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Pre-T Bloodwork questions

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Contributor: eroticmutt eroticmutt
Hey there, I'm really excited that in just a few days I will be getting my pre-T blood test. According to my doctor, two weeks after the test they will call me back to the office to discuss my results and give me my first injection and teach me to self-inject.

1. Just wondering- but what are they testing for- anything other than hormone levels?

2. I was told I may want to forgo eating that morning so I don't throw off the test results. Does food impact that somehow? I will be pretty hungry if I don't eat that whole morning. My dr isn't the one doing the bloodwork and couldn't say for sure but he thinks they may want me on water only from the time I wake up that morning (I get up at about 6) until my test around 10:30

3. And will energy drinks, coffee, redline, and bodybuilding protein shakes have any influence on my test results?

4. Also, how often do people NOT get their injection after the first test and need to have it run again?

I am kind of nervous and all this is on my mind so I figured someone here would probably know. I just want to be sure everything comes out fine with my test so that I get my medicine and everything sorts itself out as quick as possible.
04/16/2012
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Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
I can't give you any experiences related to T, but my knowledge of trans hormones in general is that they are doing blood tests to check for liver and other vital organ functions, as well as your baseline hormonal levels. Basically they're probably just looking to see what sort of dose would be the most appropriate to administer and make sure you don't have any serious red flags that would indicate a health problem that would make taking T an issue.

I'd generally follow the Dr.'s orders when it comes to the pre-appointment routine, if you're worried about being hungry reschedule the appointment for another day earlier in the morning, but food and other things could throw off levels of things like insulin in your blood that could give a false reading. I'm not a doctor, but I would guess they make those recommendations for a reason.

I wouldn't be nervous about it, if you are relatively young and in good shape health wise you probably have nothing to be worried about. This is all very standard procedure for hormones.
04/16/2012
Contributor: eroticmutt eroticmutt
Okay, thanks for clearing that up. And I will stick to the Dr's recommendation on not eating that day because I don't think I want to reschedule for something later and I will just bring a snack for after the tests.

I am only 20 and I work out every day, have never been diagnosed with a serious condition or anything so I think I will do well. Thank you for the information
04/16/2012
Contributor: tardisblue tardisblue
Quote:
Originally posted by eroticmutt
Hey there, I'm really excited that in just a few days I will be getting my pre-T blood test. According to my doctor, two weeks after the test they will call me back to the office to discuss my results and give me my first injection and teach me ... more
1. They generally will do a cholesterol test and a red blood cell count test (and maybe some other stuff). These are generally to see if you are in good health, but also done regularly while you are on T because T raises your red blood cell count and can raise your cholesterol so these things need to be monitored by a doctor.

2. Yeah, food will throw off your results. You want to follow their instructions carefully.

3. I've been told by my doctor that I can only drink water before my blood draws. You should ask your doctor about those things, but I am assuming that anything other than water is a no-go.

4. Don't know the answer to this one.
04/16/2012
Contributor: butts butts
Like people have said above, if the doc says no food, that means protein shakes, energy drinks and coffee count, they are food. These WILL throw off your tests, stick to the water only for the morning and just pack food for right after the appointment.
04/17/2012
Contributor: eroticmutt eroticmutt
Well I've had my blood taken the day before yesterday, now I just have to wait for the results to come in.

Apparently if something comes up "wrong" they will call in two weeks when they find out. If nothing is wrong they won't call (which leaves me wondering if it is fine or didn't come in yet).

I can't believe how nerve-wracking it is sitting here hoping everything comes up fine but kind of worried in the off chance it doesn't.
04/21/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by eroticmutt
Hey there, I'm really excited that in just a few days I will be getting my pre-T blood test. According to my doctor, two weeks after the test they will call me back to the office to discuss my results and give me my first injection and teach me ... more
For most blood work you should do what the doctor says. energy drinks, coffee, etc may have impact on some tests for blood sugar, cholesterol etc.

Many different foods will raise your cholesterol levels and if your cholesterol is high, they may want to stabilize them before starting hormone therapy. So, if they tell you not to eat don't eat! It is important to follow the pretest instructions to the letter, even a little cheating could result in unusual test results (as they expect FASTING blood levels) and post pone treatment in some cases. (I'm basing this on most forms of medicine, I do NOT work in gender reassignment nursing, but am extrapolating what I know about blood work and most types of results and treatment options.)

You are probably fasting for the blood sugar and cholesterol tests. Hormone supplements can effect cholesterol levels, so they need to get a baseline reading of your fasting levels. The same with blood sugar. If the tests are obviously out of whack, say a liver function test is out of range or your BUN is low or high, they will want to make sure you are as healthy as can be before starting any kind of treatment.

I don't work in this type of medicine, so I don't know all the tests they are doing, but many tests before treatments are routine and usually they want to assess overall health and get baseline readings on you.

Do not use energy drinks, do not eat, usually you can have water after midnight. There are good reasons for these restrictions. After they take your blood you can eat and drink normally, so just wait and don't eat or drink anything except water.

If your blood sugar is high (most foods can do this) or low (caffeine and some energy drinks can lower blood sugar in some people and raise it in others) they may want to redo the test. So sit tight and follow the Dr's directions to the letter.

Good luck on your tests. I hope your hormone treatments start asap!
04/21/2012
Contributor: eroticmutt eroticmutt
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
For most blood work you should do what the doctor says. energy drinks, coffee, etc may have impact on some tests for blood sugar, cholesterol etc.

Many different foods will raise your cholesterol levels and if your cholesterol is high, they ... more
Thanks, and yes they did:


1. A hormone level test (I stopped taking all supplements a month before and informed them of my Depo shot I take as pregnancy prevention and to avoid menstruation).

2. A lipids test (I am only 20 and I think my heart rate and stuff is fine, I don't think I should have too much cholesterol)

3. A blood sugar test (I followed instructions and didn't eat that morning so it should be fine)

4. A thyroid level test (fairly certain mine works perfect, had it checked already a few years ago and I am a healthy weight)

5. An AIDS test (been tested before and monogamous so I am sure I will be fine)

6. A Syphilis test (been tested before and monogamous so I am sure I will be fine)
04/21/2012