Weekly vs. more injections

[DDD]

I have been reading this form for some time but this is the first time I've joined and started asking questions. I've done this because I have been able to relate to a lot of the posts.

Does anyone on here take weekly injections, or have taken them? What was your experience?

I started on weekly injections of 200 and 150 milligrams and did fine for a few months with TT in the 800s to 1000s and free T above normal range. But then I started having estradiol issues and aromatization. I tried using AIs but I seem to be sensitive to them. I can do a .5mg, but I had to get a compounded .25mg pill that dissolves in your mouth.

Recently, I started trying more frequent injections at lower doses. Like 60 mgs twice weekly and now I'm trying 40 mgs E3D. But it doesn't seem to be working well. Having a difficult time getting energy an libido consistent.

Maybe this is too low? Any advice?

 

[ERO]

Twice weekly is what most of us do (one a week is outdated, as you get more stable levels of both T and E2 on a twice a week schedule), and yes you *may* be going too low. What is your Total and Free T and Ultra Sensitive E2 on 60/mg twice a week? If its only 5-600 then it's too low as most guys don't really "feel" TRT until they have a Total T of 700 or more.

 

[DDD]

My TT on 60 mgs twice a week was 832, FT 239 and E2 37 (standard scale, didn't have it measured on sensitive scale). But after about 3 weeks I didn't sense a raised libido so I went to 80mgs (.4cc) twice weekly and measured at TT 844, FT not measured, not sure why, E2 38 (standard).

So to get E2 down I went back to 60 mgs twice weekly but used a compounded anastrozole pill that dissolves in your mouth at .25mg 3x a week MWF. My numbers were TT 601, FT 123, and E2 at 30 I am not sure whether this was the standard or sensitive, but I think it was the ultra sensitive, not sure.

I have thought about trying Axiron thinking not applying the small amounts daily might keep my E2 in check, but as I said I had trouble absorbing a cream. Though I have read that creams do better with erectile function because they activate the DHT receptors in the skin better. Not sure if that's true.

I could post a graph of my various results of lab work over the last few months, if helpful. I've kept a record of my TT, FT, or E2, and my different doses.

 

[ERO]

Your E2 was/is too low, not too high. At 60mg twice a week with your Total T of 832 and E2 of 37 on the regular test likely means your E2 on the sensitive was maybe 27, maybe low 20s - which is too low to have a good libido and feel good. You want your T to E ratio to be between 14 and 20. To calculate take your Total T of 832 and divide by your E2 (you want the ultra sensitive E2 test - always, so this example is gonna be off because of that). So 832/37 = 22, which means your E2 is too low, even with the overstated number due to the wring E2 test.

If I were you, I'd go back to 60mg twice a week and 0.25 Anastrozole twice weekly - change nothing else for 4 weeks and then test again with the ultra sensitive test.

 

[Vince]

DDD, along with your T are you using hcg?

 

[CoastWatcher]

Your E2 was/is too low, not too high. At 60mg twice a week with your Total T of 832 and E2 of 37 on the regular test likely means your E2 on the sensitive was maybe 27, maybe low 20s - which is too low to have a good libido and feel good. You want your T to E ratio to be between 14 and 20. To calculate take your Total T of 832 and divide by your E2 (you want the ultra sensitive E2 test - always, so this example is gonna be off because of that). So 832/37 = 22, which means your E2 is too low, even with the overstated number due to the wring E2 test.

If I were you, I'd go back to 60mg twice a week and 0.25 Anastrozole twice weekly - change nothing else for 4 weeks and then test again with the ultra sensitive test.

Note the final thoughts: Change nothing else for 4 weeks and then test again with the ultra sensitive test. It is critically important to be patient. Don't change more than one thing at a time or you wind up with too many moving parts and no idea as to what is going on.

 

[DDD]

ERO, when I used the .25 mg anastrozole it knocked my TT down from 832 to 601. Wouldn't that be going in the opposite direction for consistent libido? I guess to summarize things, I've been frustrated since this summer when my E2 crashed to 5 and 10 on the standard scale. Since then I've had a difficult time getting back to a consistent regimen. Perhaps part of it, is I'm not patient. When I start on a certain dosage, it I sense my libido or arousal has decreased (usually due to E2), I freak out and wanted to change my regimen right away instead of waiting for another few weeks. So I changed a lot lately. Part of this change was switching to twice weekly (Mon and Thurs). I haven't felt that spike in libido that I normally would the day after an injection when I did once weekly. When my E2 was 37 on 6o mgs twice weekly, and 38 on 80 mgs twice weekly, I sensed libido issues and thought my E2 has too high. You're suggesting it was too low? How am I supposed to know? I know when I did once weekly injections and TT was 1000 or 1100 and E2 44 (standard), I felt pretty good.

I've kept record of all my lab numbers the past two years. I've going to attach them here. How do you do that? It's probably more info then you need, but it will help you to see the different regimen I've been on. I just want to find the right regimen, stick to it, get consistent libido, and get back to normal.

 

[DDD]

EROS, I sat down with the doc running the TRT clinic I go to and explained things to him that I haven't been able to get on a consistent regimen that keeps E2 levels and libido stable. He suggested either going back to 60 mg twice weekly or to the 150 mgs (.75cc) weekly. He wanted to try this with no AIs first. In the beginning of TRT, I did well on .75cc weekly. But after this summer, last time I did a .75cc my E2 was the highest it had ever been at 69 and I could tell. So I was scared to go back to .75cc, so I said let's try to the 60 mgs twice weekly first with no AI. So that's where I'm at now. But something just doesn't feel right and my erections don't seem strong. It's only been a week since I've gone back to 60 mg twice weekly though. But whenever I've had an erection or libido issue, it's always been an E2 issue, usually too high. So now I'm tempted to take some anastrozole, but I'm trying not to be impulsive and give it a couple weeks. I hope my explanations are making sense.

Also, I'm willing to hear the thoughts of anyone on the forum as well.

 

[DDD]

Vince, I don't use HCG. The TRT clinic doesn't usually use it unless it is a man wanting to keep his sperm in tact for having more children. Why do you ask? I have read about guys using it. I never have.

 

[DDD]

Coast Watcher, why do you stress the part about changing nothing for 4 weeks? Perhaps that is part of my problem. If I sense something is not right, or libido crashes, or my erections are effected--- I have a difficult time waiting 4 weeks. I want to change something right away.

 

[Vince]

Vince, I don't use HCG. The TRT clinic doesn't usually use it unless it is a man wanting to keep his sperm in tact for having more children. Why do you ask? I have read about guys using it. I never have.

Most seem to do better with hcg, much better libido and full testicles

 

[CoastWatcher]

Coast Watcher, why do you stress the part about changing nothing for 4 weeks? Perhaps that is part of my problem. If I sense something is not right, or libido crashes, or my erections are effected--- I have a difficult time waiting 4 weeks. I want to change something right away.

Serum levels take time to balance, to achieve a steady state. Four weeks is the standard that good doctors, doctors who understand TRT, will wait after any change in protocol before measuring effect. If you are adjusting doseage every time you "feel something" is amiss, you will never be happy on TRT. Symptoms are certainly important, but so is patience and testing. Let how you feel guide you and your doctor toward testing to confirm what is actually going on. I rely on Discountedlabs.com to self-test when I am uncertain about something, than call my doctor to discuss with her what adjustments might be necessary. Pay attention to your body, test, self-test when necessary, and be patient. In that order. Hormones take a bit of time to adjust.