Free and Total Test higher on lower dose???

[CagedApe]

Good evening all,


I have been a long time follower of this forum, but here is my first official post! I have been on TRT for over a year now, and overall it has helped me tremendously. Without going into to much detail I used to have low confidence, anxiety, and a lot of self doubt. Ever since going on exogenous test, I have not had these issues at all unless I am a day away from my shot. When I began my test journey, my physician put me on a rather large dose of 1.2 CC's every Thursday with 0.5 mg anastrozole every Tuesday and Saturday.

After my first 3 months my free and total testosterone sky rocketed. When I did my initial blood work my free test was at 41.4 my total was at 231. Then came my three month blood work which came in at free 378.6 my total 1458!!! After reviewing my tests, my physician changed my dosage to 0.8 cc once a week.

Well, fast forward six months later and this lower dosage worked in reverse. I just got my results back and my free test is now 643.1 and total 2264. My recent labs were taken fasted and 5 days after my shot. I have multiple current issues since going on my protocol, I have oily skin which has created acne on my forehead, my HDL and LDL are out of balance as well. Does anyone have any suggestions on how my test got so high when I reduced my dose? does this mean I am still on way to high a dosage? any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. I have some more test results below. Please ask away if any information is missing, I will answer as soon as possible.

Estradiol-E2

33 pg/mL

Prostatic Specific Antigen Tot

1.15 ng/mL

Cholesterol,Tot	168 mg/dL	0 - 200 mg/dL
Triglycerides	109 mg/dL	35 - 150 mg/dL
LDL	118 mg/dL	<100 mg/dL	H
HDL	33 mg/dL

WBC	8.2 K/uL	4.8 - 10.8 K/uL
RBC	6.73 M/uL	4.70 - 6.10 M/uL	H
Hemoglobin	19.4 g/dL	14.0 - 18.0 g/dL	H
Hematocrit	57.8 %	42.0 - 52.0 %	H
MCV	85.9 fL	80.0 - 94.0 fL
MCH	28.8 pg	28.7 - 33.1 pg
MCHC	33.6 g/dL	33.0 - 37.0 g/dL
RDW	15.8 %	11.5 - 14.5 %	H
Platelet Count	285 K/uL	130 - 400 K/uL
MPV	8.9 fL	7.4 - 10.4 fL
Neutrophils Automated	56.6 %	39.0 - 70.0 %
Lymphocytes Automated	35.7 %	21.0 - 50.0 %
Monocytes Automated	5.6 %	1.7 - 9.3 %
Eosinophils Automated	1.1 %	0.0 - 5.0 %
Basophils Automated	1.0 %	0.0 - 3.0 %
Abs Neutrophils Automated	4.6 K/uL

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[CoastWatcher]

When are you having blood drawn for testing? The appropriate time to test is just prior to your next injection. You want to measure at the trough point. That is the only way to determine how well your protocol is sustaining itself.

What is your SHBG?

 

[CagedApe]

I got my last labs done the day before my next injection. SHGB isn't a test that my physician ordered.

 

[madman]

Good evening all,


I have been a long time follower of this forum, but here is my first official post! I have been on TRT for over a year now, and overall it has helped me tremendously. Without going into to much detail I used to have low confidence, anxiety, and a lot of self doubt. Ever since going on exogenous test, I have not had these issues at all unless I am a day away from my shot. When I began my test journey, my physician put me on a rather large dose of 1.2 CC's every Thursday with 0.5 mg anastrozole every Tuesday and Saturday.

After my first 3 months my free and total testosterone sky rocketed. When I did my initial blood work my free test was at 41.4 my total was at 231. Then came my three month blood work which came in at free 378.6 my total 1458!!! After reviewing my tests, my physician changed my dosage to 0.8 cc once a week.

Well, fast forward six months later and this lower dosage worked in reverse. I just got my results back and my free test is now 643.1 and total 2264. My recent labs were taken fasted and 5 days after my shot. I have multiple current issues since going on my protocol, I have oily skin which has created acne on my forehead, my HDL and LDL are out of balance as well. Does anyone have any suggestions on how my test got so high when I reduced my dose? does this mean I am still on way to high a dosage? any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. I have some more test results below. Please ask away if any information is missing, I will answer as soon as possible.

Estradiol-E2

33 pg/mL

Prostatic Specific Antigen Tot

1.15 ng/mL

Cholesterol,Tot	168 mg/dL	0 - 200 mg/dL
Triglycerides	109 mg/dL	35 - 150 mg/dL
LDL	118 mg/dL	<100 mg/dL	H
HDL	33 mg/dL

WBC	8.2 K/uL	4.8 - 10.8 K/uL
RBC	6.73 M/uL	4.70 - 6.10 M/uL	H
Hemoglobin	19.4 g/dL	14.0 - 18.0 g/dL	H
Hematocrit	57.8 %	42.0 - 52.0 %	H
MCV	85.9 fL	80.0 - 94.0 fL
MCH	28.8 pg	28.7 - 33.1 pg
MCHC	33.6 g/dL	33.0 - 37.0 g/dL
RDW	15.8 %	11.5 - 14.5 %	H
Platelet Count	285 K/uL	130 - 400 K/uL
MPV	8.9 fL	7.4 - 10.4 fL
Neutrophils Automated	56.6 %	39.0 - 70.0 %
Lymphocytes Automated	35.7 %	21.0 - 50.0 %
Monocytes Automated	5.6 %	1.7 - 9.3 %
Eosinophils Automated	1.1 %	0.0 - 5.0 %
Basophils Automated	1.0 %	0.0 - 3.0 %
Abs Neutrophils Automated	4.6 K/uL

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Is your testosterone prescribed 200 mg/ml or 100 mg/ml?

If you are using the 200 mg/ml than 1.2 cc (ml) is 240 mg/week which is a massive dose that you were started on which would definitely skyrocket your total/free t levels. Your dose was lowered to 0.8 ml which would be 160 mg/week and now your total/free t are insanely high.

Your recent labs were taken 5 days after your shot and your total t is 2264 ng/dl which is way too high. To test your trough it would be 7 days after your injection just before your next injection.

240 mg once weekly let alone 160 mg once weekly will cause a huge supra-physiological peak of t levels.

I would be worried about your really high hematocrit as well as hemoglobin and rbc's..........................you need to donate blood and get those levels down.

 

[madman]

I got my last labs done the day before my next injection. SHGB isn't a test that my physician ordered.

You stated your most recent labs were 5 days after your shot?

 

[CagedApe]

Is your testosterone prescribed 200 mg/ml or 100 mg/ml?

If you are using the 200 mg/ml than 1.2 cc (ml) is 240 mg/week which is a massive dose that you were started on which would definitely skyrocket your total/free t levels. Your dose was lowered to 0.8 ml which would be 160 mg/week and now your total/free t are insanely high.

Your recent labs were taken 5 days after your shot and your total t is 2264 ng/dl which is way too high. To test your trough it would be 7 days after your injection just before your next injection.

240 mg once weekly let alone 160 mg once weekly will cause a huge supra-physiological peak of t levels.

I would be worried about your really high hematocrit as well as hemoglobin and rbc's..........................you need to donate blood and get those levels down.

Your number are correct, I started at 240 mg, and reduced to 160 which is where I am currently at. Hematocrit has been high since I went and I do donate blood. Last time I did it was in September, I am scheduled to donate again this Monday.

 

[madman]

Your number are correct, I started at 240 mg, and reduced to 160 which is where I am currently at. Hematocrit has been high since I went and I do donate blood. Last time I did it was in September, I am scheduled to donate again this Monday.

You should be donating every 2 months but will have to make sure you are taking an iron supplement or getting enough iron through diet as donating frequently can cause issues regarding low ferritin/iron.

If your are only donating 2-3 times/year you will have a hard time getting your hematocrit/hemoglobin brought down to healthier levels.

I am surprised your doctor has not lowered your dose further or stopped your trt unless you can lower your values through donating.

You need to get your total/ free t levels in a healthier range as if your levels for total are 2264 ng/dl even 5 days after your shot that is insanely high over double the top end of the physiological range.

Your levels are what one would achieve on a low dose steroid cycle.

 

[madman]

Hematocrit range 42-52 % you should be flagged at 57.8 % which is way too high!

Your doctor should have been on that long ago.

Most guidelines for testosterone replacement therapy whether Canadian or US based the doctor would stop treatment if that high of a hematocrit could not be managed by donating or at the very least they would lower ones testosterone dose.

 

[CagedApe]

Hematocrit range 42-52 % you should be flagged at 57.8 % which is way too high!

Your doctor should have been on that long ago.

Most guidelines for testosterone replacement therapy whether Canadian or US based the doctor would stop treatment if that high of a hematocrit could not be managed by donating or at the very least they would lower ones testosterone dose.

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I am interested to see what my doc does during my follow up. I assume he will reduce my dosage significantly. I am curious, would test that high affect my sex drive and erections?

 

[madman]

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I am interested to see what my doc does during my follow up. I assume he will reduce my dosage significantly. I am curious, would test that high affect my sex drive and erections?

If your e2 (estradiol) is too high from too much testosterone or too low from the over use of an aromatase inhibitor it could definitely cause one negative issues regarding erections/libido mind you many other factors can too.