So I have been on TRT for about 3 months now. I go through the department of veterans affairs and they had prescribed me Test CYP, 200mg EOW. I did this for a couple months. I had a blood draw (after my 4th cycle) and my T-levels came back at a 357ng/dl but that was 11 days after a 200mg injection. The VA does not monitor my E2 levels for some reason but I am going to ask for another blood draw to check that level.
Recently I had just switched it up and started doing weekly injections of 100mg to try and keep my levels more steady because I have noticed that when I go 200mg EOW that the 2nd week I really lose much of my energy and drive. I just took my 3rd 100mg injection since switching and I notice that I just don’t have the same energy that I did when I was at 200mg for that first week.
Should I ask my Dr about increasing the dose to 300mg EOW so I can just inject 150mg weekly? Should I also ask about getting started on an aromatase inhibitor as well?
You need to get your levels checked while on the new weekly schedule before any adjustments should be made. E2 level should be checked prior to starting an AI. Some guys don’t need it.
I started with the same outdated protocol. Hated it… A few days of super high didn’t balance with the five days of feeling crappy before the next shot for me.
Once I switched to Wednesday night and Sunday morning injections things really smoothed out and my improved energy level is constant.
You should read the stickies on here but you need more comprehensive bloodwork done to initiate a new plan of attack, including free testosterone (which is more meaningful than total test), estrodial, thyroid (TSH, T3, T4), and preferably DHT, DHEA, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, A1c, fasting glucose, etc. so you can get a full picture of what’s going on. I also did a full liver function panel in my last bloodwork b/c the liver is taxed somewhat when on TRT, and b/c I drink too much wine. LOL.
I get full bloodwork done at least 2x year just to make sure that everything looks OK.
Personally, I switched from 1x/wk to 3x/wk and alternate b/t subq and IM injections depending on whether I have insulin syringes preloaded or not. I would recommend at least 2x/week to get a more consistent T level, even though most docs will tell you that 2x or 3x/week is unnecessary. I also now use Anastrozole to keep my estrodial levels in check as they climbed into the upper 50’s range w/o it.