I can get my total T over 1500 quite easily and quickly. Unfortunately my DHT is over 3000 at this level. Shots don't effect DHT as much as gels and creams but they tend to increase E more. DHT is a natural AI.
Novaman's TRT Journal- The Journey has begun
- Thread starter novaman
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I can get my total T over 1500 quite easily and quickly. Unfortunately my DHT is over 3000 at this level. Shots don't effect DHT as much as gels and creams but they tend to increase E more. DHT is a natural AI.
View attachment 559346
This is a chart comparing gels to shots. However, I've found that my t levels return to baseline after 24 hours.
This is a chart comparing gels to shots. However, I've found that my t levels return to baseline after 24 hours.
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You're 50 so I'm going to assume that you're done having kids, but hCG can be beneficial in that it will keep your testicles from shrinking or aching.
I wouldn't worry about an AI unless you need one. Did your doctor tell you what dose of testosterone he would like you to start injecting? At lower doses, an AI is often unnecessary. Wouldn't hurt to have the conversation with your doc about it though, just in case your E2 starts creeping up down the road.
Done having kids. Any other benefits to HCG? Or should I not worry about it?
Jimstigator
New member
I use insulin syringes - .5cc, 1/2in, 29g, love it. EOD injection into a pinch of fat around naval.
HCG is hit or miss. Alot of guys say it makes them feel better, and "backfills hormonal pathways". Others, myself included, have a lot of trouble taking it, and feel worse with it. Only reason I will take it is for kiddos.
-Jim
I use a 18g to draw and a 23g 1.5inch that I inject into my quads.
Thanks. You think a 30 g will work, or is it too thin??
Jimstigator
New member
30g works fine. There are a load of guys using it. One of the top TRT guys on another forum I read uses 30g. I have also used it and noticed no difference between 29 and 30... whatever is available.
I don't even back fill mine like most. I just put the insulin syringe in the vial at a slight angle, then draw the plunger back all the way, and prop the vial on the little orange cap from the syringe to keep it at an angle. Brush teeth, come back to syringe and its ready to go. As the vial gets low, I just hold it while it fills.
I do EOD so I am really only filling the syringe to the .16 mark, which is 32mg test.
-Jim
I don't even back fill mine like most. I just put the insulin syringe in the vial at a slight angle, then draw the plunger back all the way, and prop the vial on the little orange cap from the syringe to keep it at an angle. Brush teeth, come back to syringe and its ready to go. As the vial gets low, I just hold it while it fills.
I do EOD so I am really only filling the syringe to the .16 mark, which is 32mg test.
-Jim
Super disappointed today. Went to see the doc and he agreed to put me on injections. He is starting me on 100 mg. test cip. Every 2 weeks. This protocol is lower than anything I have read on any of these forums. I also asked if he was ok with splitting the dose in half and doing 50 mg every week. He said "no".
Finally my insurance won't cover the injectable where they did cover the gel. So it might actually be cheaper for me to go to an online place like Royal Men's.
Should I start looking elsewhere ?
Finally my insurance won't cover the injectable where they did cover the gel. So it might actually be cheaper for me to go to an online place like Royal Men's.
Should I start looking elsewhere ?
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Jimstigator
New member
As far as insurance - I talked to my pharmacy out of curiosity recently and a vial (10ml) of test cyp, which could last me like 6 months, is $110 without insurance.
That is definitely the lowest dose I have seen, and not very cool. I even love to think less is more, but in that case... not so much. At the end of that second week... prepare for a world of hurt.
New Dr time? Or you could just ride it out and show him how bad it will be. Your trough T will be reallllllly low and there is no way he can ignore that. 100mg a week is a conservative dose, 100 every two weeks is nuts.
-Jim
That is definitely the lowest dose I have seen, and not very cool. I even love to think less is more, but in that case... not so much. At the end of that second week... prepare for a world of hurt.
New Dr time? Or you could just ride it out and show him how bad it will be. Your trough T will be reallllllly low and there is no way he can ignore that. 100mg a week is a conservative dose, 100 every two weeks is nuts.
-Jim
Thanks- He gave me Test Cyp 200 mg/m 10 mL and instructed me to inject .5 ml every 2 weeks. It looks like at this rate he has given me enough to last for for 10 months! I suppose I could go renegade on him and just start doing .25 ml every 3.5 days but then I would be burning the bridge for sure and would need to seek treatment elsewhere. He wants a blood test in 1 month. He is more concerned about an elevated hematocrit than anything else and is not concerned about Estradiol levels at this point. I asked him why he doesn't want to check the E2 levels? and he said it was because I'm not fat.
Jimstigator
New member
Well - regarding estrogen, hes kind of right, but only because of his insane test cyp dose. In your case, hes prescribing you such a small dose, and you are lean... nearly ZERO chance you get high E2. But... also nearly ZERO chance you get adequate T levels.
You could always just go renegage, and persuade him to prescribe it sooner. Multi-dose vials aren't designed to be used for 10 months. My Dr has me refill mine every month for safety. Maybe after a few months of happily injecting 100mg a week, you present this, from the CDC. 28 days and discard! You aren't comfortable breaking these guidelines and getting an infection, RIGHT?!
CDC - Multi-dose vials - Safe Practices for Medical Injections FAQs - Injections Safety
Do whatever you are comfortable with, but I would be scared as hell to do 100mg every two weeks. If you do go out on your own, don't forget what you already know - you need bloodwork, and this time... to include estrogen. If that means using private methods, then so be it. Megatron has those links in his profile that are excellent sources.
-Jim
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Well, your doc is putting you on a much less than ideal protocol and has said is not listening to you when you ask for it changed to something more reasonable. That being the case I would say it's time to look at other options, like another doctor or a trt clinic(you mentioned both). Royal Men's is pretty hands-off which might be good or bad depending on your tastes. I think they are more volume based and will probably just put you on a generic starting protocol that is 200mg cyp once a week with some HCG/AI.
Anyways, your options are:
1. Deal with a shitty protocol of 100mg cyp every 2 weeks.
2. Go 'rogue' and split your dosage up to once or twice a week
3. Find another provider.
Do you really want to keep dealing with a doc who isn't going to listen to you and apparently isn't very fluent in TRT? I would go with #3.
Anyways, your options are:
1. Deal with a shitty protocol of 100mg cyp every 2 weeks.
2. Go 'rogue' and split your dosage up to once or twice a week
3. Find another provider.
Do you really want to keep dealing with a doc who isn't going to listen to you and apparently isn't very fluent in TRT? I would go with #3.
with all that can be learned from this board and other on the internet, as long as I've taken the time to educate myself, it seems to me that Royal Men's could be a viable option, don't you think?
BTW I did my first dose yesterday and it has been around 24 hours. I felt pretty good today, but not like a million bucks, and I was noticeably tired by the end of the day, so I still don't know what to truly expect from all of this TRT
I'll second the notion of seeking treatment elsewhere.
We are all different, but 50mg/wk would leave me feeling like complete shit. Personally, I think that the cost of certain clinics is justified in order to receive quality treatment.
Jimstigator
New member
You started shots one day ago... Don't start wondering where the benefits are. And once you do start to feel them, if even, get ready for them dissappear as you drop lower than pre-trt because of your miniscule doses.
-Jim
-Jim
