Hi. Still very new to TRT. Would greatly appreciate advice/thoughts/insights from you pros.
Started JUNE 18 at 140 a week - 70mg q M/Th. HCG 350 q Tu/Fr.
Had issues with over stimulation and random anxiety/insomnia day after injection.
Per recs on this forum and talk with my Dr. lowered to 100mg/wk - 50mg x M/Th and same HCG.
Starting on 140 mg T/week split (70 mg every 3.5 days) + hCG 350IU twice weekly would most likely have your trough TT, FT, and e2 levels very high as your SHBG is only 22 nmol/L.
As you can clearly see from the labs you had done 4.5 weeks in (too soon!) on the newer protocol 100 mg T/week split (50mg every 3.5 days) + hCG although your trough TT is far from absurdly high your trough FT is on the higher end and keep in mind that your peak will be higher.
Still WAY too soon to claim any durable effect but subjectively I have noticed a 3-5/10 difference in energy, increase in morning erections and ability to get erections with porn. Much better if i get sleep. My schedule is crap and sleep is still inconsistent which Im sure is a big, big issue.
Of course as not only is your HPG axis shutting down but hormones will be in flux during the weeks leading up until blood levels fully stabilize (4-6 weeks) and it is common for many to experience ups/downs as the body is trying to adjust.
Even then once blood levels have stabilized it will take another 2-3 months for the body to adapt to those new levels and this is the critical time period when one should gauge how they truly feel overall regarding relief/improvement of low-t symptoms/overall well-being.
When starting trt or tweaking a protocol the first 6 weeks can be very misleading and means nothing when looking at the bigger picture.
Every protocol whether starting trt or tweaking a protocol (dose T/injection frequency) needs to be given a full 12 weeks before claiming it was a success or failure.
This is where many fail as they lack the understanding of how exogenous T works!
Otherwise, you are going to be caught up on that never-ending merry-go-round chasing your tail until the cows come home.
Much easier said than done but patience is key!
Labs at 4.5wk on 50mg 2x week [split 25mg shallow IM del and 25mg SC - M/Th each inj]. and hcg 350 T/Fr. Was rx'd anastrozole - Used at 0.5mg about 3 times during that 4.5wk, have now stopped:
Quest:
Trough day 4 before next shot.
TT via LCMS - 712 --[n=250-1100]
FT via dialysis - 136 --[n=35-155]
E2 ultrasens lcms - 18 --[n=<29]
SHBG - 22 -- [n=10-50]
Blood work should be done at the 6-week mark.
If anything most should start on a T only protocol to see how you react to testosterone and where said protocol (dose T/injection frequency) has your trough TT, FT, and estradiol levels let alone other blood markers such as CBC which includes RBCs/hemoglobin/hematocrit.
Eventually one could add in hCG if the goal is to minimize/prevent testicular atrophy let alone maintain fertility.
The use of an AI should be avoided when first starting as it may very well never be needed.
Seeing as you jumped on the AI (Was rx'd anastrozole - Used at 0.5mg about 3 times during that 4.5wk, have now stopped) we have no clue where your trough e2 truly sits on such protocol let alone it may have had a NEGATIVE impacted how you felt overall.
2 big mistakes you made off the hop were having blood work done 4.5 weeks in and jumping on the AI!
Top it all off that you never even gave the protocol a FIGHTING CHANCE as again 12 weeks is needed.
No point in fretting over such as it is too late now seeing as you did a complete 360 starting a low dose daily protocol.
I experienced a strong desire to inject more frequently for no real reason other than curiosity as well as Dr Sayas 'automobile' analogy. Plus theoretically at least it makes sense from a physiological pov.
On 7/26 I Started daily 16mg MWF and 14mg T, TH, Sat, Sun. = 104 mg /wk.
Been on that x1wk at this time.
Hard to believe you would bail out 4.5 weeks in and hop on dailies when you were already given sensible advice on a previous thread you started.
You should know that it will take 2-3 months for the body to adapt to a new protocol.
post #6
Just starting TRT. Having a rough start with anxiety and insomnia.
Now you have to restart over and wait for blood levels to stabilize let alone give it another 2 months to gauge how you truly feel overall.
An SHBG 22 nmol/L is far from being what would be considered absurdly low.
If you are dead set on dailies so be it but unfortunately you may have faired well on a twice-weekly protocol.
No need to follow the 16/14 mg injection schedule.....keep the dose consistent.
All I care about are subjective changes. I could care less what my numbers are.
Again when starting trt let alone tweaking a protocol (dose T/injection frequency) 12 weeks is needed in order to gauge how one truly feels overall regarding relief/improvement of low-T symptoms and overall well-being.
There is no quick fix here!
