Test too high! What the heck?

[Strat1900]

I've been on TRT for several years now and I've gotten a lot of good info from here, so...I'm back.

My TRT program, as per prescription, consists of 200 MG every 2 weeks.

Based on advise from here as well as other sources, I've been doing 100 MG every week. All has been well, or so I thought. I just had my annual (Tricare...sigh) Test blood work done. I had blood drawn the day before I was due an injection so it should have been at its lowest or at least pretty low. You could have knocked me over with a feather when it came back as 1022 ng/dL with a Reference Range of 193-836. The only other info I got was Hemolysis Index NORMAL, Lipemia Index NORMAL and Icteric Index NORMAL . I sent a message to my doctor (PA actually) but she is on holiday vacation till next week.

So what the heck?? I never thought a total level of 1022 was even possible on 100 MG a week. I know it's not a whole lot of information, but what do I need to know before talking to my PA again. She's pretty open minded about the whole TRT thing but not a lot of experience.

What's going on with me????? Thanks in advance.

 

[oldmusclemike]

How old are you? or better yet what's your stats:
Age
WT
HT
BF%

 

[Roush]

are you taking HCG with your trt protocol ? what is your prescription testosterone dosage per ml ? is it test cyp 200mg/ml , so your injecting 0.5 cc per week ?

 

[Strat1900]

Age-55
WT-230
HT-5'9"
BF- No idea but probably too high.

I'm not a gym rat in any sense of the term but I am reasonably active with work, hobbies and projects. Yeah, probably rationalizing a little bit but seriously I'm always moving doing something.

 

[Strat1900]

are you taking HCG with your trt protocol ? what is your prescription testosterone dosage per ml ? is it test cyp 200mg/ml , so your injecting 0.5 cc per week ?

No to HCG. Dosage on the label reads "Inject 1ML intramuscular every 2 weeks" however I've been doing half that every week.

 

[Roush]

you said you been on TRT for several years now . is the weekly dosing a new protocol for you? what was your total test at a year ago with your original protocol?

 

[Strat1900]

you said you been on TRT for several years now . is the weekly dosing a new protocol for you? what was your total test at a year ago with your original protocol?

I did the gel for about a year with shaky results. Switched to test cyp at the 1ML intramuscular every 2 weeks...did this for about 6-8 months, but could really feel myself bottoming out the last few days of the 2 weeks. Based on recommendations from here switched to .5 ML every week. Much better. I never feel like I'm bottoming out now. Last year when I had my test blood work it came back at 986 but I had just injected two days prior so I knew it was going to be high. Doc had me stop injecting for a month then retested. Came back 100. Felt like crap. Went back to the .5 ML every week. No more test blood work till now. It's a military clinic....I'm trying to work with it.

 

[Roush]

your body likes exogenous test and is putting it to good work . some guys have test get soaked up by shbg or is bound up and neutralized and disposed of . You seem to be efficient and 100mg per week gets you to optimal levels. which is a good thing. are you just worried the doc will think its too high and stop your protocol? do you have any estrogen issues ? if not then that dose seems ideal to me

 

[Strat1900]

your body likes exogenous test and is putting it to good work . some guys have test get soaked up by shbg or is bound up and neutralized and disposed of . You seem to be efficient and 100mg per week gets you to optimal levels. which is a good thing. are you just worried the doc will think its too high and stop your protocol? do you have any estrogen issues ? if not then that dose seems ideal to me

Yes, I'm worried my doc (PA) will radically change things. Like I said, she seems open to things but she is also bound by "established" protocol which is the 193-836 range (what a bizarre range). I would love to have an estrogen check, but not even an option at this clinic. They don't get the connection even after I provided the previous PA with an article on the subject. Sometimes I think it may be an issue...Woody (ahem) isn't always everything he can be even with Cialis. Other than that I don't recall what other effect high E could cause. What else? I really appreciate your help.

 

[Milton]

what was your total test at a year ago with your original protocol?

 

[BDTMD]

I'm currently active duty military and see a urologist at a military hospital. I would ask your PA for a consult to a urologist. Your PA not testing for estrogen is not a tricare or military thing since my Active military Urologist tests for estrogen every time, along with free test, etc... good luck

 

[Strat1900]

I'm currently active duty military and see a urologist at a military hospital. I would ask your PA for a consult to a urologist. Your PA not testing for estrogen is not a tricare or military thing since my Active military Urologist tests for estrogen every time, along with free test, etc... good luck

BDTMD, that's interesting. It may be the difference between a real hospital and a clinic. I've approached the subject of E testing with my last two PAs and they basically gave me a funny look and said that they couldn't (wouldn't?) do that test on me. One didn't even act like he knew what a sensitive panel was.

I may have to go the urologist route, which will require a referral...not a big deal just the logistics of traveling to a urologist. The one local urologist that takes Tricare is a quack!!! I like the current PA I have and while I believe she's really trying to help she just not very experienced in this area. Thanks for the info.

 

[Strat1900]

what was your total test at a year ago with your original protocol?

It was 986, but I had just had an injection two days prior to drawing blood. I knew that was going to be high but the PA insisted we knock it out. Stopped injections for a month, then retested....it was 100 then. That sucked.

 

[anzel]

Off the top of my head if your PA barks at you for having test too high and you fear she will lower the dose (Roush is right IMO that you are at an optimal dose) you can tell her you injected before the blood test and that would be your highest test value. Just to cover your ass on that note/

As far as estrogen side effects beside lack of wood there are many other issues that can come up, you should look it up and print it out and bring in to the office and show them. Besides possible ED it can cause High BP.

Keep us posted and good luck with everything!

 

[daleb]

Id be cautious of ordering an E2 test with drs who are not used to ordering it for men. They will order the wrong test. The test has to be lc/ms not the elisa test they normally order for women. If they can only order the elisa its a waste of money imho. When my e2 is crashed my balls are tiny when my e2 is normal my balls are significantly bigger. So start there. After that are you reactionary, do you blow up at the littlest thing? Bloating... What im getting at is using arimidex is iffy on trt. And the best way to do it is getting a liquid preperation from a research chem house and just take a very small dose. like a few drops every time u get some e2 sides that you have varified by the sensitive estradiol test. otherwise you most likely will crash your e2.

 

[3J]

that is strange.. having levels that high with just 100mg..

so you waited 7 days after your last inject correct??? did the labs right before the next injection?

 

[Strat1900]

that is strange.. having levels that high with just 100mg..

so you waited 7 days after your last inject correct??? did the labs right before the next injection?

My last blood test was 14 Dec. That was 6 days after injecting. On 15 Dec. I injected again because I didn't have the results back yet. Now the PA is telling me to wait 2 weeks minimum and then retest to see where I'm at and make a call on my test dosage.

 

[Strat1900]

I've been googling symptoms of high E2 in men...other than the shaky wood thing maybe just a tad more emotional. I can get watery eyed pretty easy. The boys are kind of small these days but I thought that was because of the TRT. Nipples aren't sore. I was on HBP meds prior to doing TRT but that's under control. Bloating, not that I can tell. I need to push for a sensitive estradiol test.

 

[Strat1900]

I've been googling symptoms of high E2 in men...other than the shaky wood thing maybe just a tad more emotional. I can get watery eyed pretty easy. The boys are kind of small these days but I thought that was because of the TRT. Nipples aren't sore. I was on HBP meds prior to doing TRT but that's under control. Bloating, not that I can tell. I need to push for a sensitive estradiol test.

In googling syptoms of high E2 came across this fairly comprehensive looking list and how it applies it to me:

* Depression (Maybe...I was thinking it's a seasonal thing. Dark when I go to work...dark when I get home)
* Trouble reaching an orgasm (Not really)
* No erections while sleeping i.e. "night wood" or "morning wood" (Rarely)
* Anxiety (No)
* Panic Attacks (No)
* Prostate problems No?)
* Gynecomastia (No)
* Water Retention (Maybe, I take a prescribed water pill as part of HBP treatment)
* Dizziness/Vertigo (Maybe, just thought it was part of getting old)
* Increased Blood Pressure (On HBP meds and it's controlled)
* Decreased Libido (Maybe a little )
* ED (Woody isn't everything he could be)
* When penis is limp, it doesn't hang low (it seems to try to crawl back up) (?????)
* Asthma like issues (due to increased water retention around the lungs) (No)
* Trouble sleeping at night - waking up multiple times per night (I do wake up once or twice)
* Lack of Libido (No, still got some)
* Crying while watching TV shows/movies (Yes , I do think I tear up easier)
* Easier to get angry (think PMS) ( I don't think so)
* Insulin Resistance (getting tired after eating a meal) (sometimes
* Larger stomach (Yes)
* Redness on the face and/or chest (No)
* Feeling hotter than everybody else (definitely)
* Thinner skin/bleeding easier (No)

So what do y'all think? Should I push hard for an E2 test?

 

[appleton111]

In googling syptoms of high E2 came across this fairly comprehensive looking list and how it applies it to me:

* Depression (Maybe...I was thinking it's a seasonal thing. Dark when I go to work...dark when I get home)
* Trouble reaching an orgasm (Not really)
* No erections while sleeping i.e. "night wood" or "morning wood" (Rarely)
* Anxiety (No)
* Panic Attacks (No)
* Prostate problems No?)
* Gynecomastia (No)
* Water Retention (Maybe, I take a prescribed water pill as part of HBP treatment)
* Dizziness/Vertigo (Maybe, just thought it was part of getting old)
* Increased Blood Pressure (On HBP meds and it's controlled)
* Decreased Libido (Maybe a little )
* ED (Woody isn't everything he could be)
* When penis is limp, it doesn't hang low (it seems to try to crawl back up) (?????)
* Asthma like issues (due to increased water retention around the lungs) (No)
* Trouble sleeping at night - waking up multiple times per night (I do wake up once or twice)
* Lack of Libido (No, still got some)
* Crying while watching TV shows/movies (Yes , I do think I tear up easier)
* Easier to get angry (think PMS) ( I don't think so)
* Insulin Resistance (getting tired after eating a meal) (sometimes
* Larger stomach (Yes)
* Redness on the face and/or chest (No)
* Feeling hotter than everybody else (definitely)
* Thinner skin/bleeding easier (No)

So what do y'all think? Should I push hard for an E2 test?

the more info you have the better you can navigate.