Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: AshleyMichelle on February 19, 2008, 03:10:35 PM Return to Full Version
Title: blood levels are odd
Post by: AshleyMichelle on February 19, 2008, 03:10:35 PM
Post by: AshleyMichelle on February 19, 2008, 03:10:35 PM
redacted
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: Schala on February 19, 2008, 03:33:39 PM
Post by: Schala on February 19, 2008, 03:33:39 PM
It would be rather important to provide the ranges and measures.
I had 19.1 total testosterone baseline, does that tell you in what?
It's 19.1 nmol/L in a 10-30 nmol/L range (male range)
female range being 0~3.5 nmol/L
I had 19.1 total testosterone baseline, does that tell you in what?
It's 19.1 nmol/L in a 10-30 nmol/L range (male range)
female range being 0~3.5 nmol/L
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: NicholeW. on February 19, 2008, 03:47:51 PM
Post by: NicholeW. on February 19, 2008, 03:47:51 PM
Your T-level depends on the scale being used to measure it. As Schala pointed out on one scale that is mid-male range and on another 39 is well within normal female range.
Same with E-level, depends of scale being used and what is being used I would imagine 'free' and circulating, that's easiest and most common. Tissue counts are much more complex to define.
Creatine is more problematic. If the doc called a specialist, use the specialist. How much water do you drink? Or how much liquid, try to exclude coffee if you're a Starbucks addict like me.
Hugs,
Nichole
Same with E-level, depends of scale being used and what is being used I would imagine 'free' and circulating, that's easiest and most common. Tissue counts are much more complex to define.
Creatine is more problematic. If the doc called a specialist, use the specialist. How much water do you drink? Or how much liquid, try to exclude coffee if you're a Starbucks addict like me.
Hugs,
Nichole
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: NicholeW. on February 19, 2008, 04:14:56 PM
Post by: NicholeW. on February 19, 2008, 04:14:56 PM
Quote from: Ashley Michelle on February 19, 2008, 04:12:24 PMQuote from: Nichole on February 19, 2008, 03:47:51 PM
try to exclude coffee if you're a Starbucks addict like me.
but.... but....! :'(
Yep, doesn't that just totally suck?!!! :laugh:
N~
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: Schala on February 20, 2008, 06:38:49 AM
Post by: Schala on February 20, 2008, 06:38:49 AM
Quote from: Ashley Michelle on February 19, 2008, 04:12:24 PMQuote from: Nichole on February 19, 2008, 03:47:51 PM
try to exclude coffee if you're a Starbucks addict like me.
but.... but....! :'(
Posted on: February 19, 2008, 04:10:03 PMQuote from: Schala on February 19, 2008, 03:33:39 PM
It would be rather important to provide the ranges and measures.
I had 19.1 total testosterone baseline, does that tell you in what?
It's 19.1 nmol/L in a 10-30 nmol/L range (male range)
female range being 0~3.5 nmol/L
the doc just said "your T is 33, and that's fine"
he works with most of the transpeople here in little rock, so i'm counting on the fact that he knows what he's talking about and really meant "fine" :)
Ask to see the actual report so you can make your own research. There is no way you can research a quantity that has no measure or range. Doctors are sometimes well-meaning, and sometimes not.
My family doctor thought that 20.4 nmol/L total testosterone was normal after a year of HRT. And my free testosterone was elevated for the female range, yet he said it was normal because he checked the male range.
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: Tanya1 on February 20, 2008, 07:42:58 AM
Post by: Tanya1 on February 20, 2008, 07:42:58 AM
^ family doc? go to a freaking endo with transgender experience!
does he have a qualification as a endo too or just a family doc?
does he have a qualification as a endo too or just a family doc?
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: lady amarant on February 20, 2008, 07:44:19 AM
Post by: lady amarant on February 20, 2008, 07:44:19 AM
I've been doing what research I could into this, and here's what I've come up with:
Increased creatinine levels are usually the result of decreased kidney function. This is would most likely be due to the urinary tract infection. This can also be caused by damage due to high blood-pressure, diabetes or continued high fever. - Check for those.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/liverandkidney/203337.html (http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/liverandkidney/203337.html)
http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=567 (http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=567)
unfortunately this article sits behind a 'pay me!' wall, but from what I could gather from the google entry, raised creatinine levels are indicated for oestrogen treated women.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022534705642644 (http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022534705642644)
"The Journal of Urology : Etiological Role of Estrogen Status in ...There was no difference in other blood or urine parameters, although we noted marginally higher creatinine clearance in estrogen treated women. ...
linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022534705642644"
Most of the other journal entries I could find are also behind 'pay me' walls, but it seems to indicate a strong correlation between pregnancy and raised creatinine levels. Are you on any progestins or progesterones?
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1631687 (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1631687)
The raised creatinine might be causing rather than be caused by the infection. I'm just guessing here though, since I know bugger-all about medicine.
I was hoping to find a bit more info, but the buggers all want membership! Maybe something in here does switch on a lightbulb though. :'(
Sorry Ash, and I hope everything is okay!
Simone
Increased creatinine levels are usually the result of decreased kidney function. This is would most likely be due to the urinary tract infection. This can also be caused by damage due to high blood-pressure, diabetes or continued high fever. - Check for those.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/liverandkidney/203337.html (http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/liverandkidney/203337.html)
http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=567 (http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=567)
unfortunately this article sits behind a 'pay me!' wall, but from what I could gather from the google entry, raised creatinine levels are indicated for oestrogen treated women.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022534705642644 (http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022534705642644)
"The Journal of Urology : Etiological Role of Estrogen Status in ...There was no difference in other blood or urine parameters, although we noted marginally higher creatinine clearance in estrogen treated women. ...
linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022534705642644"
Most of the other journal entries I could find are also behind 'pay me' walls, but it seems to indicate a strong correlation between pregnancy and raised creatinine levels. Are you on any progestins or progesterones?
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1631687 (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1631687)
The raised creatinine might be causing rather than be caused by the infection. I'm just guessing here though, since I know bugger-all about medicine.
I was hoping to find a bit more info, but the buggers all want membership! Maybe something in here does switch on a lightbulb though. :'(
Sorry Ash, and I hope everything is okay!
Simone
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: Lisbeth on February 20, 2008, 03:55:00 PM
Post by: Lisbeth on February 20, 2008, 03:55:00 PM
Quote from: Ashley Michelle on February 19, 2008, 03:10:35 PMI wouldn't make that assumption. According to my doctor, some patients metabolize E really fast. Do you smoke?
My E levels were 39. 39? WTF. I have experienced good breast growth, facial changes, etc, and my E levels are that low? He said the patches aren't working and he put me back on the 'lil blue pills. I just find that kind of odd, especially since the day I was measured I had just changed patches the day before.
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: lady amarant on February 21, 2008, 12:36:24 PM
Post by: lady amarant on February 21, 2008, 12:36:24 PM
That's great news Ash! What a relief.
Any progress on the other stuff though?
Any progress on the other stuff though?
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: Schala on February 22, 2008, 03:40:27 PM
Post by: Schala on February 22, 2008, 03:40:27 PM
Quote from: Tanya1 on February 20, 2008, 07:42:58 AM
^ family doc? go to a freaking endo with transgender experience!
does he have a qualification as a endo too or just a family doc?
I will, but first I need to get that GID diagnosis letter from my psychiatrist, and then go see the endo again, since I'll have the diagnosis and the blood test (though its not a baseline, I've had HRT for almost 2 years now).
He talked about getting me off spiro and on androcur. He said something about androcur having a progesterone-like effect, but I doubt it's good enough to do the breast-growth job of progesterone (apparently its a tiny dose of progestin). He wanted to reduce my estrace too. I'll see how it goes...I'm a bit untrusting now, people have made so many assumptions about me.
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: Tanya1 on February 22, 2008, 04:17:19 PM
Post by: Tanya1 on February 22, 2008, 04:17:19 PM
Quote from: Schala on February 22, 2008, 03:40:27 PMQuote from: Tanya1 on February 20, 2008, 07:42:58 AM
^ family doc? go to a freaking endo with transgender experience!
does he have a qualification as a endo too or just a family doc?
I will, but first I need to get that GID diagnosis letter from my psychiatrist, and then go see the endo again, since I'll have the diagnosis and the blood test (though its not a baseline, I've had HRT for almost 2 years now).
He talked about getting me off spiro and on androcur. He said something about androcur having a progesterone-like effect, but I doubt it's good enough to do the breast-growth job of progesterone (apparently its a tiny dose of progestin). He wanted to reduce my estrace too. I'll see how it goes...I'm a bit untrusting now, people have made so many assumptions about me.
yea, looks like this guy is just experimenting, doesn't look like he knows exactly what he's doing..
Title: Re: blood levels are odd
Post by: lady amarant on February 22, 2008, 04:24:53 PM
Post by: lady amarant on February 22, 2008, 04:24:53 PM
Quote from: Schala on February 22, 2008, 03:40:27 PM
I will, but first I need to get that GID diagnosis letter from my psychiatrist, and then go see the endo again, since I'll have the diagnosis and the blood test (though its not a baseline, I've had HRT for almost 2 years now).
He talked about getting me off spiro and on androcur. He said something about androcur having a progesterone-like effect, but I doubt it's good enough to do the breast-growth job of progesterone (apparently its a tiny dose of progestin). He wanted to reduce my estrace too. I'll see how it goes...I'm a bit untrusting now, people have made so many assumptions about me.
If you haven't yet, do some research about HRT so that you can keep him honest and take control of your medication if need be. Transition is such a jumble of unknowns, we really need to educate ourselves as much as we can.