Questions about checking test levels

[mus1cjunk1e]

Some of you may know I had a little trouble recovering from a (stupidly) long cycle a while ago. Ever since I ran a second PCT I've been feeling great and I really feel that I'm recovered now. However, I want to test my blood levels just to make sure.

I just got my test recovery stack in the mail from PP and I am thinking about running it next month just to really kick my levels up. I would like to get a blood test before and after to see how well it works. In fact, if my test results before are really good I may just save it to use later instead.


So far I only found 2 sites:

healthcheckusa.com -- has a full lipid, kidney, liver, etc panel for only $50, I've used them before for that, their only problem is that they only have a total test serum test so I cant use them for test values

privatemdlabs.com -- has a total/free test check for only $100, LH check for $45, and FSH check for $45, haven't used them before but I think someone mentioned them on a thread here


Do I need to get my FSH and LH levels checked, or is just a total/free test check good enough for what I'm looking for? As in, if my total/free test check came back good could I just assume my other levels are ok too? I'd rather not spend $200 total for the checkup if I could get away with just the $100 for the total/free test.

What do you guys think? Do you know of any cheaper places to get a full free/total test, LH and FSH panel? Or should I just stick with checking my free/total test only?

 

[Burpees]

Some of you may know I had a little trouble recovering from a (stupidly) long cycle a while ago. Ever since I ran a second PCT I've been feeling great and I really feel that I'm recovered now. However, I want to test my blood levels just to make sure.

I just got my test recovery stack in the mail from PP and I am thinking about running it next month just to really kick my levels up. I would like to get a blood test before and after to see how well it works. In fact, if my test results before are really good I may just save it to use later instead.


So far I only found 2 sites:

healthcheckusa.com -- has a full lipid, kidney, liver, etc panel for only $50, I've used them before for that, their only problem is that they only have a total test serum test so I cant use them for test values

privatemdlabs.com -- has a total/free test check for only $100, LH check for $45, and FSH check for $45, haven't used them before but I think someone mentioned them on a thread here


Do I need to get my FSH and LH levels checked, or is just a total/free test check good enough for what I'm looking for? As in, if my total/free test check came back good could I just assume my other levels are ok too? I'd rather not spend $200 total for the checkup if I could get away with just the $100 for the total/free test.

What do you guys think? Do you know of any cheaper places to get a full free/total test, LH and FSH panel? Or should I just stick with checking my free/total test only?

Keep me posted, I need a similar service.

 

[mus1cjunk1e]

Btw great site for explanations of different tests: www.labtestsonline.org

 

[Harleymarleybone]

Some of you may know I had a little trouble recovering from a (stupidly) long cycle a while ago. Ever since I ran a second PCT I've been feeling great and I really feel that I'm recovered now. However, I want to test my blood levels just to make sure.

I just got my test recovery stack in the mail from PP and I am thinking about running it next month just to really kick my levels up. I would like to get a blood test before and after to see how well it works. In fact, if my test results before are really good I may just save it to use later instead.


So far I only found 2 sites:

healthcheckusa.com -- has a full lipid, kidney, liver, etc panel for only $50, I've used them before for that, their only problem is that they only have a total test serum test so I cant use them for test values

privatemdlabs.com -- has a total/free test check for only $100, LH check for $45, and FSH check for $45, haven't used them before but I think someone mentioned them on a thread here


Do I need to get my FSH and LH levels checked, or is just a total/free test check good enough for what I'm looking for? As in, if my total/free test check came back good could I just assume my other levels are ok too? I'd rather not spend $200 total for the checkup if I could get away with just the $100 for the total/free test.

What do you guys think? Do you know of any cheaper places to get a full free/total test, LH and FSH panel? Or should I just stick with checking my free/total test only?

I would think the total and free test would be fine for your purposes. But I am not an expert. If you want expert advice on issues like this, check out:

http://forum.mesomorphosis.com/men-s-health-forum/

There are a lot of very knowledgeable people there on the subject of secondary hypogonadism. (And I am not affiliated with them in any way).

 

[mus1cjunk1e]

I would think the total and free test would be fine for your purposes. But I am not an expert. If you want expert advice on issues like this, check out:

http://forum.mesomorphosis.com/men-s-health-forum/

There are a lot of very knowledgeable people there on the subject of secondary hypogonadism. (And I am not affiliated with them in any way).

Hmm I took a look over there and now I'm thinking I may also want to get my Estradiol level checked (a form of estrogen in the blood). PrivateMD has an Estradiol test for 45 or a full estrogen panel for 100. So if I got the full battery of tests it would cost me $300.

Anyone with any info on which tests would really be necessary for me?

I'd love it if I had the money to get all those tests twice (once before and once after the test recovery stack) but I just don't have it. I could however afford just the $100 free/total test check twice. I would love to be able to put up some real tested results from the stuff for everyone to see.

 

[mus1cjunk1e]

bump

 

[1999TL]

ha, I've been debating the same things. I think the lipids are important, but I want to get my free test/test levels checked as well.

 

[Burpees]

ha, I've been debating the same things. I think the lipids are important, but I want to get my free test/test levels checked as well.

lipids and thyroid is easy to do via a doctor..

kind of hard, unless your doc is cool with you, to get him to run a Free T/e2 test..

 

[Chocolate_Thunder]

Use your search function or go to the PCT forum. There you will find (in the stickies) all the information you will need on what tests should be done.

For further explanation PM a link to your post to Tatyana. She knows her stuff.

Good luck.

 

[mus1cjunk1e]

ha, I've been debating the same things. I think the lipids are important, but I want to get my free test/test levels checked as well.

Yup I just had my lipids/liver/kidneys checked by my doc so I'm ok on those, its the test/estrogen related stuff I want to check. I just don't know how much more than just free/total test I need to check. I'll do some more research and post back to this thread when I get a good answer.

Use your search function or go to the PCT forum. There you will find (in the stickies) all the information you will need on what tests should be done.

For further explanation PM a link to your post to Tatyana. She knows her stuff.

Good luck.

I'll have a look in the PCT forum, I didn't even think to look there. Thanks.

 

[mus1cjunk1e]

From looking around the PCT forum, it seems that these are the ones to get checked:

estradiol
prolactin
lh
fsh
test total and free

Only problem is thats $300 worth of tests right there. I think I'll just get my test checked for $100 and then only if thats low I will get the others checked. I really feel like I'm 100% these days I'd just like to have some concrete numbers even though I have nothing to compare them to.

 

[Cutiebaby]

Sorry it took so long to look into this. However I am on vacation, though I will try my best to answer this as good as possible.
i think a total, a free, and also thyroid would be awesome. So many problems arise from all of the above that can be caused by multiple things, but it is always best to get them checked.
Again sorry it took so long.