** Modification opinions please...

[Madhaya]

So am I crazy for doing this, or do you agree with my logic? This question is a bit of a repost, but #1, I'm doing that in efforts to make the subject easier to follow & because #2, it fell on deaf ears in its first iteration. Later, I will link to the reference thread which includes pre-HRT blood & blood 9 troughs in.

I just went on HRT 11 weeks ago, and my Doc started me out at:

• 200mg Test (cyp/enan) 1x weekly......... = 200mg weekly
• 500 iu HCG 2x weekly.......................... = 1000 iu weekly
• 1mg rimidex 2x weekly........................ = 2mg weekly

I posted up here, and everyone told me the AI was a very high dose & that I should strongly consider injecting my T 2x weekly instead of 1x as that will stabilize my peaks & troughs which will hopefully lower overall aromatization, as well; in turn, lowering my AI requirements. Although no one suggested lowering my HCG dose, I have read around here that we (men) can, both, down regulate to HCG therapy & that 500iu 2x weekly is at the top of the recommended dosage window. As I just started at almost 38 years-old, I'm thinking maxing out my dosages seems imprudent.

Point being, I have now received my second prescription (11th-20th weeks), and have personally lowered my consumption to the following schedule:

• 80mg Test (cyp/enan) 2x weekly............. = 160mg weekly
• 250 iu HCG 2x weekly............................ = 500 iu weekly
• .5mg Rimidex 2x weekly........................ = 1mg weekly

My question remains, as I asked in this long thread, do you think this is a poor decision on my part? LUCIUS, of whom reviewed my blood work, mentions there that he felt my Doc got pretty close on his first protocol. Do you all, LUCIUS included, feel I should just revert back to my Doc's originally prescribed protocol, or should I stick with this lower dosage schedule I have instituted & check blood in a month for the black & white?

 

[Megatron28]

Where did you first protocol put your TT and E2?

 

[jozifp103]

you'll never really know what is best unless you get bloodwork. having said that, 200mg is a high trt dose. i'm on 200mg, but i'm also into bodybuilding and am pretty good at keeping my bloodwork numbers in check. for someone who simply wants a healthy level of testosterone, 100-160 mg a week may be a better option. it will be easier to keep e2 in range and dial in your protocol. i'd say a lower dose would be more manageable in the long run. but you gotta be persistent with the bloodwork at first until you get it dialed in.

 

[Madhaya]

MEGATRON <> Both panels are listed in the link I attached to the original post.

First week of July:
Estradiol (E2) 19.4 7.6 - 42.6 pg/ml
Testosterone, TOTAL 240 L 280 - 1100 ng/dl

10 weeks later w/a reading 8 days after last weekly T-shot & 4.5 days after last semiweekly HCG/Rimidex administration:
Estradiol 22.8 7.6-42.6 pg/mL 01
Testosterone, Serum 879 348-1197 ng/dL 01

103 <> Thank you for your input, and I agree with the obvious you state, "you'll never really know what is best unless you get bloodwork." In fact, what I asked though is after reviewing both my panels do you think I should revert back to my Doc's originally prescribed protocol, or should I stick with the lower dosage schedule I have instituted & check blood in a month for the black & white?

I have tested blood prior to HRT, I have tested following my first 10 weeks, and I intend on testing in around 4 weeks if I stay on my reduced schedule to see what it garners, but the elephant in the room here is LUCIUS ringing in my ear saying that my Doc pretty much nailed the protocol first go round while I have also recognized consensus that my AI was WAY too high.

I dropped the doses because of the reasons I stated. Cognizant of androgen receptor down regulation & the efficacy of HCG down regulating, as well, I am simply thinking that at only 38 years-old, a lighter dose may be the healthier more prudent decision. Honestly, I'd take a gram a week if it were healthy; I'm just thinking the original protocol may have been unnecessarily aggressive.

 

[Madhaya]

 

[JimiThing]

Man your numbers were looking pretty damn good bro. AR's dont down regulate either man. Honestly- I think based on numbers your doc nailed it but very importantly - how were you feeling after 11 weeks following his protocol? Cause if you felt good and numbers were what you posted, I wouldnt have changed a thing.

 

[lucius11]

Yep, seems like everything is looking good. When you are starting out you want to get your T up into that upper quadrant and watch your E2. Your current protocol did that, so job done. Any changes that you make now will be small and I doubt you will see or feel much of a difference. If it were me I would try to resist the urge to mess with things, let the protocol do its thing and see if things improve. Things should be getting better pretty soon.

 

[Havasu]

I am just a few weeks into TRT and if my numbers end up looking like what you had after 10 weeks I would be happy. Although I wouldn't mind the e2 numbers being just a bit higher maybe around 25-35 depending on how I feel.

I would actually try to push that Test level up just a little higher as LabCorp puts the top of the scale at 1197, so anything below that is high normal. As long as the law of diminishing returns doesn't kick in. From what I've read via Dr. Crisler I would have backed down the HCG to 250 iu 2x per week for a total of 500iu. He says typically more than 500iu is never needed and will help keep your leydig cells from becoming desensitized over the long term.

So, if it was me and I had those numbers, I would bump up the test a hair, back down the HCG to 250iu 2x per week, and I would have kept the Arimidex the same. Your number was towards the lower end, so with a little more aromatizing your e2 would come up a little, but still be in the normal range.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert, I'm still learning myself, and I'm basing what I've said off of what I've read, and your numbers after 10 weeks.