3 month TRT lab results

[blitzen]

Hi,

After 3 month of treatment I got a follow-up lab (original > after 3 month / range)
T 308 > 915 / 264-916
Free T 9.9 > 14.2 / 6.8-21.5
DHEA 239.2 > 370 / 71.6-375.4
LH 7 > no tested/ 1.7-8.6
E sensitive 19 > 27.1 / 8-35
SHGB 23.1 > 33.4 / 16.5-55.9

The treatment is 150mg T a week (3*50) , 800iu HCG (2*400) a week and 0.45 (3*0.15) Anastrozole a week.

Not really feeling a difference ..... while the total T tripled the Free T just moved up a bit .....

Anyone has an idea?

 

[FeelingLost]

Dang man those are some pretty nice numbers. So you are feeling no different than before your TRT?

 

[Vince]

The only thought I'm having is, would you consider stopping your AI. I know your estradiol levels are not low but I wonder how you would feel if they were in a higher range.
You may also consider having your DHT tested.

 

[blitzen]

Feeling different ..... as we are talking about feelings it is hard to give a definitive answer that is objective.

Don't feel like I have more energy/focus/ fat loss/... and all the other possible improvements ..... the only thing I have is an increase in morning wood (and nighttime) ... while that is an result that alone isn't worth it. I'm aware that some of the effects will take longer to kick in (body composition) but with these numbers I thought I would feel better (I expected low numbers).
Shouldn't my Free T be higher (50% increase but Total T 300% up).
As for the AI I'm uncertain as I have water retention of 1-2 pounds per day and I loos that the morning after I injected and took the AI.

 

[Vince]

As you probably know, water retention is not always caused by estradiol levels but also can be caused by testosterone.

 

[ratbag]

All your numbers are good except for Free T. Most MD's try to get free T to the very top of range or even a little over. I would say at this point that you need more testosterone. Once your free T gets to top of range you should feel it. Perhaps try 55mg 3 times per week and see where that brings you. Did you get your labs done just before your injection? Because the closer your doses are the less trough you have and usually we see higher numbers compared to those who do it twice a week. Which is why I suspect you need more T.

 

[Vince]

That's a good point by ratbag, what days do you inject and when did you to labs. We always try to do lab at our lowest point, on injection day before we inject.

 

[blitzen]

That's a good point by ratbag, what days do you inject and when did you to labs. We always try to do lab at our lowest point, on injection day before we inject.

I inject Saturday/Monday/Wednesday > lab was done Wednesday before Injection

As for changing the TRT > in the process of scheduling a consultation (my guess was before I saw th lab that I needed to increase the dosage but the Total T surprised me)

 

[Vince]

I inject Saturday/Monday/Wednesday > lab was done Wednesday before Injection

As for changing the TRT > in the process of scheduling a consultation (my guess was before I saw th lab that I needed to increase the dosage but the Total T surprised me)

I'm sure as you know your trough would be on Saturday before you inject.

 

[Vince Carter]

I would have suspected a higher Free T given the SHBG is 23 but I concur with others, more TT should bump the Free T up and the SHBG may even come down a bit which will further help FT

 

[blitzen]

I'm sure as you know your trough would be on Saturday before you inject.

While that is correct I didn't have time that Saturday (busy holiday season) but wanted to get this done. And with the half life of T I'm not sure how big the difference between 2 or 3 days after injection is.

 

[Vince]

While that is correct I didn't have time that Saturday (busy holiday season) but wanted to get this done. And with the half life of T I'm not sure how big the difference between 2 or 3 days after injection is.

I agree it's nice to get the labs done. But like most has been telling you probably should try increasing your dose of testosterone and see if that gives you any improvements on how you feel. Would you consider going up to a 180 mg a day

 

[blitzen]

I would have suspected a higher Free T given the SHBG is 23 but I concur with others, more TT should bump the Free T up and the SHBG may even come down a bit which will further help FT

Sounds as everyone is thinking along the same lines I am. While Total T is high I probably need a higher T dosage to get the Free T up. Let's see what the consultation brings.

 

[blitzen]

I agree it's nice to get the labs done. But like most has been telling you you probably should try increasing your dose of testosteroneand see if that gives you any improvements on how you feel. Would you consider going up to a hundred 180 mg a day

Guess that should read "180mg a week"

 

[Vince]

Guess that should read "180mg a week"

LOL, yes that would be a lot better.

 

[FeelingLost]

With a TT of 915 in his trough and the top of the scale on this test was 916 wouldn't it be a bit hard to ask your doctor to bump your dose 30 more mg per week?

Personnaly I would just give the current protocol more time for your body to heal.
I have been on TRT since Jan 2017 and I am just now feeling better. Enough to say TRT is making a difference in my overall health.

If in 3-6 months you are not feeling better I would guess you are broken somewhere else.
Several TRT guys here also look into cortisol lvl and thyroid something you might look into/

hth

 

[ratbag]

His TT of 915 was not in his trough. As Vince mentioned his trough is Sat morning. So this further substantiates that his TT is low because wed isn't the trough. His TT would be even lower on Saturday morning. Are the labs even open on Saturday mornings? If not, you would need to change your protocol. BTW when do you do the HCG injections?

 

[HealthMan]

I agree with Vince. I would try to increase testosterone dosage and see if you can push those free T levels close to the upper range. But I would not touch on your AI because higher T would probably move E2 higher as well. Better to change only one variable at a time

 

[blitzen]

His TT of 915 was not in his trough. As Vince mentioned his trough is Sat morning. So this further substantiates that his TT is low because wed isn't the trough. His TT would be even lower on Saturday morning. Are the labs even open on Saturday mornings? If not, you would need to change your protocol. BTW when do you do the HCG injections?

HCG I'm doing Friday/Tuesdays

 

[Vince]

HCG I'm doing Friday/Tuesdays

I would also consider injecting HCG three times a week, on the same days as you inject your testosterone. Then you would have a really nice trough level for labs.