My TRT journey so far + a couple questions

[geezuschrist]

What's up guys! It's been so great to get on a good trt protocol and see my life change right in front of me. From the mild depression being lifted, sex drive has been good, all around just feeling better and a much better perspective on life. Without forums like this I would have never been inclined to better myself when my original doctor said my level of 270 was fine. What a load of shit he was, makes me angry at the way the medical system works when all he would do is push antidepressants down my throat and I refused and found the root of the problem.
Enough rambling for now, just a few questions for you all. When I started trt I was put on 100 mg test cyp weekly, 25 mg clomid daily, and here's the kicker.. 3,000 iu of hcg weekly(1,000 a day for 3 days)! I later found out that it was way too much. It was very hard being 21 and finding a doc willing to prescribe trt. After a few weeks I called and asked him to increase the dose, so he switched me to 100 mg test cyp every 5 days, I dropped the clomid, and I do 250iu hcg 2 days in between those 5 days. One of my doc's concern was to keep fertility(which I could careless about right now as long as I am feeling better.) I assume this is the reason he dosed the hcg so high and also wanted me on clomid daily.
So my questions are this: When he changed me to every 5 days he said that was okay, but if my levels come back too high he will drop my dose. When we spoke he said he wants to keep me in the 900 range. I've been feeling better at the dose I'm at but i'm also curious to see what i'm at on my trough day, and If I could get dosed any higher. So when would my levels be the lowest? I'm assuming the day I'm supposed to take my test shot, I would just get bloodwork done before I do my shot. Also, do you guys think I should even mention dropping the clomid altogether and dropping the hcg dose? I just don't want him to think I'm not listening and he ends up dropping me or something.

Anyways, I appreciate all the responses on my posts so far and can't tell you enough just how much a difference this has made on my life. Thanks guys!

[kelkel]

Glad you're doing better Grex!

Not sure why you asked to increase the dose unless it was based on BW results? Remember, more isn't always better here. That said, I do prefer E5D over weekly any time. When it comes to HCG you'll be just fine. Right now it's about maintaining testicular function, not impregnating someone. You can worry about upping the dose (if necessary) when the time comes to reproduce.

When it comes to your test level, worry about your free T level, total T doesn't matter. Free T is what works for you. So it doesn't matter if your TT is 1500 or 750 as long as your FT is near the top of the range and you feel fine. You're not a number so base things on how you feel as well. Yes, pulling BW the morning of (but before) your shot will give you a trough level. Moral of the story is that the less you can use and still maintain an excellent FT level the better as you'll incur less E2 and RBC issues that require attention and or medication.

I probably would not mention dropping the dose of HCG and eliminating Clomid, but that's your call and I don't know your relationship with your doctor. He would have no way of knowing you dropped the clomid. Re HCG, I believe we spoke of this in your other thread, at the high dose he initiated it would lead to desensitization over time as well as E2 problems.

[geezuschrist]

Glad you're doing better Grex!

Not sure why you asked to increase the dose unless it was based on BW results? Remember, more isn't always better here. That said, I do prefer E5D over weekly any time. When it comes to HCG you'll be just fine. Right now it's about maintaining testicular function, not impregnating someone. You can worry about upping the dose (if necessary) when the time comes to reproduce.

When it comes to your test level, worry about your free T level, total T doesn't matter. Free T is what works for you. So it doesn't matter if your TT is 1500 or 750 as long as your FT is near the top of the range and you feel fine. You're not a number so base things on how you feel as well. Yes, pulling BW the morning of (but before) your shot will give you a trough level. Moral of the story is that the less you can use and still maintain an excellent FT level the better as you'll incur less E2 and RBC issues that require attention and or medication.

I probably would not mention dropping the dose of HCG and eliminating Clomid, but that's your call and I don't know your relationship with your doctor. He would have no way of knowing you dropped the clomid. Re HCG, I believe we spoke of this in your other thread, at the high dose he initiated it would lead to desensitization over time as well as E2 problems.

Thanks Kel,

Only reason I asked to increase my dose was I wasn't getting a huge change in sex drive with weekly shots of 100 mg, but it's doing much better now on every 5 days. I appreciate the response, and when the time does come if I ever want to have kids I'll figure that out when I get there. It kind of excites me thinking about doing a cycle in the future as I've already seen my lifts increase a dramatic amount in the 6 weeks of trt now. I've been lifting for 8 years and I'm very curious as to what a cycle would do to my body, but I don't plan on that for atleast a couple months probably more!

[kelkel]

Well, sex drive is more than just testosterone but glad the increase helped. Too much can sometimes do the opposite, surprisingly. I would not even consider a cycle until you've got at least a couple doc appts under your belt and are stable on a protocol. You should be able to make fantastic gains with restored, optimal testosterone levels and sound nutrition and training. Max that out first!

Be well GRex!