5 months post cold turkey bloodwork (lower total test numbers)

[onetwonine]

Hi all,

I have posted here before about my cold turkey journey after ~8 years of exogenous hormone use. I did my first set of blodwork after about 6 weeks of stopping. Just did another set of bloodwork after almost 5 months (143 days) and thought I would update. Unfortunately it looks like my numbers have come in a bit worse than before and worse I would have liked. My test is significantly lower and my estrogen has not had a propotional decrease.

	Jan 11th, 2024 (8:40 am)	Apr 23, 2024 (9:05am)
Total Test	20 nmol/L (576ng/dl)	12.7 nmol/L (366 ng/dl)
Estradiol	130 pmol/L	113 pmol/L
LH	4.6	4.2
FSH	2.8	3
Free Test	530 pmol/L	Pending

On a subjective level I feel alright. Workouts are decent though I stay sore a bit longer than I used to. Libido is fine but not spectacular. I experience a full range of emotions, but I do stay moody a bit longer than is normal for me.



Not too sure what to make of it to be honest. I will continue to stay the course for now. I have to admit - I am dissapointed, was hoping for improvement with time not a decline.

My previous thread is here: Cold turkey bloodwork - 6 weeks since last shot (576 ng/dl!!!)

 

[Systemlord]

Unfortunately it looks like my numbers have come in a bit worse than before and worse I would have liked.

You just need some context, your levels change every day, if you test your hormones every day, you'll get a different result each time.

Biology doesn't do linear, peaks here, dips there, your hormones don't follow an flat unchanging rhythm. It akin to measuring the wave height as the sets are coming in, constantly changing.