Need help dialing in protocol

[firewater]

History: 1 year on TRT

SHBG: 20-23 post TRT, 35 pre TRT

Protocol: was initially on 150 mg per week, 500 IU HCG. I could never dial it in with an AI, so in the past 3 months I tried to lower my dose in order to find a protocol that works without an AI.

Starting August, I went down to 100 mg of test, 500 IU HCG, split into twice a week.

I got a blood test at trough during week 6 of 100mg, and my TT was 800, e2 at 19. I was not able to get a full erection even with cialis, was very irritable/angry, and I was a lot more dry looking and veiny.

I've been on 120 mg now for a month, and my libido and EQ is still pretty spotty. Should I just ride it out for another month or so? Any advice?

 

[Vince]

Can you put more labs? Also it's nice when you post labs you post the ranges.

 

[firewater]

@Vince,

TT 800
SBHG 20
e2 sensitive 19.5 (8-35 pg/mL)
Prolactin 7.5 (4-15.2)
DHEA-S 260 (138-475)
DHT 31 (no range but this looks normal)
T3 free 3.9 (2-4.4)
TSH 1.19 (0.45 - 4.5)

 

[Vince]

Did you do Labs on injection day before you injected.

 

[firewater]

Did you do Labs on injection day before you injected.

Yep, taken before injection

 

[Vince]

Your estrogen is on the low side, you may want to supplement with DHEA, to increase both estrogen and DHEA. Because you're injecting once a week it looks like it lowered your shbg, I definitely would inject at least twice a week.

 

[firewater]

Yep, I do think my e2 is low for 100 split. Those labs were from 7 weeks ago. I started 120 split a month ago, and plan to get labs this week.

Bit hesistant about adding DHEA right now since I have labs on Friday and would prefer to not add anything else in the mix. If my labs Friday show my e2 as perfect (in mid 20s), should I just wait it out a few more weeks to see if libido and eq improves?

 

[Vince]

I agree I wouldn't change anything right before labs. I would look into it though. I really believe your estrogen is too low. I've enjoyed my total trt experience but I feel now that I'm totally dial in.

My protocol is 16 mg of testosterone cypionate daily, 500 iu of HCG twice a week, 25 mg of DHEA, 10mg of pregnenolonea and no AI. Since going to daily injections I've haven't had to donate blood.

Testosterone serum 1117 ng/dL range 264 - 916
Free T 30.3 pg/mL range 6.6 - 18.1
DHEA - Sulfate 347.3 range 48.9 - 344.2
Estradiol, Sensitive 29.5 range 8.0 - 35.0
SHBG 48.8 range 19.3 - 76.4
HCT 47.9 range 37.5 - 51.0

 

[firewater]

Yep, I agree with you. I do think my E2 is also low. I'm trying to get a trough of mid 20s.

Do you know if an increase in test also gets a similar increase for e2?

ie. 100 mg test gets me 19.5 e2. Would a 20% increase in test bump my e2 up around 20%?

Previously on a higher dose, I also did a split set up for 150 mg. EQ was great but spotty, however, my sleep quality was really bad. I also had to donate blood every 2 months, which is why I lowered it.

 

[Vince]

Yes E follows T. When someone increases their testosterone they also increase their estrogen. When I had my testosterone at 500 I had extremely low estrogen.