First Bloods Just Came In After Starting TRT

[MeanGreen]

BACKGROUND:

So I started TRT back on Nov 6th and have been pinning 200mg cyp per week (2-100mg shots per week).

When I pin, I also take .25mg anastrozole, so that's .5mg per week.

(Doctor wanted me to take 1 mg pill of anastrozole per pin (2mg per week), but many reactions of members
on this site said to stick with .25mg).

SIDE NOTE: I took a 1mg pill of ai at first pin, realized it was too much, then skipped ai at second pin,
then .25mg consistently after that. I think that is why I noticed a very mild amount of acne on my shoulders
and arms after my first week. Still hasn't gone away. Ugh.

I also pin 2x per week of HCG.

After four weeks, I had my blood tested to see if I need to dial my numbers in. Results just came in.

Attached below are pics of the complete results.

Total Test > 1500 Sens Estradiol 22.7 Hemocrit 48.6

THOUGHTS:
1) I feel great. Training heavy. A little elbow tendonitis in both arms, but I had that before starting TRT.
2) Arm/shoulder acne must have been from initial hormone fluctuation and not from consistent elevated E.
3) Wish I could get a more exact test number than >1500.
4) Would have thought my E would be higher. Normal range is 20-40.
5) To adjust E slightly higher, I wonder if I should alternate taking .25mg and .5mg at each pin. Or should I bother?

What do you guys think?

 

[Jimstigator]

What do you guys think?

That's pretty high

I am of the opinion >1500 is a stretch for "testosterone replacement therapy." You are easily double, if not triple, what a normal man would produce. Hematocrit doesn't raise significant in 4 weeks so not much to tell there... its a creeper in my experience. The better of your two estrogen tests, Labcorp Sensitive Estradiol #140244 has a range of 8-35, and you are in a decent place. The acne may or may not settle. I can get it from a change, but I also get it from high TT levels, as my skin gets extremely oily.

If that was my blood work - I would lower my T dose a bit and adjust AI accordingly. Maybe 140mg T and .25mg adex total a week?

Maybe I am conservative, but I believe TT levels over 1500 are more of a blast than TRT.

BUT - if thats your thing, and you just want blazing high TT levels... nice numbers!

-Jim

 

[MeanGreen]

Hematocrit doesn't raise significant in 4 weeks so not much to tell there... its a creeper in my experience.

The hemocrit ref range on my blood test says 37.5-51%. I was at 46% on Nov 1st when I got my pre TRT baseline.

I'm now 48.6% at 4 weeks in. At what point do I say, "holy shit I have to go donate!" ?

 

[MeanGreen]

By the way, thank you everyone who warned me not to go with 1 mg per pin (2mg per week) of anastrozole that the doctor recommended.

I would have been completely screwed up.

 

[christianbber]

Whats your exercise routine like ? Just wondering.

Diet? Drink ?

 

[Chiefy]

The hemocrit ref range on my blood test says 37.5-51%. I was at 46% on Nov 1st when I got my pre TRT baseline.

I'm now 48.6% at 4 weeks in. At what point do I say, "holy shit I have to go donate!" ?

HCT usually takes some time to start getting out of control, but it'll be accelerated since you're on such a high dose of testosterone.

Personally, I try to keep mine from reaching ~50%. It can get out of control rather quickly in some men.

I agree with Jim, once you start getting >1500 for total T it's a stretch to call it TRT. More like a mini cycle. For all we know your total T could be ~2000 ng/dl on this protocol. Not necessarily the best idea as a lifelong treatment.

If I were you I'd probably drop your dose of testosterone a bit so you're in a more reasonable range. You may not need any AI at all if you do that.

Aromatase inhibitors are a necessity on cycles and such but the idea of taking one indefinitely, unless you have to, isn't something that I'd recommend.

 

[AverageMan]

Your RBC is 5.11. this is perfectly in range. Anything over 5.6 and it's time to donate blood.

I will echo what others are saying, your test for TRT is way too high. All we know is it's OVER 1500, so no way to tell the exact number - you could get private labs done. I can't believe your doc is OK with a total T this high.

I would back down to 160mg a week and save the rest for a blast

What is your height / weight? Generally speaking the larger you are, the more cyp you need to keep proper test levels. I'm 5 9, 160 lbs and 135mg / week puts me at over 1100 total T as my trough.

 

[Megatron28]

When was the blood work taken relative to your last injection?

 

[MeanGreen]

Whats your exercise routine like ? Just wondering.

Diet? Drink ?

5-day split routine, lifting heavy

"clean" diet hitting my macros at just above maintenance

1 gallon/day water minimum

 

[MeanGreen]

When was the blood work taken relative to your last injection?

Blood drawn 7:36am the morning after pinning.

Used female hormone panel +sens E with PrivateMDLabs.

How do I get the exact TT number?

 

[MeanGreen]

I would back down to 160mg a week and save the rest for a blast

Hmmm. Adjust down to about 160, drop the ai completely, stockpile remaining cyp and ai, and re-evaluate in a month.

 

[MeanGreen]

What is your height / weight? Generally speaking the larger you are, the more cyp you need to keep proper test levels. I'm 5 9, 160 lbs and 135mg / week puts me at over 1100 total T as my trough.

I'm 6'1, 206 lbs at 10-12%

 

[Megatron28]

Blood drawn 7:36am the morning after pinning.

Used female hormone panel +sens E with PrivateMDLabs.

How do I get the exact TT number?

So you pinned at say 7am and then went in for blood work?

There is an LC/MS-MS version of the Total Testosterone lab. It is more accurate and also shows results when >1500.

 

[MeanGreen]

There is an LC/MS-MS version of the Total Testosterone lab. It is more accurate and also shows results when >1500.

Found it LC MS-MS ****** Thanks, Tron.

 

[MeanGreen]

So you pinned at say 7am and then went in for blood work?

Sorry. I meant I got blood drawn the day after pinning. At 7:36am.

 

[christianbber]

Your RBC is 5.11. this is perfectly in range. Anything over 5.6 and it's time to donate blood.

I will echo what others are saying, your test for TRT is way too high. All we know is it's OVER 1500, so no way to tell the exact number - you could get private labs done. I can't believe your doc is OK with a total T this high.

I would back down to 160mg a week and save the rest for a blast

What is your height / weight? Generally speaking the larger you are, the more cyp you need to keep proper test levels. I'm 5 9, 160 lbs and 135mg / week puts me at over 1100 total T as my trough.

Is that true ? Larger you are the more cyp you need ? I'm 6'4 250lbs....I'm on 200mg cyp a week... getting my blood results in a few weeks.

 

[Megatron28]

Found it LC MS-MS $94.49 Thanks, Tron.

Sometimes panels are cheaper. Read the FAQ linked below in my signature for more info on blood work.

 

[Megatron28]

Sorry. I meant I got blood drawn the day after pinning. At 7:36am.

So you more or less checked yoiu Peak level. I would check trough next time.

 

[AverageMan]

Is that true ? Larger you are the more cyp you need ? I'm 6'4 250lbs....I'm on 200mg cyp a week... getting my blood results in a few weeks.

There is a difference in being 300 lbs and morbidly obese VS just being a tall person with a big frame.

 

[AverageMan]

So you more or less checked yoiu Peak level. I would check trough next time.

Agree - get blood work done right before your next pin and not right after.

Don't forget you are using HCG, so your body is also producing test in addition to what you are pinning. You may be able to back off to 140mg a week or so. It takes time to get dialed in - took me 6 months.