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Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Testosterone Basics & Questions
My notes on Empower nasal T gel experiment
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<blockquote data-quote="BigBeard411" data-source="post: 231744" data-attributes="member: 43898"><p>I am considering that too, for a few reasons: </p><p></p><p>1. When I first tried Natesto, it was absolutely obvious that it was working. Every benefit of TRT appeared - even my driving improved (no longer having brain fog)</p><p>This rules out variation in nasal absorption that may be inherent in each individual and shows I can absorb it effectively (unless some unknown change occured)</p><p></p><p>2. I have mentioned in the past that variance in the tubes and volume of dispensed gel exists. Sometimes the tube would become very hard to depress and at the same time a very small amount of gel would come out, compared to when the tube has been used only a few times.</p><p>Is this a defect in manufacturing? Is it possible I am getting low-dose or defective tubes through the company's discount program? Is it even possible the pharmacy may be involved in this? I don't know, but the tubes are definitely not consistent.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Considering how much TRT helped me when it did work, I am considering injectables, but only if I can take hCG to avoid HPTA shutdown - I need to preserve fertility. This will depend on what my doctor agrees to and what it would cost me. Currently paying $140 per month for Natesto.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The doctor usually draws many markers during blood tests. I do not take any supplement other than Vitamin D. I realized I have to take 10,000 IU daily to maintain a level of 60 (forgot the units). Past few months I dropped the dosage to 5,000 IU and my levels fell to 40.</p><p></p><p>So you did not see any benefit in using Natesto too in terms of increasing Total and free T? What was your pre-TRT level of Total T and LH? </p><p></p><p>Before I began TRT, my total Test at 2PM was about 293 and my LH was 4.9</p><p>I also had slightly elevated prolactin so I went to an Endo and they had me come off Natesto for 2 weeks (3 weeks into it) and they retested my hormones in the AM. Prolactin came back normal, and Test came back at ~430, with LH at 2.9. </p><p>Now my latest results taken in the AM after 3 months on Natesto without interruption and dosing 45 minutes prior to blood-draw shows Total T at ~400 and LH at 3.0</p><p></p><p>It seems my LH suppression (can I even call it that?) stabilized, from 4.9 pre-TRT to 3.0. Is this a true suppression or can it be due to natural variation?</p><p>If it is indeed suppression, it is very possible in the first 2-3 weeks into TRT, my LH was higher, and therefore Total T was higher while using Natesto, which would explain why I felt so much better early on. Afterward, LH goes down and now Natesto is doing a poor job of elevating my T as there is less additive T from TRT + Natural production.</p><p></p><p>However, even this explanation makes no sense because my bloodwork with 2 weeks off of Natesto after the initial 3-week supplementation showed the same Total T as I had after dosing within 1 hour with Natesto, 3 months into TRT (430 vs 400, respectively), AND, I would argue that these are the same exact levels even pre-TRT when my LH was at 4.9 - the T that came back ~290, but blood was taken mid-day.</p><p></p><p>I just don't know how to make sense of any of this. The only rational conclusion is that Natesto does absolutely nothing?</p><p>Is it not weird my estradiol fell to 15 from 25 pg/mL after being on TRT for 3 months? </p><p>And that my total T levels are virtually unchanged even when adding exogenous testosterone?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BigBeard411, post: 231744, member: 43898"] I am considering that too, for a few reasons: 1. When I first tried Natesto, it was absolutely obvious that it was working. Every benefit of TRT appeared - even my driving improved (no longer having brain fog) This rules out variation in nasal absorption that may be inherent in each individual and shows I can absorb it effectively (unless some unknown change occured) 2. I have mentioned in the past that variance in the tubes and volume of dispensed gel exists. Sometimes the tube would become very hard to depress and at the same time a very small amount of gel would come out, compared to when the tube has been used only a few times. Is this a defect in manufacturing? Is it possible I am getting low-dose or defective tubes through the company's discount program? Is it even possible the pharmacy may be involved in this? I don't know, but the tubes are definitely not consistent. Considering how much TRT helped me when it did work, I am considering injectables, but only if I can take hCG to avoid HPTA shutdown - I need to preserve fertility. This will depend on what my doctor agrees to and what it would cost me. Currently paying $140 per month for Natesto. The doctor usually draws many markers during blood tests. I do not take any supplement other than Vitamin D. I realized I have to take 10,000 IU daily to maintain a level of 60 (forgot the units). Past few months I dropped the dosage to 5,000 IU and my levels fell to 40. So you did not see any benefit in using Natesto too in terms of increasing Total and free T? What was your pre-TRT level of Total T and LH? Before I began TRT, my total Test at 2PM was about 293 and my LH was 4.9 I also had slightly elevated prolactin so I went to an Endo and they had me come off Natesto for 2 weeks (3 weeks into it) and they retested my hormones in the AM. Prolactin came back normal, and Test came back at ~430, with LH at 2.9. Now my latest results taken in the AM after 3 months on Natesto without interruption and dosing 45 minutes prior to blood-draw shows Total T at ~400 and LH at 3.0 It seems my LH suppression (can I even call it that?) stabilized, from 4.9 pre-TRT to 3.0. Is this a true suppression or can it be due to natural variation? If it is indeed suppression, it is very possible in the first 2-3 weeks into TRT, my LH was higher, and therefore Total T was higher while using Natesto, which would explain why I felt so much better early on. Afterward, LH goes down and now Natesto is doing a poor job of elevating my T as there is less additive T from TRT + Natural production. However, even this explanation makes no sense because my bloodwork with 2 weeks off of Natesto after the initial 3-week supplementation showed the same Total T as I had after dosing within 1 hour with Natesto, 3 months into TRT (430 vs 400, respectively), AND, I would argue that these are the same exact levels even pre-TRT when my LH was at 4.9 - the T that came back ~290, but blood was taken mid-day. I just don't know how to make sense of any of this. The only rational conclusion is that Natesto does absolutely nothing? Is it not weird my estradiol fell to 15 from 25 pg/mL after being on TRT for 3 months? And that my total T levels are virtually unchanged even when adding exogenous testosterone? [/QUOTE]
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Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Testosterone Basics & Questions
My notes on Empower nasal T gel experiment
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