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You can look at your platelet counts on CBC labs for an indication of clotting potential. Platelets are a key factor in clotting. Due to the phlebotomies for high hct and hgb, my platelets run on the low side of normal.

I got started on Metformin for the same reason after reading about all the good things it was suppose to do. I'm not diabetic either but I do have the "dawn phenomenon" where overnight fasting glucose is mildly elevated. Metformin didn't seem to help this at all for some reason. The...

LabCorp is a mixed bag for me. Their new check-in kiosks are great. I've had recurring issues with them not drawing enough blood to complete a test- mainly the sensitive estradiol test. I also had an issue in December with two sensitive estradiol test results showing big discrepancies. The first...

I have metabolic syndrome but my PCP wouldn't prescribe me metformin despite having impaired fasting glucose overnight (Dawn phenomenon) in the 120's. My A1C is good and my post prandial glucose is within normal range too but I just felt I needed to get the fasting glucose down. So I ordered...

My bad on the hcg- you are correct. Its the troches of DHEA and tadalafil that have to be cold packed and shipped next day delivery

I got my test cyp and ancillary meds (HCG, DHEA, and Tadalafil) from APS Pharmacy through Defy. Just a note on shipping costs- if you are scripted HCG, DHEA and/or Tadalafil troches they all have to be cold-packed and have to be shipped next day delivery which is $25 extra.

it means you have to wait a couple more weeks if you want Dr Saya for the consult over Dr Crisler. I started with Defy in early April and they gave me the choice- wait longer for Dr Saya or have the consult with Dr Crisler sooner, so I chose Dr Crisler.

I recently started with Defy but haven't had a DRE in a while. I was told they require patients to have one every year.

Dr Crisler put me on 100 IU HCG every day. Probably something to do with the fact my E2 is in the 60's but we added anastrozole and dim to get that down.

Ive had a similar thing happen. Got a message that my liver values were elevated and to come in as soon as possible. I'm thinking hepatitis and whatever else bad things happen with the liver. When I got to the doctors office my values were a point or two over upper limits and it was because of a...

I have my initial consult with Dr Crisler through Defy early next month. Looking forward to it.

I had a sense of more calmness and well being than normal at first but that seemed to fade over time. Possibly related to estradiol rising I guess.

I raised my DHEA from 95 to the low 200s by taking 2 x 10mg Pure encapsulations over about 3 months. However it did raise my estradiol sensitive by 4 points too so I quit taking it. PSA moved up from 1 to 1.1 too. So the capsules do work if you can tolerate those issues. I was scared by the...

Thanks I think so too. Filled out the paperwork, emailed it, and have a lab order in hand to get started.

Wow thanks Vince. That's a lot to digest and I barely have a grasp of the whole testosterone situation. I had a pituitary MRI when I first went on TRT 8 years ago and it was negative for tumor. Doesn't mean one couldnt be there now. I made the step of signing up with Defy today so I'm gonna...

well with those conventions I'm not tuned up in 2 of the 3 parameters. thanks for that Vince. Thats what I was wondering- the interplay between each.

Ok thanks guys. Ive about decided to become a patient of Defy to get all this sorted out. My gp is a solid doc but I need some more expert guidance with hrt and all the hormones. And as you mentioned I went with the Thyroid panel thinking that would at least give me a picture of overall thyroid...

Had thyroid lab pulled this week with Discounted Labs and I'm not well versed in thyroid hormones so I'd appreciate some input on results, which to me don't suggest anything out of whack other than free T4 being very low normal: T4, Free (Direct) .090 ng/dL Range (Labcorp) .82 - 1.77...

Seriphos looks good. Ordered it off Amazon. Thanks ERO.

Not any overt E2 symptoms other than my PSA went from 1.0 to 1.1 and I seemed to experience some vague prostate symptoms like not emptying the bladder as easy. I was afraid of BPH but it could have just been in my head. Last test lab in January had me at 690 total test. Thanks for the info. I...

Sorry for your losses. It was the toughest 3 years of my life for sure. And here's the thing, talking about DHEA- I started supplementing with oral DHEA about 3 or 4 months ago as my levels were low - about 96 ug/dl. I was taking 2 X 10 mg Pure Encapsulations daily and got my level up to 220...

Yeah Vince,everything I'm reading so far doesn't give much credence to my nasal spray being the culprit. Like you I've had to resort at times to a ****tail mixture of Astelin plus Flonase to get any relief from the allergy rhinitis. I recently tried Rhinocort since its OTC at Walmart now and it...

Thanks ERO. Yes I probably need to have a salivary cortisol pulled. I should have also mentioned I've been under a considerable amount of stress the past 3 years while being a caretaker for my chronically ill mother who passed away last November. Oddly the sleep issue only started AFTER she...

Anybody with chronic allergies and/or sinus issues have any anecdotal stories on corticosteroid or glucocorticoid sprays causing mild or pseudo-Cushing's symptoms with long-term use? I've read some things saying it's possible if not likely to affect cortisol levels. I've been experiencing...

Well crap now I found something exactly like my situation on STTM: What causes low ferritin when other labs look great or are even too high? That usually points to an MTHFR mutation and having high heavy metals. You can also see high levels of homocysteine with this defect, as well as higher...

Found this on Medline which suggests maybe my ferritin level is low even within range: Normal value range is: Male: 12-300 ng/mL (nanograms per millilter) Female: 12-150 ng/mL The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely it is that the patient does not have...

http://www.newser.com/story/220961/our-blood-can-change-from-one-drop-to-the-next.html

Good to know. Thanks. I suspect I might need to be higher based on these vague symptoms. The other thing is that I do have sleep apnea but use a cpap. So I'm not eager to take iron supplements for several reasons.

Thanks for the response Vince. Yes it would appear that nothing is too out of whack with my iron status going by the labs. I was just mainly wondering if my high normal serum iron and lower normal ferritin might be a clue somehow that things weren't optimal. I suppose it could also be that my E2...

I forgot to mention above that my test levels are spot on in the middle of the reference range and E2 has been at 40 on sensitive range last lab I pulled.

I'm running into the "take iron or not" question myself at this point in my trt history. Been donating blood every two months for 3 or 4 years now without too much problem. Hematocrit regularly runs in the low 50's and hemoglobin from 17 to 19. However, recently developed some vague symptoms...