Bloodwork before Reta?

[SlightlyLess88]

So, due to a shipping issue, I ended up with half the tirz I expected (600mg instead of 1200mg). I also got some GLOW70. I've been on 15mg of munjaro for over a year now (15 months). Thinking I should get comprehensive bloodwork to see where I'm at. Any suggestions? I saw something about IGF-1 levels before GLOW but that's about it. Thanks!

 

[PeptidePapi]

Your regular doc will probably order a liver panel, kidney panel, A1c, and a lipid panel. Maybe even thyroid.

 

[SlightlyLess88]

Ah, I didn't see the tests section here and got a lot of that info already.

HbA1c: Check long-term blood sugar.
Liver Function (ALT, AST): Check liver function.
Renal Function (eGFR, Creatinine, BUN): Check kidney function.
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium): Check for imbalances.
Lipid Profile (Cholesterol, Triglycerides): Check heart health.
Thyroid Function (TSH, Free T4): Check for thyroid issues.

Does that cover most of it?

 

[MDW-to-ATL]

I'd suggest adding fasting glucose and fasting insulin to calculate your HOMA-IR for insulin sensitivity. And if you're doing thyroid, make sure they test Free T3 too, since that's the active hormone.

 

[Charlie_49]

CBC, CMP, lipids, thyroid panel is what I would do. I don't think GLOW affects IGF-1, but I could be wrong.

 

[MyBro]

Worth checking blood pressure too. GLP-1s can sometimes cause a drop, which can be significant for some people. I've seen it happen, especially in those with pre-existing hypertension. Weight loss and improved glucose control can definitely impact BP.

 

[SlightlyLess88]

Thanks MyBro for the heads up on the blood pressure thing. I'll keep an eye on that. I've had some wacky readings lately. MDW-to-ATL, thanks for the tip on Free T3. Def adding that.

 

[PeptidePapi]

Yeah, BP is something to watch out for. I know a few guys who had to adjust their meds after starting sema. Good call MyBro.

 

[MyBro]

Also, you might want to get your testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, and estradiol checked. There's some evidence that GLP-1s can affect those too. It's good to have a baseline before starting GLOW. I saw a good article on this: another forum

 

[Charlie_49]

Interesting about the testosterone changes, MyBro. I hadn't heard that. I'll check out that article.

 

[wasabi-slowloss]

Your doctor can order exploratory labs if you mention some symptoms, saves the endocrinologist referral.

 

[JAX-Viking]

Tesa at 1mg not showing differences after a month is not uncommon - effects are subtle and slow. The TRT base already helps with what Tesa targets. Soma for sleep adds a different layer; patience with the current stack usually pays off before adding more.

 

[Claudia_Way]

getting baseline labs before starting is the right call even if it feels like extra steps - having a pre-Reta reference point for liver function, lipids, and CBC makes it much easier to attribute any changes you notice to the medication versus pre-existing trends. the thyroid panel is worth including specifically since retatrutide has shown effects on thyroid receptor activity in trials