Hi all
I am new here in the forum, but have been a silent reader for a while.
My current blood work, which is the first time I've had the extent of it since starting my TRT, is now causing me to ask for support here.
Background story
Since the end of my 20s I suffered from a strong depressive mood, lack of drive (also lack of sex drive) and pronounced anxiety. After some time, visits to various doctors and various tests, it was finally determined that my testosterone level is at the lower end of the normal range. However, I was not prescribed any replacement therapy by the doctor here on the grounds that I was too young. It is difficult here in this country. So I took matters into my own hands and started a TRT with Testosterone Enanthate at 125mg/e7d. This was 4 1/2 years ago.
After about half a year I halved the interval but kept the dose (62mg/e3.5d). With the e7d protocol, I clearly noticed that my energy level dropped from the 4th day after the injection and the problems (depressed mood, listlessness, anxiety) came back more or less easily. A good 3 years ago I increased the dose to 125mg/e3.5d. There were honestly two reasons for this. One was I wanted to have even more energy in general, and the other was I wanted to make more progress in the gym.
After my hematocrit value rose to the upper end of the reference over time, I changed my protocol to 62.5mg/e2d.
Previous protocols summarized again:
125mg/e7d Test Enanthate
62mg/e3,5d Test Enanthate
125mg/e3.5d Test Enanthate
62,5mg/e2d Test Enanthate (current protocol)
Current Feeling:
I felt a significant energy boost after switching to 62.5mg/e2d in October 2021. However, this now reversed to the opposite. The above problems are more present than ever and feel like they did before starting trt.
Current bloodwork:
TestName; Result; Reference Range
Hemoglobin 18.4 g/dl ; 13.7-17.5
Hematocrit 53.4% ; 40.1-50.0
PSA 0.93ng/ml ; <4.0
Estradiol 95.9pg/ml ; 11.3-43.2
Prolactin 20.4 ng/ml ; 4.1-15.2
Testosterone >52.0 nmol/l ; 8.64-29.0
Free testosterone 75.25 pg/ml ; 8.85-21.4
Dihydrotestosterone 1078.33 ng/l ; 106-719
SHGB 13.4 nmol/l ; 18.3-54.1
Questions about the result and how to proceed with the trt:
- Should I consider donating blood with this hematocrit value?
- What can I do about the very low SHGB value?
- Should I increase the injection interval to ed to counteract the low SHGB value?
My plan now would be to adjust the dose continuously downwards over a period of 4-6 weeks, so that I end up with 100mg per week?
Why don't I want to set the weekly dose directly at 100mg? I am afraid that estrogen related side effects (e.g. gynecomastia) will occur and that I will have even less energy and more anxiety.
After another 6 weeks on the target dose, I would do another blood work and determine further action if necessary based on the values.
The goal is, of course, to increase the quality of life again. And to keep the values in a healthy (reference) range in the future.
What do you think about this procedure? Do you see a more sensible way?
Many thanks in advance and best regards
I am new here in the forum, but have been a silent reader for a while.
My current blood work, which is the first time I've had the extent of it since starting my TRT, is now causing me to ask for support here.
Background story
Since the end of my 20s I suffered from a strong depressive mood, lack of drive (also lack of sex drive) and pronounced anxiety. After some time, visits to various doctors and various tests, it was finally determined that my testosterone level is at the lower end of the normal range. However, I was not prescribed any replacement therapy by the doctor here on the grounds that I was too young. It is difficult here in this country. So I took matters into my own hands and started a TRT with Testosterone Enanthate at 125mg/e7d. This was 4 1/2 years ago.
After about half a year I halved the interval but kept the dose (62mg/e3.5d). With the e7d protocol, I clearly noticed that my energy level dropped from the 4th day after the injection and the problems (depressed mood, listlessness, anxiety) came back more or less easily. A good 3 years ago I increased the dose to 125mg/e3.5d. There were honestly two reasons for this. One was I wanted to have even more energy in general, and the other was I wanted to make more progress in the gym.
After my hematocrit value rose to the upper end of the reference over time, I changed my protocol to 62.5mg/e2d.
Previous protocols summarized again:
125mg/e7d Test Enanthate
62mg/e3,5d Test Enanthate
125mg/e3.5d Test Enanthate
62,5mg/e2d Test Enanthate (current protocol)
Current Feeling:
I felt a significant energy boost after switching to 62.5mg/e2d in October 2021. However, this now reversed to the opposite. The above problems are more present than ever and feel like they did before starting trt.
Current bloodwork:
TestName; Result; Reference Range
Hemoglobin 18.4 g/dl ; 13.7-17.5
Hematocrit 53.4% ; 40.1-50.0
PSA 0.93ng/ml ; <4.0
Estradiol 95.9pg/ml ; 11.3-43.2
Prolactin 20.4 ng/ml ; 4.1-15.2
Testosterone >52.0 nmol/l ; 8.64-29.0
Free testosterone 75.25 pg/ml ; 8.85-21.4
Dihydrotestosterone 1078.33 ng/l ; 106-719
SHGB 13.4 nmol/l ; 18.3-54.1
Questions about the result and how to proceed with the trt:
- Should I consider donating blood with this hematocrit value?
- What can I do about the very low SHGB value?
- Should I increase the injection interval to ed to counteract the low SHGB value?
My plan now would be to adjust the dose continuously downwards over a period of 4-6 weeks, so that I end up with 100mg per week?
Why don't I want to set the weekly dose directly at 100mg? I am afraid that estrogen related side effects (e.g. gynecomastia) will occur and that I will have even less energy and more anxiety.
After another 6 weeks on the target dose, I would do another blood work and determine further action if necessary based on the values.
The goal is, of course, to increase the quality of life again. And to keep the values in a healthy (reference) range in the future.
What do you think about this procedure? Do you see a more sensible way?
Many thanks in advance and best regards
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