #5 as a starting point.

Okay, do you forsee any issues with immediately dropping from .4cc to .2cc . I pin tomorrow am

 

[Deleted member 16042]

Okay, do you forsee any issues with immediately dropping from .4cc to .2cc . I pin tomorrow am

Withdrawal can hurt. Some guys don't have trouble. I sure did, but I'd rather just do it once and be done. Repeated lowerings can be a pain