Question about my Trough

[Lawman]

Here is a quick and dirty of my background:

Age: 33 yrs

Weight: 195

Body fat: 16%

On testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for over 3 months with initial TT at 185 ng/dl and 165 ng/dl respectively. Doc prescribed me with 100 mg of Test E once per week. No Aromatase inhibitor (AI). No HCG.

My question has to do with my trough. About 2 months into testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), my doc checked my levels right before my next injection. Nurse called me back with the results that my TT came back at 293 ng/dl and that Doc was happy with this level. However, I am not because he initially told me that my trough should be no lower than 500 ng/dl. My last shot was on Friday (100mg) and I decided that I would inject twice a week instead of once, so I also injected another 50mg last night (Monday) and plan to do another 50 mg injection Friday morning. I figure that with my last 100 mg injection a few days ago, the 50 mg injections twice per week would keep my levels consistently elevated (Hopefully around the 800 ng/dl range). With that being said, I have a few questions:

1. Do your trough levels raise over time?

2. If my trough is at 293, what would a good guesstimate be as for my peak levels on 100 mg. per week?

3. Would pinning twice a week raise my trough levels? Any good guesstimate based off of my current 293 trough on once per week?

Thanks Mates. I'm still learning here.

 

[bigben34]

1. I would say that after 8 weeks, your trough will stay pretty consistent now.
2. I was at roughly the same trough as you on 100mg test-e per week. My peak was around 800. I didnt feel great towards the end of the week at these levels though. My doc agreed to bump me up to 150mg a week since i wasnt feeling great and he wants to see my trough in the middle of the ref range. I just got my levels drawn yesterday so I'm not sure what my trough will be but my peak last week was around 1100 (top of the ref range). Currently feeling pretty damn good.
3. You won't have as low of a trough for sure but you also wouldn't peak as high either...not sure what the numbers would be...

 

[halfwit]

Pretty sure you're looking at a need to bump up your dose. 293ng/dL is NOT a good level regardless where it lies on the curve. Pinning twice a week would just flatten out your trough, keeping your levels more stable throughout the week - this is why it's heavily recommended. Bigben34 has everything else covered imo.

 

[Lawman]

Thanks bigben34 and halfwit. Great info. I'll make an appointment with my doc and see if he'll bump me up to 150 per week.

 

[halfwit]

Thanks bigben34 and halfwit. Great info. I'll make an appointment with my doc and see if he'll bump me up to 150 per week.

Good luck man, remember the doc works for YOU, not the other way around. Let us know how it goes!

 

[gdevine]

Need to know E2.

 

[Megatron28]

Need to know E2.

I agree. When your trough gets that low it is a sign that a lot of your T is aromatising into estrogen. A person who aromatises less will have a tighter range.

As said,splitting your dose will help reduce the aromatisation and keep your levels more even. This could help you avoid the need for an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). You may not need to bump up your dose if you can keep more of the test you are injecting to remain in the form of test and not convert to estrogen.

 

[gdevine]

^^^^Yup.

This is where most Doc's get it wrong: E -->T

Many many bad sides with elevated E2 not discounting serious pathologies when elevated for sustained periods of time.

Whats more, it can be very insidious as well and without an E2 Sensitive assay could go unchecked for years to the detriment of the man's health.

Beside epidemic low androgen levels, this could very well be one of the nations leading under diagnosed and under treated malady's in men's health today.

 

[Good.2.Go]

Without having lab work performed; what are the signs of your T aromatising? Is there any physical signs such as swelling or puffiness etc..?

 

[gdevine]

Without having lab work performed; what are the signs of your T aromatising? Is there any physical signs such as swelling or puffiness etc..?

Just get an E2 Sensitive lab done if you have concerns.

Or, just Google it and learn.

There are easily 30 symptoms related to high and low E2 serum levels that most men know very well that ever lived there...it's not good.

And to answer your question; yes, water retention is one of the bigger symptoms along with nipple sensitivity/pain, erection issues, libido issues...the list goes on.

 

[Lawman]

An E2 test was never performed. I asked my Doc and he said that usually Estradiol is not a problem with replacement dosages. He said and if it were a problem, then you would need to be prescribed an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), which he said shouldn't be prescribed for long periods of time. He said it makes sense that body builders use AI's given the high Testosterone dosages and high E2 levels to follow, but since body builders only use anabolics in cycles (and not for life) then an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) makes sense.

 

[halfwit]

An E2 test was never performed. I asked my Doc and he said that usually Estradiol is not a problem with replacement dosages. He said and if it were a problem, then you would need to be prescribed an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), which he said shouldn't be prescribed for long periods of time. He said it makes sense that body builders use AI's given the high Testosterone dosages and high E2 levels to follow, but since body builders only use anabolics in cycles (and not for life) then an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) makes sense.

Given AI's are originally designed as cancer drugs in women, I'm pretty sure that long-term usage has been approved. In fact at http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/arimidex.pdf you can see they have studies going for over ten years. Your doctor needs to do his homework.

 

[gdevine]

Given AI's are originally designed as cancer drugs in women, I'm pretty sure that long-term usage has been approved. In fact at www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/arimidex.pdf you can see they have studies going for over ten years. Your doctor needs to do his homework.

Exactly!