Tinkering...

[SweepTheLegJohnny]

My doctor wants wants me on the following dosing protocol:

Monday and Friday: 250IU hCG
Wednesday: 200mgs of testosterone , IM.

However, given my previous experiences with TRT, I am going to do the following:

Monday am and Thursday PM: 100mgs of test and 250IU hCG, in the same syringe, injected subcutaneously.

This is quite the departure from her protocol and I don't generally go off of the reservation with docs' orders but smaller, subq injections work much better for me. In fact, I don't want to go back to IM injections, EVER... Sub q are far superior for me.

But, again, I don't like going against the doctor's orders and am hoping that tinkering with it won't cause problems. I won't be taking any more medication than is prescribed; just dosing it differently but I don't want to second guess the doctor either, especially given that she's knowledgeable. Thoughts?

[Beethoven]

My first question is why 200mg weekly? Is that your starting dosage or has your Dr brought it up via blood work ? Secondly if I were on a dosage that high I would pin even more fequently.

[sirupate]

That may depend on how your doctor wants your labs done. My previous doctor wanted labs "x" days after injection, depending on if he was wanting to see my high or mid-range levels. My current doctor thinks it is just too hard to keep track of all that and I just get labs when I visit him every six months. As long as the numbers are reasonable, he doesn't care.

You aren't changing the total amount injected, just smoothing the levels. So 200mgs. every week? Wow.

[SweepTheLegJohnny]

The starting dose is that high because my estrogen is crashed too: 8.8 on a scale from 8-70. My untreated testosterone was (and has always been) in the low 200s. So, crashed test+ crashed estrogen= large doses of testosterone. This is a low t network doc so I do trust her but I just have my own preferences in how/when I pin.

I have been debating about pinning more often, possibly a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule.

[bullshark99]

No problem whatsoever with the change in protocol you are looking at, all good. Don't let anyone here "scare you" that 200 per week is not a legitamate dose. Yes, most start lower and titrate up, but that being said you can be succeesful starting high and titrate down to get lower if your blood work dictates.
LT revealed how many people take 200 per week, you are not the Lone Ranger! The number is surprisingly high! Just be smart about it, if your BW is way high, just lower your dose and see how you feel? I do 200 per week all in one shot, have almost 5 yrs of blood work proving all is good. Only exception, crashed my E2 on a few occasions, anastrozole strong stuff.
Again, try to focus on how you feel and any symptoms, not a certain number.

[SweepTheLegJohnny]

I've been choking back a lot of DIM; I can feel the E2 creeping up on me. I know I'm going to need an AI but I'll have to wait for her to order BW and see where things are at.

[Beethoven]

No problem whatsoever with the change in protocol you are looking at, all good. Don't let anyone here "scare you" that 200 per week is not a legitamate dose. Yes, most start lower and titrate up, but that being said you can be succeesful starting high and titrate down to get lower if your blood work dictates.
LT revealed how many people take 200 per week, you are not the Lone Ranger! The number is surprisingly high! Just be smart about it, if your BW is way high, just lower your dose and see how you feel? I do 200 per week all in one shot, have almost 5 yrs of blood work proving all is good. Only exception, crashed my E2 on a few occasions, anastrozole strong stuff.
Again, try to focus on how you feel and any symptoms, not a certain number.

Not trying to scare anyone, not my intention at all. Just simply asking if this was determined by Bloodwork or what. Yes many are at or near 200 mg but most got there via Bloodwork. Just imagine if you had high blood pressure, you go see your Dr and he starts you on the highest dosage and work your way down. I guess it's only done in TRT where you start off at the top. Either way I was just curious. The higher the dose the more potential for sides. I'm sure I would be great at 200 mg, however I would definitely need more Anastrozole and be doing more therapeutic blood draws as a result. I Thought the idea of trt is to be at the lowest possible dose where you are a symptomatic.

[bullshark99]

Bee, too tired to re-read the entire post but I completely agree with you. TRT by definition ( I would assume) would be take the smallest possible dose you can while feeling your best by minimizing or eliminating sides.
I only wanted to point out that some ( not necessarily you) but some people beleive that 200 mgs per week is not TRT but rather a long term cycle that's all. I sometimes get frustrated and maybe over react when I see comments like that knowing a boatload of people do 200, including myself. My apologies for my miscommunication.

[Beethoven]

Bee, too tired to re-read the entire post but I completely agree with you. TRT by definition ( I would assume) would be take the smallest possible dose you can while feeling your best by minimizing or eliminating sides.
I only wanted to point out that some ( not necessarily you) but some people beleive that 200 mgs per week is not TRT but rather a long term cycle that's all. I sometimes get frustrated and maybe over react when I see comments like that knowing a boatload of people do 200, including myself. My apologies for my miscommunication.

I know. Everyone is different. Some do well at higher doses and others on lower. It is very individual. I remember specifically buzzardmarinepumper is on about 200 or so. It is definitely not un heard of and if that is your optimal dose than that is what's best for you. I actually ran a lower dose at about 80 mg and a higher dose at about 120 and didn't feel the difference at the higher dose.

[kelkel]

Everyone metabolizes differently. It's why BW is so important. I do agree that to many docs start off at a high dosage and then have to scale it back. Off the top of my head I can't think of any other med they do that with.....