Bloodwork Frequency on "TRT"

[jpgabrano]

How often should I get my bloodwork done while taking 200mg/week of Test Cyp. I have been on TRT now for about 10 weeks and did my first bloodwork and everything fine except my Hemo/Hema a little high 17.5/52.1 but I have always been on higher end sans Test (16.5ish and 50ish). Curious if every 10-12 weeks is good or should do less frequently.

 

[botk1161]

Once dialed in, once every 6 months is what I am doing with my provider. When I first started, it was once at 3 months and then every six months. I am 100mg and in the mid 800’s. 200 would put me way outside the upper range. I assume your self prescribing.

 

[jpgabrano]

Thanks. Using a trt clinic 100mg twice a week and I am around 1200 but that is where they want me to be (started at 180). As long as other indicators are fine I am okay with this high for now. My liver and lipids were fine. Estradiol was high but expected given test levels. I’ve been thinking of self prescribing which is why asking about bloodwork. They wanted to do at 15 weeks but I did earlier because wasn’t getting boost in energy I was hoping.

 

[botk1161]

Thanks. Using a trt clinic 100mg twice a week and I am around 1200 but that is where they want me to be (started at 180). As long as other indicators are fine I am okay with this high for now. My liver and lipids were fine. Estradiol was high but expected given test levels. I’ve been thinking of self prescribing which is why asking about bloodwork. They wanted to do at 15 weeks but I did earlier because wasn’t getting boost in energy I was hoping.

I thought TRT was gonna do much more for me than what I got. Many people experience this. I found what I was looking for by sleeping more, lowering stress and eating better.

 

[pcn]

Once dialed in, once every 6 months is what I am doing with my provider. When I first started, it was once at 3 months and then every six months. I am 100mg and in the mid 800’s. 200 would put me way outside the upper range. I assume your self prescribing.

Can you explain what you mean by self prescribing please? thanks

 

[WickedWarlock]

I thought TRT was gonna do much more for me than what I got. Many people experience this. I found what I was looking for by sleeping more, lowering stress and eating better.

Yeah honestly I felt better on a solid test booster than actual TRT dosages.

 

[botk1161]

Can you explain what you mean by self prescribing please? thanks

Not going through a doctor.

 

[pcn]

Not going through a doctor.

I figured that, but doesn't it require a prescription from a doctor? NP's in my area are required to have a certain certification to prescribe controlled substances. Not every NP can prescribe, so it's rather constrained.

 

[Rad83]

I figured that, but doesn't it require a prescription from a doctor? NP's in my area are required to have a certain certification to prescribe controlled substances. Not every NP can prescribe, so it's rather constrained.

Bro you’ve been on AM since ‘04…..They are SOURCING the oil themselves…running a low, responsible ‘TRT’ dose and doing their own bloodwork

 

[Jan8v]

200mg/wk is a lot for TRT. Everyone’s different of course, but half that would be a more regular treatment dose prescribed in the UK.
You’re effectively on a small steroid cycle at that dose. I’d be inclined to monitor your blood work v closely in coming months. The Q should be how little do I need to maintain a healthy body, rather than how much can I get away with..?

 

[pcn]

200mg/wk is a lot for TRT. Everyone’s different of course, but half that would be a more regular treatment dose prescribed in the UK.
You’re effectively on a small steroid cycle at that dose. I’d be inclined to monitor your blood work v closely in coming months. The Q should be how little do I need to maintain a healthy body, rather than how much can I get away with..?

What's the goal? Quality of life, or hitting some arbitrary number? The variance in ranges I've been quoted by different doctors make me almost think they're pulling them out of their butts. Just a simple Google search will yield wildly different results in "recommended" values.

 

[botk1161]

What's the goal? Quality of life, or hitting some arbitrary number? The variance in ranges I've been quoted by different doctors make me almost think they're pulling them out of their butts. Just a simple Google search will yield wildly different results in "recommended" values.

In Canada and the UK (and I am sure many other countries), you can't get more than 100mg from your doctor cause its more than enough for everyone.

 

[pcn]

That would seem to support my comment about the short sighted one size fits all targeted number approach rather than an individual best outcome for each patient. I went through something similar when my GP retired and his replacement wanted to adjust my dosage simply because she changed labs and her new lab shifted their "target range" lower by 200.

 

[Dblock]

Running 200mg plus for extended periods is a cycle…..it’s eventually going to throw bloodwork out of whack

 

[Hyde]

By every 4 months is my rule if I’m doing something which warrants monitoring, which for me 200/wk test is enough to warrant watching my blood thickness.

Your blood thickness is something I’d feel comfortable with if it’s not trending up, provided platelets are in normal range and you have no other risk factors for stroke (bodyweight and blood pressure are acceptable, etc). But you want to make sure it’s staying acceptable, and a CBC is very cheap in the US. $30 for peace of mind is a good deal.

 

[rcf]

Running 200mg plus for extended periods is a cycle…..it’s eventually going to throw bloodwork out of whack

I been on 280 mg of testosterone and 100mg of Deca for 3 years now the only thing I have to keep an eye on is my RBC I just donat blood every few months. That only puts me totally test of 1200 when I started I was at 130

 

[bell1986]

I been on 280 mg of testosterone and 100mg of Deca for 3 years now the only thing I have to keep an eye on is my RBC I just donat blood every few months. That only puts me totally test of 1200 when I started I was at 130

When did you last check your ferritin levels?

Donating blood too much will crash your levels.

 

[bell1986]

Thanks. Using a trt clinic 100mg twice a week and I am around 1200 but that is where they want me to be (started at 180). As long as other indicators are fine I am okay with this high for now. My liver and lipids were fine. Estradiol was high but expected given test levels. I’ve been thinking of self prescribing which is why asking about bloodwork. They wanted to do at 15 weeks but I did earlier because wasn’t getting boost in energy I was hoping.

100mg twice a week? You were prescribed this? Sounds like a dodgy trt clinic tbh.

A good trt clinic will prescribe and monitor your levels. Once balanced out a good trt program means upper end of the range but e2 will stay in range also.

200mg a week is gonna just keep your e2 climbing. I actually see this all the time tbh. They start to feel hot flashes. Nipple tenderness. Start to panic and knock back anastrazole because their e2 is getting too high. Crash their estrogen. Come online and say they feel awful. Start to take high doses of test to try and raise that estrogen. Then just go round in circles.

That story above. I reckon I've read that EXACT same scenario well over 100 times.

A good trt clinic will never allow this

My try program is.

40mg test e 3x per week.
Hcg 175iu 3x per week.

Here is my bloodwork for the last year.

Test levels = 1089
E2 = 34

Lipids. Rbc. Liver values all perfect.

I haven't used an AI for over a year now.

That's how trt should be

 

[thegodfather]

Every 6 months with Endo and once a year with PCP. Endo checks Total and Free testosterone, PSA, Vit D, and sometimes RBC. Primary Physician checks RBC and everything else.

 

[jtbull]

my doc has me every 6 months. Now i blast an cruise so i do often have my doc get my estrogen and prolactic checked 4 times per year

 

[rcf]

When did you last check your ferritin levels?

Donating blood too much will crash your levels.

Had it checked for the first time the last set of blood work. It was low Primary doctor told me to skip a donation He didn't seem to be too concerned about it. The last year I've been going every 8 weeks in the past I did every 12 weeks

 

[rcf]

100mg twice a week? You were prescribed this? Sounds like a dodgy trt clinic tbh.

A good trt clinic will prescribe and monitor your levels. Once balanced out a good trt program means upper end of the range but e2 will stay in range also.

200mg a week is gonna just keep your e2 climbing. I actually see this all the time tbh. They start to feel hot flashes. Nipple tenderness. Start to panic and knock back anastrazole because their e2 is getting too high. Crash their estrogen. Come online and say they feel awful. Start to take high doses of test to try and raise that estrogen. Then just go round in circles.

That story above. I reckon I've read that EXACT same scenario well over 100 times.

A good trt clinic will never allow this

My try program is.

40mg test e 3x per week.
Hcg 175iu 3x per week.

Here is my bloodwork for the last year.

Test levels = 1089
E2 = 34

Lipids. Rbc. Liver values all perfect.

I haven't used an AI for over a year now.

That's how trt should be

Can't make a blanket statement like that because everybody's different. I've been on trt for 4 years now and never once had to use an AI. My estrogen level never goes above 25 And I'm taking close to 300 mg a week Plus 100 mg of Deca and my test levels are the same as yours, A little bit higher at 1150

 

[jtbull]

Can't make a blanket statement like that because everybody's different. I've been on trt for 4 years now and never once had to use an AI. My estrogen level never goes above 25 And I'm taking close to 300 mg a week Plus 100 mg of Deca and my test levels are the same as yours, A little bit higher at 1150

is that a doc or one of those clinics that charge more than we pay for cycles almost like legal drug dealers IF that is legit and not an arm and a leg hook me up wtih the clinic. I find though most charge more than you can get stuff for online.

 

[rcf]

is that a doc or one of those clinics that charge more than we pay for cycles almost like legal drug dealers IF that is legit and not an arm and a leg hook me up wtih the clinic. I find though most charge more than you can get stuff for online.

It's a clinic I definitely pay more than ugl stuff for my test I pay $125 a month for 300mg a week I don't take all 300 mg And they don't start you out on that dose , it was $100 a month when I was on a lower dose 200mg a week This is what they start everybody on and go up or down from there after blood work. The deca is $125 for 20 weeks Worth so you get a 10 ml bottle 200mg a CC. Definitely not as cheap as buying it off the internet but I have a legal script and I know what I'm getting is real, your AI And syringes are also included in that price.

 

[botk1161]

It's a clinic I definitely pay more than ugl stuff for my test I pay $125 a month for 300mg a week I don't take all 300 mg And they don't start you out on that dose , it was $100 a month when I was on a lower dose 200mg a week This is what they start everybody on and go up or down from there after blood work. The deca is $125 for 20 weeks Worth so you get a 10 ml bottle 200mg a CC. Definitely not as cheap as buying it off the internet but I have a legal script and I know what I'm getting is real, your AI And syringes are also included in that price.

300mg is not TRT, its a cycle.

 

[jtbull]

300mg is not TRT, its a cycle.

OH i agree adn like i said in a way i am glad there are these clinics but they are WAY OVERPRICED like legal steroid dealing. I am glad that avenue is there for those who can afford it. Too rich for my blood.

my urologist copay is $40 i see him every 6 momths, 10 200mg 1ml vials are like $15 with my insurance but NO WAY i am getting him to give me 300

 

[bell1986]

Can't make a blanket statement like that because everybody's different. I've been on trt for 4 years now and never once had to use an AI. My estrogen level never goes above 25 And I'm taking close to 300 mg a week Plus 100 mg of Deca and my test levels are the same as yours, A little bit higher at 1150

I understand everyone is different. I just see far too many comments of people having trash protocols. Alot of TRT clinics offer a standard on paper protocol and send people on their way. Like you said we all aromatise different and also process test different. Look at us two. 120mg puts me at the same testosterone levels as your 300mg a week.

I just feel that more care has to go into bloodwork and also not over reacting. I was reading on reddit of people getting put on trt and their protocol was 200mg of test a week (1 injection) and then 1mg of anastrazole on injection days. Sorry but this is garbage. 1mg of anastrazole will crash most people. Even if your a high aromatiser.

I would actually suggest most people do their own bloodwork and then see where their numbers are before adding in an AI. It took me a while to work out that 40mg 3x per week + 500iu hcg per week allows me to maintain a high test level and keep estrogen in check without ever using an AI. My doctor would never structure a protocol like this at all. Infact the UK trt is dreadful. I feel sorry for anyone using the health service for hormone support here.

300mg seems alot for a testosterone of that level? Do you just process test different? I've always been a high converter. 300mg would raise mine crazy high. I would love to run it as high but for me to control estrogen on that level would be a nightmare. I now just want to feel good with no side effects and I've got it dialed in. Jabbing 6x per week is a pain but the actual results are incredible. Gotta take the pros with the cons I suppose

 

[rcf]

I understand everyone is different. I just see far too many comments of people having trash protocols. Alot of TRT clinics offer a standard on paper protocol and send people on their way. Like you said we all aromatise different and also process test different. Look at us two. 120mg puts me at the same testosterone levels as your 300mg a week.

I just feel that more care has to go into bloodwork and also not over reacting. I was reading on reddit of people getting put on trt and their protocol was 200mg of test a week (1 injection) and then 1mg of anastrazole on injection days. Sorry but this is garbage. 1mg of anastrazole will crash most people. Even if your a high aromatiser.

I would actually suggest most people do their own bloodwork and then see where their numbers are before adding in an AI. It took me a while to work out that 40mg 3x per week + 500iu hcg per week allows me to maintain a high test level and keep estrogen in check without ever using an AI. My doctor would never structure a protocol like this at all. Infact the UK trt is dreadful. I feel sorry for anyone using the health service for hormone support here.

300mg seems alot for a testosterone of that level? Do you just process test different? I've always been a high converter. 300mg would raise mine crazy high. I would love to run it as high but for me to control estrogen on that level would be a nightmare. I now just want to feel good with no side effects and I've got it dialed in. Jabbing 6x per week is a pain but the actual results are incredible. Gotta take the pros with the cons I suppose

I honestly don't know why my levels don't go higher I know a guy on 200 mg a week and his levels are almost double mine. I've asked my primary doctor and he's clueless on the subject. I do have RA and I don't know if having an autoimmune disorder plays into it.
So I've been taking 280 mg of my prescribed 300, Figured I'd bump it up to the full 300 for the next couple months. Went and got blood work to see where I was at, My level was just shy of 1220 And for some reason my estrogen dropped down to 17 I normally hover around 25.
When I started trt I think my overall test was 130 And my estrogen was barely registering My primary doctor claims I definitely have hypergoneism. Unfortunately for me, I don't get the excessive energy like most people describe when starting trt ,I suffer from bad fatigue (probably due to the RA) and that's one of the reasons my trt clinic bumped me up to the max dose.
The different dosages of testosterone all made a huge difference in my body fat composition I'm 57 and have visible abs for the first time in my life, not from lack of trying when I was younger lol