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Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Testosterone Basics & Questions
Almost one year on TRT... struggling to find balance
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<blockquote data-quote="readyforchange" data-source="post: 112979" data-attributes="member: 16501"><p>So I've posted a few times around here. Started TRT last September, so right around 10 months as of now. </p><p></p><p>It has been a journey, for sure. </p><p></p><p>If I'm being honest, I've felt "ok" or "bad" more than I've felt good, but it's been better than pre TRT overall, so that's worth something. </p><p></p><p>I'm with Defy and will have a follow-up consult coming up soon, and would appreciate feedback sorting out what exactly I should seek from them. I'm fairly frustrated at the moment, because despite having a few times where I felt really good, it's always fallen apart after a few weeks (had a good month in January, that was the longest time where I felt good consistently). </p><p></p><p>I'm trying to figure out some kind of pattern as to what's working and what's not because Defy has changed up my protocol each time I've consulted with them (every three months, so I've had 3 consults with them). </p><p></p><p>I'm posting my labs below along with how I felt at the time plus what my regimen was at the time. Anyone who is able to see a pattern or help me identify how I can optimize things better is appreciated:</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>11/28/17</strong></p><p>Protocol (original they put me on): 80mg test + 250 iu's HCG + .25 anastrozole every 3.5 days. </p><p></p><p>Labs:</p><p><strong>Testosterone (total):</strong> Above 1500</p><p><strong>Testosterone (free):</strong> 40.4</p><p><strong>Estradiol: </strong>49.9</p><p><strong>SHBG:</strong> 54.2</p><p><strong>DHEA:</strong> 323</p><p></p><p><strong>How I was feeling:</strong> Best way to describe it: irritable and "PMSing." Fatigue. Struggle to get up in the morning and got really tired in the afternoons/evenings to where I wanted to go to sleep after supper. I notice some testicular shrinkage as well and scrotum hugging up tighter to my body. </p><p></p><p>After a consult with Dr. Caulkins, he changed protocol to decrease test to 70mg + 500 iu's HCG + .125 anastrzole every 3.5 days and added 25mg DHEA every day. </p><p></p><p>I still regret this a bit, because we changed SO MUCH at once that I feel it may not have been the best choice. But, the month or so after this change, I felt better than I ever have on TRT and had an almost month long stint where I felt like myself again for the first time in a LONG time. </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately, when February hit, things started to fall apart. I got to a point where I was extremely tired + very high anxiety/rapid heart rate at night and felt like I was out of breath really quickly while exercising. </p><p></p><p>I did my 30month follow up labs and here's what they showed at this time:</p><p></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>2/21/18</strong></p><p><strong>Testosterone (total):</strong> 1143</p><p><strong>Testosterone (free):</strong> 32.3</p><p><strong>DHT: </strong>63</p><p><strong>Estradiol: 27.7</strong></p><p><strong>SHBG:</strong> 34.8</p><p><strong>DHEA:</strong> 776</p><p></p><p>When I had my consult with Defy, they were very surprised to hear I felt horrible, saying my numbers looked dang near perfect -- other than the higher DHEA. They attributed my negative symptoms to that and had me stop it. </p><p></p><p>I'm still confused about this one... why was I feeling so bad with numbers that appear to be good? Could a high DHEA really throw everything off so much that, despite good T and E numbers, I still felt bad?</p><p></p><p>After this consult, they switched me to 100mg test + 350 iu's HCG + .125 anastrozole every 3.5 days, where I'm currently at. </p><p></p><p>I still don't feel great, have more bad days than good (in terms of fatigue), and have ongoing anxiety that I've never had prior to TRT. </p><p></p><p>I pulled my E2 a few weeks ago to see where it was at and it came back at 52... which seems to be my never-ending battle despite being young (31), lean (around 12% bodyfat) and eating a diet 80% whole, unprocessed foods and exercising 3-4 times per week. </p><p></p><p>I'm kind of at a loss as where to go with this because I feel like I've tried numerus regimens and each of them tend to work for a little while and then go into a downward spiral after a few weeks. </p><p></p><p>Could HCG or anastrozole be an issue for me? Have we just been changing so many variables that it's been impossible to nail down what's working and what's not?</p><p></p><p>Any input is appreciated.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="readyforchange, post: 112979, member: 16501"] So I've posted a few times around here. Started TRT last September, so right around 10 months as of now. It has been a journey, for sure. If I'm being honest, I've felt "ok" or "bad" more than I've felt good, but it's been better than pre TRT overall, so that's worth something. I'm with Defy and will have a follow-up consult coming up soon, and would appreciate feedback sorting out what exactly I should seek from them. I'm fairly frustrated at the moment, because despite having a few times where I felt really good, it's always fallen apart after a few weeks (had a good month in January, that was the longest time where I felt good consistently). I'm trying to figure out some kind of pattern as to what's working and what's not because Defy has changed up my protocol each time I've consulted with them (every three months, so I've had 3 consults with them). I'm posting my labs below along with how I felt at the time plus what my regimen was at the time. Anyone who is able to see a pattern or help me identify how I can optimize things better is appreciated: [B]11/28/17[/B] Protocol (original they put me on): 80mg test + 250 iu's HCG + .25 anastrozole every 3.5 days. Labs: [B]Testosterone (total):[/B] Above 1500 [B]Testosterone (free):[/B] 40.4 [B]Estradiol: [/B]49.9 [B]SHBG:[/B] 54.2 [B]DHEA:[/B] 323 [B]How I was feeling:[/B] Best way to describe it: irritable and "PMSing." Fatigue. Struggle to get up in the morning and got really tired in the afternoons/evenings to where I wanted to go to sleep after supper. I notice some testicular shrinkage as well and scrotum hugging up tighter to my body. After a consult with Dr. Caulkins, he changed protocol to decrease test to 70mg + 500 iu's HCG + .125 anastrzole every 3.5 days and added 25mg DHEA every day. I still regret this a bit, because we changed SO MUCH at once that I feel it may not have been the best choice. But, the month or so after this change, I felt better than I ever have on TRT and had an almost month long stint where I felt like myself again for the first time in a LONG time. Unfortunately, when February hit, things started to fall apart. I got to a point where I was extremely tired + very high anxiety/rapid heart rate at night and felt like I was out of breath really quickly while exercising. I did my 30month follow up labs and here's what they showed at this time: [B] 2/21/18 Testosterone (total):[/B] 1143 [B]Testosterone (free):[/B] 32.3 [B]DHT: [/B]63 [B]Estradiol: 27.7[/B] [B]SHBG:[/B] 34.8 [B]DHEA:[/B] 776 When I had my consult with Defy, they were very surprised to hear I felt horrible, saying my numbers looked dang near perfect -- other than the higher DHEA. They attributed my negative symptoms to that and had me stop it. I'm still confused about this one... why was I feeling so bad with numbers that appear to be good? Could a high DHEA really throw everything off so much that, despite good T and E numbers, I still felt bad? After this consult, they switched me to 100mg test + 350 iu's HCG + .125 anastrozole every 3.5 days, where I'm currently at. I still don't feel great, have more bad days than good (in terms of fatigue), and have ongoing anxiety that I've never had prior to TRT. I pulled my E2 a few weeks ago to see where it was at and it came back at 52... which seems to be my never-ending battle despite being young (31), lean (around 12% bodyfat) and eating a diet 80% whole, unprocessed foods and exercising 3-4 times per week. I'm kind of at a loss as where to go with this because I feel like I've tried numerus regimens and each of them tend to work for a little while and then go into a downward spiral after a few weeks. Could HCG or anastrozole be an issue for me? Have we just been changing so many variables that it's been impossible to nail down what's working and what's not? Any input is appreciated. [/QUOTE]
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Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Testosterone Basics & Questions
Almost one year on TRT... struggling to find balance
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