What blood test should I buy?

[halfape211]

Background: Over a year on TRT: WEEKLY: 200 ML of test cyp/week+ 500 HCG+2.5mg to 3mg of Anastrazole + daily DHEA, ZINK suplements. Everything is going along fine. TT is about 1100-1200 in trough; Estradiol is just a tad over midrange, so just upped to 3mg/week of Anastrozole. I'm curious about how my Hemocrit, Estradiol, Dhea and HTPA pathway is doing. Not too interested in Lupid tests

Is there particular blood tests of groups of blood tests I should order from PrivateMD labs or LabsMD? Ones that are commonly recommended on this site for those on TRT? (there is a crap load of ones to chose from and I was wondering if there were particular tests that was regularly used.)

Thanks guys
Halfape211

 

[Chiefy]

Holy shit, 3mg of Anastrozole?! On a dose like that, the most important test to order is the sensitive estradiol test.

After that, having your total and free testosterone measured would also be important. Your trough total T is pretty high. You might want to consider lowering your dose of testosterone or at least splitting your dose into 2 weekly injections. Both of those measures will bring your E2 down without having to take such a giant dose of Anastrozole.

 

[hiram1st]

In this thread you'll find info on what to test for other than the standard trt bloodwork and alot of other good info on trt you might or might not know:
http://www.steroidology.com/forum/testosterone-replacement-therapy/662394-basic-trt-overview.html

 

[halfape211]

Holy shit, 3mg of Anastrozole?! On a dose like that, the most important test to order is the sensitive estradiol test.

After that, having your total and free testosterone measured would also be important. Your trough total T is pretty high. You might want to consider lowering your dose of testosterone or at least splitting your dose into 2 weekly injections. Both of those measures will bring your E2 down without having to take such a giant dose of Anastrozole.

3 mg Anastrazole..., ya I know. Last time I checked I was 133 (Cdn numbers) while on 2.5 mg, which is a little higher than the sweet spot, so I just upped it to 3. Test, HCG and AI are broken into half dose for twice a week.

Good idea hiram1st, I'll reread it

 

[Chiefy]

3 mg Anastrazole..., ya I know. Last time I checked I was 133 (Cdn numbers) while on 2.5 mg, which is a little higher than the sweet spot, so I just upped it to 3. Test, HCG and AI are broken into half dose for twice a week.

Good idea hiram1st, I'll reread it

The 133 is in picomols correct? The conversion would make that equal to 36 picograms/ml?

Was this a sensitive E2 test? If not, I'd guess that your E2 value is actually much lower than that. Standard E2 tests overstate estradiol values quite a bit, especially when dealing with lowish numbers. Many guys, including myself, have had standard E2 tests that were 30 points higher than the sensitive test.

 

[halfape211]

The 133 is in picomols correct? The conversion would make that equal to 36 picograms/ml?

Was this a sensitive E2 test? If not, I'd guess that your E2 value is actually much lower than that. Standard E2 tests overstate estradiol values quite a bit, especially when dealing with lowish numbers. Many guys, including myself, have had standard E2 tests that were 30 points higher than the sensitive test.

In Canada, I don't think we have a choice of sensitive or not. So. I'm not sure how accurate it is. I have to assume it's accurate, But I will get the sensitive test in the USA in January, so I know more accurately where I sit. I'll stay at the 3mg dose until then and hope for the best. I have no more aches or sore joints than usual at this dose versus the 2.5mg per week dose.

 

[Megatron28]

Either the Hormone Panel for Females or Hormone Panel for Males depending on what you want to check and how much money you want to spend. Despite their names, both panels are for men.

 

[Mprtz]

I thought privatemdlabs wasn't available in Canada...

 

[halfape211]

I thought privatemdlabs wasn't available in Canada...

Unfortunately, yes you are correct on that. But I am going to take my passport and see if they let me into the US of A, once again. Once there I will present myself at one of the PrivateMDlab locations and bare my arm (No, not bare arms..., just bare my "arm" for the blood test.) After all.., we've become quite friendly with our neighbors to the south. We don't even hold a grudge for that American Invasion back in 1812.

And Thanks Megatron, I just ordered it.

 

[Megatron28]

Unfortunately, yes you are correct on that. But I am going to take my passport and see if they let me into the US of A, once again. Once there I will present myself at one of the PrivateMDlab locations and bare my arm (No, not bare arms..., just bare my "arm" for the blood test.) After all.., we've become quite friendly with our neighbors to the south. We don't even hold a grudge for that American Invasion back in 1812.

And Thanks Megatron, I just ordered it.

Too bad you guys sunk all our ships. So much for manifest destiny...

 

[halfape211]

Too bad you guys sunk all our ships. So much for manifest destiny...

Yes I was gloating a little over that ....

But on the other hand...,, if they had just fought a little harder I would not have to leave the country to get a Blood Test; I could just call IMT anytime I wanted; Gold's Gyms and Golden Corals would be from coast to coast.

I'll tell you a secret..., I think we're outmatched at the moment. Get Obama to take another kick at the can

 

[IMT staff]

I agree, 3mg is most likely way too much. Way overboard.

 

[halfape211]

I agree, 3mg is most likely way too much. Way overboard.

I would normally agree...., But 1.5mg put me at 168 and 2.5mg put me at 133, so 3mg should put me closer to 100, which is about equivalent to the desired USA number for the sweet spot. I think it's the HCG driving up the Estradiol, but that's just my guess. In two weeks I'll get tested and adjust from there.

I think my body does not respond much to hormones, so it takes a lot to get the job done

 

[Megatron28]

I think my body does not respond much to hormones, so it takes a lot to get the job done

Which hormones are you referring to that your body does not respond to?

 

[halfape211]

Which hormones are you referring to that your body does not respond to?

I guess I'm talking about Test cyp. The symptoms of Low T never went away until I hit 200 units (ml) a week of test and even then, some of the symptoms are still with me. Anastrazole may not be a Hormone, but it takes a lot to get my Estradiol under control. It's just an assumption on my part that some hormones and drugs do not affect me as much as they would for most people. In two weeks I'll get tested and see if my Estradiol decreased and make an adjustment to the dose at that time. I'm feeling fine at 3mg of Anastrazole a week, but the test numbers will tell the tale.

 

[Megatron28]

I guess I'm talking about Test cyp. The symptoms of Low T never went away until I hit 200 units (ml) a week of test and even then, some of the symptoms are still with me. Anastrazole may not be a Hormone, but it takes a lot to get my Estradiol under control. It's just an assumption on my part that some hormones and drugs do not affect me as much as they would for most people. In two weeks I'll get tested and see if my Estradiol decreased and make an adjustment to the dose at that time. I'm feeling fine at 3mg of Anastrazole a week, but the test numbers will tell the tale.

Is it prescription Anastrozole from a pharmacy?

 

[Alpin]

3 mg adex a week.
I cringed reading that.

 

[halfape211]

Is it prescription Anastrozole from a pharmacy?

Yes indeed!! Sandoz-Anastrozole straight from the pharmacy. Nice little white pills with AI on one side. No flavour. Easy to swallow. Been on 3 mg for a couple weeks now and 2.5 for a month or so before that. My joints feel fine even with me increasing miles and speed every week in my runs. About 40 klms per week at this point. Everybody is different and I guess I'm an example of that, lol.

Apollon says:
3 mg adex a week.
I cringed reading that

Relax Apollon...This stuff must be good for me or surely my Dr. would never give it to me. Lol

 

[IMT staff]

I would normally agree...., But 1.5mg put me at 168 and 2.5mg put me at 133, so 3mg should put me closer to 100, which is about equivalent to the desired USA number for the sweet spot. I think it's the HCG driving up the Estradiol, but that's just my guess. In two weeks I'll get tested and adjust from there.

I think my body does not respond much to hormones, so it takes a lot to get the job done

Right but if it takes that much to keep your E down something else is going on, it should not take that much.

 

[halfape211]

Right but if it takes that much to keep your E down something else is going on, it should not take that much.

That makes sense!! Any ideas? Or does it matter?? I'm on HCG, but so are many others. I don't and never did use any other AAS gear (Not that I have any problem with other stuff.) I take Zink and DHEA daily. I'm 30 - 40 lbs overweight, but I was heavier a few months ago. What tests, if any, would help answer 'what else is going on'?