HCG only-Surprising test results and questions-Good post this time!

[Yowzer]

Background:
2 months on 1cc Test cypionate followed by 26 days off
300 IU HGG and .5 aminidex every third day for 6 weeks (HCG could have been weakening with age by 6 weeks)
I had the following Labcorp Test results:
Testosterone 527 Range Age 50 241-827
Free test (Direct) 8.8 Range 7.2-24
Estradiol 16 Range 0-53
LH 6.0 Range 1.5-9.3
FSH 5.9 Range 1.4-18.1

I was surprised that hte FSH and LH were not about zero. At the end of a prior period on Test creme they were. I had expected to need to go on clomid or novaldex to bring them up. Could the HCG have brought them up or invalidated the test result (last dose was day before test)?

Should I be using less Adex?

Is it likely the HGC had weakened or can I assume that my testes were producing their maximum test?
Thanks for any comments!!!!!

I

[pmgamer18]

Yes stop the amimidex your getting to low on your E2.

[chap]

can you make the timeline a little more clear please

my understanding: 2 months of test THEN 26 days of nothing THEN 6 wks of hcg and arimidex THEN nothing ...

how long after the above was the blood test taken?

adex alone will drive up LH and FSH while you are on it

[Yowzer]

Let me make this a little more confusing but precise so ignore the timeline I mentioned before (I also found a couple mistakes in the timing I said). The timing of the blood test was 42 days after the last of 2 months of 1cc test cypionate. However for some reason, I took one last shot of .5cc cypionate 24 days before the blood test (so 18 days after the last of the 1cc injections).
The every 3rd day HCG and .5 mg arimidex began 29 days before the blood test.
Actual dates:
April 3 Last of 2 months worth of 1cc injections
April 16 Began 300 IU HCG every 3rd day continued up to day before blood test
April 21 Lone .5cc Test cypionate injection (I think I did it because I wasn't feeling as well at the time)
May 15 Blood test

Overall, I didn't feel all that different through the whole process although the morning wood seems to have stopped just about the time of the blood test. Maybe HCG losing potency after 1 month?

I am tempted to stay off everything for a while to try to get a good baseline. I had conflicting readings before any HRT:
Dec 2005 Testosterone 13.8 in a range of 10-69 AAL Labs
June 2005 Testosterone 556 free range 217-1107 Quest
Free Test 101 in range of 20-120

I also rarely had morning wood in years and wasn't getting high quality erections without a touch of Viagra (amazing what even 1/8 of a 100 mg pill will do!).

Reviewing this makes me wonder whether I should be bothering to go off HRT to get a better baseline. I'm still inclined to since being on HRTis pretty much for life and because I seem to be rapidly developing a male pattern bald spot which doesn't make me happy. Maybe I didn't have it before because testosterone too low. I'm trying minoxadil now.
Prior to this cycle I had been started on too aggressive a program of 20% Test creme (2cc daily for a month followed by 3 months of 1cc. At end of that cycle, testosterone and estradiol were both just above high end of range.
What do you think I should do next?

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by Yowzer

Let me make this a little more confusing but precise so ignore the timeline I mentioned before (I also found a couple mistakes in the timing I said). The timing of the blood test was 42 days after the last of 2 months of 1cc test cypionate. However for some reason, I took one last shot of .5cc cypionate 24 days before the blood test (so 18 days after the last of the 1cc injections).
The every 3rd day HCG and .5 mg arimidex began 29 days before the blood test.
Actual dates:
April 3 Last of 2 months worth of 1cc injections
April 16 Began 300 IU HCG every 3rd day continued up to day before blood test
April 21 Lone .5cc Test cypionate injection (I think I did it because I wasn't feeling as well at the time)
May 15 Blood test

Overall, I didn't feel all that different through the whole process although the morning wood seems to have stopped just about the time of the blood test. Maybe HCG losing potency after 1 month?

I am tempted to stay off everything for a while to try to get a good baseline. I had conflicting readings before any HRT:
Dec 2005 Testosterone 13.8 in a range of 10-69 AAL Labs
June 2005 Testosterone 556 free range 217-1107 Quest
Free Test 101 in range of 20-120

I also rarely had morning wood in years and wasn't getting high quality erections without a touch of Viagra (amazing what even 1/8 of a 100 mg pill will do!).

Reviewing this makes me wonder whether I should be bothering to go off HRT to get a better baseline. I'm still inclined to since being on HRTis pretty much for life and because I seem to be rapidly developing a male pattern bald spot which doesn't make me happy. Maybe I didn't have it before because testosterone too low. I'm trying minoxadil now.
Prior to this cycle I had been started on too aggressive a program of 20% Test creme (2cc daily for a month followed by 3 months of 1cc. At end of that cycle, testosterone and estradiol were both just above high end of range.
What do you think I should do next?

1a. TRT actually works, so it is worth to put the required effort, stay organized and ditifully follow procedure.
1. Get organized.
2. spend about a month of time reading old posts here and on http://anabolicminds.com/forum/male-anti-aging/
3. looks like you were lucky and found a doctor that writes you scripts for blood tests and medicines, do not worry if he do not have a proper knowledge otherwise
4. the last think in testosterone supplementation is about erection and hairs. More important is to work on healthy body and mind (lack of depression etc)
5. often there is a more than lack of testosterone, to have a hope at finding source of a problem one need good and long blood test
6. supplementing with testosterone either use gels or creams. If you use shots you must do it at least every three days or every other day.
7. your blood test results, the testosterone part, is meaningless because of the way you went about T applications.
8. Post the whole blood test here, post ranges, units, what laboratory did it.
9. You will gain huge advantage if you could do you blood tests at Quest Diagnostics and draw blood at Quest Diagnostics
10. Look how I posted my results, see the items that were covered, try to copy it or improve on it.
http://anabolicminds.com/forum/male-...tml#post827550
----------------------------------------------------------------
What HRT are you talking about, spell details, are you also doing steroids?
If yes, this board is not the right place, but there is a sister board here.

If you are on proper and organized and dutifully followed Testosterone replacement therapy, you will get into steady state after about a month to six weeks. Then it makes a sense to do a blood test. No, there is no need to get of therapy to get a "baseline" blood test.

Good luck

[coz]

Originally Posted by Yowzer

Background:
2 months on 1cc Test cypionate followed by 26 days off
300 IU HGG and .5 aminidex every third day for 6 weeks (HCG could have been weakening with age by 6 weeks)
I had the following Labcorp Test results:
Testosterone 527 Range Age 50 241-827
Free test (Direct) 8.8 Range 7.2-24
Estradiol 16 Range 0-53
LH 6.0 Range 1.5-9.3
FSH 5.9 Range 1.4-18.1

I was surprised that hte FSH and LH were not about zero. At the end of a prior period on Test creme they were. I had expected to need to go on clomid or novaldex to bring them up. Could the HCG have brought them up or invalidated the test result (last dose was day before test)?

Should I be using less Adex?

Is it likely the HGC had weakened or can I assume that my testes were producing their maximum test?
Thanks for any comments!!!!!

I

Looks like the HCG was not strong enough to supress your LH, FSH. I would be tempted to either do nothing, or maybe a bit of novladex and/or clomid - and restest in another month.

Your HPTA seems to have bounced back fast from the Test Cyp, so you may get even better numbers in a month.

I would definately try to restart your system, before goin on TRT.

[Yowzer]

JanSz and coz, Thanks for the advice. I have spent a considerable amount of time reding on this board. It has been very helpful.
I don't feel the blood work was wasted because I was off the cypionate long enough for it to be out of my system. Like others, I have wondered whether HCG alone would elevate the T enough.

If so, no point in taking both T and virtually the same amont of HCG to maintain testicle size. Since I wasn't terribly low on total T, does that imply less additonal T if I maintan HCG regularly?

The test also showed me that LH and FSH were not shut down which was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't aware that Adex could boost those.

I am most puzzled by why the Free T came out low. (I have never had a SHBG reding). My only other Free T reading was two years ago before any HRT and was near upper end of range (Quest diagnostics). This low reading was done by Labcorp and was listed as Direct. I think I remember reading that Labcorp had the best method for free T. Is this correct and are other methods potentially way off base?

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by Yowzer

JanSz and coz, Thanks for the advice. I have spent a considerable amount of time reding on this board. It has been very helpful.
I don't feel the blood work was wasted because I was off the cypionate long enough for it to be out of my system. Like others, I have wondered whether HCG alone would elevate the T enough.

If so, no point in taking both T and virtually the same amont of HCG to maintain testicle size. Since I wasn't terribly low on total T, does that imply less additonal T if I maintan HCG regularly?

The test also showed me that LH and FSH were not shut down which was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't aware that Adex could boost those.

I am most puzzled by why the Free T came out low. (I have never had a SHBG reding). My only other Free T reading was two years ago before any HRT and was near upper end of range (Quest diagnostics). This low reading was done by Labcorp and was listed as Direct. I think I remember reading that Labcorp had the best method for free T. Is this correct and are other methods potentially way off base?

Why you should do your testosterone tests at Quest Diagnostics, and even there make sure that you get:
(Free BioAvailable and Total Testosterone)
http://forum.mesomorphosis.com/533890-post45.html

Short cut----- FreeT test done directly give wrong results.

[wildfox]

Yowzer, what brand hcg, and did you keep it refrigerated?

HCG, being an LH analog, will suppress your own LH. Whatever you had wasn't working at all, or you weren't using it right.

[coz]

Originally Posted by wildfox

Yowzer, what brand hcg, and did you keep it refrigerated?

HCG, being an LH analog, will suppress your own LH. Whatever you had wasn't working at all, or you weren't using it right.

It's possible it was not working, or it maybe 300iu every 3rd day was not enough to supress him (as it's not that big a dose)