Blood tests and their order of importance

[totalrecomp]

More than ever we see people running into health issues on these boards. To those who's health has been negatively effected my prayers are with you and your families.

For those of us still healthy this underscores the importance of preventative monitoring. With regards to blood tests what order would you rank them in importance. Say some one is on a budget and can afford to get one every so often how would you rank them?

I know they are all important but getting some is better than none and one could rotate the test being performed. Lets here everyones opinions.

 

[dabeast75]

My first few cycles I didnt care about blood tests. Everything felt normal once I got off. But one time it didnt and that scared the shit out of me. I went to the doc lots of times to find out where my test range was at etc etc. Now that I come to think of it, how stupid and ignorant was I being.

Now having clean blood work is a must before I get on cycle. I recently had to wait a few weeks in order to get a few blood results back. Yes I was actually sent to a nephrologist since i had a few red blood cells in my urine as well as elevated creatinine levels (1.35). The nephrologist did a Cystin C test which confirmed 100% normal kidney function, and that the elevated creatinine came from the more than average muscle mass (duh) and the blood cells are so minimal it is hardly worth the mention. So that part is just being monitored now. But I would never have started another cycle without hearing back on the results.

Bottom line: health is the most important factor. Dont want to wind up with permament liver or kidney damage and what not. Its not worth it and not why we do this sport folks. Health is everything.

 

[saudades]

I've also always been curious what the importance of each part of the test would be. My own blood tests always seem to show everything smack right in the middle of the range they're supposed to be in EXCEPT liver enzymes. The two liver enzyme tests for the last 11 years have been just above the high end of the range--not far, just 3-4 points, but they are always like that. I've been on TRT/HRT for the entire time, but no matter if I'm taking 125mg or if I'm taking 750mg, the readings are the same--even if I use an oral. My doc never seemed to be concerned about it because it never changed.

Would the liver enzyme reading be of high importance or are there other things that would be more important?