You will probably need a higher dose that most considering your high SHBG levels so expect to raise that 140 over time. Considering you want to start trying in a year, 500iu hcg twice weekly will keep the boys working. Once you get the job done, you will want to get off the HCG for sure and, keep in mind, you will need to increase your dose of T to compensate the loss from the HCG. Do not under any circumstances take an AI. Continue to increase T dose slowly until over time until all your symptoms are resolved. If you can do EOD or ED shots then by all means do that as they will be better than twice weekly. You are in the same boat that I was a year ago.
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Thanks, I’ll stick to HCG then for now
I can do more frequent if there is an advantage to doing so. It would certainly be easier to do them SubQ if I’m going to be doing 3-4x a week though.
The doc said something similar regarding possibly needing a higher dose with SHBG that high. He is open to increasing but wants at least 6 weeks of me at this dose before I do more lab work and then go from there.
I’m getting married in 8 weeks so it would be really nice to have at least some improvements before then. Otherwise I’m going to have to abstain for like a week before the big day, haha
Daily SubQ will provide the best results by far. In 8 weeks time you should be feeling better. In the months that follow you should continue to see improvements.
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I am fine with doing daily sub Q if that is what will work best. I need to read more about where to inject though if doing that many shots per week.
Could I combine my test and HCG into the same shot on days where I’m taking both? That would be nice too
Not trying to get into the high vs low SHBG / few vs many shots per week debate fiasco. I just want to feel better.
You can combine them if you want to. I know a few guys who do. You can inject as of roughly 2 inches from the navel up to about six inches to either side. Always use a different spot. Lots of videos on YouTube about it.
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Sounds good, and I’ll find some videos on it to learn more.
My new toys showed up from empower today.
I guess tonight is the night I “officially” start
I’m still debating on sticking with the prescribed twice weekly IM dosing or going to every day subQ instead.
Seems to be a lot of love for every day injections
You guys really have me interested in the scrotal cream now. I may switch to that at some point if this helps.
Daily SubQ all the way. Night and day difference between twice weekly. You can even do EOD which is still better than twice weekly.
Daily subQ it is then. I guess I’m going to preload a weeks worth of syringes so I can just grab them and go
Did my first legit “prescribed” injection tonight.
I was actually nervous, fiance was watching me, and I forgot I was doing daily instead of twice weekly so I put too much test in the syringe. I was halfway through injecting before I realized it. Stopped at about 30mg. I’ll switch to 20mg tomorrow and continue on that.
I also managed to bend the needle for my HCG shot. I put the cap back on so I could get the testosterone shot ready and apparently didn’t put the cap on right
Overall that was a bit too eventful for me. Tomorrow I’m going to load up a weeks worth of syringes so I’m ready to go.
How do you guys handle it when traveling? Bring pre loaded syringes or vials and syringes? Pre loaded sounds easier. I’ll be gone for a week starting on Saturday. I’m going to skip the HCG while gone, l’ll take it before I leave and when I get back.
Toothbrush holders. Walmart or Target has them in with the travel size stuff by the pharmacy. Nice plastic tube to protect 'em.
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I’m going to try the toothbrush holder idea tonight, thanks. I’m headed to Alaska for a week tomorrow morning. I’m considering more HGC before I leave but I’m not taking it with me. I’ve also considered skipping it until I get back to see how I feel without but am afraid jumping around on protocols will cause more issues than it helps.
I feel like my emotions are turning back on. I’ve been numb for months, it’s weird to feel again. I don’t know if it’s the T or E or just sheer coincidence or in my head, but it’s… a lot.
Injection yesterday went off uneventfully. I’m doing 20mg per day now subq
Hopefully I feel a bit less all over the place in the coming weeks.
I’m continuing with 20mg per day subQ. Def did not want to jab myself last night after traveling from the east coast to Alaska and freezing my ass off in an RV that is home for the next week, but I did
No crazy changes with my inability to have morning sex apparently. That’s been super frustrating. Esp this morning after getting turned down last night when I was sure I’d be good to go in no time. Oh well.
I was good for 3 days in a row recently though so that’s better than usual lately.
Otherwise I feel same ol I guess. I am seriously wondering whether 20mg per day will be enough with my shbg that high but I guess we can only try and see what happens
@dbossa never ever take anastrozole? I know thousands of men that have been on anastrozole 10 years and they feel great and their lab work is great, most of them have moved to compounded T that has their anastrozole mixed in.
Did you crash your E2 and have a bad experience or something? That doesn’t mean anastrozole doesn’t have a place. You are the first person in over a decade that I have ever heard say that BTW, granted people tend to take too much so you have to tell them to not over do it, but there is nothing wrong with it if you need it.
Also not sure doing so many injections at first will help, no matter what it is going to take at least 6 weeks to reach steady state, and until then your levels are going to be up and down whether you inject QD, QOD, Q5D or Q7D.
First person in a decade? It’s because you remain in these bro science forums and are not caught up with the literature. AI is the worst thing you can put in your body. Do you have any good friends who are high level doctors in this field who only do evidence based medicine? Do you know any multiple PhD researchers that research only this field and send you studies every day? No.
Guys, it’s been fun, but my time here is up. I got through to a few of you due to the many Facebook messages I’ve receieved from guys who changed their protocol and finally feeling better. However, the rest are stuck on bro science, AI, clinical ranges, and other nonsense where no matter how often I demonstrate they are wrong they just want to stay stuck on stupid.
Keep your T in the clinical range. Take the AI. Do what you think is right. By all means. I’ll head back to the evidence based group, with actual physicians and researchers in it, and help the men there instead.
Good luck.
I own a TRT company been doing this for 10 years have thousands of clients, many docs.
@dbossa You are the only person spreading any bro-science.
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You’re doing it wrong. E2 has never been demonstrated to cause harm. Go look for a study that demonstrates it does because our researchers would love to see it. Then read what an AI does to the cardiovascular system, at any dose. You’re hurting your patients health. But keep doing that. Ten years of mistakes doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. There is no literature that warrants the use of an AI for TRT. None.
Good luck.
Actually E2 is probably what causes prostate cancer, and thats why the medical community was confused thinking it is testosterone that gives you prostate. As we age, the TT to E2 ratio changes, so it is most likely responsible.
Hurting patients health? I dare you to find someone with a better track record. Your advice is very cookie cutter, TRT is not a one size fits all.
Also just so you know, the literature you are referring to is on women and they are taking 1-10mg per day of anastrozole. Anastrozole doesn’t wreck your cholesterol, low E2 does. Thats why studies on men using aromasin show that cholesterol was not clinically affected. Testosterone and estradiol play a role in managing cholesterol and glucose, so if you drop your E2 too low, then your cholesterol will get wrecked. But thats not the anastrozole, you just took too much or maybe didnt need it in the first place.
I challenge you to provide your literature so I can show you what you are missing.
I am not saying all people need anastrozole, but some people do. So saying you should never ever take an AI is just blatantly false and bad advice. Each individual situation is different and may warrant adjustments, someone could be a hyper secreter and need more testosterone therefore needing an AI. Lots of reasons.
So you’re hurting peoples health reading this board with bad information.
Well, at least my topic is getting replies today?
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I’ve been taking T for about 3 weeks now consistently, and switched to defy’s protocol only about a week ago which wasn’t a huge change.
I hope I get some improvements in the next few weeks. So far I’m no better. I don’t think I’m worse, but still pretty much limited to sex every other day and the occasional marathon to reach the finish line
I know, be patient. I suspect I’m going to need a higher dose and or danazol but I guess we’ll see
I’m doing 20mg daily subQ right now and plan to continue with that.
I am somewhat interested in the creams that are getting a lot of attention lately. Seems a lot more convenient than stabbing myself every day