Update - Apologize for the delay. I restarted TRT w a new protocol completely and I feel much better. Old protocol was 150mg once per week of Test C. As originally stated, that lasted about 8 years before I really started feeling like crap. Current state, I’m doing 80mg split into two shots per week, 250iu of HCG twice a week, and 1/8th of a mg of Anastrozole twice a week. This puts my total test at about 800 ng/dl and free T around 120 (top of the range for Quest). My E2 is 20 and the biggest change I’ve seen since adding the HCG is that my DHEA went up to 380 from the mid-100s. I feel this has had a huge impact on my stress response and overall anxiety levels. Last, my ferritin still sucks. After many weeks off from TRT, and adding an iron supplement, ferritin is still sitting at 12. However, I feel good overall. I assume the fact that I take Nexium daily is effecting my ability to absorb iron. Not ideal, but I have grade C (severe) esophogitis regardless of what I eat and when. I’ve looked into a fundiplication surgery and may have that done later this year. Really on the fence about it as it’s a pretty impactful surgery in the short term.
How is libido and erections?
Big question is how long you been on this new protocol?
Great. Feel consistent - no major ups or downs. Just in a good place. First time in a long time that I can’t complain about anything protocol related.
Coming up on 8 weeks. I waited around 5 weeks before getting labs. Very happy that my adrenals responded so well to the HCG. My DHEA-S was always in the 300s for about the first six years of my original protocol until it dropped into the 100s. Supplementation didn’t help at all as I tried micronized and transdermal versions but labs didn’t change until HCG was added.
Interesting. So in summary:
Greatly reduced dose of T
Split into twice a week
Add in HCG
???
Yes, reduced T to about half of what I had been taking and split into two doses. Added HCG and tiny bit of anastrozole (i’m on the fence on whether I need this or not still) 1/8th of a mg from a compounding pharmacy.
I think you’ve touched on the major “level conundrum” in the whole of TRT: many people FEEL better at lower levels (ie the low end of “normal”) but they dont LOOK better or LIFT better at those levels.
If it were just about how we FEEL I’m not sure anyone would need enhanced TRT or cycles.
Yeah can’t speak for everyone but I hold onto a lot of muscle mass at this level. I assume due to the fact that my free test stays at the top of the range.
What intrigues me is the guys who feel like god on a full on blast. Some of us are here dying in differences of 20-50 mg more or less a week of TRT, while others blast 500 mg and feel amazing and “my wife can’t keep up with me”
How do some of us realistically blast if we were to do it?
There was a time…I could pull off a blast during my first four years of TRT and feel great. The only thing I came up with is the change to my DHEA as to why I had to lower my dose in such a drastic way and can’t even think about a blast anymore. Maybe the root cause or maybe just a piece of the puzzle. Idk.
You don’t or you just live with the side effects. I felt like shit on many of my prior blasts and just rode it out. At some point it wasn’t worth it anymore even though I was only using fairly low doses.
If it makes you feel any better, TRT optimization will get you everything you can maintain from a blast, just a bit slower. Most blast or cycle growth will diminish back to whatever baseline hormone levels allow you to hold.
But that extra two pounds of muscle I’ll have for two months that will make me look no different than TOT is going to get me so many chicks man.
I believe if I were to blast I’d wind up feeling insane. I believe men who can handle that must be unusually calm.
For some odd reason, in 2004, my level got to 1500 ng/dl from two packs of Androgel per day (10 g gel), and I knew something was wrong even before making an earlier-than-usual appointment.
What do you feel if you increase your dose? I take 100 mg per week T Cyp and won’t ever take more, nor do I need it.
Anxiety, bitter, fatigued, adrenal, short of breath and palpitations.