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Thank you!

@FunkOdyssey, thanks so much!

Thanks so much @FunkOdyssey! This makes perfect sense. Any implications for the high T/E2 ratio or source you prefer where I could educate myself a little more?

My estradiol level came back overnight, it is higher as expected, which it was quite low before starting. Any thoughts?

thanks @madman, I do overall feel better than before which is nice. I am not in a hurry and was on the fence about whether to increase or not. The 12 week labs are due 5 weeks from now, that isn't that long to sit tight and wait, gives me more time to adjust and judge symptoms anyways. I...

I will say there was a bit of a honeymoon period around week 3/4 or so that is gone. Like I said, I do feel better than before, but that couple of weeks was great lol. I was hoping for a higher free testosterone and also wondering about a higher dose. I almost wonder if 160 mg/week (80 mg x...

Just thought I would give an update with my 6 week progress (labs done on Monday 2/12, at the end of week 6, beginning of week 7 prior to my injection in the morning). I started with testosterone cypionate 140 mg/week (70 mg Monday morning, 70 mg Thursday evening) on 1/1/24. Feel better than...

I did go ahead and start, but not with the protocol I was given. I opted to take the advice on this forum and start at a lower dose with just testosterone cypionate. I did discuss it with my provider again prior to starting and sent them my new labs so they have them. The protocol I was...

I was trying to use the search function on the site but seem to not be able to find the info, maybe I'm just not digging enough. What labs are you all doing at 6 weeks? Then 12 weeks? I know it takes a while to see changes in Hct/Hgb and what not along with the other variables. Thanks again

Quite true. More substances and the more the picture is clouded.

wow!

I think it is more the unknown of what will happen. not like anyone other than spouse will see anyways. It adds significantly to the cost if I keep getting it from the clinic ($260 for 10,000 iu or 10 weeks worth). If I switch to reliablerx it is cheaper.

Well, that makes me want to consider keeping it in the protocol.

At least the decrease shouldn't be too bad I guess then....

If I go ahead and start, just to make sure I do this right. I would check the first set of labs in 6 weeks, timing for that should be a trough level correct? So if injecting every 3.5 days, I would time it to check labs in the morning before I take a dose on the day the dose should be?

Got it lol.

Excellent point, the E2 I'm sure is contributing to the way I feel. You are also right, more meds means more variables to account for later. I would like to ultimately avoid taking more things. Is preventing atrophy a big deal? It would be nice I guess

Preventing atrophy would be nice as well as a (possible) mood/libido effect. Is it worth trying? I'm really not sure.

Thanks Madman, great explanation. I have not yet started any TRT of any form as I was waiting on these labs. When I had mentioned feeling better, that was just the lifestyle changes. I'm really not trying to rush into this. I suspected that this was a cookie cutter and common protocol...

Thanks so much, I will go over all of these! So my lastest result utilizes Equilibrium Dialysis (I'm in the US). From what you are saying, the latest method of testing (dialysis) should be what I stick with since I have altered SHBG levels?

Thanks! I will think about the nasal gel as an alternative. It seems that I would want to convert the EQ free testosterone from pg/mL to ng/dL to make it comparable to the Vermeulen calculation (the calculator I found expressed it as ng/dL) and to the total testosterone. Then I would derive...

I received the Quest Diagnostics dialysis Free Testosterone back, along with total testosterone, shbg, and ultrasensitive estradiol. The free testosterone is higher on this when using the same units as Labcorp. Can someone shed light on the interpretation of these results? When I use the...

This also seems to support an increase in SHBG with at moderate quality evidence.

You are 100% correct, if I felt great I certainly would not be posting and would not consider this as a treatment option. I appreciate your viewpoint. My last DHEA-S was obtained after being off DHEA 25 mg for a week or so (I ran out.). I am back on now and have a ton on hand, that will be...

Thanks Vince. My concern with metformin is that the research I can find indicates that it raises SHBG and lowers Free and total testosterone. Much of the research seems to revolve around women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian disease). However there is an older study with a smaller sample size...

5.8

I have had a low carb diet since about March, unfortunately, my a1c went up (granted a 0.1 is not really much of a change). This with the weight loss, exercise and all, it is quite frustrating. I am also not at a point where I think my doctor would start metformin, nor do I really want it...

Does reliablerx still not require a prescription? It was prompting for one when I looked.

Forgot to mention, I did try Boron 10 mg since March without any luck. I do supplement Vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, DHEA, zinc with copper/selenium, magnesium, lysine, and b complex.

I appreciate the words of caution! Have you stopped it at this point or are you still on? I am naturally a pretty cautious person and want to seek out information on positives and the negatives of something, especially something like this that messes with hormones. To give a little more...

My initial numbers weren't too far off where yours were. So far my efforts (while significant with >40 lb weight loss) resulted in a much higher SHBG and lower free testosterone. Exogenous testosterone certainly would help improve the numbers. One of the things I really appreciate about...