Is anyone doing bloodwork frequently?

[Pepdoggydog]

Hello everyone. Long time lurker, very new poster here

I’m wondering if anyone has started doing any of the at home, monthly blood tests here and if you have noticed any measurable changes.

I am new to Reta and looking to dive into the direct grey market after buying from resellers at a high markup for a few years

I just started taking Reta a month ago and thought it might be nice to see how it/if it will change anything with my blood markers

I just received my first set of results from my membership but it got me wondering if anyone else has done this, if they have seen changes, and overall thoughts on these at home tests vs. going to a lab for traditional blood draws

Thanks for the discussion

 

[BNLFL]

I started 10 weeks ago, had my normal blood work from my primary maybe 3 weeks ago. All good. I'll stick with once a year from the doctor.

 

[jandingus]

Yes. Hormone panels, CBC/hct, and IGF-1 every 3 months, standard comprehensive panels from my PCP + heavy metals every year. I also check my glucose occasionally, though I've never had issues with it.

 

[woundcarping]

I did Hone and Siphox, I don’t plan on doing capillary draws again. The levels aren’t comparable across platforms,

Tomorrow I’ll get more venous draw bloodwork done from Labcorp, which is my standard moving forward. I had hopes for solid monthly tracking from home, but it didn’t work out that way.

 

[Volkswagen57]

I get my blood drawn, but it's more for my trt I adjust on my own as my PCP won't listen when I tell them doing it bi weekly makes me feel terrible

 

[Pepdoggydog]

I did Hone and Siphox, I don’t plan on doing capillary draws again. The levels aren’t comparable across platforms,

Tomorrow I’ll get more venous draw bloodwork done from Labcorp, which is my standard moving forward. I had hopes for solid monthly tracking from home, but it didn’t work out that way.

Why are the levels different with capillary vs vein?

Ever used ulta labs for standard lab work? I’ve done that and it’s a
Can save some $$

I was just hoping the convenience and pricing from these at home services would get me testing with better frequency.

But if the levels don’t match up the draw to using this isn’t there

Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[Pepdoggydog]

I get my blood drawn, but it's more for my trt I adjust on my own as my PCP won't listen when I tell them doing it bi weekly makes me feel terrible

I’m a trt user as well and had several battles over the years. I finally switched to compounded cream and it’s been a huge help for me

Better yet, after seeing my levels improve over the years my primary care doc finally came around and is writing my refills

Being healthy is a battle and we definitely have to advocate for ourselves. Between trt and getting into peptides I thought more frequent testing would be helpful

Doctors are being pushed to see too many people and as humans they can’t understand everything.

It reminds me of what I’m doing to find a supplier. Lots of reading, lots of questions, and finding good people that understand where I’m coming from and willing to help

Thanks for your response

 

[woundcarping]

I get my blood drawn, but it's more for my trt I adjust on my own as my PCP won't listen when I tell them doing it bi weekly makes me feel terrible

Sounds like an online provider could be the way to go.

 

[zebit0]

I go about monthly. Fitomics makes sense at this frequency. Caution against over reacting or over reliance on any given result.

 

[Hambocommando]

I get it every 3 months with my VA doc. Mostly because I had horrible blood markers before, and we (myself and the small clinic staff) are entertained by the changes happening. Within 3 months, everything was in the normal ranges except HDL and vitamin D (I hate sunlight). Oh no! Not having to eat more guacamole and take a once a week pill! Have another round at the start of the month. I also have a glucose finger sticker because there's rumors that some Reta side effects are due to blood sugar crashes. When I experience them, I prick. So far, no correlation I can see. After the next round of tests, I might post the before and after to entertain ya'll as well if you're interested.

 

[Volkswagen57]

Sounds like an online provider could be the way to go.

They cost too much. I have UGL test cyp, plus what my doc prescribes. Plenty of product, just annoying the PCP won't listen to my concerns.

 

[Pepdoggydog]

I go about monthly. Fitomics makes sense at this frequency. Caution against over reacting or over reliance on any given result.

I was thinking of testing three months in a row to get a solid base and see any initial change then going to every 3-4 months

It’s probably overkill but if it sets my mind at ease and/or I see positive change it’s worth it to me

 

[woundcarping]

Under $100/month before filing on insurance is worth it for me to avoid a mouth breathing pcp.

 

[Volkswagen57]

Under $100/month before filing on insurance is worth it for me to avoid a mouth breathing pcp.

Not to bad, which one did you go with?

 

[woundcarping]

Not to bad, which one did you go with?

TRTNation or PeterMd. Peter has an annual option that gets it down to $79/month and they’ll file with insurance.

 

[Volkswagen57]

TRTNation or PeterMd. Peter has an annual option that gets it down to $79/month and they’ll file with insurance.

Thanks, I'll look into it. Appreciate the insight!

 

[professorpeppy]

Yep bloods all good personally - was expecting low iron but nope. Results were better than previous years when I was morbidly obese / around decade ago when I was suffering with ED (was very skinny)

However ECG / 24 hour screening revealed tachycardia

 

[Such1943]

I get my blood done quarterly, mostly to track AAS and HGH. Was on TRT but experimenting with other compounds. Using the money saved from UGL for bloodwork and still coming out ahead. I was going thru my doc for bloodwork but they never order what I want even if I give them a list. Goodlabs cost me roughly the same after insurance, but a lot more markers tested.

 

[JA$$E]

Plan on getting a baseline blood test, then every 3-4 months especially if I stack on other peptides

 

[swimmer]

I get labs done every month. My PCP is useless so I go to ULTA lab or discounted labs (who ever has the best promotions) I get hormones cbc liver, kidney, IGF-1. I play with enclomiphene and some of the hgh secretologes and lots of different peptides. They cost anywhere from $120 to $240 per month.

 

[Omxxl]

Sounds like an online provider could be the way to go.

I thought they only sold peptides, I'll have to investigate further

 

[Pepdoggydog]

Not to bad, which one did you go with?

I’m using Rythm right now. Just did my first test. It was fast and easy. I did the test in the morning, FedEx picked it up a few hours later and I had my results 3 days later

 

[brah389]

I get labs done every month. My PCP is useless so I go to ULTA lab or discounted labs (who ever has the best promotions) I get hormones cbc liver, kidney, IGF-1. I play with enclomiphene and some of the hgh secretologes and lots of different peptides. They cost anywhere from $120 to $240 per month.

Holy crap, which tests do you get with ULTA, they have so many!!

 

[cjdilan]

4 times. Year

 

[swimmer]

Holy crap, which tests do you get with ULTA, they have so many!!

Total T, free t, shbg, estroidal, igf1, cbc, thyroid pannel, kidney health test, liver ast, alt, and every once in a while: Dihydrtestosterone, PSA, fsh, lh, ferritin. There are more but I cant recal them right now.

 

[brah389]

Total T, free t, shbg, estroidal, igf1, cbc, thyroid pannel, kidney health test, liver ast, alt, and every once in a while: Dihydrtestosterone, PSA, fsh, lh, ferritin. There are more but I cant recal them right now.

I appreciate the quick response, I like what they have to offer, total A la carte when it comes to the selection, thanks for the website!

 

[Mara_aa]

In Italy, if you need them, lab tests are basically free, you just pay a small ticket, but the doctor has to write down why you need them.
I usually ask my doctor to run these every 5–6 months, just to keep an eye on things after having a kidney removed:
fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c
total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides
AST, ALT, GGT
creatinine + kidney function
sodium, potassium
TSH
vitamin B12, vitamin D (25‑OH)
ferritin
amylase
I still haven’t managed to get the heavy‑metal tests (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) on blood and urine. I’ll try again next time. Otherwise I need to check how much they cost if I do them privately.

 

[OGPezPez]

I just found and am obsessed with Ulta lab. It was really convenient, prices weren’t bad and as someone else mentioned, no mouth breathing PCP.

I am perimenopausal and was able to order all the hormone tests too. I just started Reta and will monitor thyroid, hormones, etc. on a regular basis.

 

[swimmer]

I just found and am obsessed with Ulta lab. It was really convenient, prices weren’t bad and as someone else mentioned, no mouth breathing PCP.

I am perimenopausal and was able to order all the hormone tests too. I just started Reta and will monitor thyroid, hormones, etc. on a regular basis.

I felt the same way when I discovered them. An other good one is discountedlabs.com. They will both send promotions to your e-mail.

 

[joseblo]

I felt the same way when I discovered them. An other good one is discountedlabs.com. They will both send promotions to your e-mail.

I'll have to compare Ulta Lab pricing with goodlabs. I only test every few months or when I'm changing things, but with the 20% discount and for labs I get (IGF1, Lipids, Liver, Kidney, CBC) it was cheaper than fitnomics for me.