Am I impatient?

[LFH40]

I wonder if I'm being too impatient. Tomorrow begins my fourth week of trt. Again, my prescribed protocol is: 100mg test cyp every 3.5 days and 250iu hcg day before each test pin. No AI at this time. 40 years old, 5'10", 173 lbs, 11%bf. 433 total and 6 free (pre trt). I have 2 weeks until 6 wk BW.

Now into the question- the 2nd week I noticed high libido and morning and night erections and even beginnings of spontaneous daytime erections. After that, it dropped off and hit the bottom like a rock. I've added ZMA 4 days ago and also expecting DIM to be delivered today, found some online at a good price.

Am I too impatient? According to the sticky, I was under the impression things would start changing and I really don't feel much of anything yet. I know everyone is different, but could it just be that my natural test wasn't shut down yet and the test cyp brought my levels up and I was getting the effects of both and now my natural has shut down and I've bottomed out and I just need to wait for the test to build up?

Aggravating and never wracking. I'm with lowT so I'm assuming everything will be leveled out to optimal levels after my blood test. Can someone please bring me back down to planet earth, lol. I think I'm overthinking and reading way too much.

[Novice489]

You inject 100 mg test cup every 3.5 days? That sounds like a lot.

Get your E2 checked. High E2 can cause ED.

[LFH40]

You inject 100 mg test cup every 3.5 days? That sounds like a lot.

Get your E2 checked. High E2 can cause ED.

I'm sorry, 100mg broken down to 50mg every 3.5 days

[bass]

sound like your E2 has spiked and its killing your libido! at that dose you really need to do BW now to see where E2 stands. I bet its high. also 4 weeks too early to expect any benefits of TRT. what you're going through is what we call "getting dialed in" its a long process and yes you need to be patient, it'll come once you're dialed in.

[bass]

I'm sorry, 100mg broken down to 50mg every 3.5 days

beat me to the post! still its possible your e2 could be high. also another thing to check for is SHBG, some times test bind to SHBG, so its worth looking into.

[dreadnok89]

Libido is a weird thing.

[LFH40]

Do you guys know of lowT . Com checks SHBG on the 6 week test? I only have a couple weeks before the test. Will I be ok waiting it out or is it imperative I spring out of pocket for a test two weeks before the 6 week one? I'm afraid my E2 may be out of wack already. Doing the zinc, copper, dim thing so I can maybe get the BW done before going on an AI is this a good idea?

[bass]

are you under LowT.com care? either way, I am sure they do, if not you can always get from private md labs . com.

[LFH40]

Bass, yep, LowT.com care. I have confidence they'll take care of me.

[vmons01]

I'm the same height, weight, age, and bf as you ... it took me a year to get dialed in, but I made some mistakes along the way. Now I test E2 every month on my own. I started off with a regular dosage of an Ai but I had to drastically reduce it to about 1mg every 8 weeks or so. I'm hoping to reduce my E2 testing to every other month and completely eliminate the Ai.

Be patient.

[bass]

Bass, yep, LowT.com care. I have confidence they'll take care of me.

have you contacted them about it? I am sure they'll get to the bottom of this and get you on the right track. BTW, it took me almost 2 years to get dialed in, but mostly that was due to money making clinics and inexperienced doctors, but with LowT you can rest assured you'll get dial in inside 4 months, 6 tops.

[Vettester]

You're putting way too much emphasis on testosterone to be the "fix all" with everything. There are a multitude of variables upstream and downstream that play into it, like thyroid, prolactin, E2 and of course just keeping an eye on CBC's and your metabolic assays.

Your initial free test was a little bit under 1.4%. Ideally it would be good to see free testosterone in the 2% to 3% range. Best bet at this stage is to run your 6 week labs in a few weeks and let's see where it's at. Your SHBG is in probably in the mid 50's to low 60's, just depending where your albumin sits. If you don't get a SHBG assay then just make sure you get free testosterone, and provide us with lipids, CBC's, metabolic, etc., we can calculate the SHBG thereafter. Getting your SHBG into a 30nmol/L range will get your free testosterone over that 2% mark, which will make a significant difference in your program. You can look at therapeutic doses of Vitamin D-3, and even a small amount of Nettle Root to help in this area. However, first things first, you needs labs across the board, and you need to be cognizant of the big picture going on in your body to help your well being. Good chance your thyroid is also needs addressed, make sure you cover the gamut with getting the proper labs, not just TSH.

[LFH40]

You're putting way too much emphasis on testosterone to be the "fix all" with everything. There are a multitude of variables upstream and downstream that play into it, like thyroid, prolactin, E2 and of course just keeping an eye on CBC's and your metabolic assays.

Your initial free test was a little bit under 1.4%. Ideally it would be good to see free testosterone in the 2% to 3% range. Best bet at this stage is to run your 6 week labs in a few weeks and let's see where it's at. Your SHBG is in probably in the mid 50's to low 60's, just depending where your albumin sits. If you don't get a SHBG assay then just make sure you get free testosterone, and provide us with lipids, CBC's, metabolic, etc., we can calculate the SHBG thereafter. Getting your SHBG into a 30nmol/L range will get your free testosterone over that 2% mark, which will make a significant difference in your program. You can look at therapeutic doses of Vitamin D-3, and even a small amount of Nettle Root to help in this area. However, first things first, you needs labs across the board, and you need to be cognizant of the big picture going on in your body to help your well being. Good chance your thyroid is also needs addressed, make sure you cover the gamut with getting the proper labs, not just TSH.

Man that is a great reply. My prolactin was in range. I had that tested two weeks poor to trt along with thyroid. My former dr tested those due to my pituitary tumor which killed hormonal function.

Monthly E2 checks are a great idea. Are they terribly expensive?

[LFH40]

Prior to trt, sorry. One handed typing on phone trying to get my 2 yr old done for a nap

[Vettester]

Man that is a great reply. My prolactin was in range. I had that tested two weeks poor to trt along with thyroid. My former dr tested those due to my pituitary tumor which killed hormonal function.

Monthly E2 checks are a great idea. Are they terribly expensive?

Good to know about the tumor, and glad you are able to move forward with a plan to stabilize your endocrine system. On your thyroid, did you have the full panel taken (FT4, FT3, RT3, antibodies, ..)? Any other pituitary imbalances due to the tumor, e.g., ACTH? If you have a link to another thread where you posted your baseline labs, please let me know, I would like to take a look.

private md labs has the Sensitive E2 assay at $68, and you can get an extra 15% off with their coupon code (plenty of us can send you that, as they send them out weekly). I wouldn't be surprised if your E2 is indeed on the high side, but until labs are drawn it's all speculation. IMO, I'd just keep it status quo for the next couple of weeks until you get your labs. No need to start adding compounds or deviating your protocol until you get the facts. Once in hand you will have the ammo to put together a new plan.

[jomamma007]

As Vette stated,
First don't mess with your protocol until you have your 6 week blood results in hand.
Second, it takes time for TRT to work, and that's if it's dialed in let alone having high or low this and that.
Give it 3 months of being dialed in, as long as thyroid, adrenals, and everything else is in order and you will feel like a new man.
Lastly some guys like myself notice changes very gradually. One week you just wake up and notice you feel different here or there or your body isn't doing X anymore etc.
Patience sucks but it's the best solution right now. AND make sure you're getting a sensitive estrogen panel!

[LFH40]

These are the initial labs from LowT through LabCorp. I was thinking the same thing with regards to not adding anything. The only thing I did different was on week two, after authorization from my dr, started injecting half dose twice a week as opposed to once a week. I added in the ZMA and I'm waiting on delivery of DIM. Aside from that, everything is the same. Oh, I might add that I take 5000is of D3 each day. It brought my total test from 192 up to the 433 that I'm posting the labs. I raised it in one month. The 192 total test figure came from a lab my endo, whom I fired, had performed. The free T was the same number, so even though my total test was raised, it was all for nothing apparently as I don't have squat for free T.

I'd be willing to be I have high E2 and I also have that sensitive nipple issue too...

[LFH40]

Oh, and I want to thank you guys for taking so much time with me to show me the ropes. This is all new to me, but I am really studying the stickys and old threads to try to answer some of my own questions. It's cool you guys are on here willing to help people out with your own free time. Truly appreciated as this is nerve wracking and foreign to me.

[jomamma007]

sensitive nipples isn't a great indicator of HIGH estrogen. Could just be elevating here and there but still in range.
This is why we need labs. I wouldn't start the DIM until you get your bloods done either.

Your liver enzymes look great by the way, might not need an ai.

When you start TRT, generally you get a huge Dopamine rush the first few weeks which makes your libido rise but it falls off. It could be that or elevated E. Most guys on here on 100mgs per week with hcg need an ai, not all but more then half for sure. Even at 11%bf you still might just aromatise heavily.

Lastly it looks like you might have high SHBG. The bigger injections (1xweek) push this down farther leading to more FREE test available. Maybe this was why you felt hornier the first 2 weeks before you split up your injections.

Again there are too many variables, we could specualte all day. Be patient for another 2 weeks, don't change or add anything and get bloods. After that we can really help.

[LFH40]

Awesome. Until then I'll just be patient and keep on keepin' on and wait for those 6 week bloods. I'll post those as soon as I get them to see if you guys would be willing to help me review them.
Learning so much. Even though the free test available could have been risen from the 1xweek injection, most of you guys do the twice a week or E3D? Correct? I will just keep this status quo and not change anything. I'll put the DIM on the shelf as well. I can deal with how I feel for a few more weeks. I'm not rock bottom with regards to mood or anything, but I don't think I'm "dialed in" quite yet either. And from all of you guys, I realize this will take some time, not an overnight fix with a shot.

Debts of gratitude for your time and knowledge!

[Beethoven]

Be patient, between finding Docs and the like I'm still getting dialed in myself. Going on about eight months or so. Got my labs coming up in a couple of weeks and we'll see from there. I initially felt the same as you. I personally think I'd do better with a bit higher dosage but am waiting to do labs. Patience my friend.