My HRT Experience

[AZ4Stringer]

I've been lurking on this board for some time. Great board with a lot of good info on TRT. I had typical symptoms of low test: no energy, no libido, couldn't concentrate, sacked out on the couch after dinner. Wife complained so I saw an Urologist.

I went to the Urologist and blood test showed a total test of 195. I am 41 years old. Doc put me on one tube of Testim and within a few days I felt it kick in. I could not believe how much better I felt. It changed my life. I was on Testim for about six weeks but started developing a really bad rash from it. Doc then put me on 200mg of test cyp every three weeks. Felt great but after three months that 3rd week was a killer.

After reading that lower doses more frequently are the way to go, I discussed this with my Urologist . I'm lucky as he is very open about TRT. He said either do 200mg every two weeks or 100mg every week. After reading info from this board and others, I choose 100mg every week to start. After 5 weeks I had blood work done on day six (day before my next shot). Total test came back 545. I felt much better on 200mg every three weeks than on 100mg every week. I upped the dosage to 120mg every week and had blood work done after 5 weeks, day before my next shot through LEF. Here's the results on 120mg per week:

Total Test: 568ng/dL range 300-1200
Free Test: 18.5pg/mL range 6.8-21.5
Estradiol: 27pg/mL range for adult male <54

Free test looks great and I think the estradiol looks good (opitmal range for male is 10-30) but why is my total test still so low and only increased about 23 points at 120mg per week? I still don't feel as well as I did on 200mg every three weeks except for the 3rd week.

I am thinking of either going to 200mg every two weeks or maybe upping the weekly dosage to 140 or 160mg and having blood work done in another 5 weeks. I am also thinking about starting a DIM product recommened by members of this board found at Riteway pharmacy.

I have good wood during the night. So good it can wake me at times during the night. Wake up wood is very intermitent. I am wondering if maybe some of the test is aromatizing into E2 so if I take DIM or arimidex it might increase the total test. Doc will not perscribe HCG

What's strange is my nads on 200mg every three weeks shrunk and my sack was pulled tight against my body but I felt great. Since I've been on 100mg and 120mg per week my sack has been hanging low and I have had some ED problems. Could the ED be E2 related or just not enough test? Total test of 568 at the low point seems too low to me and I feel it. I would like it to be in the upper normal range at around 700-800 the day before my next shot. Or am I not thinking about this correctly?

Thanks in advance for any info or ideas. I realize this is not a medical forum but real life experiences can sometimes be much more informational.

[pmgamer18]

No don't go back to every 2 weeks all you need to do is up your dose this is how it's done up the dose a little and test in 4 to 6 weeks. Don't get hung up on numbers but a good place to start is the upper 1/3 of your labs range for Total and Free T every test need Estradiol done it goes up and down as fast as T does. Your best range is one that gives you morning wood every morning. For me it's 15 to 20 but my SHBG is low the lower it is the lower you need Estradiol. Shoot for 20 get the Indolplex/DIM and start at one tablet at dinner time your wood should get so strong it wakes you up this means your in the Zone. Keep taking it but if you lose wood this means your going to low and this is just as bad as to high. Stop the DIM until wood comes back then that day go back on it but cut the does in half. Between this and blood work you will be a new man.

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by AZ4Stringer

I've been lurking on this board for some time. Great board with a lot of good info on TRT. I had typical symptoms of low test: no energy, no libido, couldn't concentrate, sacked out on the couch after dinner. Wife complained so I saw an Urologist.

I went to the Urologist and blood test showed a total test of 195. I am 41 years old. Doc put me on one tube of Testim and within a few days I felt it kick in. I could not believe how much better I felt. It changed my life. I was on Testim for about six weeks but started developing a really bad rash from it. Doc then put me on 200mg of test cyp every three weeks. Felt great but after three months that 3rd week was a killer.

After reading that lower doses more frequently are the way to go, I discussed this with my Urologist . I'm lucky as he is very open about TRT. He said either do 200mg every two weeks or 100mg every week. After reading info from this board and others, I choose 100mg every week to start. After 5 weeks I had blood work done on day six (day before my next shot). Total test came back 545. I felt much better on 200mg every three weeks than on 100mg every week. I upped the dosage to 120mg every week and had blood work done after 5 weeks, day before my next shot through LEF. Here's the results on 120mg per week:

Total Test: 568ng/dL range 300-1200
Free Test: 18.5pg/mL range 6.8-21.5
Estradiol: 27pg/mL range for adult male <54

Free test looks great and I think the estradiol looks good (opitmal range for male is 10-30) but why is my total test still so low and only increased about 23 points at 120mg per week? I still don't feel as well as I did on 200mg every three weeks except for the 3rd week.

I am thinking of either going to 200mg every two weeks or maybe upping the weekly dosage to 140 or 160mg and having blood work done in another 5 weeks. I am also thinking about starting a DIM product recommened by members of this board found at Riteway pharmacy.

I have good wood during the night. So good it can wake me at times during the night. Wake up wood is very intermitent. I am wondering if maybe some of the test is aromatizing into E2 so if I take DIM or arimidex it might increase the total test. Doc will not perscribe HCG

What's strange is my nads on 200mg every three weeks shrunk and my sack was pulled tight against my body but I felt great. Since I've been on 100mg and 120mg per week my sack has been hanging low and I have had some ED problems. Could the ED be E2 related or just not enough test? Total test of 568 at the low point seems too low to me and I feel it. I would like it to be in the upper normal range at around 700-800 the day before my next shot. Or am I not thinking about this correctly?

Thanks in advance for any info or ideas. I realize this is not a medical forum but real life experiences can sometimes be much more informational.

If you worry about your sack, you have to add HCG.
Transdermals are easier to live with.
I am using HCG, Novarel, 250IU every other day. About $60/two months
I am using Tcream 100mg/1gram, 1gram/day, about $50/two months
womensinternational.com
pregnenolone, prescription cream, 100mg/1gram, 1gram/day, about $30/month
300mg(DIM+I3C) + 1000mg TMG, from LEF
My doc is prescribing HCG and anything else that is required for proper TRT, ZIP 07410
With testosterone you are really shooting for BioAvailableT=5.5(nmol/L)
TT and FreeT eventually will find their right place with time and patience.
I describes some details here:
http://forum.mesomorphosis.com/533890-post45.html

[AZ4Stringer]

pmgamer18:

Thanks for your reply. I have read a lot of your posts and you seem to be very knowledgeable through personal experience on HRT.

Question:

Would I be better to inject more frequently at 120mg every 5 days or better to up the dose to 140mg per week?

I have a bottle of Inoplex/DIM from Riteway that you have suggested in previous posts just in
case I needed it. I'll start tonight at dinner with one tab. The thing that confuses me is the ED. I didn't have ED when my test was low (just lack of libido) or when I initially started HRT. Libido is so good right now I want to tap any attractive female I see But the intermittent ED is really becoming a confidence issue now. Does this seem to suggest that HRT has now increased my E2 levels to just out of my optimal range? Also, if I get E2 down, total test should increase a little. Is my thinking correctly on this?

[AZ4Stringer]

Thanks JanSz for you knowledgeable response.

You offer a great wealth of information in the link you provided. I will check it out.

[pmgamer18]

Your just starting out on this so stay with everyweek and see how your E2 goes and yes your libido come up and the E2 is hitting you with ED so start on the DIM and keep me posted on how your doing I hate to see you go to low.

Originally Posted by AZ4Stringer

pmgamer18:

Thanks for your reply. I have read a lot of your posts and you seem to be very knowledgeable through personal experience on HRT.

Question:

Would I be better to inject more frequently at 120mg every 5 days or better to up the dose to 140mg per week?

I have a bottle of Inoplex/DIM from Riteway that you have suggested in previous posts just in
case I needed it. I'll start tonight at dinner with one tab. The thing that confuses me is the ED. I didn't have ED when my test was low (just lack of libido) or when I initially started HRT. Libido is so good right now I want to tap any attractive female I see But the intermittent ED is really becoming a confidence issue now. Does this seem to suggest that HRT has now increased my E2 levels to just out of my optimal range? Also, if I get E2 down, total test should increase a little. Is my thinking correctly on this?

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by AZ4Stringer

I've been lurking on this board for some time. Great board with a lot of good info on TRT. I had typical symptoms of low test: no energy, no libido, couldn't concentrate, sacked out on the couch after dinner. Wife complained so I saw an Urologist.

I went to the Urologist and blood test showed a total test of 195. I am 41 years old. Doc put me on one tube of Testim and within a few days I felt it kick in. I could not believe how much better I felt. It changed my life. I was on Testim for about six weeks but started developing a really bad rash from it. Doc then put me on 200mg of test cyp every three weeks. Felt great but after three months that 3rd week was a killer.

After reading that lower doses more frequently are the way to go, I discussed this with my Urologist . I'm lucky as he is very open about TRT. He said either do 200mg every two weeks or 100mg every week. After reading info from this board and others, I choose 100mg every week to start. After 5 weeks I had blood work done on day six (day before my next shot). Total test came back 545. I felt much better on 200mg every three weeks than on 100mg every week. I upped the dosage to 120mg every week and had blood work done after 5 weeks, day before my next shot through LEF. Here's the results on 120mg per week:

Total Test: 568ng/dL range 300-1200
Free Test: 18.5pg/mL range 6.8-21.5
Estradiol: 27pg/mL range for adult male <54

Free test looks great and I think the estradiol looks good (opitmal range for male is 10-30) but why is my total test still so low and only increased about 23 points at 120mg per week? I still don't feel as well as I did on 200mg every three weeks except for the 3rd week.

I am thinking of either going to 200mg every two weeks or maybe upping the weekly dosage to 140 or 160mg and having blood work done in another 5 weeks. I am also thinking about starting a DIM product recommened by members of this board found at Riteway pharmacy.

I have good wood during the night. So good it can wake me at times during the night. Wake up wood is very intermitent. I am wondering if maybe some of the test is aromatizing into E2 so if I take DIM or arimidex it might increase the total test. Doc will not perscribe HCG

What's strange is my nads on 200mg every three weeks shrunk and my sack was pulled tight against my body but I felt great. Since I've been on 100mg and 120mg per week my sack has been hanging low and I have had some ED problems. Could the ED be E2 related or just not enough test? Total test of 568 at the low point seems too low to me and I feel it. I would like it to be in the upper normal range at around 700-800 the day before my next shot. Or am I not thinking about this correctly?

Thanks in advance for any info or ideas. I realize this is not a medical forum but real life experiences can sometimes be much more informational.

With your Free T so close to the top of the range, why even worry about Total T? Free T is the money number.

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by cpeil2

With your Free T so close to the top of the range, why even worry about Total T? Free T is the money number.

Wonder wich one really.
I got impression that BioAvailableT is the money #, obviously FreeT is also important but it would be the (close) #2 and TT #3 with rather wide range.

But at least the two are of equal importance, while TT is distant #3.
My favorite reference:
http://www.atypon-link.com/WDG/doi/p...5/JLM.2006.050

Quote:
"The
level of free testosterone (FT) as well as that of non-
SHBG-bound (‘‘bioavailable’’) testosterone (BAT) represent
the biologically active testosterone fraction and the
clinical situation more accurately than the level of TT (it
is ultimately a moot question whether the biologically
active testosterone is best reflected in FT, BAT, or another
testosterone fraction that is difficult to define) w8–11x.
"

[AZ4Stringer]

Thanks guys for your knowledgeable responses and assistance.

Yeah, my free T is on the high end which is good.

Here's what I am going to do for the next 5 weeks:

I am going to try 140mg per week and one tab of Indolplex/DIM at dinner to see how it goes. I'll adjust the Indolplex/DIM per morning wood. I will do the same blood work again through LEF at the end of 5 weeks. Does this look like a good plan?

The last blood work I did was for FT, TT and E2. Should I add anything else to the next blood work to help me get this dialed in?

I wish my doc was open to HCG. He's a great doc and is very open with HRT. It may be up to me to get some HCG.

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by JanSz

Wonder wich one really.
I got impression that BioAvailableT is the money #, obviously FreeT is also important but it would be the (close) #2 and TT #3 with rather wide range.

But at least the two are of equal importance, while TT is distant #3.
My favorite reference:
http://www.atypon-link.com/WDG/doi/p...5/JLM.2006.050

Quote:
"The
level of free testosterone (FT) as well as that of non-
SHBG-bound (‘‘bioavailable’’) testosterone (BAT) represent
the biologically active testosterone fraction and the
clinical situation more accurately than the level of TT (it
is ultimately a moot question whether the biologically
active testosterone is best reflected in FT, BAT, or another
testosterone fraction that is difficult to define) w8–11x.
"

Agree. Free + Loosely bound (bioavailable) is the REAL money number.

Nevertheless, if I had a free T reading that was close to the top of the range, I don't think I would worry that total T was only mid-range. HRT is crazy-making enough without unnecessary worries.

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by AZ4Stringer

Thanks guys for your knowledgeable responses and assistance.

Yeah, my free T is on the high end which is good.

Here's what I am going to do for the next 5 weeks:

I am going to try 140mg per week and one tab of Indolplex/DIM at dinner to see how it goes. I'll adjust the Indolplex/DIM per morning wood. I will do the same blood work again through LEF at the end of 5 weeks. Does this look like a good plan?

The last blood work I did was for FT, TT and E2. Should I add anything else to the next blood work to help me get this dialed in?

I wish my doc was open to HCG. He's a great doc and is very open with HRT. It may be up to me to get some HCG.

E2
TT
SHBG
Albumin