That simply does not work and a study in India showed that hCG could not be detected in the blood stream. Peptide hormones are simply too large to pass through skin, oral or nasal tissues. If injecting, there is no rational to avoiding hCG injections. Your doctor is scary. If you do as he directs, you can see if you can get a positive on a home pregnancy test, following the instructions. Also, hCG should prevent testes from shrinking on TRT and prevent scrotum retraction.
Vitamin D: Was that D3 or D25? If Vit-D25, you should be getting closer to optimal=60. Take 5000iu tiny oil based caps.
AST/ALT elevated from training and sore muscles?
E2 is low because fT–>E2 is low as fT is low.
SHBG is made in the liver and is too high. There is nothing that you can do to directly lower SHBG other than getting high T levels and keeping E2 near 22pg/ml.
PM cortisol is way too high, pointing to adrenal issues.
fT3 should be supporting good body temperatures, so elevated rT3 is suspected to be blocking fT3. So stress maybe a significant factor. Again, this is an adrenal issue and may be adrenal fatigue.
Read these stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category - #2 by KSman
- advice for new guys
- things that damage your hormones
- protocol for injections
- thyroid basics
- finding a TRT doc
High SHBG is inflating your TT by creating more T+SHBG, which is not bio-available. So FT is the better indicator of T status for you.
I assume that you have been using iodized salt to support thyroid function.
In thyroid basics sticky, note references to rT3, stress, adrenal fatigue, Wilson’s book.
Check that others get 98.6 on your thermometer to gain some accuracy confidence. What is waking temperature and mid-afternoon temperature?
Glucose and cholesterol need to be fasting.
Do AM cortisol, at 8AM