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Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Blood Test Discussion
My TRT Odyssey: Lab Results and More
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<blockquote data-quote="FunkOdyssey" data-source="post: 272190" data-attributes="member: 44064"><p>I'm back on TRT after recording my lowest ever free T recently and getting super lucky with a last hail mary attempt using a new formula. Briefly, my history is as follows:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">43 years old with hypogonadal symptoms (all of them) since forever, low free T (6.5 ng/dl)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tried testosterone cypionate in doses ranging from 70-105 mg weekly for several months<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reached 10-13 ng/dl free T, E2 basically unchanged from baseline (mid 20s pg/ml)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mood and energy improved</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Worse sexual function</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Anxiety, overstimulation, sometimes elevated HR and BP</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Insomnia</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Brain fog / impaired cognition / memory and word recall problems</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Worsened laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Major hair loss</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Briefly tried testosterone propionate 8-10 mg daily<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I think cognition was better</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Everything else the same</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gave up and went off TRT for months</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tried 20% testosterone cream, 100 - 150 mg (2-3 clicks) daily<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reached 22 ng/dl free T, 53 pg/ml E2, 370 ng/dl DHT</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Major improvement in libido and sexual function</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Good / normal cognition</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Massive deal-breaking indigestion / gastritis / GERD<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">DHT somehow?</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gave up and went off TRT for months</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tested Free T at 5 ng/dl and decided to try one last time, testing a hunch about excipients</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">8 weeks ago, started Hikma T enanthate at 40 mg EOD (140 mg weekly)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reached 17 ng/dl Free T, 43 pg/ml E2</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mood and energy improved</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">More nocturnal erections, otherwise sexual function unchanged</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">No side effects!!!!!!!!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cognition possibly better than normal</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Some actual gains in response to exercise</li> </ul></li> </ul><p>Here are my baseline and 8 week labs:</p><table class='post-table ' style='width: 100%'><tr><td ><p><strong>Test</strong></p></td><td ><p><strong>10/13/2023</strong></p></td><td ><p><strong>12/19/2023</strong></p></td><td ><p><strong>Normal Range</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>Total Testosterone</p></td><td ><p>606 ng/dL</p></td><td ><p>893 ng/dL</p></td><td ><p>250 - 1100 ng/dL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>Free Testosterone (EqD)</p></td><td ><p>51.5 pg/mL</p></td><td ><p>168.8 pg/mL</p></td><td ><p>35 - 155 pg/mL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>Free Testosterone (calc)</p></td><td></td><td ><p>17.3 ng/dL</p></td><td></td></tr><tr><td ><p>SHBG</p></td><td></td><td ><p>44 nmol/L</p></td><td ><p>10 - 50 nmol/L</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>Estradiol (ultrasensitive)</p></td><td ><p>22 pg/mL</p></td><td ><p>43 pg/mL</p></td><td ><p><= 29 pg/mL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>DHT</p></td><td ><p>56 ng/dL</p></td><td ><p>66 ng/dL</p></td><td ><p>12 - 65 ng/dL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>Prolactin</p></td><td></td><td ><p>5.2 ng/dL</p></td><td ><p>2 - 18 ng/dL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>DHEA Sulfate</p></td><td></td><td ><p>112 mcg/dL</p></td><td ><p>61 - 442 mcg/dL</p></td></tr></table><table class='post-table ' style='width: 100%'><tr><td ><p>IGF-1</p></td><td ><p>93 ng/mL</p></td><td ><p>118 ng/mL</p></td><td ><p>52 - 328 ng/mL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>PSA</p></td><td></td><td ><p>0.79 ng/mL</p></td><td ><p><= 4.00 ng/mL</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>TSH</p></td><td></td><td ><p>2.51 mIU/L</p></td><td ><p>0.40 - 4.50 mIU/L</p></td></tr><tr><td ><p>Hematocrit</p></td><td ><p>43.3%</p></td><td ><p>41.8%</p></td><td ><p>38.5 - 50%</p></td></tr></table> First, I am thrilled to have discovered a form of TRT that I actually feel good on. My personal experience, my close friend's experience, and various anecdotes I've seen indicate a DRASTICALLY different experience of TRT using Hikma enanthate versus compounded cypionate. I've explored hypotheses around excipients (benzyl benzoate/benzyl alcohol) and ester differences at length elsewhere.</p><p></p><p>I am for the first time on TRT feeling overall better and more healthy than when not on TRT, to the point that if this were as good as it gets, I would stay on it indefinitely. However, I suspect this is not as good as it gets. For one, I have only been on a couple months. Second, most of the practitioners I follow aim for higher free T values than I have achieved. For example, some notes I recorded from Dave Lee's TRT 101 book after translating the units to be American-friendly:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>When initiating treatment likes to bring free T to 17 to 29 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Younger men do better with higher levels, older men better with lower levels </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Lowest free T observed in a dialed in man was 16 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Highest free T in dialed in men: 43 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Personally he does best between 38 – 43 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Majority of his clients sit around 26 – 35 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Very few clients do well with free T below 20 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Decent handful of clients start to get negative sides above 32 – 35 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Equal number of clients don't receive much benefit until free T is above 35 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Most men over 60 do best with 17 – 26 ng/dl </em></em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em><em>Men under 25 do best with 35 – 43 ng/dl </em></em></li> </ul><p>I seem to be a below-average responder with my 17 ng/dL EOD SC trough value on 140 mg weekly. It would probably take a heroic dose for me to reach some of those ranges listed above. I'm not sure how far Defy will support me increasing the dose should it exceed 200 mg weekly.</p><p></p><p>At the moment though, Defy's instructions are to increase dose to 50 mg EOD (175 mg weekly). That should result in a free T around 21 ng/dL at trough if things remain proportionate. We'll see what that does for me. I am hoping for some of the libido I had on cream, and more gains in size and strength, without losing the overall feeling of well-being I have currently.</p><p></p><p>I have already increased from a skinny 6'6" 190 lbs to 200 lbs in the last two months with consistent workouts. I alternate a Stronglifts 5x5 program with HIIT and Zone 2 rides on my Peloton bike. I don't want to talk about the specific weights I'm using because they are still embarrassing but I have added 50 lbs on the major lifts.</p><p></p><p>I'm wondering if I should do anything about my sad DHEA-S and IGF-1 values. I am open to trying MK-677 and already purchased some. Though I don't want to muddy the waters by adding DHEA while I'm dialing in TRT, it seems like that might be worth trying at some point, especially for libido.</p><p></p><p>I welcome your thoughts and comments as I proceed on my journey.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FunkOdyssey, post: 272190, member: 44064"] I'm back on TRT after recording my lowest ever free T recently and getting super lucky with a last hail mary attempt using a new formula. Briefly, my history is as follows: [LIST] [*]43 years old with hypogonadal symptoms (all of them) since forever, low free T (6.5 ng/dl) [*]Tried testosterone cypionate in doses ranging from 70-105 mg weekly for several months [LIST] [*]Reached 10-13 ng/dl free T, E2 basically unchanged from baseline (mid 20s pg/ml) [*]Mood and energy improved [*]Worse sexual function [*]Anxiety, overstimulation, sometimes elevated HR and BP [*]Insomnia [*]Brain fog / impaired cognition / memory and word recall problems [*]Worsened laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms [*]Major hair loss [/LIST] [*]Briefly tried testosterone propionate 8-10 mg daily [LIST] [*]I think cognition was better [*]Everything else the same [/LIST] [*]Gave up and went off TRT for months [*]Tried 20% testosterone cream, 100 - 150 mg (2-3 clicks) daily [LIST] [*]Reached 22 ng/dl free T, 53 pg/ml E2, 370 ng/dl DHT [*]Major improvement in libido and sexual function [*]Good / normal cognition [*]Massive deal-breaking indigestion / gastritis / GERD [LIST] [*]DHT somehow? [/LIST] [/LIST] [*]Gave up and went off TRT for months [*]Tested Free T at 5 ng/dl and decided to try one last time, testing a hunch about excipients [*]8 weeks ago, started Hikma T enanthate at 40 mg EOD (140 mg weekly) [LIST] [*]Reached 17 ng/dl Free T, 43 pg/ml E2 [*]Mood and energy improved [*]More nocturnal erections, otherwise sexual function unchanged [*]No side effects!!!!!!!! [*]Cognition possibly better than normal [*]Some actual gains in response to exercise [/LIST] [/LIST] Here are my baseline and 8 week labs: [TABLE][TR][TD] [B]Test[/B] [/TD] [TD] [B]10/13/2023[/B] [/TD] [TD] [B]12/19/2023[/B] [/TD] [TD] [B]Normal Range[/B] [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] Total Testosterone [/TD] [TD] 606 ng/dL [/TD] [TD] 893 ng/dL [/TD] [TD] 250 - 1100 ng/dL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] Free Testosterone (EqD) [/TD] [TD] 51.5 pg/mL [/TD] [TD] 168.8 pg/mL [/TD] [TD] 35 - 155 pg/mL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] Free Testosterone (calc) [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 17.3 ng/dL [/TD] [TD] [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] SHBG [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 44 nmol/L [/TD] [TD] 10 - 50 nmol/L [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] Estradiol (ultrasensitive) [/TD] [TD] 22 pg/mL [/TD] [TD] 43 pg/mL [/TD] [TD] <= 29 pg/mL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] DHT [/TD] [TD] 56 ng/dL [/TD] [TD] 66 ng/dL [/TD] [TD] 12 - 65 ng/dL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] Prolactin [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 5.2 ng/dL [/TD] [TD] 2 - 18 ng/dL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] DHEA Sulfate [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 112 mcg/dL [/TD] [TD] 61 - 442 mcg/dL [/TD][/TR][/TABLE] [TABLE][TR][TD] IGF-1 [/TD] [TD] 93 ng/mL [/TD] [TD] 118 ng/mL [/TD] [TD] 52 - 328 ng/mL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] PSA [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 0.79 ng/mL [/TD] [TD] <= 4.00 ng/mL [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] TSH [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 2.51 mIU/L [/TD] [TD] 0.40 - 4.50 mIU/L [/TD][/TR] [TR][TD] Hematocrit [/TD] [TD] 43.3% [/TD] [TD] 41.8% [/TD] [TD] 38.5 - 50% [/TD][/TR][/TABLE] First, I am thrilled to have discovered a form of TRT that I actually feel good on. My personal experience, my close friend's experience, and various anecdotes I've seen indicate a DRASTICALLY different experience of TRT using Hikma enanthate versus compounded cypionate. I've explored hypotheses around excipients (benzyl benzoate/benzyl alcohol) and ester differences at length elsewhere. I am for the first time on TRT feeling overall better and more healthy than when not on TRT, to the point that if this were as good as it gets, I would stay on it indefinitely. However, I suspect this is not as good as it gets. For one, I have only been on a couple months. Second, most of the practitioners I follow aim for higher free T values than I have achieved. For example, some notes I recorded from Dave Lee's TRT 101 book after translating the units to be American-friendly: [LIST] [*][I][I]When initiating treatment likes to bring free T to 17 to 29 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Younger men do better with higher levels, older men better with lower levels [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Lowest free T observed in a dialed in man was 16 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Highest free T in dialed in men: 43 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Personally he does best between 38 – 43 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Majority of his clients sit around 26 – 35 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Very few clients do well with free T below 20 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Decent handful of clients start to get negative sides above 32 – 35 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Equal number of clients don't receive much benefit until free T is above 35 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Most men over 60 do best with 17 – 26 ng/dl [/I][/I] [*][I][I]Men under 25 do best with 35 – 43 ng/dl [/I][/I] [/LIST] I seem to be a below-average responder with my 17 ng/dL EOD SC trough value on 140 mg weekly. It would probably take a heroic dose for me to reach some of those ranges listed above. I'm not sure how far Defy will support me increasing the dose should it exceed 200 mg weekly. At the moment though, Defy's instructions are to increase dose to 50 mg EOD (175 mg weekly). That should result in a free T around 21 ng/dL at trough if things remain proportionate. We'll see what that does for me. I am hoping for some of the libido I had on cream, and more gains in size and strength, without losing the overall feeling of well-being I have currently. I have already increased from a skinny 6'6" 190 lbs to 200 lbs in the last two months with consistent workouts. I alternate a Stronglifts 5x5 program with HIIT and Zone 2 rides on my Peloton bike. I don't want to talk about the specific weights I'm using because they are still embarrassing but I have added 50 lbs on the major lifts. I'm wondering if I should do anything about my sad DHEA-S and IGF-1 values. I am open to trying MK-677 and already purchased some. Though I don't want to muddy the waters by adding DHEA while I'm dialing in TRT, it seems like that might be worth trying at some point, especially for libido. I welcome your thoughts and comments as I proceed on my journey. [/QUOTE]
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Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Blood Test Discussion
My TRT Odyssey: Lab Results and More
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