Help dialing in / understanding TRT schedule

[Russell77]

I'm 37, on self administered TRT for over a year now... Overall it's been going great with no regrets. Levels were below 280 a few years back, and after a yr of trying different things, committed to TRT and having fun with a 3 month blast per year.

I'm in Canada and have a family Dr who (for now) is willing to write me up for blood work every 3mo, but have only met with one "specialist" who turned out to be a complete idiot. For now I'm trying to dial things in myself, with the intention of finding a specialist that's good with TRT in the upper normal levels, as well as hcg protocols to work with long term.

I know most suggest 2 injections/wk, and I'm sure that's best, but I'm trying to find the balance for me personally between spreading out the shots as much as possible, and minimizing the peaks and troughs to an acceptable level.

I've been pinning Test cyp E8D @ 200mg, which is equal to 175mg/wk, with 375iu of HCG on day 6 and 8 (equal to ~656iu/wk). Most of the reading I've done would suggest I should feel like crap just before each shot, but I don't. I've experimented with HCG and Aromasin doses, and feel they're pretty good, and feel the last 2 bloodwork results agree. Last was about 5 months ago (just about to get another), and ttl test was 29.1nmol/L, free test was 67.1 pmol/L, and estradiol was 82 pmol/L (22.34 pg/ml).

3x now, for 3 months each, over the past 2.5 yrs I have upped the dose to cycle levels and pinned Test E e4d. I can honestly say I haven't noticed a difference in feeling the peak/trough with test c e8d, vs. test e e4d.

Now I'm testing Test Cyp e10d, with 330iu hcg on days 6, 8, and 10 (= ~700iu/wk) to see if I notice a trough, but after reading post after post from seasoned guys about how important it is to pin 2x/wk I'm really curious for some feedback on why you're so strict with that? I am VERY open to knowledge from people with experience, I just need to understand the "why".

I've read about shorter esters causing less aromatization, etc, and clearly understand the logic behind how pinning more often will cause more stability in levels. Every few hours would probably be ideal from a hormonal balance point of view, but not necessarily from a lifestyle/injection spot point of view

Thoughts?

thanks

 

[halfape211]

I humbly suggest you read some of the stickies like: Basic TRT. Some good stuff in there

 

[Russell77]

Thanks. I will read them again, but I do believe I have read all at least once. I suppose I was just looking for some real world feedback from those who have gone through the process... I'm convinced there would be many that try to push the limits on injection intervals, and just going through the process myself

Cheers.

I humbly suggest you read some of the stickies like: Basic TRT. Some good stuff in there

 

[Megatron28]

Here is what I wrote in the sticky you were directed to. I included my personal experience which I think answers your general question about pinning frequency. Your results may be different, but it seems like many others have had similar experiences.

Let me share my personal experience with you. My doctor actually did prescribe 200mg every two weeks. I talked to him about the roller coaster ride and he had no problem letting me start injecting 100mg once a week. I had lab work done after about 10 weeks to see what my peak and trough TT levels were within a seven day period. My peak was 1,100ng/dl and my trough was 330ng/dl. I felt pretty good for a few days and pretty lousy by the end of the week. I talked to my doctor about switching to 50mg injections every 3.5 days which he again was fine with if I was ok with the additional pinning. This put my TT right around a stable 650ng/dl. I felt a lot better without the big swings.

 

[Russell77]

Again, thank you for replying with knowledge and experience. Your experience is perfectly inline with the general consensus on the subject that I've already read a lot about.

My point was just that I don't seem to notice any drastic changes over 8-10 days. My labido is sometimes even stronger near the end, and energy up... I've not been noticing an obvious high period at the beginning and low before the next pin, which is why I'm trying to learn more about other people's experience with frequency. If I'm going to comit myself to e3-4days for life, I'd like to know that "I" will really benefit from it.

 

[Megatron28]

Again, thank you for replying with knowledge and experience. Your experience is perfectly inline with the general consensus on the subject that I've already read a lot about.

My point was just that I don't seem to notice any drastic changes over 8-10 days. My labido is sometimes even stronger near the end, and energy up... I've not been noticing an obvious high period at the beginning and low before the next pin, which is why I'm trying to learn more about other people's experience with frequency. If I'm going to comit myself to e3-4days for life, I'd like to know that "I" will really benefit from it.

What does you blood work show? Some guys just don't notice things like high or low E2 as much as others. Some guys walk around with hernias for three years without noticing them. Try to be objective and get blood work.

 

[Russell77]

I definitely need to get more consistent bw done... but it's not as easy in Canada (with our communist health care, that you guys are catching up to).

As far as I know, I need it ordered by a Dr., and if I ask too often she'll wonder what's up and future bw could be an issue.

This is just a short term problem though, since I plan on hunting down a specialist who I can work with properly. Unfortunately, (also due to our "free" health care), the specialist I've already met with, as well as a dozen more in the area I've heard about are complete dipshits, stuck in the 70's textbooks, and focused on what will make them the most $$ from the healthcare money pot.

In the mean time I'm trying to make the best of a less than ideal situation, as I work towards the best case scenario.

 

[Megatron28]

Can you just cross the border? Or it sounds like several guys have had success going to walk-in clinics to get good work. And if I remember right, there is a private service in Canada that will run blood work but I can't remember the name.

 

[Alpin]

Canada = crap health care.
Socialized medicine means go die in the ditch and quit bothering us with your problems.

 

[Russell77]

Sad but true... socialized medicine also hurts the poor (who it's supposed to help) far more than the wealthy.... but that's for another discussion.

Megatron, thanks for the idea. I'll look into getting blood work done across the ditch.. If that's an viable option I know it would really help!

As far as a place in Canada, it's possible but I doubt it's a true walk in service, as the gov has their hands in everything by way of "subsidizing" it with my money. Once they subsidize it, they control who gets access.

BTW - I truly love Canada. It's just the way things are moving further and further from free market that's hurting both of our countries IMO. I'm sure 99% of aas users would agree the gov needs to butt out of most things they're diddling in...

 

[Virginian]

My normal schedule is injecting 0.44 mg sub-Q every 4 days in my inner thigh (equivalent to 77 mg/week. I respond well and that amount keeps my total T about 900 and free T above normal range by my estimation.

However, my doctor does not like the free test out of range. Therefore, to keep her happy I extend the interval to 6 or 7 days just before blood work. On the 6th or 7th day after my last injection, I don't notice feeling any different - but total T has never measured less than 580 7 days after last injection and free T has always been above range.

So I could see myself injecting only once a week with good results. But my experience may not be typical. My body might just metabolize T more slowly than most others.

So I would say, give it a try see what happens. That's the only way to see if works for you. And let us know the results.