Thanks @anon10035199
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Thanks @systemlord
Anyone know if there is any validity to the iodine patch test with a 2% tincture?
How could one know?
There is something to do with the absorption rate of the tincture based on your bodyās need for the iodine. If the area (stain) lasts for more than 4 hours then your body isnāt craving it. Not very scientific but a cheap test.
Edited title to be more general. Just tracking my journey but feel free to comment. I realize this isnāt perfect but I am feeling a lot better. I am less tired during the day and night. I am generally happier and WAY less bitchy. Patience is up. Fat is starting to drop a bit based on my belt and appearance.
Had my 200mg injection last night and labs planned for 14 days out at my PCPās request. I expect next week to be a little rough. As it is I start to get hot flashes on days 6 & 7 doing weekly injections. This was the docs request so trying to follow through. I am currently trying to find another doctor but the two compounding labs I reached out to havenāt gotten back to me so as of now Iām stuck with this doc.
This has been my schedule:
Testosterone Cypionate
(100mg/1ml every 2 weeks)
100mg/1ml - 10/24 @ 6:20p RQ
50mg/.5ml - 11/7 @ 9:30p RQ
50mg/.5ml - 11/14 @ 9:30p RQ
100mg/1ml - 11/21 @ 9:30p RQ
Doc upped T protocol after a 10% Test drop via bloods after 5 weeks.
(200mg/2ml every 2 weeks)
100mg/1ml - 11/28 @ 9:30p RQ
100mg/1ml - 12/5 @ 9:45pm RQ
100mg/1ml - 12/12 @ 9:45pm RQ
200mg/2ml - 12/19 @ 9:00pm RQ (labs in 14d)
He mentioned he may want me to see an endo and I assume if my number isnt up (which obv it wont be) he will push me in that direction. After reading the āStupid Things Docs Do and Sayā thread I am not too optimistic although there were a few decent ones in there.
Also, for what itās worth, I inject IM, right quad, with 25 gauge and draw with an 18 gauge.
This doctor is stupid! Unless youāre high SHBG injecting weekly we still see swings in levels from the beginning to end of the week. The fact that heās hinting that he might want to refer you to an endo suggests he knows heās in over his head, perhaps he forgot ādo no harmā.
He hasnāt ordered any other tests but Total Testosterone. I agree with the āin over the his head.ā And he did chuckle a little when I suggested I inject once a week instead of every 2.
Thatās the number one biggest red flag that a doctor has never had any experience with administering TRT. Heās unaware that we end up converting some of our Tā>E2 and without knowing where your SHBG is he could unknowingly be driving your SHBG down and if already low driven even lower. This is why I really didnāt feel anything on 200mg every 3 weeks, I ended up feeling better once the T was out of my system by the end of the 3rd week. My SHBG would start recovering by then. Testosterone affects so many other hormone levels, TT by itself means very little, FT matters more because itās the active hormone. Neither of those matter if your E2 is elevated because high E2 inhibits Tās effect at the receptor sites by E2 (clogging) binding up T receptors.
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Yeah I am not holding out much hope with him but he listened to me and got me started. I dont owe him anything but at least I am on a protocol and can try to find a new doc or maybe even a decent endo all the while at LEAST feeling a bit better.
Just an update:
Had blood work done yesterday and waiting on results. Just Testosterone test was ordered.
Found a local Endo I am going to get a referral for. Says he specialized in āDiabetes, obesity, and testosterone deficiencyā so lets see how this goes.
As noted above I did my docs recommendation an had my blood drawn on day 14 of my shot cycle. Usually I go every 7 days but wanted to give him the number he was looking for. Second week sucked worse each day as my T fell. Fighting with the wife, yelling at my kids, no patience, extreme fatigue. Wife and I kind of calmed down once we both remembered what was going on in my endocrine system.
Maybe placebo effect but I felt great within a few hours of the shot last night.
Total T = 265 ng/dl. Receptionist, āThe doctor said your testosterone is fine.ā
I guess the writing is on the wall here. Endo first and then a search for a new doctor.
Doctors that order only TT every check up are clueless, I recently told my doctor I had been feeling strange for weeks and she only ordered TT even after I told her of the high E2 symptoms.
Awful.
No change in trough blood test for testosterone only so doc upped it to 250mg every 14 days. I started with 125mg weekly but just today started with 62.5mg every 3.5 days. On every 7 days the last day or two of every week were kind of shitty. More bloods in 5 weeks and I have an Endo appt on 2/20.
Overall feeling much better. Every aspect of my life has improved. Family, work, motivation, overall happiness, libido, etc. So far so good. Regained a thirst for life which is weird to say but testosterone is just so powerful. Im amazed. I havenāt felt this good in 5 years.
I started TRT in late October last year @ 100mg E14D which I quickly switched to 50mg E7D. At that point my weight was around 220lb. Test was doubled to 100mg a week late in November. At that point I was about 224lbs. December through early January I got up to around 230lbs. This isnt normal holiday weight gain as I dont change up how/what I eat that much. Also to note I had ACL surgery mid October and aside from PT wasnāt getting to the gym much in November but started back up again late December. All of my clothes fit relatively the same.
This morning on the scale I was at 235.5lbs which is up 5lbs from just a few weeks ago, but up 15lbs from the start of TRT. I weigh every morning at the same time. Im not a slave to the number, just another data point, but this seems to be a significant gain. It seems to be all lean gain as my gut is marginally smaller (I think).
My lifts are all coming back after being out for a couple of months. I started off slow to avoid injury. Any knee-centric lifts (squats mainly) I had to really bottom out due to the knee surgery but even those are coming up now.
I guess my question is, has anyone else experienced relatively quick lean gains (90 days) but not seen much fat loss at all? If so is this indicative of anything?
Preformatted textI gained 6 pounds in 1 month. My stomach is fatter then ever. Weight seems in my upper belly.i think some bloat but mostly fat. Not happy.
Youāre 4 weeks in right? I went through this as well. Hang in there. Just caught up on your log and it looks like you are due for labs next week? Keep us posted.
Did you move away from E6D to every 3.5 days? I notice I am much more even keel since doing that. I dont know if its E or just the steady T at this point.
Thanks so much for your comment and reading my story. You know I have no one else to talk about my experience that understands. Yes! I will be taking labs next week. Dr appt week after. I stuck to E6D. Most days are good I have to say. Certain nights I get palpitations, which I gather are from the ups and downs of hormones. After labs and Dr visit I will make adjustments. I will take labs on 6th day b4 shot.