So I’m confused on my latest blood work. Back in 2021 I was taking 16mg daily and got my results
total test : 1049
Free test 319
Estrogens 59
Now I used the best blood tests the Lc/ms/ms ones that measure more accurate. Since I wanted to know for sure.
THIS time it’s been 3 years and I just went on October 17 2024 . I lowered my dosage to 14mg daily since I thought they were a bit high . I felt great for that whole time and just now decided to test since it’s been so long .this time I also went thru my doctor who ordered the labs. Now they show
Total test : 550
Free test : 17.5
Estrogen 16
Sooooo what the fucking fuck? Lol. I pin RELIGIOUSLY. Every day in alternating shoulders. I measure to a T every time. My questions I think are does the average endocrinologist order shitty inaccurate tests? Or do I have so much scar tissue in my shoulders that the trt isn’t absorbing ? Does trt lose its effectiveness? (No right ? )
And also my ALT and protien levels were slightly elevated … could that be what’s messing up my levels if trt is absorbed by the liver ? Thanks to all who give an opinion .
Back in 2021 I was taking 16mg daily and got my results
total test : 1049
Free test 319
Estrogens 59
On your previous protocol 16 mg T daily (112 mg/week) in 2021 you were hitting a high TT 1049 ng/dL and more importantly an absurdly high FT 31.5 ng/dL.
As you would know when injecting daily you are minimizing the peak--->trough and blood levels would be very stable throughout the week.
Even then it's a given that your FT would be absurdly high hitting a TT 1049 ng/dL with an absurdly low SHBG 9 nmol/L.
Luckily both total and free were tested using the most accurate assays TT (LC/MS-MS) and FT (Equilibrium Dialysis).
This is critical especially in cases of altered SHBG.
You clearly had and still have absurdly low SHBG (9--->8 nmol/L).
Regardless if you felt great overall, blood markers were healthy minus any sides then I see no issue but chances are most running high/absurdly high trough/steady-state FT levels would be struggling with elevated hematocrit!
THIS time it’s been 3 years and I just went on October 17 2024 . I lowered my dosage to 14mg daily since I thought they were a bit high . I felt great for that whole time and just now decided to test since it’s been so long .this time I also went thru my doctor who ordered the labs. Now they show
Total test : 550
Free test : 17.5
Estrogen 16
This is where the situation gets sticky!
Why would you wait 3 years before getting labs done after switching a protocol let alone being on TTh?
Unless I am missing something here I find it hard to believe anyone in their right mind on TTh would wait 3 years to have labs done let alone after tweaking a protocol.
To me this would say that you have been self treating using UGL gear as no doctor would treat you without following up with blood work 1-2X yearly or when tweaking a protocol (dose T/injection frequency).
It is well known that any time a protocol is tweaked you need to wait 4-6 weeks (TC/TE) for blood levels to stabilize and then blood work would be done in order to see where said protocol (dose T/injection frequency) has your trough TT, FT, estradiol, SHBG and in some cases DHT let alone critical blood markers RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit and throw iron/ferritin in there too!
You lowered your dose 16 mg T (112 mg/week) --->14 mg T (98 mg/week) which is not a drastic drop in dose yet your TT/FT is much lower 1048--->550 ng/dL.
On your current protocol 14 mg T daily (98 mg/week) your hitting a descent TT 550 ng/dL and more importantly a high-end FT 17.5 ng/dL.
Even then it's a given that your FT would be high-end hitting a TT 550 ng/dL with an absurdly low SHBG 8 nmol/L.
Most would tell you that your TT is not high enough but they lack the understanding that even though a TT 550 ng/dL may be far from high with an absurdly low SHBG 8 nmol/L it would be a given that FT would still be high-end!
Seeing as you are still hitting a high-end FT 17.5 ng/dL this is most likely why you stated that you have felt great this whole time on your current protocol -
I lowered my dosage to 14mg daily since I thought they were a bit high . I felt great for that whole time and just now decided to test since it’s been so long .this time
This time around you had your total tested using the most accurate assay LC/MS-MS but your FT was calculated!
If your blood work was done at Quest keep in mind that they use a modified form of cFTV.
If we calculate your FT using cFTV with a descent TT 550 ng/dL, absurdly low SHBG 8 nmol/L your FT 19.5 ng/dL would high-end!
Keep in mind cFTV tends to overestimate slightly so if you had your FT testing using the most accurate assay the gold standard Equilibrium Dialysis it would most likely be slightly lower so you would most likely still be hitting a high-end FT!
Remember any time you have blood work done whether sticking with the same protocol (dose of T/injection frequency) or tweaking your protocol (dose T/injection frequency) it is critical that you always test using the same lab and same assays TT (LC/MS-MS) and FT (Equilibrium Dialysis).
Always testing at the true trough on said injection frequency.
Even then your TT/FT levels should have not dropped that much going from 16 mg T (112 mg/week) --->14 mg T (98 mg/week).
Are you self treating using UGL gear?
Have you been injecting strictly IM the last 3 years?