Blood Work Sanity Check

[thejumpingsheep]

Im new to all this stuff and im at the point where I want to learn what to track. Im 47 and have never done any gear. I get some tests from my doctor every year, including Comprehensive Metabolic, Vitamin D, CBC w/diff, TSH, T4 Free, and Lipid Panel.

From my days of reading, I think I should also track Testosterone, Estradiol E2, and IGF and/or HGH. So 1st question as related to IGF vs HGH. As I understand it, IGF is influenced by HGH but also includes other factors.

1 - So why do most posts on here get IGF tested instead of the HGH level? Is IGF a better indicator of something?

And next:

2 - Am I missing any other critical things that I should keep track of?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DonLigero]

Im new to all this stuff and im at the point where I want to learn what to track. Im 47 and have never done any gear. I get some tests from my doctor every year, including Comprehensive Metabolic, Vitamin D, CBC w/diff, TSH, T4 Free, and Lipid Panel.

From my days of reading, I think I should also track Testosterone, Estradiol E2, and IGF and/or HGH. So 1st question as related to IGF vs HGH. As I understand it, IGF is influenced by HGH but also includes other factors.

1 - So why do most posts on here get IGF tested instead of the HGH level? Is IGF a better indicator of something?

And next:

2 - Am I missing any other critical things that I should keep track of?

Thanks in advance.

So many variables and I am still learning more almost daily. You say you have never done any gear. Have you recently started or about to start?

At 47, I am guessing you are not worried about fertility so you do not necessarily need to worry about measuring LH and FSH. Also, if you are on Test, it will basically take your LH and FSH to zero.

Do you know baseline hormone levels (Total T, Free T and E2)?

If running gear, and taking any orals, then you would need to monitor some of the inflammatory markers especially liver and kidney function. Also most orals wreak havoc on lipids. Some people get huge changes in lipids in just a few weeks with some orals.

Depending on what you are going for, SHBG and Albumin measurements can be valuable. These both have big impacts on your free T.

On you second question, my understanding (I am no authority) is that measuring GH level is such a moving target. Like measuring blood glucose, it is a snapshot in time that can change tremendously over just a few hours (GH pulses throughout the day). IGF-1 is more of a baseline average over time. So like BG is NOW versus HbA1C is your blood sugar measurement over 2-3 months.

 

[thejumpingsheep]

Thanks for the help.

So IGF is better for long term snapshots. That makes sense. Skip LH and FSH. Get liver, kidney and lipids tests. Ill need to read up on what thos entail.

Are SHBG and Albinum usually measured with hormone panel? I guess Ill find out soon enough. I have a physical schedule later this month and Im definitely going to ask for a hormone panel. I dont see that one anywhere in my history.

I have made no decision on roids because I dont know what my test levels are. Im just going at it with healing peptides (bpc/tb/ghk-cu) and a 2mg HGH and I cant believe the results so far and its only been about a month.

From what I understand, if my Test levels are low, then there is little to no downside to getting trt or roids as long as I keep BP and other anomolies under control. I had been diagnosed with high triglycerides last year but I was 75lbs heavier at the time and it was the 1st time it had happened. Maybe it was a one off thing. Im sure the doc will retest them so Ill find out soon enough.

If Test levels are already decent, then perhaps its best to just stay natural until they go to shit. Probably wont be long now anyway... I will say I dont want more kids so thats not a problem.

 

[narta]

Add
CRP (inflammation marker)
ApoB Apoa (genetic lipid markers only want the done once)
PSA (prostate health, to get a baseline value)