Been doing good lately, here is what I have been doing.

[meathead320]

Hi all,

For those who have been here over the last year, I had some issues with ED and low libido, E2 control and so forth.

I tried a lot of different things, and figured out a protocol that has been working for me quite well.

I had been as high as 300mg EW, wich is really more low dose AAS cruising, and eventually even on just test you can start to feel like crap. One of the things I found is that consistent levels of high test will eventually desensitize D2 dopamine receptors in the brain.

Maybe not in all patients, but certainly in my case. It was killing my libido. Pretty much like Deca dick, but from too much test, and being on higher dose than one should really be on for TRT for too long.

I tried a few different things, but because of that dopamine insensitivity not even Caber would work.

Tried changing the test dose to a more conservative amount, yet still was having libido. It was as if 100mg just could not work as I was used to more than that, but more than that would not work as I was burned out on "more".

So I consulted with a couple different doctors, one a neurologist, and a psychologist to find out how long it takes for D2, or dopamine sites to recover from over stimulation.

Well, GOOD NEWS, it turned out the have some experience with this from patients they have had on L-Dopa, and even drugs like wellbutrin, which is a re-uptake inhibitor, and these drugs lead to too much circulation, and eventual loss of sensitivity. There is however a re-sensitizing process that is much shorter than it takes to become desensitized. The docs I talked to said there has been no clinical studies on the amount of time it takes to regain sensitivity, but in their practice taking people off of these drugs for 30 days usually does the trick, and the educated guess was that the ratio is about 1/8, or 8x as long to lose sensitivity as it takes to regain it.

So, I went off the TRT completely. Ran a PCT same as I would going off of an AAS cycle.

Took 100mcg of triptoraline followed by clomid at 25mg ED x 30 days.

Stayed off another 15 days. Had blood work done, and my test was low but about where it was when started TRT.

Went back on TRT, after having been off a total of 45 days. Figuring my dopamine receptors had recovered, I would be more conservative with the TRT this time, and not treat is like AAS use.

New protocol:

Testosterone Cypionate IM 100mg 1x EW on Monday morning.
Anastrozole 0.25mg 2x EW Monday and Thursday evening.
10mg of Clomid 1x EW on day of shot

The Clomid is likely too infrequent and low dose to cause sides. For some reason it lowers my BP a bit and has strong positive effect on my HDL values, so I figured what harm is there in such a small dose of it spread out long term?

I also wont use HCG as the reason I’m on TRT is primary testicular trauma. Initial work up found highly elevated LH and FSH levels, so not much good putting in an LH agonist would do.

The reason for the 100mg only 1x per week is that too consistent levels of test and I don’t feel it as much. Where if it has a chance to get a little low, that may be helping me with the D2 sensitivity.

So far I’ve been on this protocol about 60 days, and have been feeling great. Good libido, high energy.

If the cheese ever slides off the cracker again in terms of my libido, I’ll take another 30 day break. Hate having to do that, but it sure made a difference for me.

I don’t think this would have been as effective a protocol had I not just let my system take a break to “reset”.

[lvs]

Good to hear you are getting back on track.

[steroid.com 1]

I enjoyed reading this post. Well stated and well reasoned. Good for you man.

Even though I am a big proponent of lower dose more frequent injections to smooth things out (keep E2 in check) and replicate the natural human condition as best as possible; the one time per week injection may give you a little up and down but nothing really significant unless you metabolize at a higher then normal rate.

The one key here is if it works for you then God Speed my man!

[kelkel]

^^^^x2.

That cheese off the cracker thing, damn funny btw!

[Bio-Active]

Great to hear you are back on track.

Hi all,

For those who have been here over the last year, I had some issues with ED and low libido, E2 control and so forth.

I tried a lot of different things, and figured out a protocol that has been working for me quite well.

I had been as high as 300mg EW, wich is really more low dose AAS cruising, and eventually even on just test you can start to feel like crap. One of the things I found is that consistent levels of high test will eventually desensitize D2 dopamine receptors in the brain.

Maybe not in all patients, but certainly in my case. It was killing my libido. Pretty much like Deca dick, but from too much test, and being on higher dose than one should really be on for TRT for too long.

I tried a few different things, but because of that dopamine insensitivity not even Caber would work.

Tried changing the test dose to a more conservative amount, yet still was having libido. It was as if 100mg just could not work as I was used to more than that, but more than that would not work as I was burned out on "more".

So I consulted with a couple different doctors, one a neurologist, and a psychologist to find out how long it takes for D2, or dopamine sites to recover from over stimulation.

Well, GOOD NEWS, it turned out the have some experience with this from patients they have had on L-Dopa, and even drugs like wellbutrin, which is a re-uptake inhibitor, and these drugs lead to too much circulation, and eventual loss of sensitivity. There is however a re-sensitizing process that is much shorter than it takes to become desensitized. The docs I talked to said there has been no clinical studies on the amount of time it takes to regain sensitivity, but in their practice taking people off of these drugs for 30 days usually does the trick, and the educated guess was that the ratio is about 1/8, or 8x as long to lose sensitivity as it takes to regain it.

So, I went off the TRT completely. Ran a PCT same as I would going off of an AAS cycle.

Took 100mcg of triptoraline followed by clomid at 25mg ED x 30 days.

Stayed off another 15 days. Had blood work done, and my test was low but about where it was when started TRT.

Went back on TRT, after having been off a total of 45 days. Figuring my dopamine receptors had recovered, I would be more conservative with the TRT this time, and not treat is like AAS use.

New protocol:

Testosterone Cypionate IM 100mg 1x EW on Monday morning.
Anastrozole 0.25mg 2x EW Monday and Thursday evening.
10mg of Clomid 1x EW on day of shot

The Clomid is likely too infrequent and low dose to cause sides. For some reason it lowers my BP a bit and has strong positive effect on my HDL values, so I figured what harm is there in such a small dose of it spread out long term?

I also wont use HCG as the reason I’m on TRT is primary testicular trauma. Initial work up found highly elevated LH and FSH levels, so not much good putting in an LH agonist would do.

The reason for the 100mg only 1x per week is that too consistent levels of test and I don’t feel it as much. Where if it has a chance to get a little low, that may be helping me with the D2 sensitivity.

So far I’ve been on this protocol about 60 days, and have been feeling great. Good libido, high energy.

If the cheese ever slides off the cracker again in terms of my libido, I’ll take another 30 day break. Hate having to do that, but it sure made a difference for me.

I don’t think this would have been as effective a protocol had I not just let my system take a break to “reset”.

[bigboy67]

Hi all,

I also wont use HCG as the reason I’m on TRT is primary testicular trauma. Initial work up found highly elevated LH and FSH levels, so not much good putting in an LH agonist would do.

does that mean that you have no issues with your balls shrinking while on TRT since you over produce LH/FSH already?

[THINKBIG]

I started doing 100mg cyp every 5 days instead of ew and I don't see the swings as much. Feel much better day before my shot then I did 2 days before the ew dosage

[steroid.com 1]

does that mean that you have no issues with your balls shrinking while on TRT since you over produce LH/FSH already?

The OP had primary testicular trauma so all the HCG (LH) in the world won't do him any good; the boys are damaged.

[meathead320]

does that mean that you have no issues with your balls shrinking while on TRT since you over produce LH/FSH already?

gdevine pretty much answered as to why I don't use the HCG..

The reason I was over producing the LH and FSH is that my body was trying to produce more test, but was simply not able to, so it kept putting out more LH and FSH in a futile effort to produce more test.

Once I got on TRT the high levels of LH and FSH went back down, and are actually low now like in most guys on TRT.

As far as testicular shrinkage, the size of mine changed very little. Maybe 10% smaller than before TRT. Hardly noticable shrinkage.

THINKBIG
I started doing 100mg cyp every 5 days instead of ew and I don't see the swings as much. Feel much better day before my shot then I did 2 days before the ew dosage

Overall I think I'm one of the lucky guys who does really good at lower doses, and 1x EW. Even on the Sunday evening before my shot my sex drive is very good, I feel confident etc... So if my test level is half of the peak level from the shot, it still seems to be high enough to work.

[devildog1967]

Glad all is looking good bro. Nice to see a positive side to life

keep it up

[meathead320]

Made a another small adjustment this week, just to see if I can feel just as good without any AI at all.

Dropped the test dose down to 80mg 1x per week, with no AI.

See how this does.

Will keep track of sex drive + blood pressure. Hopefully that amount of test will not require the AI at all.

If for any reason I do not feel as good, can always go back to what I laid out before.

[bass]

great read MeatHead! since Gdevine talked about splitting the dose to twice a week and cut it down to 50 mgs per dose i've planned on it once i am done with deca, i too like to cut down on Anastrozole, one it has nasty sides, and two its too expensive! glad you found what works for you, and reading your post just gave me encouragement to make the change! good read!

[steroid.com 1]

Splitting doses can have a very positive impact on E2 levels...biggest reason I do it. I'm seriously thinking going to E3D...

bass, what neg sides do you get with Anastrozole?

[bass]

lower back muscle ache. real nasty pain!

[black6]

Great post, I dont post often but read everyday just about.

I have been a 200mg cyp since april of this year. Felt great for about 3 months or so and now kinda feeling pre-trt. Not bad but just not the over the top I first felt. My clinic runs TRT kinda like an AAS cycle. 12 wks test cyp, PCT 4 weeks, then start over again. I think Im going to do what you did and take a month or 2 break and try it again. Thanks again for your post.

[meathead320]

Made a another small adjustment this week, just to see if I can feel just as good without any AI at all.

Dropped the test dose down to 80mg 1x per week, with no AI.

See how this does.

Will keep track of sex drive + blood pressure. Hopefully that amount of test will not require the AI at all.

If for any reason I do not feel as good, can always go back to what I laid out before.

Well turns out at 80mg 1x EW I still needed the AI, nips got sensitive, and not felt so well on last days before next shot.

Went back to 100mg, and surely felt really good, but interestingly feel best a couple days after the shot. ****scratches head****

Might try 60mg 2x EW. Even though that is 20mg higher total than 100 1x, I think the peak level would be lower... Maybe that won't require the AI?

So far I have not been having any AI sides like joint aches, as I only take 0.25mg 2x EW. 1 on shot day monday, next on thursday. If I try 60mg 2x EW that also would be monday and thursday.

No matter what I know 100mg 1x + 0.25mg Anastrozole 2x EW does work at a satisfactory level. So if my playing around leads to nothing better, I can always go back to what I know works.

[bass]

hmmm, that doesn't make sense! for me splitting T dose to twice a week is working great so far, and only been taking 1 mg AI per week. i take AI 12-24 hours after injection, because E2 conversion will take place about 12-24 hours after you inject, and AI works almost immediately.