FlyBoy Progress/Tracking thread

[flyboy9994]

Hey all

Just starting a thread to track my progress. Brand new client with IMT. Going to post my results every few weeks or so here to keep track of everything.

52 y.o. male. 5'8", 280 lbs. Been using Axiron, 60mg per day for the last 6 months.

Last labs from 04/24/2015:

Total T: 623 (250-1100 ng/dl)
Free T: 136.0 (35.0-155.0 pg/ml)
Calculated Free T: 2.6%
Calculated Bioavailable T: 63.7%
SHBG: 22 (10-50 nmol/L)
LH: <0.2 (1.5-9.3 mIU/ml)
FSH: <0.7 (1.6-8.0 mIU/ml)
Estradiol: 41 (< or = 39 pg/ml) Standard test, not sensitive
Cortisol: 9.5 (morning range 4.0-22.0 mcg/dL) Taken at 8 a.m.
DHEA-S: 261 (38-313 mcg/dL)
Progesterone: <0.5 (<1.4 ng/mL)
Hematocrit: 48.4% (38.5-50.0%)

Thyroid

TSH: 1.02 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L)
T4 Free: 1.1 (0.8-1.8 ng/dL)
T3 Free: 3.5 (2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
T3 Total: 115 (76-181 ng/dL)
T3 Uptake: 34% (22-35%)
T4 Thyroxine, Total: 5.9 (4.5-12.0 mcg/dL)
Free T4 index, T7: 2.0 (1.4-3.8)
Reverse T3: 14 (8-25 ng/dL)

IGF-1: 97 (50-317 ng/mL)
Z Score, Male: -0.8 (-2.0 - +2.0 SD)

Iron within ranges

CBC all within ranges

Lipid profile: Total cholesterol, 237
HDL/LDL Ratios are mostly out of whack but I'll address those as I clean up my diet. Concentrating on getting Testosterone right for now.

Triglycerides within range

5/18/2015: Axiron, 60mg applied in the a.m. Later in the afternoon, started 200mg/ml T-Cyp at 200mg per week. First injection today in right quad. 1ml with a 25g x 1.5" needle with a 0.1ml bubble push. 1st injection anxiety big time but from everything I read and watched, the key is not to hesitate. Just stick that sucker in! Once I got the needle in the muscle, I was almost disappointed... That's it? Almost no pain at all. Pulled back on the plunger to aspirate, no blood. Push the plunger in a little harder than anticipated but 1ml was in after about 30 seconds or so. Withdraw needle, apply pressure for about a minute. Tiny drop of blood, no leak back of the T-Cyp. Muscle somewhat sore for the remainder of the day. Easily tolerable. I'm going to continue with the Axiron for another day or two in the mornings to overlap and hopefully prevent a crash before the T-Cyp kicks in.

Will be starting HCG on Thursday, 5/21.

 

[IMT staff]

Awesome! keep us posted on your progress and good luck.

 

[flyboy9994]

Thanks IMT Staff

Pretty sure I'm in capable hands! Thanks for all your help.

 

[cybrsage]

Nice, I love logs!

 

[flyboy9994]

Nice, I love logs!

Yeah, I really like to track stuff. Kind of an OCD thing but it makes it a lot easier to look back and see what works, or doesn't work, especially when getting dialed in.

5/22: Definitely started to feel the effects of the shot from Monday kick in yesterday morning (in a super good way). Woke up with good MW and had good energy all day. Feeling even better today. Used 1/2 dose Axiron this morning and most likely won't use any tomorrow. Should be done with Axiron for good at this point. Was supposed to start HCG yesterday but there was a delay at the pharmacy. I should be getting that after the Memorial day weekend. Can't wait to give it a shot!

Have a good weekend all. Let's all be sure to give thanks to our Vets on Monday. Myself: 14 years active duty, U.S. Army, Desert Storm Vet. Definitely going to be thinking of my brothers who gave the ultimate sacrifice...

 

[3J]

so im guessing youre trying to bring that bodyfat down..
with trt you have a nice advantage..


what are you doing diet wise??

 

[flyboy9994]

Hey 3J

Diet wise? I'm really torn on this one. I have done fairly well on a low carb diet in the past but I haven't been able to stick with it long enough. I'm morbidly obese and need to lose a significant amount of weight and I'm kind of on the fence about this as I have considered several different strategies. Everything I read contradicts everything else I read so I find myself utterly confused at this point. I'm 52 y.o. so I need to adopt a diet I can realistically stick with for life. At this point I'm thinking a mostly plant based diet along with eggs, low fat dairy, clean protein (grass fed etc.) No starches, very little fruit and semi low fat. I've literally been researching different diets until my eyes were bleeding and I'm only more confused now than ever! The other biggie for me is to get off my ass. I've been sedentary for about 10 years (thanks low T)... Thanks to TRT, I'm just now feeling like I could start working out again. Mostly walking and resistance training to start.

Any suggestions and/or advice are welcome!!

 

[flyboy9994]

5/25: Injection #2, 200mg in the left quad. Uneventful, no pain, no after injection soreness.

5/26: I can definitely start to feel the T now. I know I'm on a pretty high starting dose and this feeling won't last forever but damn it's nice and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. Completely off the Axiron at this point. Also took 0.5mg of Anastrozol. I was going to wait until blood draw but was definitely feeling some estrogenic symptoms. Remember, I was on Axiron for 6 months prior and my E2 was elevated on my last blood draw. Going to be really careful not to crash my E2.

5/27: HCG finally arrived today. Going to get it mixed up and start it tomorrow (Thurs).

Final protocol for now: 200mg T-Cyp on Mon, 0.5mg Anastrozole on Tues, 500 i.u. HCG on Thurs and Sat.

Also started RUI liquid Cialis, 10mg daily.

 

[flyboy9994]

5/28: 500iu HCG, sub-q in belly fat

5/29: Well, not sure if it is the HCG or not but I had noticeable fluid retention issues began to occur, especially feet/ankles.

5/30: OK, now I'm definitely feeling some high E2 symptoms. Fluid retention big time, super irritable (bitchy), extremely tired/fatigued, ZERO sex drive. Geeezzz, now I know why women can be so damn evil...

5/31: Even worse today! Fluid retention getting worse. Ankles/feet swollen. Hands and face all puffy! Still PMSing. Yuk...

6/1: I went ahead and did a blood draw in the morning for T and E2 to see where things are since I started showing high E2 symptoms. It's only been a couple of weeks since I started injecting so I'm not too worried about T at this point but damn I'm curious to see where my E2 is especially with the symptoms these last few days. As soon as I got back home I dropped another .5mg of anastrozole and felt a difference literally within a few hours. Moodiness disappeared and swelling, fluid retention/swelling started to resolve. Placebo affect? I really don't think so. It sure felt like it worked. Going to up my weekly dose of anastrozole to .5mg twice a week. Later that afternoon: 200mg T-cyp IM shot in the glute. Easy peasy... I stuck it and girlfriend pushed plunger for me. No pain at all.

6/3: .5mg anastrozole. Prior high E2 symptoms completely resolved by the time I went to bed.

6/4: 500iu HCG sub-q in the belly fat.

So new protocol will look like this:

Mon: T-cyp, 200mg
Tue: .5mg anastrozole
Thu: 500iu HCG
Fri: .5mg anastrozole
Sat: 500iu HCG

 

[flyboy9994]

6/6: 500iu HCG sub-q. Zero E2 symptoms. Feeling much better!

Also just became a new client with 3J. I'm really happy to have some guidance as I desperately need to get this weight off. Will start a progress/tracking thread over in the diet section.

 

[3J]

6/6: 500iu HCG sub-q. Zero E2 symptoms. Feeling much better!

Also just became a new client with 3J. I'm really happy to have some guidance as I desperately need to get this weight off. Will start a progress/tracking thread over in the diet section.

haha yes!!!!

welcome to the family brother!

 

[drewdunkin1992]

Hey 3J

Diet wise? I'm really torn on this one. I have done fairly well on a low carb diet in the past but I haven't been able to stick with it long enough. I'm morbidly obese and need to lose a significant amount of weight and I'm kind of on the fence about this as I have considered several different strategies. Everything I read contradicts everything else I read so I find myself utterly confused at this point. I'm 52 y.o. so I need to adopt a diet I can realistically stick with for life. At this point I'm thinking a mostly plant based diet along with eggs, low fat dairy, clean protein (grass fed etc.) No starches, very little fruit and semi low fat. I've literally been researching different diets until my eyes were bleeding and I'm only more confused now than ever! The other biggie for me is to get off my ass. I've been sedentary for about 10 years (thanks low T)... Thanks to TRT, I'm just now feeling like I could start working out again. Mostly walking and resistance training to start.

Any suggestions and/or advice are welcome!!

HEY FLYBOY! thanks for responding to my question in the trt thread...i think its awesome that your are looking to improve your overall health and dietary habits, and thinking about what your long term diet/lifestyle could and should be is great way to be thinking when regarding what choices to make.

i have used many different 'diet' macro nutrient strategies and i feel that the most important thing is that you hit your daily caloric goal while maintaining the integrity of your health by continually getting your micro-nutrient needs met. concerning hunger i myself i have found a high fat/high-plant source diet to be the most satiating and easiest to maintain ...best of lock with your health goals i look forward to your future progress

God bless -andrew

 

[flyboy9994]

Thanks a bunch Andrew. Excellent sound advice for sure.

I have also experimented with different macros in the past. I always end up with the best results with a high (good) fat/high plant source and clean protein based diet like you mentioned above (thank God I love my veggies!) Starches and sugars are absolute diet killers for me.

Anyway, I have done hundreds of hours of research and there is simply too much conflicting information out there. I'm simply tired of trying to figure it out and don't have the time trying different diets. I just signed on with 3J for nutritional counselling and am super relieved to finally stop guessing and just commit to something. 3J's reputation is just way too strong to ignore so I'm going to commit 110% and am looking forward to finally getting myself healthy again.

I will be starting a progress/tracking thread over in the Diet section when I get started.

 

[drewdunkin1992]

Thanks a bunch Andrew. Excellent sound advice for sure.

I have also experimented with different macros in the past. I always end up with the best results with a high (good) fat/high plant source and clean protein based diet like you mentioned above (thank God I love my veggies!) Starches and sugars are absolute diet killers for me.

Anyway, I have done hundreds of hours of research and there is simply too much conflicting information out there. I'm simply tired of trying to figure it out and don't have the time trying different diets. I just signed on with 3J for nutritional counselling and am super relieved to finally stop guessing and just commit to something. 3J's reputation is just way too strong to ignore so I'm going to commit 110% and am looking forward to finally getting myself healthy again.

I will be starting a progress/tracking thread over in the Diet section when I get started.

you sound like my dietary soulmate flyboy, micronutrients rules.
also i meant no disrespect towards your coach/team 3j's i think youll have amazing success if you can remain positive and strive constantly towards your goal... in time you will reach it

-will sub your thread

 

[flyboy9994]

Thanks again for the kind words Andrew.

6/8: OK, got an update. Received my labs this morning. They were drawn Jun 1st at the height of the above mentioned unpleasant high E2 symptoms and here's the numbers:

Testosterone, serum: 1045 (348 - 1197 ng/dL)
Free Testosterone: 35.7 High (7.2 - 24.0 pg/mL)
Estradiol, Sensitive: 33.6 (8.0 - 35 pg/mL)
SHBG: 22.7 (>49 y.o. 19.3 - 76.4)
Hematocrit: 47.8% (37.5 - 51%)


I'm pretty happy with total T. Free T is high but I'm guessing that's OK? E2 was definitely elevated. SHBG kind of lowish but it's the same value as it's always been even when I first started TRT 7 months ago. Probably why my free T is high? Hematocrit a little high but virtually the same as my last couple of tests so at least it hasn't gone up with my new protocol.

This test was drawn while I was taking .5mg anastrozole per week so I think doubling to .5 twice weekly was a good move. I sure as hell feel a lot better. Just need to be careful no to let E2 get too low. I'll be on high alert for any symptoms. Will re-test in 4 weeks.

 

[IMT staff]

if your not having any major side effects nothing at all wrong with a 33 E2 reading

 

[flyboy9994]

if your not having any major side effects nothing at all wrong with a 33 E2 reading

Thanks for the reply IMT Staff.

I did this BW on the morning of my worst symptoms so I guess 33 is not a good number for me? It was only when I took the extra dose of .5mg anastrozole that I began to feel better. Not exactly sure where my E2 is right now but I'll just plan on taking .5mg anastrozole twice a week as long as I'm feeling good. Will re-test in 4 weeks just to see where it's at. It's been a week now and I feel really good right now. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

 

[IMT staff]

Just want to be careful, the more anastrozole you take the lower your SHBG will go. You don't want to drive that too low.

 

[flyboy9994]

Just want to be careful, the more anastrozole you take the lower your SHBG will go. You don't want to drive that too low.

OK. That's good to know. It appears my SHBG is near the bottom of the range now but it hasn't changed since my last BW a couple of months ago prior to starting any type of AI. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on that. I am feeling very good so hopefully I can leave things alone for awhile and let everything settle in. Thanks again IMT Staff.

 

[flyboy9994]

Just a quick update. All is well on the current protocol. Feeling very good.

One thing I do notice is that my sex drive is lower now than it was on Axiron gel. I believe it has something to do with lower DHT? Actually this is not a bad thing because prior to this I was having extreme sexual thoughts/fantasies at the worst possible times. All during the day at work was not good. Now it's much more subdued but still enough to keep GF happy! Can definitely perform when needed.

Anyway, just got my new diet from 3J and will be starting that as soon as I'm back home from work. Going to have to do a lot of shopping and food prep. This diet is way different than anything I've tried before and really looking forward to it. Also, going to get reacquainted with the iron! I used to love lifting "back in the day" and I thought it was pretty much over until now.

IMT and 3J... How could I possibly wrong? I guess break time is over... Time to get busy and get a life!