Fantastic summary. Thanks for taking the time. If only vast majority of folks would truly comprehend that 400 mg/week of testosterone cypionate is in fact a big blast. Managing TRT really is educational.
You better believe it. Went from 160/w trt (down from my prescribed 200) to 425/w as my blast and itās both noticeable and totally manageable. I canāt picture needing more than this anytime soon. Itās the right balance of linear strength and size progression and almost no side effects beyond an uncontrollable libido.
Labs came back this morning.
Lab Results
Testosterone, Serum 06/17/2019 09:20
Testo 465.37
Lipid Panel calc LDL 06/17/2019 09:20
CHOL AU 195 <200
TRIG AU 73 48-150
HDL AU 61 39-999
LDL Calc AU 119 H 0-99
CHOL/HDL AU 3.2 0.0-4.9
Non HDL 134
VLDL AU 15 5-40
Comp Metabolic Panel (14)
Description Result Flags Range
Na AU 139 136-145
K AU 4.2 3.5-5.1
CL AU 103 98-107
CO2 AU 30.0 21.0-31.0
BUN AU 19 7-25
CREATi 0.82 0.60-1.20
B/Ci AU 23 7-25
eGFR CKD-EPI 116 >60
eGFR AfrAmer. CKD-EPI 134.6 >60.0
GLU AU 95 70-99
Ca AU 9.8 8.6-10.3
TP AU 6.6 6.4-8.9
ALB AU 4.5 4.2-5.5
A/G AU 2.1 1.1-2.2
AST AU 32 13-39
ALT 39 7-52
ALKP AU 31 L 34-104
T. Bili AU 0.4 0.3-1.0
CBC with Differential/Platelet 06/17/2019 09:20
Description Result Flags Range
WBC LH 4.9 4.0-10.5
RBC LH 4.9 4.5-5.7
HGB LH 15.0 13.5-17.2
HCT LH 44.4 40.0-50.0
MCV LH 90 80-95
MCH LH 31 27-33
MCHC LH 34 33-35
RDW LH 12.7 12.1-15.3
PLT LH 154 150-450
NE% 50.6 42.0-74.0
LY% 35.1 17.0-45.0
MO% 9.3 5.0-12.0
EO% 3.6 1.0-7.0
BA% 1.4 H 0.0-1.0
ABC LH 0.1 0.0-0.2
AEC LH 0.2 0.0-0.4
ALC LH 1.7 0.7-3.1
AMC LH 0.5 0.1-0.9
ANC LH 2.5 1.5-8.0
Has Mr iron yuppie gone on his hoil days!
Right. I feel like I should have had some additional things measured but fuck it. To me that total test number seems to be on the lower end for my age group (33 years old). Am I right? It came in at 465 btw.
Pre cycle Blood Results: 33 y/o
% Free Test e: 1.0 (Reference range 1.5-3.2)
Free Test S: 68 pg/mL (Ref Range Adult males 52-280)
Sex Hormone Bindi ng Globulin: 77 mmol/L (Ref Range 20-49y 16.5-55.9) (Ref Range >49y 19.3-76.4)
Testosterone, Serum (Total): 677 ng/dL (Adult males 264-916)
Lipid Panel calc LDL
CHOL AU 195 <200
TRIG AU 73 48-150
HDL AU 61 39-999
LDL Calc AU 119 H 0-99
CHOL/HDL AU 3.2 0.0-4.9
Non HDL 134
VLDL AU 15 5-40
Comp Metabolic Panel (14)
Description Result Flags Range
Na AU 139 136-145
K AU 4.2 3.5-5.1
CL AU 103 98-107
CO2 AU 30.0 21.0-31.0
BUN AU 19 7-25
CREATi 0.82 0.60-1.20
B/Ci AU 23 7-25
eGFR CKD-EPI 116 >60
eGFR AfrAmer. CKD-EPI 134.6 >60.0
GLU AU 95 70-99
Ca AU 9.8 8.6-10.3
TP AU 6.6 6.4-8.9
ALB AU 4.5 4.2-5.5
A/G AU 2.1 1.1-2.2
AST AU 32 13-39
ALT 39 7-52
ALKP AU 31 L 34-104
T. Bili AU 0.4 0.3-1.0
CBC with Differential/Platelet 06/17/2019 09:20
Description Result Flags Range
WBC LH 4.9 4.0-10.5
RBC LH 4.9 4.5-5.7
HGB LH 15.0 13.5-17.2
HCT LH 44.4 40.0-50.0
MCV LH 90 80-95
MCH LH 31 27-33
MCHC LH 34 33-35
RDW LH 12.7 12.1-15.3
PLT LH 154 150-450
NE% 50.6 42.0-74.0
LY% 35.1 17.0-45.0
MO% 9.3 5.0-12.0
EO% 3.6 1.0-7.0
BA% 1.4 H 0.0-1.0
ABC LH 0.1 0.0-0.2
AEC LH 0.2 0.0-0.4
ALC LH 1.7 0.7-3.1
AMC LH 0.5 0.1-0.9
ANC LH 2.5 1.5-8.0
I received 2 different results for Test Serum with the same blood sample. I would have to assume they went to 2 different labs. The number I received within 5 days of the appointment was 465 ng/dL. The one I received this morning was the 677 number. Also, that free test is mighty low correct?
I started my cycle the beginning of this week (500mg test per week (250mg twice per week) - 12 weeks, Anavar 50mg ED last 6 weeks). I have Aromasin on hand if needed. I will not be running HcG during or post cycle. Will be running a standard PCT with Nolva only (40, 40, 20, 20). Anything I should monitor or anything I am missing at the moment? Much appreciated gentlemen!
Free test is mighty low because SHBG is mighty high. Yikes.
What is that essentially telling me Yuppie? Iām assuming that although my total test is on the mid to higher range, Iām unable to use most of it because it is not readily available in the blood?
Itās telling you that you either have low test generally, a liver problem, or a genetic predisposition to having high SHBG.
Wow, so high SHBG pretty much eliminates the bodies ability to use that test. Awesomeā¦ lol. So I would have to assume I should experience some decent gains running 500mg of test for 12 weeks. Will this make me more prone to estrogen problems on cycle?
There are ways to lower SHBG so that more of your total testosterone is utilized. Proviron is the usual go-to, mostly because itās mild and very safe.
But your cycle generally will work fine for now.
Is that something you take to lower it and then stop? Or youād keep in your protocol for life?
Thats no shitā¦ Running var now 60mg at end of a cut cycle & forgot how fierce the cramps are. Your so right it always hits weird small muscles for some reason.
But im wondering why poster would use var on a bulking cycle. If this is a cut cycle wouldnāt test prop & var be a better choice. Just seems odd to me the combo eth & var
I wanted to see if I can get down to about 11-12% BF (Currently at 15). Iām thinking lowering BF% will help decrease my SHBG as well. Iām just keeping shit real basic as far as diet on this cycle (meat, greens, rice, and egg whites).
Hereās some wacky shit on lowering shbg.
Thanks for posting that Myth. You may have just uncovered the reason for the high SHBG in my results.
Drugs that Raise SHBG via Increasing Prolactin:
Antipsychotics (both typical and atypical)
Antidepressants (SSRIs, Tricyclics, MAO-Is)
Xanax and Buspar
H2 Antagonists (Cimetidine, Ranitidine)
Morphine
Some Antihypertensives
Drugs that Raise SHBG:
Raloxifene (Evista)
Tamoxifen
Spironolactone
Anticonvulsants (Phenytoin)
Oral (but not transdermal) estradiol
Ethinyl estradiol (oral contraceptives)
Metformin
Exogenous insulin in Type 2 DM
Coffee!
I am on a 5mg dose (low end but still) of Lexapro (SSRI) and a religious black coffee drinker (4-6 cups till about 6pm).
Very cool! While weāre being all sharey and shit, I just started on Paxil, so weāll see what happens to my shbg.
On a side note, you really need to kick the coffee habit, lol. The caffeine is a roller coaster and itās very acidic.
Looking at the list of drugs that raise SHBG, I see tamoxifen on the list. Not sure you know this, but that is Nolvadex and commonly used on cycle to block estrogen, relatively easy to get, and I believe, has very little down side. Sorry to sound patronizing if you already knew this.
There is a lot of talk about metformin these days as well, for having positive effects on body composition. I think itās relatively easy to get as well.
I appreciate that info. I need to cut the coffee shit down to a max of 2 per day. I have always known its getting out of hand. Iām drinking cup number 3 as Iām writing this fucking post, hah!
Also, I have heard Paxil works really well but it is also the SSRI that they say will put on the most weight gain out of all of them. Just keep an eye on that. Lexapro seems to be more mild in regards to sides.
How much weight gain could really happen from lexapro 5-20mg? if your diet is clean and you lift and cardio I dont see how this would make you blow up like a balloon
Your worst side on Lexapro is shitty orgasims imo
I always heard dont take SSRIās on a cycle as it might scramble yur eggsā¦So I always wait to take my Lex about a week after a cycleā¦Maybe its bro science but better safe than sorry
Honestly I donāt know. I just know some people get fat as fuck. That might be a combination of things and not understanding the risk (binge eating, eating dumpster foodā¦) Weight gain is the number 1 side they warn you about. As far as remaining on cycle with the SSRI I had the same question. There have been quite a few guys that have posted on the forum about saying it didnāt effect them whatsoever.