Injections once weekly

[greenwaters]

I know ths question has been asked a few times, but I couldnt find one specific to mine. Anyhow, been on TRT now for a month. Started with 100mg once a week, and was told since I have some body fat, my estrogen is probably high, and I would benefit from injecting at least twice a week. Well, I started doing every 3.5 days, and noticed I felt like shit. Couldnt beleive it cause I thought it I had more testosterone floating around, I would feel much better. I notice I feel the best when I inject every 5-6 days. I mean I feel awesome, strong as hell, and sharp as a blade! My question is cause I havent done a SHBG test yet, getting estradial and that done next week for the first time. What if Im a low binder, but I benefit more from spaced out injections? Would my protocol still be optimum? Is it safe to assume my SHBG is on the high end? Im hoping cause frequent injections just arent doing it for me, and make me sluggish.

 

[fifty]

I would go back to once a week. Too many people overthink this crap. If it feels good do it.

 

[greenwaters]

I would go back to once a week. Too many people overthink this crap. If it feels good do it.

Thats what Im thinking. Im just hoping my SHBG doesnt show low. If it does, Im still going to every 5 days again.

 

[Systemlord]

Whenever you change your protocol whether it's a dosage change or frequency change, your body must adapt to the new change and it will takes 6 weeks for testosterone and estrogen to stabilize in the bloodstream, until then your levels will be fluctuating wildly and you will feel good off and on.

I increased my dosage 2 weeks ago and all my levels were sent into chaos and now have 4 more weeks before levels become stable, until then it's bouts of minor anxiety, feeling unwell, and even blood pressure fluctuations. As I get closer to 6 weeks I will start to notice I'm feeling better often as my levels become more and more stable as I near the 6 week mark.

I have SHBG on the lower end and inject 24mg every 2 days, otherwise estrogen is very high.

 

[fifty]

I get that but if you feel good initially, is it really worth feeling like crap for 4 weeks (or forever) on a new protocol?

Edit: Just saying some local guys I know switched to 2x/wk from the typical 1x/wk because they felt bad at the end of the week and instantly felt better 2x/wk. They didn’t make the switch to feel bad.

 

[CoastWatcher]

You wrote that you’ve not done a test to determine SHBG. What was your work-up like prior to the start of therapy?

You commented that you’ve been on a protocol for a month; how much of the positive feeling you had at the beginning may be the result of the honeymoon phenomenon? At the start of therapy, before you’re totally shut down there is a common burst of good feelings when exogenous and endogenous testosterone are having a hormone holiday and receptors are enjoying the jamboree. It never lasts, and the hard work starts.

 

[fifty]

In texas/dfw where low t centers are everywhere you usually get total T and psa for $50. Then they tell you you are low and put you on 100mg once a week.

 

[greenwaters]

You wrote that you’ve not done a test to determine SHBG. What was your work-up like prior to the start of therapy?

You commented that you’ve been on a protocol for a month; how much of the positive feeling you had at the beginning may be the result of the honeymoon phenomenon? At the start of therapy, before you’re totally shut down there is a common burst of good feelings when exogenous and endogenous testosterone are having a hormone holiday and receptors are enjoying the jamboree. It never lasts, and the. The hard work starts.

My testosterone is forever low, due to a pituitary tumor. May not ever produce again. Runs usually between 200-320. This doctor wasnt familiar with a SHBG test, cause he's alternative medicine. However, I save a lot of money cause my insurance cover the prescription, cause it gets sent to my pharmacy. When I do labs again, we plan on doing the SHBG. My DHEA, lipid, IGF, etc all in range. I've had these a few times done, due to my pituitary tumor. Its a must that have many of these checked at least once a year. Thyroid hormone low, but on treatment for that, and have been for over a year now. Its in range now, but only cause of meds. Prolactin slightly high, and on bromocriptine for that.

 

[Systemlord]

Thyroid hormone low, but on treatment for that, and have been for over a year now. Its in range now, but only cause of meds. Prolactin slightly high, and on bromocriptine for that.

By inrange you mean TSH and Free T3/Reverse T3?

 

[sh1973]

Once a week for me has always been better but I have higher shbg.

 

[greenwaters]

By inrange you mean TSH and Free TSH, T3/Reverse T3?

TSH Free T3 and reverse T3 have always been in range. My free T4 was the one that kept testing low, and prompt my endo to do a MRI of my pituitary. On levo for that, and thats now in range.

 

[Tommy Wall]

In the beginning especially when you start you may have a test rush at least it was for me 250mg every 3 week or so. I was a Superman for a while and than things went downhill until I changed my protocol by my own first to a weekly and then to biweekly. The main benefit was that my hemoglobin and hema went down to normal ranges and A2 was in a better range. Without you labs I think people will only be guessing.

 

[Systemlord]

TSH Free T3 and reverse T3 have always been in range.

Huge difference between low normal and high normal, both are in range. One would produce symptoms of hypothyroidism and the other would be optimal and no symptoms.

 

[TorontoTRT]

I went from 100 mg once a week, to 40 mg twice a week, every 3.5 days that completely sucked, and now I am at 72 mg every five days, and this seems to be the optimal protocol timewise. If you have your numbers for total testosterone, and free testosterone, you can estimate your SHGB this way, you don’t actually have to test for it Use the free test calculator.

 

[Straightnasty34]

I went from 100 mg once a week, to 40 mg twice a week, every 3.5 days that completely sucked, and now I am at 72 mg every five days, and this seems to be the optimal protocol timewise. If you have your numbers for total testosterone, and free testosterone, you can estimate your SHGB this way, you don’t actually have to test for it Use the free test calculator.

what formula do you use to estimate SHBG if I know total t and free t ?

 

[TorontoTRT]

Leave albumin as is, input total test and then plot in a number in SHGB until the free test field show your known free test number.
Free & Bioavailable Testosterone calculator

 

[Cataceous]

Leave albumin as is, input total test and then plot in a number in SHGB until the free test field show your known free test number.
Free & Bioavailable Testosterone calculator

Regrettably, this has a chance of working only in a narrow set of circumstances: free testosterone must be measured via equilibrium dialysis or ultrafiltration, and you then use the new TruT calculator. Or maybe you can use the Vermeulen calculator if you first multiply the free T test result by 2/3.

 

[TorontoTRT]

This has worked every time for me. Within +\- 0.5 points.

 

[Cataceous]

This has worked every time for me. Within +\- 0.5 points.

Which free T test is it, and what are the units?

 

[Fortunate]

I went from 100 mg once a week, to 40 mg twice a week, every 3.5 days that completely sucked, and now I am at 72 mg every five days, and this seems to be the optimal protocol timewise. If you have your numbers for total testosterone, and free testosterone, you can estimate your SHGB this way, you don’t actually have to test for it Use the free test calculator.

Really old thread, but I am intrigued by the every five day schedule. Larry P (may not be around here any more) mentioned in several threads he doses every five days as well. I am considering this. Does anyone else have an "unconventional" dosing schedule (conventional being defined as weekly, twice a week, daily, etc)?