How to explain lab changes to doc

[Jackaas]

Looking for some advice on how to explain a couple shifts in my bloodwork to my TRT doctor without going into detail about a recent gear usage between visits.

Three months ago, my numbers were all in a mid-range spot:

• Total T was 555
• Estradiol was around 32
• HCT was 49.4%
• SHBG was 24.8

Fast forward to now and the recent labs came back like this:

• Total T dropped to 436
• Estradiol down to 14.7
• HCT crept up to 52.7
• SHBG is down to 13.9

In between, I ran Primo and Anavar on top of Test, then a few weeks ago tapered down and skipped a couple doses heading into labs. I obviously don’t want to disclose that part. Just trying to come up with a logical, believable reason for the shifts that won’t raise red flags.

Thinking about blaming it on mistimed blood draw after some holiday travel, harder training/dieting, or mild illness. All of these are actually true and overlapping.

If anyone’s navigated something like this before and has a decent explanation that worked with their doc, I’d appreciate the help.

Maybe I’m thinking into it too much, but I want to continue getting my doctors script and figuring out how to run cycles between visits and lab work.

Who knows, maybe she won’t say a thing. I’m not as much concerned about the total test, rather the shbg and possibly the estradiol. Though I can easily say that I took an AI in between.

 

[Deezznutzz]

That's not much of a change. Just say you were dehydrated so your hematocrit was a little higher. I doubt he's going to ask about the other stuff

 

[Tbaz192]

“I was dehydrated and or had a few drinks the night before”
Shrug your shoulders.


Never had my doctor really question anything with numbers that close.

I came in at 990 test one time and he goes what are you doin different?
I said I might have forgot I injected last weekend and doubled up. My adhd is so bad.

 

[Jackaas]

The biggest thing was the SHBG being low and out of range. It’s been pretty consistent since starting TRT, so wasn’t sure if it was a dead giveaway for it to drop all of a sudden. Seems like I’m overthinking it.

 

[Jackaas]

I was overthinking it. Follow up moved from 12 weeks to 6 months. Time to blast off.

 

[HeatherSwanson]

That's not much of a change. Just say you were dehydrated so your hematocrit was a little higher. I doubt he's going to ask about the other stuff

Always a pleasure seeing you post, those are a spectacular pair of tits.

 

[BigDadd7]

Always a pleasure seeing you post, those are a spectacular pair of tits.

Right? Not enough nice tits on this board.

 

[KapnKrunch]

Amazing guys self treat for anything goes then still have a doctor? WTF Man up and go solo you aren't planning on listening to him anyway!

 

[BigDadd7]

Tired and didnt drink a lot yesterday

 

[AlexDavis43]

Amazing guys self treat for anything goes then still have a doctor? WTF Man up and go solo you aren't planning on listening to him anyway!

I 100% recommend everyone to get a legit TRT script and keep up with it.

 

[Jackaas]

Amazing guys self treat for anything goes then still have a doctor? WTF Man up and go solo you aren't planning on listening to him anyway!

I’m not looking for a permablast. I’ll run a cycle here and there and maintain my TRT script, which will give me easy supply of enough pharma test to keep me where I want to be on the norm. It works for me. Why fuck up a good thing?

 

[Ateam2023]

one of the main reasons i went to doing my own hrt and ditched the endocrinologist was this, They were testing me every 3 months and expected my trough level to be @300-350 tops, RIDICULOUS,, Then the fact that testing every 3 months you can hardly get a real "blast" (for lack of better terms) in, I went round and round with these endos and finally just said f it,, Sure i could have did my little mini blasts, but i just got tired of all the yo-yoing with the test levels, never really getting much except for struggling to keep e2 in check , , I am comfortable with my decision and have had great results with my "hrt" self prescribed,,

 

[Jackaas]

They were testing me every 3 months and expected my trough level to be @300-350 tops, RIDICULOUS,, ,,

I understand that side for sure. But with a 6 month window between check-ins and the doc agreement for trough to be 1000+ if needed to remove symptoms, I feel like it’s a win. Sure, I could do this on my own and do that to a big extent, but the legit script with easy access to reasonably priced pharma that I can pay for with my tax free HSA money seems like a win. Plus I have access to an extra set of eyes to monitor things if needed.

Look, everyone has their reasons to choose whatever method of care that they want to maintain. At this point, I’m choosing this one.

I’m older as well and based on labs, I’m can’t go too hard without my body disagreeing. My use of the word blast is a bit of a joke because I can’t take the amount of compounds that many take here. My goals are also to increase lean mass faster than natty with minimizing side effects and long term issues. I’m ok with a little bit of risk or I won’t be doing this. So if I want to “cycle”, we’re talking a slight increase in test, a bit of primo, and maybe a short run of lower dose var. And the var is debatable how much I want to even do that.

At the end of the day, I feel like I’m in a good spot to meet my goals and maintain things moving forward.

All that said, I’m still researching and fairly new to this. So I’m always up for feedback and ideas. That’s why I’m here.

 

[AlexDavis43]

one of the main reasons i went to doing my own hrt and ditched the endocrinologist was this, They were testing me every 3 months and expected my trough level to be @300-350 tops, RIDICULOUS,, Then the fact that testing every 3 months you can hardly get a real "blast" (for lack of better terms) in, I went round and round with these endos and finally just said f it,, Sure i could have did my little mini blasts, but i just got tired of all the yo-yoing with the test levels, never really getting much except for struggling to keep e2 in check , , I am comfortable with my decision and have had great results with my "hrt" self prescribed,,

Every 3 months for the first few appointments is not uncommon.

But soon they'd switch you to 6-12 months. Current endo wants my blood once a year.

You made your decision and that's fine and I doubt anyone would ever go back, but for anyone else reading this: you don't need to stop blasting every 3 months to maintain blood levels for a legit TRT script. That's only for the first few appointments. Then once a year, which you should probably be doing anyway.

 

[AlexDavis43]

Plus I have access to an extra set of eyes to monitor things if needed.

100%

 

[jdubzzz44]

Most doctors are clueless on what we want to do. Id rather use something like merek health that offers guided optimization and 1 on 1 health coaching all online.

 

[Jackaas]

Most doctors are clueless on what we want to do.

My PCP referred me to a specialist and my doc focuses on TRT within that practice.

I’ll look at what Marek offers. I’ve used them for labs only before moving to Fitomics.