[Sofia Bunny]

I haven't maintained a very good documentation of my programs, so I figured since things are developing, perhaps now is a good time to start.

I started on Nature Day, then used PM and Nature Day, then just PM, then tried BO, then liquid PM extract, and finally back to PM pills. Supplements have varied throughout my 17 months.

Thanks to the recomemdation from Lotus I have tweaked my program to the following.

Morning:

2 PM pills
1 Astaxanthin 8mg pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill
1 high potency red clover extract 125 mg pill
1 White Peony Root 600mg pill

I also try and consume 1-2 oranges 15 min after my morning cocktail.

Afternoon:

1 PM pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill
1 high potency red clover extract 125 mg pill
1 White Peony Root 600mg pill

Evening:

1 PM pill

I finally decided to take the plunge and do a blood test. I didn't want to go through my doctor nor insurance so found an online provider, paid for my lab work, and went to a local lab so they could draw and submit my blood samples. Blood Test Website

I received my results online within 2 business days which was quite surprising. Again thanks to Lotus for some help and understanding of my results. Lotus helped to calculate my Free T and Bio T. I found this website that will calculate it for you but requires SHBG testing as well which was not included in the package I bought. Lotus informed me that the value 40 was used which should be close based on my program. I plan on checking my progress again in 4-5 months and will add the SHBG lab test just to make sure my results are completely accurate. Free T and Bio T calculator

So my blood test results were the following:

Testosterone: Low 335 as a bio male I am supposed to be between 348-1197
Estrogen: 89 acceptable range for a bio male 40-115

The normal range was according to my lab report. Various websites list normal ranges differently.

My estimated Free T is 6.06
My estimated Bio T is 136

As I said next time I will include the SHBG test to get a more accurate result for the Free and Bio T.

Now that I know my results I will tweak my program and increase my green tea consumption. In 4-5 months I will retest and see if anything has changed and readjust my program accordingly.

[Mickie]

Looking forward to further updates fire.. And I am thinking that Lotus has a great handle on the best method.. I am probably going to adjust my program as well

[Lotus]

Hi Fire,

My last 2 blood test results confirm that this plan works. The exception being that I take E2 (4 mg daily, that's low for HrT) and 50 mg spiro.

The astaxanthin helps support (ATP) with the synthesis of hormones, WP (I like) for its synthesis of aromatase, I also like the fact it inhibits DHT in the adrenals (delta 5 pathway) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262939/

Fire, from your test results (nice job getting it done) you're in good shape, normal freeT is 2-5% (free T is bio-active) the lower amount of freeT, the higher chance of helping with boob and feminization. bioT tells us the amount of T that is available (circulating) for interaction.

Free Testosterone = 6.06 ng/dL = 1.81 %

Bioavailable Testosterone= 136 ng/dL = 40.5 %


To give an example, my freeT is 1.1% and BioT is 25% (in other words, low level HrT) or (CC) of testes (I'm ok with that).

Riding close to the fence for breast growth and maintaining function bioT will end up being around 30-50% T availability. Normal bioT (60-75%).

Fire, maybe we can ask the lab to include SHBG?. Green Tea displaces estradiol in SHBG, making a higher bioavailability of E2 (in the blood) benefiting delivery to target tissues. As said before, green tea raises SHBG and free's E2 (blood serum), I really believe it acts like Spirolactone.

So after years of trail and error, this plan is a generic HrT. The only thing I would add is MSM, lemon water (8 cups per day), and 1 capsule of FG (@ +50% saponins) 2-3x times a week.

Thanks Fire, I love test results

Thanks Mickie, I'm getting there.

[Sofia Bunny]

Looking forward to further updates fire.. And I am thinking that Lotus has a great handle on the best method.. I am probably going to adjust my program as well

It would appear that Lotus has a pretty damn good understanding of the process. But as I have mentioned before, what works for one, may not work for another. I would definitely recommend taking the blood test so that you can adjust your program appropriately.

Gender Reassignment Test

SHBG Test

If you decide to order the tests, no where on the paperwork does it say you're taking a gender reassignment test. It only lists the actual tests that will be performed. In order to calculate your Free and BioAvailable Testosterone, you will need the results from the Testosterone, Albumin, and SHBG.

When I received my results, I looked up the information online to understand what everything was. I had some warnings about my Triglycerides being high, and other things as well. Lotus pointed those out to me as well (Thank you Lotus!!). The site below is great for looking up what each test is.

Labtest Online

Best of luck in whatever adjustments you decide to make!

[Sofia Bunny]

Hi Fire,

My last 2 blood test results confirm that this plan works. The exception being that I take E2 (4 mg daily, that's low for HrT) and 50 mg spiro.

The astaxanthin helps support (ATP) with the synthesis of hormones, WP (I like) for its synthesis of aromatase, I also like the fact it inhibits DHT in the adrenals (delta 5 pathway) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262939/

Fire, from your test results (nice job getting it done) you're in good shape, normal freeT is 2-5% (free T is bio-active) the lower amount of freeT, the higher chance of helping with boob and feminization. bioT tells us the amount of T that is available (circulating) for interaction.

Free Testosterone = 6.06 ng/dL = 1.81 %

Bioavailable Testosterone= 136 ng/dL = 40.5 %


To give an example, my freeT is 1.1% and BioT is 25% (in other words, low level HrT) or (CC) of testes (I'm ok with that).

Riding close to the fence for breast growth and maintaining function bioT will end up being around 30-50% T availability. Normal bioT (60-75%).

Fire, maybe we can ask the lab to include SHBG?. Green Tea displaces estradiol in SHBG, making a higher bioavailability of E2 (in the blood) benefiting delivery to target tissues. As said before, green tea raises SHBG and free's E2 (blood serum), I really believe it acts like Spirolactone.

So after years of trail and error, this plan is a generic HrT. The only thing I would add is MSM, lemon water (8 cups per day), and 1 capsule of FG (@ +50% saponins) 2-3x times a week.

Thanks Fire, I love test results

Thanks Mickie, I'm getting there.

Thank you so much for the additional information Lotus. I am going to increase my Green Tea intake. Probably see about drinking a bit more Green Tea, and maybe taking an additional GTE pill daily. I don't want to make too many adjustments to my program now that I have a baseline with my blood test results. In 4-5 months, I will retake the test, and add the SHBG test as well. I am going to try and be a little bit more diligent about consuming my lemon water.

Once I know the results of my next exam, then I can readjust my program accordingly. The nice thing about this approach, we should be able to review the effects of the Green Tea. If my E2 increases and I've made no other changes than increasing my Green Tea, then we can see that positive relationship. Well, that's my hope at least.

[Sofia Bunny]

I am back home and I have resumed my regiment starting 5/2/16. I made a small adjustment to my program and I have increased my Green Tea Extract to three times daily. I am also going to try drinking more green tea since I do enjoy green tea. I am also going to be more diligent about drinking my lemon water.

I can't wait till my next bloodwork test to see if anything changes.

Morning:

2 PM pills
1 Astaxanthin 8mg pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill
1 high potency red clover extract 125 mg pill
1 White Peony Root 600mg pill

I also try and consume 1-2 oranges 15 min after my morning cocktail.

Afternoon:

1 PM pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill
1 high potency red clover extract 125 mg pill
1 White Peony Root 600mg pill

Evening:

1 PM pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill

[Sofia Bunny]

I am traveling again and I have resumed my regiment starting 5/30/16. I made a another small adjustment to my program and I am taking an additional PM pill in the afternoon. They are 400 mg pills so I am back to 2000 mg a day. Have not been diligent about drinking lemon water due to traveling, but I have kept up with drinking green tea almost daily.

I just realized that my weekly breaks coincide with my monthly progress pictures. I guess that works out for me, makes it easier to remember when to break.

I can't wait till my next bloodwork test to see if anything changes, waiting for another 2-3 months before I go back.

Morning:

2 PM 400 mg pills
1 Astaxanthin 8mg pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill
1 high potency red clover extract 125 mg pill
1 White Peony Root 600mg pill

I have not kept up with my oranges after my morning cocktail, a bit difficult due to traveling.

Afternoon:

2 PM 400 mg pills
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill
1 high potency red clover extract 125 mg pill
1 White Peony Root 600mg pill

Evening:

1 PM pill
1 Teavigo Green Tea Extract 90% EGCG pill

[jannet.duff]

Great plan ... The results are fantastic.

[Sofia Bunny]

Great plan ... The results are fantastic.

Thanks Jannet!! I am super anxious to see what my blood test looks like the next time. I feel like a kid at Christmas!

[Karmmie]

Lotus, I remember reading somewhere about hepatotoxicity in people who over supplement with green tea extracts. IIRC, there is a threshold above which polyphenols become toxic to not only the liver but also kidneys as well. I believe it only referenced extracts, where the concentration is 5 times the amount in a normal cup if green tea.

It's a vague recollection...anyways, just wanted to pass that info along since I know you like to do research.