Beginning TRT soon - Have Questions

[Havasu]

So while my test isn't below the LabCorp scale, I'm low normal, and my endo wants to treat the symptoms and patient, not a scale. So, I got lucky there. My Doc is starting me at 50mg a week, I told them I'm going to split the injection into two injections a week. They are absolutely willing to raise the dose as long as we don't go above the top of the LabCorp scale, so if I was at 1000 they'd be fine with that. That's a number I've kind of targeted.

I've talked to my Doc about estrogen control and HCG, they don't typically do anything with that, so I'm going to be managing that on my own. My Doc was going to give me Test prop I got her to give me Test Cyp to have a longer ester.

So, I'm assuming that HCG 250iu 2x per week with the test injection is a good dose for the HCG, but starting with only 50mg of Test Cyp per week, how much AI should I be using, I don't want to crash it. Since I'm starting with such a low dose would Aromasin be a good AI to use since I don't need it to be that strong? If so, how much, and how often? Also I'd like to know how much and how often if I were to use Anastrozole.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mprtz]

On 50mg test per week (especially split up into two 25mg injections) I would not take any AI until blood work shows that it's necessary.

If you're doing hcg on your own, you might consider waiting with it a few weeks until results from initial bloodwork has them raise your dose.
The same goes for splitting the dose into 2 injections - I would put that off for a bit. Both will raise your trough levels and may delay your doc bringing up your dose to something more reasonable.

 

[3J]

i woudln't split to 25mg twice a week.. stick to 50mg once a week..

 

[Havasu]

i woudln't split to 25mg twice a week.. stick to 50mg once a week..

mprtz,

Ok, that makes sense. I will hold off on HCG for now, and an AI. However, I know this dose will be going up, At 100 mg's per week how would I go about dosing an AI, and again would stane (Aromasin) be a good choice, because it has less side effects, and it isn't as strong. Also, what would the dosing and frequency be? Or, would you recommend Arimidex, and same questions for dosing and frequency. Thanks.


3J,

Why wouldn't you split up the dose? Everything I've read is to split the dose to keep the blood level more stable. I realize this dose is low, but why only once a week?

PS. Before my first injection, I'm going to try to get my endo to agree to 100mg a week to start. My endo has used only Test Prop in the past for TRT, and so she's familiar with that. She is starting at the textbook minimal dose because she is not familiar with Test Cyp. What I am going to try to explain is, it's exactly the same. It's testosterone. The only difference is the ester. Test Cyp has less testosterone per 100mg's than Test Prop, so if you'd usually start around 100mg per week, why would we start Test Cyp at a lower dose, when it's actually less testosterone per 100mg's?

I'm hoping a logical reason will work. I mean I can draw whatever I want, but with insurance covering I want to have the prescription refilled at the right frequency in the long run, and I also want to speed up the process of getting my test levels to the high normal range and stable.

 

[Mprtz]

At 100mg taken once weekly, I would suggest 0.25mg taken the day after shot.
At 100mg split up into 2 weekly doses I would suggest no AI until bloodwork shows it's needed.

I have to emphasize this is guesswork and you really need to be guided by your blood tests.

Sorry, I don't have any experience with Aromasin.

100mg prop has about 74mg test, 100mg cyp about 54mg. So the equivalent amount of cyp is 134mg or about a third more.

 

[Havasu]

At 100mg taken once weekly, I would suggest 0.25mg taken the day after shot.
At 100mg split up into 2 weekly doses I would suggest no AI until bloodwork shows it's needed.

I have to emphasize this is guesswork and you really need to be guided by your blood tests.

Sorry, I don't have any experience with Aromasin.

100mg prop has about 74mg test, 100mg cyp about 54mg. So the equivalent amount of cyp is 134mg or about a third more.

Thanks,

Also, I'm using this as the basis for how much Cyp and Prop have.

Testosterone Propionate - Steroid .com

 

[3J]

because 25mg injections is going to do almost nothing for your bloods.. at least 50mg once a week is a higher dosage and will bring your bloods up higher

 

[Havasu]

because 25mg injections is going to do almost nothing for your bloods.. at least 50mg once a week is a higher dosage and will bring your bloods up higher

Ok. Thanks.

 

[Havasu]

Ok, I convinced my Doc to start me at 100mg a week. It's amazing that people that work with stuff don't understand how hormonal systems work. She was going to start me at 50mg, because I was low normal, and she didn't want to make me go to high. I had to explain that you're not going to add to, we're going to replace by doing TRT. I will be shutdown eventually, and my test levels will rely on the test solely.

That being said. We started with 100mg all at once this morning. Would it be more beneficial to split 100mg into two 50mg shots every 3.5 days? Or, should I just stick with 100mg a week?

 

[Mprtz]

How soon before you next get tested? What is the stated goal with regard to your levels, is she on board with having you in the upper end of the range?

Not everyone has the same objectives - for me if I'm going to go through all that trouble and expense I want the best results from the highest amount of test I can justify.
Others want a minimal approach and go for a lower dose to minimize possible health consequences, use of AI, blood donation, etc.

If you're looking for her to further increase your dose at the next blood test you might want to stick with weekly so that your trough level is lower.

 

[Havasu]

How soon before you next get tested? What is the stated goal with regard to your levels, is she on board with having you in the upper end of the range?

Not everyone has the same objectives - for me if I'm going to go through all that trouble and expense I want the best results from the highest amount of test I can justify.
Others want a minimal approach and go for a lower dose to minimize possible health consequences, use of AI, blood donation, etc.

If you're looking for her to further increase your dose at the next blood test you might want to stick with weekly so that your trough level is lower.

The Doc so far has been verbally on board with going to high normal. Basically she said as long as I'm not above the top of the lab scale which is like 1146. So, I'm going to shoot for getting as close to around 1100 as possible. That makes sense to do it once a week until we have the dosage established. My first test will be right before my week 3 injection. So two Thursdays from yesterday. She wanted me to do it right before the next injection. I may even do it first thing in the morning 2 Friday's from now and inject after, just to give it as much time as possible between injections.

I basically told her if I'm going to have to be on TRT to have even solid normal levels, then I want to be optimal not average. Let's get to the top of the normal range as long as I feel good, and don't have any side effects. I got them to add estradiol onto my bloodwork request, so I can watch it and use/adjust an AI as necessary. They weren't going to put estradiol on there which blows my mind.