New lab results with major concerns - please help!

[srch4info]

Since I just got my new lab back I am starting a new thread with the before and after lab results but I have major concerns... my original and 1st post:
Another Androgel Application Question...

My Stats: 46 y/o, 5”8’, 160, 21% BF

I started on 5G of Androgel once per day. My pre-TRT Quest Labs blood work results are (drawn at 9:30 AM):

12/12/2005
Total T= 366 (241-827)
Bioavailable T = 200 (84-402)
Free T = 91 (34-194)
SHBG = 24 (7-50)
DHT = 21 (25-75)
Estradiol = 34 (13-54)
LH = 3.2 (1.5-9.3)
FSH = 1.1 (1.6-8)
Albumin = 4.8 (3.5-4.9)
Prolactin = 7.4 (2-18)
Cortisol = 21.2 (4-22)
TSH = 1.79 (.4-5.5)
FT3 = 300 (230-420)
FT4 = 2.5 (1.4-3.8)
T3 Uptake = 39 (22-35)
Homocysteine = 8.1 (<11.4)
PSA = .7
IGF-1 = 191 (60-304)
DHEA = 348 (180-1250)
Insulin = 5 (<17)

44 Days on TRT - lab draw at 9:30 AM - last Androgel application 18 hrs prior
***the tests are somewhat different so I have listed the different ranges***

4/7/2006
Total T = 957 (250-1100)
Bioavailable = 402 (110-575)
Free T = 180 (46-224)
SHBG = 25 (7-50)
DHT = still pending from lab
Estradiol = 45 (13-54)
FSH = .7 (1.6-8)
Albumin = 4.9 (3.5-4.9)

How can I possibly have a Total T of 957 on a single application of 5G Androgel??? This seems impossible!!! Am I reading this wrong or do these results seem almost too perfect?

I tried to be extremely careful and not contaminate the draw by any of the gel and of course I used my other arm but what the heck...

Another really big concern is the fact that I had my blood drawn at 9:30 AM ( I track the times) yet the lab work says it was drawn at 13:42... WRONG WRONG WRONG

Finally I can tell you for sure that subjectively I really don't feel that great at all and I expected to see some low results that needed to be tweaked.

I will post the DHT as soon as I get it... hopefully today.

[Ruper]

I believe it is possible. There is certainly enough Testosterone in the gel to do that. Perhaps you just absorb more than the 'usual' 10%.

My 5g Testim results got screwed up - but they came back over 5000 Total T and 2000+ FreeT.

Perhaps you can get re-tested in another 2-4 weeks.

I persume you are not taking HCG.

You might not be feeling that different because your pre-TRT labs are not that bad. Or it may be that you'll get retested and find out your levels are not really that high. E2 did go up by 50%, which certainly suggests T levels are substantially higher than pre-TRT - at least into the 600's I would have thought.

[eliteballa3]

lol im the complete opisit on 5g of gell 22hrs after aplication my total test was 295 ng/dl thatsw with 150iu daily of hcg and when i did hcg and gell 2 hrs before the test it came back 700ng/dl thats still low. So i think the gells dont do it for me

[srch4info]

Your correct about the HCG... ironically I was thinking that that may have been my next step but these test results have totaly confused me. I am anxious to see what my DHT is...

[mxim]

i think your results are wonderful.if dht comes back very high,i would tweak the doasage a bit. to me,anything above 600 is very good. you need to exercise and get your bodyfat down. 21% is much too high.i also noticed your cortisol was at the very high end of normal(PRE ANDROGEL). are you stressed out?

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by srch4info

Your correct about the HCG... ironically I was thinking that that may have been my next step but these test results have totaly confused me. I am anxious to see what my DHT is...

Your test look good but the Estradiol is on the high side this could keep you from feeling the good feeling from good levels of T.

[srch4info]

MAJOR stress Maxim... lost my job after 7 years due to government grant reductions and now searching for work while also trying to start a new business... after reading about cortisol I was not surprised at the level and my earlier blood work showed good cortisol levels so hopefully that is the answer ...and your right about the body fat... I am not happy with myself since I used to be between 12% and 16%... I will work on it...

[srch4info]

Phil,

Do you really think that my normal test production could shut down and yet 5G of Androgel could give me such a high T level?

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by srch4info

Phil,

Do you really think that my normal test production could shut down and yet 5G of Androgel could give me such a high T level?

Hell yes seen it many times I know a guy up this high on 2.5 grams of Androgel. I can't get over 600 doing 10 grams. Your lucky. Just keep doing what your doing and get your E2 down I just got my test back today and my E2 is on the low side I am at 13 better at 15 to 20.

[srch4info]

Phil,

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

Here is what happens your total T is 366 the androgel will bring it up a good 300 to 350 points higher. In the first week then your brain will see this and stop sending the messages to your testis to make more T your LH and FSH will not be sent because your brain sees the T from the gel. Now you can fall back down below you 366 levels and feel like shit.

The above qoute is from the original thread: do you think my body has actually stopped making T and I am just lucky in that I absorb and convert the Androgel very well? I do notice my testicles have not shrunk the way I have read about.. they are a little tighter but by no means are they small so does that mean my axis is still functional?

Regarding E2... I am wondering if you try to maintain a T/E2 ratio or if out of your own experience you just know your optimum E2 level. My ratio is 957/45=21.27

[mxim]

remember cortisol can increase bodyfat.that said, diet and exercise,particularly cardi,will reduce stress which will reduce cortisol. no matter what,get on the treadmill at least 4 times per week.

[srch4info]

mxim: Excellent points thanks...

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by srch4info

Phil,



The above qoute is from the original thread: do you think my body has actually stopped making T and I am just lucky in that I absorb and convert the Androgel very well? I do notice my testicles have not shrunk the way I have read about.. they are a little tighter but by no means are they small so does that mean my axis is still functional?

Regarding E2... I am wondering if you try to maintain a T/E2 ratio or if out of your own experience you just know your optimum E2 level. My ratio is 957/45=21.27

If you checked your LH and FSH on your last test it would have showen you this by being to low. It takes time for your testis to shrunk they don't go down over night. I try to keep my E2 between 15 to 20 my last test was on the low side but I feel good and still have morning wood it was 13.

[srch4info]

OK... it's official... after waiting 19 days, both my doctor and I called Quest labs to find out where the heck my DHT results are and Quest said they are experiencing problems with DHT tests and the lab is completely backed up... and get this; they have no projected date to have the results!!!

I may need to go to Labcorp to have it done but then I have some insurance issues to deal with...

[srch4info]

OK... guys finally the DHT results are in... but now I am even more confused... my DHT is surpisingly low. All my T levels seem good, my E2 may be high although the T/E2 ratio is possibly close to a good ratio (I know I know I read conflicting opinions on this issue) but the DHT value surpised me... no wonder I don't wake up with morning wood.

The 12/12/2005 PRE-TRT values are in the begining of the post...

4/7/2006

Total T = 957 (250-1100)
Bioavailable = 402 (110-575)
Free T = 180 (46-224)
SHBG = 25 (7-50)
DHT = 22 (25-75)
Estradiol = 45 (13-54)
FSH = .7 (1.6-8)
Albumin = 4.9 (3.5-4.9)