Thanks! I will begin SC this weekend as it’s my second week coming up. I grabbed a few syringes at pharmacy today, 28guage, 1cc, .5". Can you load with these also? Didn’t think about that. Any site on stomach that is a better area based on your injections?
First injection SC done in abdomen area. Little stressed before, although didn’t feel a thing. Second week in full swing with no effects seen as of today, neither good or bad. Wonder how long until I begin to feel a difference?
Using 200mg/ml and injecting .40ml bi-weekly. Have been injecting six weeks exactly. During the last week my injection sites have gotten bruised on one side with either small amount of swelling or possible build up of cypionate beneath skin. On the other side, just small soreness at site with feel of swelling/or build up. Just a little sore but not painful. Any ideas why? Have not changed my protocol, although have had a sinus infection and was taking a zpack during this time.
Second question - am not feeling better or worse since beginning injections. Workouts are slightly better…any thoughts? Will be getting new labs done in approximately three-four weeks.
I get bumps when I inject SC on my belly, but not on tops of legs. Some are the opposite. Are you pressing on the injection site to promote closure of blood vessels cut by the needle. That works very well.
0.5ml syringes would inject faster
OK, I’m doing them on my belly. Rotating sides each time. I’m sure it’s nothing. Will update labs when they are run in three/four weeks. I’m going to get my prolactin done also this time.
Your DHT test is too soon.
Avodart stays in your body for many months after stopping - it takes your DHT levels up to 6 months to recover to normal after you stop Avodart.
TXRunner22: I’m in the Plano area and desperately looking for a Dr that doesn’t freak out at the notion of self injecting. Mine has me on 200mg injection every 2 weeks which frankly sucks. Would you PM me the name of your Doc?
Seekonk - thanks for the information!
DDub - unable to PM in this forum. If I post the Dr’s info they will delete the post. This doc is extremely open and will follow protocol in this forum.
Thanks TXRunner22.
My search continues…
Funny, I was reading an article on Trip Advisor that made me think of you…
Will be getting new labs done in approximately two weeks. Can someone explain the symptoms of low E2 versus high E2? Having a sneaky suspicion I’m getting low E2. Lack of maintaining erections, little tired in the mornings.
New labs after completing one vial of 200mg/ml T cyp concentration, injecting .40ml twice per week. Also taking .5mg anastrozole twice per week. Supplements include 100mg CoQ10, 5000iu VitD3, multi-vitamin, 1000mg fish oil. Protocol is injections Tue/Sat.
Labs: 3/15/2013
Cholesterol, Total 195; 100-199
Triglycerides 121; 0-149
HDL 47; >39
VLDL 24; 5-40
LDL 124; 0-99
Test Serum 1174; 348-1197
Test Free 32.9; 6.8-21.5
DHT 69; 30-85
DHEA-S 102.7; 44.3-331.0
Prolactin 21.5; 4.0-15.2
Estradiol 28.2; 7.6-42.6
PSA 1.3; 0.0-4.0
TSH 3.0; .450-4.5
T4 5.3; 4.5-12.0
T3 85; 71-180
Vit D, 25 Hydroxy 55.8; 30-100
Dr. visit tomorrow, my T has zoomed. Feel pretty good with solid wood most of the time. Still have some trouble maintaining wood half the time. Is prolactin the problem? Will hCG help with this issue? Asking to be put on hCG protocol tomorrow. DHT has stabilized like KSman said it would(thanks). May start taking anastrozole every third day at .5 to combat E2.
Body temps average out over four days; 9am - 96.5/96.8 5pm - 97.5-97.8
Have tried half ass tried adding more iodized salt. May try iodine supplement for 2-3 weeks? Would this help prolactin levels?
Advice???
You have hypothyroidism. Have you read the thyroid basics sticky? !!!
Get some iodoral from the WWW, iodized salt cannot dig you out of this hole. Have we discussed your iodine intake yet in this thread, not going to read back…
Labs should be:
TSH
fT3
fT4
as we are not interested in total T3, T4 that is mostly hormones bound to thyroid binding globulin, which is not bio-available. Most docs seem to be unaware if the distinction.
Doc palpates your thyroid? Neck appears thick around your thyroid. Looks or feels asymmetrical? Feels lumpy?
You feel cold easily? Dry skin or hair, brittle nails?
Possible thyroid condition beyond iodine deficiency [ID]. There are anti-body tests that can be done. Best answer would be ID because you can fix that.
Prolactin is released during orgasm. Lab work can be skewed. That level is worrying. If younger, you need to consider a possible prolactin secreting pituitary adinoma and a MRI is the gold standard for detection. Suggest a second lab to verify level before doing something as costly as that. Only way to lower prolactin is to use Dostinex/cabergoline. That would improve dopamine, mood and reward as well. Some drugs can increase prolactin.
Normal iodine intake was from multi-vitamin and iodized salt in half hearted effort. I began Iodoral yesterday. Beginning slow with 12.5 doses. My thyroid was fine at Dr’s appt. Not thick, asymmetrical or lumpy. I do not get cold, unless temp drops below 55 degrees and my skin and hair are not brittle. Will start to re-test temps after one week on Iodoral and increase dosage as needed.
I’m taking magnesium, B6 and iron supplement to combat prolactin if it was indeed elevated. Will be getting new labs done in a few more weeks. It did raise a flag to Doc also. No orgasm in prior three days before lab work.
One other disturbing thing was my BP has been 140/95 in the last three to four days. Normally I’m 125/80. And do feel a little bloated lately.
I’m 45, and eat healthy and workout 5-6 times per week. 6’/190
Your labs should have included hematocrit and PSA. High hematocrit could explain high BP.
Prolactin is a major concern. Is this the first test for that? Concern is a prolactin secreting pituitary adinoma. Often followed up with a MRI. Can be managed with 0.5 - 1.0 mg/week Dostinex/cabergoline.
My PSA was: PSA 1.3; 0.0-4.0
Yes, first test for prolactin. It is concern a for me also. I’m going to try and reduce with B6/Magnesium/Iron for about a month and then get labs done again. Or, should I just try and get an MRI done?
My blood pressure today is: 135/90
Started Iodoral last Monday, in doses of 12.5mg per day. Normally in the morning, felt OFF the first two/three days. Last few days my neck feels little swollen with feeling of sore throat although I don’t have one. Can feel some tightness in neck area up threw back of ears. It doesn’t hurt just more irritating. Is this normal? And my BP remains 135/95 ish during the last week.
[quote]txrunner22 wrote:
Dr. visit tomorrow, my T has zoomed. Feel pretty good with solid wood most of the time. Still have some trouble maintaining wood half the time. Is prolactin the problem? Will hCG help with this issue? [/quote]
Be a little patient. See this paper: Onset of effects of testosterone treatment and time span until maximum effects are achieved - PubMed
“Onset of effects of testosterone treatment and time span until maximum effects are achieved.
…
Effects on sexual interest appear after 3 weeks plateauing at 6 weeks, with no further increments expected beyond. Changes in erections/ejaculations may require up to 6 months.”
This little graph shows the time until maximum effect on erections is almost a year: Figure - PMC
Been off TRT for five months due to shoulder injury/surgery and travel for work. Have new labs and before beginning protocol again, trying to get a baseline with some advice/comments. Have tried numerous time to get doctors to test fT3/fT4, will have to order from different source. Any other labs needed? Doctor is running diabetes due to high glucose. All feedback is greatly appreciated!! Reminder - 6’/185, 46 y/o - biggest issue is libido.
Total cholesterol: 273 (<200)
HDL or “healthy” 47 (>40, higher is better)
LDL or “bad” 188 (<130)
Triglycerides 191 (<150)
Blood sugar 103 (<100)
TSH or Thyroid 1.4 (0.4-5.5)
Hemoglobin 15.5 (12-16)
Liver enzymes:
AST 27 ( <35)
ALT 37 ( <40)
WBC 4.3 K/UL 4.0-11.0
RBC 5.26 M/UL 4.10-5.70
HEMOGLOBIN 15.5 G/DL 13.0-17.0
HEMATOCRIT 45.6 % 37.0-49.0
MCV 86.7 fL 80.0-100.0
MCH 29.5 PG 27.0-34.0
MCHC 34.0 G/DL 32.0-35.5
RDW 13.4 % 11.0-15.0
NEUTROPHILS 52 % 40-74
LYMPHOCYTES 39 % 19-48
MONOCYTES 8 % 4-13
EOSINOPHILS 1 % 0-7
BASOPHILS 0 % 0-2
PLATELET COUNT 273 K/UL 130-400
Tests: (4) LIVER (HEPATIC) FUNCTION PANEL (9175)
PROTEIN, TOTAL 8.1 G/DL 6.0-8.4
ALBUMIN 5.0 G/DL 2.9-5.0
BILIRUBIN, TOTAL 1.0 MG/DL 0.1-1.3
BILIRUBIN, DIRECT 0.2 MG/DL 0.0-0.3
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 30 U/L 30-132
SGOT (AST) 27 U/L 5-35
SGPT (ALT) 37 U/L 7-56
GLUCOSE [H] 103 MG/DL 65-100
BUN 20 MG/DL 8-25
CREATININE 1.1 MG/DL 0.8-1.4
eGFR AFRICAN AMER. 87 ML/MIN/1.73 >60
eGFR NON-AFRICAN AMER.
72 ML/MIN/1.73 >60
SODIUM 139 MEQ/L 133-146
POTASSIUM 4.8 MEQ/L 3.5-5.3
CHLORIDE 102 MEQ/L 97-110
CARBON DIOXIDE [H] 31 MEQ/L 18-30
CALCIUM 9.9 MG/DL 8.5-10.5
Tests: (6) PSA, TOTAL (2606)
PSA, TOTAL 1.0 NG/ML <4.0
Tests: (7) VITAMIN D, 25 OH (4958)
VITAMIN D, 25 OH 54 NG/ML SEE BELOW
OPTIMAL. . . . . . . . . . . 30-100 NG/ML
Tests: (8) TESTOSTERONE, FREE/TOTAL WITH SHBG (4937)
TESTOSTERONE 506 NG/DL 292-867
SEX HORM BIND GLOBULIN 40 NMOL/L 16-94
CALC FREE TESTOSTERONE 9.4 NG/DL 4.8-25.0
ESTRADIOL 36 PG/ML <=63
PROLACTIN 8.0 NG/ML 3.0-30.0
PROGESTERONE 0.2 NG/ML 0.15 - 1.15
Tests: (9) THYROID II PROFILE (T3U, T4, T7, TSH) (119)
T3 UPTAKE 34.2 % 20.0-38.5
T4 (THYROXINE) 5.3 UG/DL 4.4-12.4
CALCULATED T7 (FTI) 1.81 1.05-4.50
TSH 1.4 UIU/ML 0.5-4.7
Don’t go between thighs try using it on arms or shoulders I tried test creams for awhile and then went to test cyp 200mg once every two weeks works allot better for me! Try putting cream on arms like I said. Putting between thighs is probably what causing weak erections the cream is probably getting on your private parts which your not supposed to be near or on. Also says if u read papers that come with the cream if ur getting from pharmacy