6 week bloods are back.
Biochemistry
Albumin 49.1 35 - 52 g/L
Hormones
Oestradiol L 39 41 - 159 pmol/L
Testosterone 27.80 8.64 - 29 nmol/L
SHBG 64 nmol/L
Free Androgen Index 43.2 24 - 104 Ratio
Free-Testosterone(Calculated) 0.382 0.2 - 0.62 nmol/L
Prolactin 232 86 - 324 mU/L
So interestingly my SHBG has gone up on 250 E8D. Still, at least I am within range at trough
The only things I can think of having taken this month are:
Antibiotics
Tramadol
Tamoxifen
Does anyone know if any of hear can increase shbg? @physioLojik and others
Those Total T levels arenāt high enough, you need to push Total T higher to get SHBG to come down. Your SHBG is not in range, 54 nmol/L is at the top of the range. UK ranges are whacked.
Tramadol raises SHBG, opioid medication raises SHBG. It also elevates prolactin and estrogen.
Got it, thanks @systemlord. The tramadol was just one day but maybe it can still have an effect.
So Iāve got to go even higher to push the shbg down? I mean Iāve been on 250mg every 8 days as it is!
Iām not sure what my doc will think of that, I mean my T levels are nearly topping out the range at my trough draw, but I will discuss it when I speak to him Monday.
If you doctor resists pushing higher Total T, his hands are tied by the broken state healthcare utter lack of knowledge.
Most healthcare systems struggle in understanding hormone related problems, private practice is another story. Iām sure in the future things will change.
Most healthcare systems are trained to throw prescription drugs at the symptoms rather than treat the cause of the hormonal imbalance, which is low hormones.
Prescription drugs are very profitable, hormones arenāt so if doctors are going to pay the bills they are going to ignore hormone treatments.
I am with a private trt company so maybe I have that in my favour.
Out of interest what is the benefit of bringing my SHBG down? I mean, I am looking pretty decent on my levels, maybe free t could be a little higher but I suspect it is earlier in the week.
Excess androgens lower SHBG, excess Total T.
Hi deadl1ft,
So this was your total T trough on day 8 just before your next injection?
Hello @hrdlvn, yes pal that is my trough reading, bloods taken just before inj on day 8
Dang that is pretty high. Iāll bet on day 2 you are really up there. Do you know the half life of the T you are taking? I donāt know anything about sust. My only experience is with T Cyp. its Half life is 8 days you are Steady state in 40 days
Sure is! But interestingly my free t is below middle of rangeā¦ my shbg is choking it!
Sust is 4 esters:
30mg prop - 2 day
60mg phenomena prop - 2.5 day
60mg isocap - 4.5 days
100mg decanoate - 7 days
Total T ranges donāt mean much when you have high SHBG. My SHBG is currently 125 (16-55), Total T 36.7 (7.6 - 31.4) & free T 0.311 (0.30 - 1.0). This is pre TRT.
I need to get total T at about 65nmol/L (1873 ng/DL) to get my free T just to mid range with that level of SHBG.
I hear you I also target my Free T for the top of the range.
I wonder how one determines when you are at steady state with a T that uses 4 esters?
My math skills are not that good.
For T cyp a single ester 5 x half life = Steady state
I have fair peaks and troughs no doubt, but I am as steady as can be at 6/7 weeks which is where I am.
I use a really good test calculator that lets you input everything and shows levels day by day.
I may switch over to eod injs, although this would not be typical for a high shbg I know I feel good on it from past experience.
Wow thatās some serious shbg dude
Tell me about it! Iām hoping large sustanon injections will bring it down a bit. Surprised to see yours went up on large weekly injections AND proviron
I agree big shots less frequent is the rule for high SHGB. I wonder if all those short half life esters could have something to do with your SHGB not coming down. If I did 250 a week my TT would be >1500 at trough. I scored an 1100 trough with just 150mg/wk T cyp. That also took my SHGB of 38 down to 24 in 3 months.
Can you get your hands on some T cyp for 5-6 weeks?
I could do, but Iām loathe to mess too much atm because ideally Iād like the doc to help me get it under control. They do, do a enan/cyp but it is fiendishly expensive and as I said Iām not to keen to get my own and go behind his back right now
Me too lol
I understand. Just an idea to keep in the tool kit if the current protocol fails to give your the results you are looking for. I look forward to reading your progress reports. Best of luck to you.