Hi All - My Doc thinks my Haemoglobin level of 192 g/L is too high. Platelet count 293 Red blood count 5.83 and is considering reducing me to one pump of Testogel from two. Would appreciate any guidance before I go to see him.
Have enc labs blood test. Thank YouPost labs?
Have enc labs blood test. Thank You
Thank you so much. I apply the gel circa 11.00 blood test eas at 10.30 I did not apply gel before blood test.Your labs are missing some critical tests such as free testosterone, estradiol, SHBG.
Although TT is important to know FT is what truly matters as it is the active unbound fraction of testosterone responsible for the positive effects.
When on trt the use of exogenous testosterone will result in elevated RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit within the first month and can take anywhere from 9-12 months pre-trt.
To what degree depends on the formulation used, the dose of T used, (TT/FT) levels achieved the age of the patient, genetics, pre-trt (H/H) level.
Your TT is still very low 13 nmol/L (375 ng/dL) and seeing as your hemoglobin/hematocrit is very high let alone RBCs are in the high end than it would seem that you had blood work done at the wrong time of day and you did not post your pre-trt levels (H/H) as you may very well have had fairly high levels before starting trt.
Sleep apnea and smoking can also elevate H/H.
Keep in mind that when using transdermals gels (standard application) that the absorption rate is 9-14%.
Another downfall is that the strength of the big pharma products is not as concentrated as the compounded T gels/creams and some men may not be able to achieve high enough testosterone levels let alone experience absorption issues.
You definitely need to get your hemoglobin/hematocrit levels down through blood donation.
What time are you applying the transdermal gel (2 pumps/daily) and when was blood work done?
Predict estradiol, DHT, and free testosterone levels based on total testosterone
This tool provides predictions based on statistical models and should NOT replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your TRT protocol.
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A form of estrogen produced from testosterone. Important for bone health, mood, and libido. Too high can cause side effects; too low can affect well-being.
Dihydrotestosterone is a potent androgen derived from testosterone. Affects hair growth, prostate health, and masculinization effects.
The biologically active form of testosterone not bound to proteins. Directly available for cellular uptake and biological effects.
Lakshman KM, Kaplan B, Travison TG, Basaria S, Knapp PE, Singh AB, LaValley MP, Mazer NA, Bhasin S. The effects of injected testosterone dose and age on the conversion of testosterone to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in young and older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Aug;95(8):3955-64.
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0102 | PMID: 20534765 | PMCID: PMC2913038