This is all very good, helpful info! I understand your point on FT being the more important marker, and I'm hopeful to get to a protocol that puts me in a good spot, perhaps 25-35ng.
Regarding "Still too high a starting dose seeing as 120 mg T every 5 days would be 168 mg T/week," my rationale was based on 150mg putting me at 319ng on day 7 post-injection. But, as you and Systemlord have pointed out, by increasing injection frequency my blood serum levels will hopefully balance out, leading to 500+ng at trough with 100-120mg/wk...and likely even more achievable with 70-85mg/5days, let alone 50-60mg/3.5days. I'd like to start with trying 70mg/5days, if I can find a doctor within my insurance network that will support me with this, keeping the possibility open to the 50-60mg/3.5days that you've recommended; I don't disagree with you that 3.5days would be better for outcome, but I do want to balance outcome with frequency.
Increasing the frequency will also likely allow my SHBG to increase some, but that will most probably still mean a SHBG of <10, like it was on gel, before current protocol crushed it to 2 at last labs.
I also plan to switch to 27g x 1.25" needles, so that I'm still able to bury the oil quite deeply IM; I'll get some 1cc barrels, per your advice. My doctor has me injecting into quads, not butt. I load with 18g, and then switch to injection needle. You have piqued my interest in using 29g x 0.5", though. I wonder if the benefits of 29 v 27 would outweigh disadvantage of 0.5 v 1.25"...It seems my body flushes through the T quite quickly, with my super low SHBG, and I've read IM release is slower than subq. Also, my body fat is somewhat high, so I'm not sure if a 0.5" would still even make it to shallow IM.
First things first, though. I need to find a competent, progressive doctor to guide me on my TRT path, who is covered by my insurance (finances are very tight - hypogonadism has been really hard on me...I haven't been able to work...no energy, no drive, super high anxiety, and depressed mood).
Thanks again for your advice and support!
