TRT Advice

[DJMikeT]

Just a couple of thoughts.

1) I have no experience with the BHP drugs he suggested, but I'd be interested in your experience. I have it on my list of things to research more. I too have a "larger than average" prostate. I've been told this for over 15 years, long before starting TRT. however, it's not bothered me, so I've not sought treatment. Lately, I'm noticing some small urine flow issues. Not much, but enough to make me want to research it more. I know I need to get my out of range DHT down, and I'm slowly increasing my saw/pygem supplementation and having some response. I'd like to avoid finasteride if possible.

2) The 175 mg T dose is a little higher than I'd suggest for a starting dose, but not hugely outrageous. Consider taking a slower approach at 100 mg in split doses. Then in 6 weeks increase it if the labs dictate. My guess is that you will not need the Arimidex if you do this.

So he told me that the surgery would not be a total fix but he said it would have some helpful benefits, also I have dull ache from time to time there and he said it because of the vericocile.

I told him about starting at the 100mg point but he said for my age that was under dosed and he wanted me to up to 175mg/week. Right now I'm 1 week into TRT and have been injectioning 100mg/week with bi-weekly injections (50mg each injection).

I'm going to hold off on the AI until I get my first blood work in about 4 weeks and see where my E2 levels are and go from there.

[Youthful55guy]

So he told me that the surgery would not be a total fix but he said it would have some helpful benefits, also I have dull ache from time to time there and he said it because of the vericocile.

I told him about starting at the 100mg point but he said for my age that was under dosed and he wanted me to up to 175mg/week. Right not I'm 1 week into TRT and have been injectioning 100mg/week with bi-weekly injections (50mg each injection).

I'm going to hold off on the AI until I get my first blood work in about 4 weeks and see where my E2 levels are and go from there.

Excellent plan!

With all due respect to your doctor, the dose of TRT is not influenced by age unless you have higher than normal SHBG (which often does increase with age). However, that can be determined by testing. It's Free T that we are more concerned with. If SHBG is in the 25 to 40 nmol/L range, 100 to 120mg of T per week should be fine. The best approach is to start low and slowly work your way up every 6 weeks. This will help to avoid the need for E and DHT control. Most guys are paranoid of E and want to jump onto an AI right away. This is a mistake because guys need E too. Without out it, we go limp with a bad case of ED. Always make sure you are getting the correct E test designed for men. Using the standard lab designed for women will always yield a false high result.

[DJMikeT]

Excellent plan!

With all due respect to your doctor, the dose of TRT is not influenced by age unless you have higher than normal SHBG (which often does increase with age). However, that can be determined by testing. It's Free T that we are more concerned with. If SHBG is in the 25 to 40 nmol/L range, 100 to 120mg of T per week should be fine. The best approach is to start low and slowly work your way up every 6 weeks. This will help to avoid the need for E and DHT control. Most guys are paranoid of E and want to jump onto an AI right away. This is a mistake because guys need E too. Without out it, we go limp with a bad case of ED. Always make sure you are getting the correct E test designed for men. Using the standard lab designed for women will always yield a false high result.

Yeah I think I'm going to stay at my current 100 or 125 mg/week and wait for the first blood panel and then like you said adjust accordingly. Definitely going to not use the AI from the start, I've crashed my E2 in the past and it was brutal. I don't want to repeat that mistake.

Also with the vericocile repair I would never be back into a range that would be acceptable. So right now I'm at 202 and if I did get 100 extra from the repair then I'm still at the bottom of the scale.

I think TRT is the best route, my wife is on HRT as well and really wants my libido back....haha

[Youthful55guy]

Yeah I think I'm going to stay at my current 100 or 125 mg/week and wait for the first blood panel and then like you said adjust accordingly. Definitely going to not use the AI from the start, I've crashed my E2 in the past and it was brutal. I don't want to repeat that mistake.

Also with the vericocile repair I would never be back into a range that would be acceptable. So right now I'm at 202 and if I did get 100 extra from the repair then I'm still at the bottom of the scale.

I think TRT is the best route, my wife is on HRT as well and really wants my libido back....haha

God, I hear you with the spouse being on HRT. It was hell the years before we both jumped in. Me jumping into HRT just slightly before her.

You're probably right with the vericocile repair. I've read mixed accounts on it improving T levels. Most agree that it does, but it's not a silver bullet.

Something to consider when evaluating the use of an AI. I find it way too difficult to dose when TRT is done properly. That's because if it is needed at all, it's only to take the edge off. However, the drug is manufactured to treat women with breast cancer and their starting dose is 1mg. Hence the standard 1 mg tablet. But this amount will crush a man's E in a well implemented TRT program. It's very difficult to split the tablet into anything less than 0.5 mg.

My solution is a method I read about in another forum that works VERY WELL for me. It's called the "Vodka method" or sometimes the "Eye Dropper Method". I have a couple of medicine bottles that have tightly capped eyedropper dispenser tops that I use. You might be able to find something similar in the baby section of the drug store. I seem to remember seeing dimethicone drops being dispensed for infants this way to treat symptoms of colic.

I place the 1 mg table in the empty bottle and dissolve it with 1.5 mL of Vodka and then dispense 4 to 5 drops per day into my first glass of drinking water. Through a series of weight difference experiments on a sensitive pan balance, I've determined that 4 drops is about 0.06 mg/day = 0.4 mg/wk. Five drops is closer to 0.5 mg per week. For me, 5 drops brings me down from the upper end of my range to about mid-range.

I'm going to run some new labs in a couple weeks and then decide if I'll back off to 3-4 drops per day. I think there may be some benefit to increasing my E a little, both in erection strength and in GH production. I've found through experience (and a bunch of labs) that my nipples become less responsive to stimuli when I go too low on E. Right now they responsive, but less than I'd like. It's kind of a non-lab barometer to help me determine if new labs are needed for a dose adjustment.

Only make up a 1 mg tablet at a time, as anastrozole is not very shelf stable in an polar solution. I find that at 4-5 drops per day, a single batch will last about 2 weeks.

[DJMikeT]

God, I hear you with the spouse being on HRT. It was hell the years before we both jumped in. Me jumping into HRT just slightly before her.

You're probably right with the vericocile repair. I've read mixed accounts on it improving T levels. Most agree that it does, but it's not a silver bullet.

Something to consider when evaluating the use of an AI. I find it way too difficult to dose when TRT is done properly. That's because if it is needed at all, it's only to take the edge off. However, the drug is manufactured to treat women with breast cancer and their starting dose is 1mg. Hence the standard 1 mg tablet. But this amount will crush a man's E in a well implemented TRT program. It's very difficult to split the tablet into anything less than 0.5 mg.

My solution is a method I read about in another forum that works VERY WELL for me. It's called the "Vodka method" or sometimes the "Eye Dropper Method". I have a couple of medicine bottles that have tightly capped eyedropper dispenser tops that I use. You might be able to find something similar in the baby section of the drug store. I seem to remember seeing dimethicone drops being dispensed for infants this way to treat symptoms of colic.

I place the 1 mg table in the empty bottle and dissolve it with 1.5 mL of Vodka and then dispense 4 to 5 drops per day into my first glass of drinking water. Through a series of weight difference experiments on a sensitive pan balance, I've determined that 4 drops is about 0.06 mg/day = 0.4 mg/wk. Five drops is closer to 0.5 mg per week. For me, 5 drops brings me down from the upper end of my range to about mid-range.

I'm going to run some new labs in a couple weeks and then decide if I'll back off to 3-4 drops per day. I think there may be some benefit to increasing my E a little, both in erection strength and in GH production. I've found through experience (and a bunch of labs) that my nipples become less responsive to stimuli when I go too low on E. Right now they responsive, but less than I'd like. It's kind of a non-lab barometer to help me determine if new labs are needed for a dose adjustment.

Only make up a 1 mg tablet at a time, as anastrozole is not very shelf stable in an polar solution. I find that at 4-5 drops per day, a single batch will last about 2 weeks.

That is some excellent advice on the AI dosing, I never thought about crushing and dissolving into a solution. I agree the 1mg tablets are a PITA to cut into halves or quarters. I think I will try your advice.

One other question I have for you is about the HCG. The pharmacy that is filling it called me today and while speaking with the tech I found out that the doctor prescribed 12000ui vials and she said it said 1500ui weekly for the dosing. I've ran HCG on a previous cycle in the past and only used 500ui a week. Does that seem high to you? 1500ui/week?

[Youthful55guy]

That is some excellent advice on the AI dosing, I never thought about crushing and dissolving into a solution. I agree the 1mg tablets are a PITA to cut into halves or quarters. I think I will try your advice.

One other question I have for you is about the HCG. The pharmacy that is filling it called me today and while speaking with the tech I found out that the doctor prescribed 12000ui vials and she said it said 1500ui weekly for the dosing. I've ran HCG on a previous cycle in the past and only used 500ui a week. Does that seem high to you? 1500ui/week?

She is referring to fertility treatment. Yes, that is way higher than we need for TRT. Most guys dose at around 500 IU per week, I prefer a higher dose for various reasons. I typically run about 1000 IU per week. HCG is the most expensive part of most TRT protocols, but I'm not particularly price sensitive and I believe I derive some additional benefit from the higher dose.

Note that the stuff has a limited shelf life once it is diluted. This also drives my protocol. The lowest amount it come in in the USA is 10,000 IU, which is what my doc prescribed. It has about a 6 week shelf life, but you can stretch that out to about 10 weeks, which is what I do.

[DJMikeT]

She is referring to fertility treatment. Yes, that is way higher than we need for TRT. Most guys dose at around 500 IU per week, I prefer a higher dose for various reasons. I typically run about 1000 IU per week. HCG is the most expensive part of most TRT protocols, but I'm not particularly price sensitive and I believe I derive some additional benefit from the higher dose.

Note that the stuff has a limited shelf life once it is diluted. This also drives my protocol. The lowest amount it come in in the USA is 10,000 IU, which is what my doc prescribed. It has about a 6 week shelf life, but you can stretch that out to about 10 weeks, which is what I do.

I have some 5000ui vials that I ordered from overseas but I figured the stuff from the doctor would be better. The Tech did say that they had 6000ui vials but it was only $20 cheaper so I wouldn't save much going that route.

The overseas stuff is a lot cheaper and the last batch I got seemed to work great but I just feel better about using domestic Rx.

Thanks for all the help with my questions, once again greatly appreciated.

[Mr.BB]

God, I hear you with the spouse being on HRT. It was hell the years before we both jumped in. Me jumping into HRT just slightly before her.

You're probably right with the vericocile repair. I've read mixed accounts on it improving T levels. Most agree that it does, but it's not a silver bullet.

Something to consider when evaluating the use of an AI. I find it way too difficult to dose when TRT is done properly. That's because if it is needed at all, it's only to take the edge off. However, the drug is manufactured to treat women with breast cancer and their starting dose is 1mg. Hence the standard 1 mg tablet. But this amount will crush a man's E in a well implemented TRT program. It's very difficult to split the tablet into anything less than 0.5 mg.

My solution is a method I read about in another forum that works VERY WELL for me. It's called the "Vodka method" or sometimes the "Eye Dropper Method". I have a couple of medicine bottles that have tightly capped eyedropper dispenser tops that I use. You might be able to find something similar in the baby section of the drug store. I seem to remember seeing dimethicone drops being dispensed for infants this way to treat symptoms of colic.

I place the 1 mg table in the empty bottle and dissolve it with 1.5 mL of Vodka and then dispense 4 to 5 drops per day into my first glass of drinking water. Through a series of weight difference experiments on a sensitive pan balance, I've determined that 4 drops is about 0.06 mg/day = 0.4 mg/wk. Five drops is closer to 0.5 mg per week. For me, 5 drops brings me down from the upper end of my range to about mid-range.

I'm going to run some new labs in a couple weeks and then decide if I'll back off to 3-4 drops per day. I think there may be some benefit to increasing my E a little, both in erection strength and in GH production. I've found through experience (and a bunch of labs) that my nipples become less responsive to stimuli when I go too low on E. Right now they responsive, but less than I'd like. It's kind of a non-lab barometer to help me determine if new labs are needed for a dose adjustment.

Only make up a 1 mg tablet at a time, as anastrozole is not very shelf stable in an polar solution. I find that at 4-5 drops per day, a single batch will last about 2 weeks.

Great method, thanks for sharing!