Any thoughts?

[xr88]

I'm 26 and on trt. I started out at 320ng/dl and 9 days after my 3rd injection I was at 560-580 (don't remember which, need to get copies of the blood work). I went in originally for lack of energy and sex drive. These symptoms still seem prominent, even though my test is at a decent level. I thought more test was probably the answer since I've seen videos on trt clinics that will peak guys to like 1200ng/dl so they don't crash between pins. The more I read about shbg, the more I worry that the issue isn't test levels. I don't have my blood work on hand so I don't know if that was even checked or where I'm at on the scale. I'm currently on 200mg testosterone cyp every 2 weeks. For what it's worth, I have a pretty tough work life that could be affecting things as well. I work 12-16 hour days in a mine, 5+ days a week. I guess I expected a night and day difference on testosterone, but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference. I have noticed that if I wake up early it is a little easier for me to stay awake instead of going back to sleep, but I don't really feel more energetic. I read about guys with low shbg comparing injecting test to saline, doesn't seem to do anything. I'm really worried that I'm in this boat. I'm newly married and this is affecting my relationship with my wife. Just looking for opinions right now or any input until I get copies of my blood work. Thanks

 

[Vince]

First I would start injecting every 3 1/2 days, once every two weeks to many spikes and lows. I inject Sunday night and Thursday mornings. I wouldn't worry about shbg, it finds its own level. Not much you can do about it.

 

[xr88]

First I would start injecting every 3 1/2 days, once every two weeks to many spikes and lows. I inject Sunday night and Thursday mornings. I wouldn't worry about shbg, it finds its own level. Not much you can do about it.

I'm definitely going to be more frequent on the injections, I just don't know when or how to switch over. I just injected this past Wednesday, should I just wait until Monday and then start injecting 50mg every 3 days? Also, any recommendations on needle size? I'm stuck with 1.5"x22 gauge. I'd like to drop to 25 gauge but im kinda think on the backside lol. Would 25 gauge still be okay?

 

[James]

26 is young to be on TRT. Did the doc check LH & FSH? Do you plan on having kids someday? Did he mention clomid? You said you take 200 mg every 2 weeks. Do you feel better for a few days and then like cap again? And finally, can you get another job? Spending 16 hour days in a mine can't be good for your physical (or mental) health if you do that for the rest of your career/life. The money must be decent.

 

[James]

One more thing. 1.5" 22 G? There's a trend we're seeing with guys going with smaller needles. Check out Nelsons shallow IM shoulder injection technique. Some guys on this site are using 31 G, 5/16" or 29 G, 1/2"

 

[xr88]

26 is young to be on TRT. Did the doc check LH & FSH? Do you plan on having kids someday? Did he mention clomid? You said you take 200 mg every 2 weeks. Do you feel better for a few days and then like cap again? And finally, can you get another job? Spending 16 hour days in a mine can't be good for your physical (or mental) health if you do that for the rest of your career/life. The money must be decent.

26 is too young and it sucks, but I definitely was low. I'll have to check and see what all he ran on my blood work, I need to get copies. I do want one more kid, I have to stepchildren with my wife. My doctor won't give me hcg or any type of ai or anything, so I'm currently looking for a new doc. I do feel a little better for a few days, but not by much. Sex drive is still pretty shot. I could get a different job, but not anytime soon as my wife has gone back to school. The money is good lol, but I realized it really isn't much now that I'm married with 2 kids. I've only been married since may 30th lol

 

[xr88]

One more thing. 1.5" 22 G? There's a trend we're seeing with guys going with smaller needles. Check out Nelsons shallow IM shoulder injection technique. Some guys on this site are using 31 G, 5/16" or 29 G, 1/2"

Yeah, that's all my doc will give me is 1.5" 22ga. I plan to just order my own syringes

 

[James]

Do you go to a regular family doc for your treatment? Your original protocol, with that size needles, and a doc against hcg or AI (especially if you do in fact have low SHBG), is not consistent with the care you would likely get with a guy who is really cutting edge with TRT.

 

[xr88]

Do you go to a regular family doc for your treatment? Your original protocol, with that size needles, and a doc against hcg or AI (especially if you do in fact have low SHBG), is not consistent with the care you would likely get with a guy who is really cutting edge with TRT.

Yessir, regular family doctor. I found this forum in hopes of finding somebody more cutting edge, I've been having some really good feedback on who to see.

 

[James]

Good. Glad this forum is working for you.

 

[xr88]

Good. Glad this forum is working for you.

Yeah, definitely much better than the body building forums I've used to get help on their trt sections

 

[Vince]

xr88, I use easy touch 27 gauge 1/2" syrings and inject in my shoulders, I would just split my doses in to 4's. It would be nice to add HCG to the mix. You could get a script from your doctor and order from https://www.empowerpharmacy.com/

 

[CoastWatcher]

26 is too young and it sucks, but I definitely was low. I'll have to check and see what all he ran on my blood work, I need to get copies. I do want one more kid, I have to stepchildren with my wife. My doctor won't give me hcg or any type of ai or anything, so I'm currently looking for a new doc. I do feel a little better for a few days, but not by much. Sex drive is still pretty shot. I could get a different job, but not anytime soon as my wife has gone back to school. The money is good lol, but I realized it really isn't much now that I'm married with 2 kids. I've only been married since may 30th lol

You aren't going to experience significant progress on TRT following the protocol you are on. Two hundred milligrams, injected every two weeks, is likely sending your overall testosterone level sky-high, potentially into supraphysiological range. However, the half-life of the drug is such that by the time you are due to inject again, there will be very little testosterone in your system. And over and over the cycle will go. This doesn't even address the question of your estradiol level - which may be elevated as well. I hope your doctor spoke to you about the fact that in most cases TRT is for life. The possibility of a restart is a possibility, but not a certainty. Fertility can typically be preserved, but finding a doctor who understands all of these elements is both a challenge and a necessity.

 

[xr88]

xr88, I use easy touch 27 gauge 1/2" syrings and inject in my shoulders, I would just split my doses in to 4's. It would be nice to add HCG to the mix. You could get a script from your doctor and order from https://www.empowerpharmacy.com/

Wow, 27ga is tiny! Do you use a different size to load? It seems like 27ga would take forever.

 

[xr88]

You aren't going to experience significant progress on TRT following the protocol you are on. Two hundred milligrams, injected every two weeks, is likely sending your overall testosterone level sky-high, potentially into supraphysiological range. However, the half-life of the drug is such that by the time you are due to inject again, there will be very little testosterone in your system. And over and over the cycle will go. This doesn't even address the question of your estradiol level - which may be elevated as well. I hope your doctor spoke to you about the fact that in most cases TRT is for life. The possibility of a restart is a possibility, but not a certainty. Fertility can typically be preserved, but finding a doctor who understands all of these elements is both a challenge and a necessity.

My doctor didn't tell me that I would be on trt for life, but I did enough research on my own to know this would be a life choice. Hopefully I'll find a new doctor next week that will get me where I need to be, but I don't really have the time as of now. Im stuck working nightshift until Tuesday.

 

[ERO]

Wow, 27ga is tiny! Do you use a different size to load? It seems like 27ga would take forever.

It is faster if you backload with a larger needle.

 

[xr88]

One more thing. 1.5" 22 G? There's a trend we're seeing with guys going with smaller needles. Check out Nelsons shallow IM shoulder injection technique. Some guys on this site are using 31 G, 5/16" or 29 G, 1/2"

Is the shoulder im injection in one of the stickies?

 

[Vince]

Wow, 27ga is tiny! Do you use a different size to load? It seems like 27ga would take forever.

In all honesty I never thought about it, does take awhile but I guess I'm used to it

 

[Vince]

It is faster if you backload with a larger needle.

I've never backloaded a needle, would hate to lose any T.

 

[xr88]

I've never backloaded a needle, would hate to lose any T.

That's a good point. Do the shoulder injections work well for you Vince?