So I started TRT summer or 2022 with a trial at a clinic. Before started my total test was 431 and I had brain fog, fatigue, unable to gain muscle, poor mood. I was also diagnosed type 2 in the spring and instantly changed my diet and my a1c went from 11 to 5.9. The Trt clinic was too expensive after the trial. I was pinning 100mg once a week and felt great. All terrible symptoms resolved.
When I quit and found a new online clinic they started me at 60mg twice a week. During that time I developed ED and zero libido. My E2 was elevated they put me in an AI and that didnāt help so I stopped. These are my labs from December as I was told to discontinue TRT to restart so the new clinic Iām at gave me 25 units of HCG 4x/weeks to see if that can help. No resolve below the belt. I had no issues prior to correcting my blood sugar or after correcting it. Wanted some input if possible. Thank you.
Itās actually quite common and worrisome. Some think itās E2 related, some think itās a shutdown of the entire pathway, some argue itās too much T in general.
Unfortunately a lot of people will come in and tell you about making sure to eat enough bananas daily, or do some tai chi, get enough fish oil, microdosing everyday, etc.
How long were you on AI? How much? And did you manage to get blood work? And what exactly do you mean by not working? As in nothing changed or it made it worse? I assume those bloods were from around the same time you took AI judging by E2 levels, if so what was your E2 prior to AI? What about when you added HCG? What was your E2 prior to starting TRT?
The twice a week shot is likely giving you less of a spike and actually more E2 than the larger dose weekly, as itās building up more. With the weekly shot, you have all week for your body to metabolize the E2.
I have notice over the years people with type 2 diabetes tend to need very frequent shots, daily or every other day. The E2 at 18 isnāt low enough to cause complete loss of libido and ED and thatās why I believe itās a problem with your protocol.
I would try 25 mg every other daily or 15 mg daily.
Just to be clear, I stopped the AI prior to this lab. My E2 was 61. Iāve thought of just stopping TRT which Iām in the process right now with just taking HCG but if I just stop I donāt believe my libido and ED will be corrected.
This might be a reason to inject small doses. A 431 Toal T might not be as bad for a non-type 2 diabetic, but for someone with metabolic syndrome, it might not be high enough.
Getting your A1C down might not necessarily mean your cured, only that your diabetes is controlled.
Losing fat mass, increasing muscle mass is how you reverse the disease.
Unfortunately in my case, both libido and erections were considerably worse during my whole 3 years on TRT. I am currently in the process of coming off as I could no longer justify the zero benefits I was receiving.
TRT just did not work for me. I had much better libido and erections with so called ādreafulā numbers than āoptimalā numbers.
At this early stage it may just be a protocol adjustment, however just letting you know my story as I spent 3 years trying everything, and nothing made any difference.
Well the diabetes is controlled which is great and all, The issue is no libido and ED which was never an issue until either I stopped cold Turkey or switched to twice a week injections
To be fair I am still early stages so cannot definitively say. I am 3 weeks in to my PCT and libido and erections have improved. However, will have to wait and see until I am off everything. By the end of next month I should have a better idea.
I recall @dextermorgan found that the adjustment period for a protocol change was 8 to 12 weeks vs 6 weeks.
Not to hijack this thread but wanted to share that Iām trying your twice a month protocol. The one major change after my first daytime 240 mg injection was that my sleep quality suddenly improved. Past two nights, 7 hours. No thrashing about. Seem to sleep in one position all night. Brain relatively quietā¦ Still on clonazepam, .5 to .75 mg, Getting off of it is the next challenge.
āsome think itās a shutdown of the entire pathwayā
I lean towards this diagnosis. The metabolites created during the pathway to testosterone synthesis are varied and are endocrinologically active androgenic messengers.
