Hi everyone, first time posting here but have been reading the board for awhile.
Here goes:
M 46 yo
5’11, 185 lbs. Probably around 12-13% bf
I eat well, lift 4x a week, walk everyday, get a good amount of sleep, dont drink.
I started TRT in May of 2023 at 100 mg Test C once/week. Numbers in Dec of 2023 were (taken 7 days after inj)
Total T - 787
Free T 10.1
E2 - 31
SHBG - 75
all other bloodwork within range.
So my doc bunped it up to 125 mg/week to bring my free T up.
I never did have labs drawn on this protocol but in May of 2024 i started doing TRT on my own and changed to 70 mg/2x a week. So i bumped it up slightly. I didnt like how i felt -. I felt more agitated, anxious, but did have labs done with the following results (3.5 days after inj which was right before my 2nd one for the week)
Total T -1068
E2 - 40.
No SHBG was done so i didnt know my free T.
Everything else within range.
I went back to 125 mg once a week as i feel once a week suits me better and wondering what my free T was i had my labs drawn yesterday 6 days after injection:
Total T - 917
Free T - 15.2
SHBG - 55.
I feel pretty good but i dont feel like i am getting the full benefits of TRT. I tend to think my free T is low-ish.
So my question is does it seem like i should increase my dose in order to bring SHBG down and Free T up? If so, how much would anyone recommend?
Also, I have messed with an AI here and there. 1/8 of a tab kills my libido and makes my knees hurt for at least a week if not two.
Thanks for any input.
You should post the lab reference ranges so people have an idea of where your results stand.
For the latest blood draw:
Total T - 917 (264-916)
Free T - 15.2 (3.0-18.3)
SHBG - 55 (16.5 - 56)
So i am at the high end of all based on these ref ranges but i have always heard free T should be in the 20s and even 30s to really feel at your best. I know everyone is different however so the numbers arent always everything
What benefit do you believe you are missing out on?
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I guess i believe sleep could be better, could be a little less tired throughout the day, libido could be better
TRT probably isn’t going to make you sleep better.
For most, it increases apneas when sleeping.
Once at a replacement dose, I have not found that increasing test levels attributes to more energy.
I’m taking 500mg weekly. It’s not TRT.
My libido could be better too.
What I’m getting at, here, is that it sounds like you’ve got FOMO on things that just don’t exist, and you’re hoping that increasing your dose will fix it. Everything you said was “it could be better”… I mean, yeah… When there is no upward limit, there is no such thing as too much - I just don’t think you’ll get the changes you seek by doing this.
Test it out. Run your dose up to 200mg weekly and see if that changes things. It probably will… until the placebo effect wears off, then you’ll feel how you do right now.
I’m pretty sure you won’t feel a difference between 100mg weekly and 200mg weekly. Hell, I can’t feel a difference between 80mg weekly and 1,000 weekly, except for extra nose bleeds.