I just got new lab results today, so I thought I'd share them as well as my protocol and how I will interpret and use the labs.
My Protocol (Including TRT Related Supplements)
- 0.25 mL E3D of a blended T that delivers 40.9mg T-cyp and 4.6mg T-prop. When you do the math and take into account that T-prop delivers more T per mg than T-cyp, my effective dose is about the same as 46mg of T-cyp E3D.
- 75 IU of HCG 2X per day (150 IU/day total). I mix it with my GH releasing peptides to minimize the number of injections.
- 5 drops per day of Anastrozole using the Eye Dropper method, which is the equivalent of 0.5mg/week. HOWEVER, I plan to drop this down (see below).
- 2.5mg Winstol 2X per day for SHBG control.
- 30mg 2X per day Armour Thyroid, but I'm going to decrease this to 45mg (see below).
- 200/100 mcg IPA/CJC-1295 2X per day.
- 50mg zinc picolinate 2X per day balanced with 2mg copper 2X per day
- 4000 IU Vitamin D3 per day
- 25mg DHEA per day
- 50mg pregnenolone per day
- 3mg Boron 2X per day
- Saw palmetto and Pygeum 3X per day. Total daily dose of standardized Saw Extract = 848mg Fatty Acid sterols. Total daily dose of standardized Pygeum = 53mg Phytosterols.
Lab Results
- IGF-1 = 157 ng/mL (Range 50-194)
- Total T = 862 ng/dL (Range 264-916)
- Free T = 25.7 pg/mL (Range 6.6-18.1) High
- SHBG = 34.7 nmol/L (Range 19.3-76.4)
- DHT = 109 ng/dL (Range 30-85) High
- Estradiol, Sensitive (LC/MS/MS) = 22.5 pg/mL (Range 8.0-35.0)
- Prolactin = 8.8 mg/mL (Range 4.0-15.2)
- TSH = 2.97 micro IU/mL (Range 0.45-4.50)
- T4 (Free) = 1.16 ng/dL (Range 0.82-1.77)
- T3 (Free) = 3.2pg/mL (Range 2.0-4.4)
Interpretation of Results
- SHBG is almost exactly where I want it to be. It's been at about this same level for about 6 months (3 labs) since I dropped my Winstrol dose down from 10mg per day to 5 mg per day about 8 months ago. I plan to maintain this dose indefinitely.
- Total T is a bit high and Free T is high. My goal is to maintain Free T in the range of 21-22, which is about the 75th percentile for men age 25-35. My plan is to drop my T dose slightly, but I haven't decided on the exact amount. Since I'm not dangerously high and my hemoglobin and E are under control, I think I'll take my time. I'm thinking of dropping down to 0.22 mL of my blended T E3D, which is about equivalent to 42 mg of T-cyp E3D.
- DHT is still high, though it continues to come down in a dose-response fashion for 3 tests in a row over the last 6 months since I started increasing my Saw/Pygeum dose. I plan to increase the dose once again and retest in about 3 months. This combined with a lower T dose, should bring it close to the upper end of the range. I'm also seriously thinking of asking my doc for a script to the lowest possible dose of finasteride and then cut that in half. I need to do more research on the side-effects first.
- I got my IGF-1 exactly at the 75th percentile. This is up from about 105 (40th percentile of the normal range) about a year ago. I started peptides about 5 months ago and saw my IGF-1 increase to 121. I raised the dose to the current level about 3 months ago and again saw an increase in IFG-1 to the current 157. I haven't decided if I'll try increasing it again, I need to look at the price and decide if I really need it.
- The E test confirms that my anastrozole dose should be decreased slightly to bring E into the 25-30 pg/mL range. This will hopefully improve erection quality and increase endogenous GH production. I decreased the dose to 4 drops per day today. I'll retest in about 3 months.
- The Thyroid tests all indicate that I can decrease the Armour dose further from the current 60 mg/day to 45 mg/day. This is down from 90 mg/day about a year ago. I'm doing this because there's good evidence that too much thyroid hormone can increase SHBG, which I do not want. My goal is a very slow continuous decrease to 30 mg per day and that's where I'll probably keep it.