About to start TRT but concerned over labwork. Please help

[jinxeng]

Hi everyone,


I am about to start a TRT plan with a doctor but received my lab works with a concern. My test level is 516, Free T 77, E2 28, and Hemocrit 50.6 (Hemoglobin 16.8 and RBC 5.37).


Doctor prescribed me 175mg Test Cyp, 25ml hcg 2x week, and .5 anazole 3x week.


I haven't started the TRT and my hemocrit levels are on the higher side and afraid it might be higher once on the
treatment. Should I be concerned over this?


Thanks for any advice or comments.

 

[Helboi]

Do you live at high elevation? My hematocrit was 51 before I even started TRT, but I live at altitude so that's baseline for me. But no need to worry...you just need to donate blood in order to keep it at a reasonable level.

 

[jinxeng]

Do you live at high elevation? My hematocrit was 51 before I even started TRT, but I live at altitude so that's baseline for me. But no need to worry...you just need to donate blood in order to keep it at a reasonable level.

No, I dont live at high elevation, ~'380ish. How often do you donate blood? Thanks

 

[CoastWatcher]

Donate blood, or arrange for a therapeutic phlebotomy. Monitor your CBC and you will be fine.

Are you injecting that testosterone in one dose? Typically, smaller, more frequent injections are the key to a successful protocol. And why in the world was that high a dose of Anastrozole prescribed...before there was any indication your estradiol would go out of range?

 

[ERO]

That Anastrozole dose is nuts, especially since your E2 is only at 28. You should start TRT with no AI, wait 6 weeks and get blood work to see if you even need an AI. Even if you do, it is highly unlikely that you would need a dose anywhere near 0.5 mg 3 times a week.

 

[johndoesmith]

Hi everyone,


I am about to start a TRT plan with a doctor but received my lab works with a concern. My test level is 516, Free T 77, E2 28, and Hemocrit 50.6 (Hemoglobin 16.8 and RBC 5.37).


Doctor prescribed me 175mg Test Cyp, 25ml hcg 2x week, and .5 anazole 3x week.


I haven't started the TRT and my hemocrit levels are on the higher side and afraid it might be higher once on the
treatment. Should I be concerned over this?


Thanks for any advice or comments.

Wait a second, no here is even going to ask why this guy is on TRT in the first place? At 516 that's a pretty decent level.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

Wait a second, no here is even going to ask why this guy is on TRT in the first place? At 516 that's a pretty decent level.

A decent level for whom? A 65 yr old man? How about a 25 yr old?

348-1197 is the range at LabCorp for total testosterone. Where does 516 sit on that scale? It sits 168 points off rock bottom of that range. Is this the kind of level that we are shooting for in TRT? Would it be considered optimal? Not the last time I checked.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the OP's anastrozole dosage, which is sure to crash his E2. He shouldn't even be taking any until follow up blood work or symptoms indicate the need.

 

[CoastWatcher]

A decent level for whom? A 65 yr old man? How about a 25 yr old?

348-1197 is the range at LabCorp for total testosterone. Where does 516 sit on that scale? It sits 168 points off rock bottom of that range. Is this the kind of level that we are shooting for in TRT? Would it be considered optimal? Not the last time I checked.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the OP's anastrozole dosage, which is sure to crash his E2. He shouldn't even be taking any until follow up blood work or symptoms indicate the need.

Thank you for putting it in perspective. Well said.

 

[Vince]

I think your levels may be too high to start TRT. I would consider changing your lifestyle first. Sleep, diet and exercise, also avoid alcohol and street drugs.

 

[johndoesmith]

A decent level for whom? A 65 yr old man? How about a 25 yr old?

348-1197 is the range at LabCorp for total testosterone. Where does 516 sit on that scale? It sits 168 points off rock bottom of that range. Is this the kind of level that we are shooting for in TRT? Would it be considered optimal? Not the last time I checked.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the OP's anastrozole dosage, which is sure to crash his E2. He shouldn't even be taking any until follow up blood work or symptoms indicate the need.

Well you've got a point, and I agree, but at the same time all the posts here by nelson vergel point to >500 being sufficient. It will depend upon where OP's LH and FSH fall. If he's top of the range for LH, then yeah there isn't much else to do, but if low end LH I'd figure people here would advocate for attempting a clomid restart first.

It is certainly not optimal, and we do not go for 500 levels when using TRT, but TRT is a life long commitment and usually is only given in as a last resort.

I don't intend to start an argument here.

 

[CSI007]

Can the original poster give us some more details? How old are you? Do you have low T symptoms?

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

I don't intend to start an argument here.

Neither do I. I was just throwing out some points to consider.

Sorry if I came across as argumentative, but I found that your statement about 516 being a "decent level" rather ridiculous.

 

[jinxeng]

I appreciate everyone's input. I'm 39 and will be 40 in a few months. Lately, I've been feeling tired, harder to build strength, (and lose fat), and just overall motivation to workout be lacking.

Do do you guys think I should lower my doses or just don't take anazole? Thanks in advance for any input/advice

 

[johndoesmith]

Neither do I. I was just throwing out some points to consider.

Sorry if I came across as argumentative, but I found that your statement about 516 being a "decent level" rather ridiculous.

Well I am not saying it's great by any means. Most of the research articles and papers posted by nelson state >500ng/dl is sufficient.

It's certainly high enough where you should do more tests than he has before starting treatment, it's possible 500 is his lowest, and the next two tests are 650, and 700. To not have LH and FSH with 500, and to start treatment is a bit premature.

That's the least you'd need, best would be thyroid panel, prolactin, and SHBG before treating as it's possible hypothyroidism went undiagnosed and is what's lowering his testosterone.

 

[jinxeng]

Also, to answer one poster's question, I don't and have never done any street drugs in my life. I drink a beer once a day and eat moderately healthy. Lift weights and wrestle a few times a week.

 

[CoastWatcher]

I appreciate everyone's input. I'm 39 and will be 40 in a few months. Lately, I've been feeling tired, harder to build strength, (and lose fat), and just overall motivation to workout be lacking.

Do do you guys think I should lower my doses or just don't take anazole? Thanks in advance for any input/advice

If it was me, I'd split the testosterone dose in two and inject them every 3.5 days. Six weeks later I'd measure my estradiol via the sensitive test. Then, and only then, would I consider adding an AI to the protocol. If you have excess fat the potential for elevated estradiol is greater than for men who are lean. How did your doctor arrive at the testosterone dose he prescribed?

 

[jinxeng]

How did your doctor arrive at the testosterone dose he prescribed?

He told me my t levels were moderately low and 175mg should put me at optimal levels. I do have excess fat, not obese by any means but about ~18%-20% bodyfat. I weigh about 190lbs, 5'5".

 

[CoastWatcher]

He told me my t levels were moderately low and 175mg should put me at optimal levels. I do have excess fat, not obese by any means but about ~18%-20% bodyfat. I weigh about 190lbs, 5'5".

I still stand by what I suggested. Split the dose, administer it every 3.5 days and measure in six weeks. That's when I'd determine if an AI is necessary. You might not need that much testosterone to achieve solid levels. A good starting dose is 50-60mg of testosterone twice weekly. A single dose of 175mg is likely to push your E2 up. Splitting it could well hold it in check. But the last thing you want is to suppress your estradiol levels. That's a ticket to misery.

 

[madman]

A decent level for whom? A 65 yr old man? How about a 25 yr old?

348-1197 is the range at LabCorp for total testosterone. Where does 516 sit on that scale? It sits 168 points off rock bottom of that range. Is this the kind of level that we are shooting for in TRT? Would it be considered optimal? Not the last time I checked.








I think some times too many people dwell on the numbers. Sure LabCorp ranges for total are 348-1197 but most of the research states that 800 is the average total t of a healthy young male. 900-1100 sure but it is not that common.

In Canada Lifelabs range for total is 8.4-28.8 nmol/L ( 240-824 ng/dL )

 

[Roccc]

A decent level for whom? A 65 yr old man? How about a 25 yr old?

348-1197 is the range at LabCorp for total testosterone. Where does 516 sit on that scale? It sits 168 points off rock bottom of that range. Is this the kind of level that we are shooting for in TRT? Would it be considered optimal? Not the last time I checked.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the OP's anastrozole dosage, which is sure to crash his E2. He shouldn't even be taking any until follow up blood work or symptoms indicate the need.

they want to sell you testosterone. thats why you think 500 is low.