options for testosterone protocol change

[LTChris]

My current protocol is
.25ml (50mg) E3.5D test cyp.
35ml (350 ui) E3.5D HCG
.25mg DHEA Daily

labs after just over 6 weeks, fasting, trough, labcorp:

Total T: 956
Free T: 22
DHEA: 379
E sensitive: 26

Labs look great on paper. Overall feeling better. I have about 2 days a week that I am completely fatigued and worthless. It seems to fall on injection day or the following day.

I am assuming it is due to Estradiol spike. I need suggestions on how to proceed. I am thinking of one of the 3 options:

1 - Maintain injection frequency and drop weekly testosterone from current 100mg to 90 mg
2 - Introduce AI to the equation on injection day (i have a .15mg prescription that I haven't used, hoping to avoid)
3 - Increase frequency to daily testosterone injection (drop to maybe .06 or .07 ml injection) 84 or 98 mg weekly

Any thoughts or suggestion on course of action?

 

[CoastWatcher]

I would be startled if your estradiol is spiking. E follows T, both up and down. If your trough level is 26 it wouldn't jump to 40 (hypothetically) a few hours after your injection since, due to the ester, you aren't pushing T into orbit within a few hours. If you want to be certain you could draw for peak levels and check. Are you a high or low SHBG guy? That can impact this. This is is a consistent issue? Besides fatigue do you notice loss of libido or erectile challenges?

When is your Defy consultation?

 

[LTChris]

high shbg. libido and erection ok. don't know if it is libido lags on those days or just fatigue

 

[LTChris]

as far as consistency. not every day. a couple of days every week. had a consult this morning

 

[CoastWatcher]

as far as consistency. not every day. a couple of days every week. had a consult this morning

What where their thoughts?

 

[LTChris]

try adjusting down testosterone some to find sweet spot.

also on westhyroid about six weeks - 1 gr.

we are going to let that play out longer - no perceived benefits yet

free t4 - 1.4 .8 - 1.7 ng-ml
free t3 - 2.9 2.0 - 4.4 pg/ml

labcorp

 

[LTChris]

I am just not sure how I could feel so great some days of the week and then have days where I'm just completely miserable, feel like i am walking through water all day.

i assume it had to do with test/e cycle

 

[Vince Carter]

Fatigue and faded (my word) on injection day/day after would lead me to believe that your protocol needs adjusted to your SHBG. Have you had that pulled since you've been on Cyp? And what's the lab range for that Free T = 22?

 

[LTChris]

Free T 22 8.7 - 25.1 range pg/ml
shbg 52.3 16.5 - 55.9 nmol/l

both labs same date on cyp about 3 months

 

[CoastWatcher]

If your estradiol/sensitive is in the mid-20s at trough, it isn't going to be in the mid-50s at your peak, or anywhere near that, only to drop back to a comfortable spot a few days later (and then repeat the process week in/week out). I would certainly not add an AI - not with the numbers you're posting. I just wonder, as Vince Carter suggested, if SHBG isn't mixed up in this in some form or fashion. Didn't you have some e2 concerns last winter, or am I confused? Is that why you have the AI prescription?

 

[LTChris]

it was a concern. that is why i stopped pellets and changed to cyp. i have been trying to get protocol dialed in since then

 

[LTChris]

the ai was as needed. i was trying not to add another variable to the equation

 

[madman]

I am just not sure how I could feel so great some days of the week and then have days where I'm just completely miserable, feel like i am walking through water all day.

i assume it had to do with test/e cycle

Highly doubt you would get an estradiol spike from 50mg injection. Fatigue can be related to many factors especially the thyroid.

 

[LTChris]

perhaps I will just stay the course and give the thyroid meds more time to work

 

[Vince]

E sensitive: 26, definitely not high. If you're using an AI, maybe it time to stop. I would considered letting your estradiol levels increase some and see how you feel.

 

[LTChris]

E sensitive: 26, definitely not high. If you're using an AI, maybe it time to stop. I would considered letting your estradiol levels increase some and see how you feel.

i have not used ai yet

 

[Vince]

i have not used ai yet

Personally I supplement with DHEA to increase my E2. I take 35mg of DHEA daily, I believe I need it to keep my estradiol levels in a good place.

 

[LTChris]

interesting. i take 25 mg DHEA daily now, maybe I should look into an increase

 

[Vince]

interesting. i take 25 mg DHEA daily now, maybe I should look into an increase

It wouldn't hurt to try, I'm thinking of increasing to 50mg.