Sorry my quote was for my first paragraph. Your first blood numbers with the first injection of pellets.
My second paragraph was just a question on lab error since this one SHGB reading was so different from all your others.
Are you donating blood?
Did they check your HCT? That’s a really important number to follow at your TT levels.
Did you have your ferritin checked. IMO that is way more important that iron. If you are donating blood to keep your HCT in check you can crash your ferritin. Which will give you low iron symptoms.
Hi @hrdlvn, I am not donating blood.
HCT: Hematocrit 48.8 % 37.5 - 51.0 (regularly tested - shows 48 - 51.8)
I have tested iron before with same “normal” results. This was just a retest to make sure nothing changed.
Ferritin tested previously
Ferritin 184.70 ng/mL (30-400) (1/2018)
Ferritin 109.6 ng/mL (30-400) In 2016
I am always willing to try different tests if there is a chance it will point to anything that might help me. I decided to take an “intolerance” test that is based on sending hair samples. This is probably voodoo medicine and probably means nothing … in fact, the results are kind of funny.
Nutritional Deficiencies:
Boron
Calcium
Vitamin B6
Vitamin D
Vitamin A
What??? I take 8mg of supplemental elemental Boron every day PLUS the natural boron I get through vegetables! That is 40% of the daily Tolerable Upper Intake Level. I take 12,000 units of Vit D every day! My daily supplement covers the other nutrients. I already have my doubts …
Food Intolerance Test
Barley
E200 Sorbic Acid
E635 Disodium 5 ribonucleotide
Herring
Orange Juice (???)
Raspberries (raw)
Spelt
Non-Food Intolerance
Dock (rumex acetosa)
E999 Quillaja extract
European Lime
Laburmum
Pear Tree
This test was run from allergytest (dot) co and testyourintolerance (dot) com. I am lactose intolerant - and that wasn’t detected.
It was a waste … I have zero faith in the results, especially because I know my nutrient intake – ESPECIALLY BORON. Fake Medicine.
UPDATED: 9/7/2018
The company behind the test refunded my payment today.
Haha good post. Are there any legit ways to test for food intolerances other than a food elimination diet/diary?
How about vitamins and mineral deficiencies? it seems some you can do blood tests for but for others blood tests are not very useful
@hd44
All of these tests (such as the one I took) have no medical support or acceptance. I had read about this one and it only had about 10+ negative reviews out of an alleged million tests run. The results speak for themselves IMO. I did it even though there are dozens of articles on the internet speaking badly about this type of testing.
walkinlab does offer a variety of vitamin tests from labcorp. discountlabs didn’t have the same selection. But these tests are expensive. For example, the test for “Vitamins A, B1, B6, B9(Folic Acid), B12, C, D,E, and K1.” is $340.00. I have had D tested before and it is $50-75 alone.
Yeah, Quest isnt much cheaper.
| Code | Test Name | Popularity | Price | Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17306 | Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy, LC/MS/MS 25 Hydroxy-Vitamin D, Cholecalciferol Metabolite | $51.46 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 7065 | Vitamin B12/Folate, Serum Panel B-12 W/ Folate | $42.96 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 927 | Vitamin B12 Vitamin B-12 (No Folate) | $41.79 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 926 | Vitamin B6-Plasma | $78.32 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 4729 | Vitamin D, 125-Dihydroxy | $92.93 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 16558 | VITAMIN D, 1,25 DIHYDROXY LC/MS/MS | $88.83 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 36399 | Vitamin B2 | $68.88 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 931 | Vitamin E (Tocopherol) | $47.56 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 5042 | Vitamin B1, Whole Blood | $68.77 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 16450 | Vitamin B3 (Niacin And Metabolites) Setup Days TUESDAY,THURSDAY,SATURDAY | $79.40 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 921 | VITAMIN A (RETINOL) | $54.42 | Info | Add To Cart | |
| 91029 | Vitamin B3 | $68.88 | Info | Add To Cart |
I am tagging both of you because you both made posts about HCT levels of 50+ being a concern. I am revisiting my historical results and wanted to know if you have any comments:
pre-trt HCT
10/2013 46.5%
20/2014 47.4%
10/2016 41.6%
11/2017 44.5%
1/2018 49.3%
Post-Trt
3/2018 50.2%
4/2018 48.3% (T-boost at 1441)
5/2018 51.8% (6/18, 7/18 same)
8/2018 48.8% (when T was 2093).
My HCT has varied, but appears to have hit the high side of the scale a few times since I have been testing. My Hematocrit appears to INCREASE when T levels DECREASE.
High levels of HCT supposedly is an indicator of dehydration. (" Dehydration produces a falsely high hematocrit that disappears when proper fluid balance is restored.")
But this contradicts what I see: " Testosterone and other androgens … can cause polycythemia, which manifests as an increase in …, hematocrit ,"
Comments??
About a week ago, @systemlord suggested I read about Nitric Oxide and its relationship to T levels and erections. Prior, I had read only a limited amount of information, primarily looking for valid reviews of Arginine and Citrulline, specifically looking for data on whether these supplements actually work to boost Nitric Oxide.
I found very little data I could depend on. In other words, no one who posted had anything other than their feelings to go on - no tests were taken to verify any findings. And the feelings were mixed, from “no good” to “really helped me”. I also found that most people wrote about the effects of these supplements on their “work outs” rather than erections.
I was curious how one tests for nitric oxide. On Amazon, I found “Saliva Nitric Oxide Test Strips” made by Berkeley (a respectable company). I ordered and they arrived a few days later.
The test strips work by testing “EXCESS” NO that is in the saliva. In other words, if the body has enough NO, it excess is passed in breath (and saliva) and the tests would show a higher reading since the body was satiated.
The main instructions were: No eating within 2 hours of the test; no drinking within 10 minutes of the test; and mornings were best to administer the test. I decided to stretch that a little further.
I woke up at 1:13am with an erection, and had to pee. I decided to see if the erection and high NO levels were related.
I woke up again at 4:22am with an erection. I took the second NO test. The amount of NO had decreased since the first test.
I tested again at 9:30am after breakfast (for me, a protein bar). According to the data, this is the best time to determine your true NO levels. My NO levels did not change.
I tested again at 3:30pm, also after a meal, and didn’t noticeably see any difference.
Overall, 3 out of the 4 tests show DEPLETED NO levels, while one shows LOW.
What next? I don’t know. I will send these results to my doctor for an opinion. It does concern me though, and makes me wonder if this is potentially a contributing factor to my problems.
In a study on NO, it was found that “Serum NO(x) concentration peaked at 50-59 years in both genders” (Serum nitric oxide metabolite levels in a general healthy population: relation to sex and age - PubMed) … which means I should be at my HIGHEST in my life right now – not the lowest on the scale.
I found one study from UCLA on these supplements (https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/supplement-guide-nitric-oxide/) and they actually SUGGEST an herbalife product as part of the study. I am not an herbalife fan, but that surprised me that they mentioned a product by name/brand. Of course it is the most expensive of all that I found.
Another study: https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article/43/3/658/321047
I also mentioned to a friend in passing that my penis doesn’t feel “spongy” any more, unless I were to take a Viagra - then it feels “Normal”. I read where that “sponginess” MIGHT be related to Nitric Oxide. This is so frustrating.
Just by going what I know about ketogenic diets (which is not much just some experience doing it). When you first start a ketogenic diet you can get similar strips that measure excess ketones that are being excreted. From what I have read though after your body starts using the ketones as a fuel they no longer show up quite as much on those strips because they are being utilized and no longer become a reliable measurement that you are in a ketogenic state. I may be way off base comparing the two but to me it makes me think if your body is properly using the nitric oxide produced it would not have much to excrete because it would be in your blood where it should be and also would not be a reliable measurement using what is excreted. Again may be completely off base but something to think about.
Hi @rise80, thanks for the comments. I really don’t know the answer either. However, the research that I have read so far does not reflect your experience with the ketogenic strips. Everything I read shows that a “healthy” person will always have “excess” and that is what is measured.
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Good to know. Might have to look into them myself as I am curious about my nitric oxide production.
This is the first time I have found such dosing of Proviron. Each tablet is 25mg and I was taking ONE per day … suggested dose is 75-150mg per day? That could explain some things.
The usual treatment consists of 1-2 tablets three times per day. After a few months of treatment, your doctor may decrease the dose to 1 tablet two to three times a day.
But this line is what I found interesting.
Proviron is used to replace testosterone in men with hypogonadism. Male hypogonadism is a condition when the body does not produce enough testosterone. (source: PROVIRON - NPS MedicineWise)
I wish there was more data on proviron from an libido/ED point of view.
From my own research I thought 50mg was a standard starting dose and many people don’t get any benefit at less than 75mg. I wouldn’t think many people get much effect at 25mg. Maybe worth another shot at higher dose?
Also I wonder if the higher the SHBG you have the more proviron you need to get any benefit? It’ll just get bound up straight away. Just a thought.
Found on another board (reddit) discussing proviron use.
100 mg a day I cease to function, my sole existence becomes sex related. My cock would be raw because I was stroking it so much. My GF would be sore after me spending the night, and the first thing I would do when I got home was watch porn and rub one out. The porn I watched got more and more depraved, but it would never satiate that desire that Proviron created.
What a dream. Give me two weeks like that …
I found this tonight and it made me laugh. It also gave me a new way to speak to my doctor.
The Erection Hardness Score was developed by the [European Association of Urology], and how it works is – it grades erection quality based on a scale of one to four.
The levels/grades are:
- Level one – The erection feels like a marshmallow, and the penis is large, but not hard.
- Level two – The erection is like peeled banana, but still not hard enough for penetration.
- Level three – The erection is like an unpeeled banana, which is hard enough for penetration, but not completely, and it is not sustainable.
- Level four – The erection is like a cucumber – completely hard, rigid, and able to penetrate easily and sustained for a relatively long time.
I want a level 5!
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I don’t have to ask for Level 4, the downside to the deep penetrating ordnance is positions are limited and with some women it hurts when you bottom out. It can also be embarrassing walking around in public with one of these levels 4’s sticking straight out inside your pants, it’s incredible obvious to anyone.
Perhaps men who come in complaining of low testosterone should get their penis scored before they are told they’re normal.
Level 5 would have two heads, twice the fun, twice the feeling.
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