Starting TRT Soon

[joetown2001]

After years of trying other methods, and dodging going full go, I am finally starting a TRT regiment very soon. I finished my intake in my labs with Defy, and I have my initial consult on Monday afternoon. Looking forward to getting a full rundown of what they think of my labs.

After looking at my results, a couple things stand out. Obviously my total T and my free T are awful. My SHBG is low and my fatty liver numbers are kind of high. I just got off iron supplements a few days ago and we’re on the one I took my labs. I was dealing with a bleed that had to depleted my iron and ferritin levels down to almost nothing. My numbers are obviously back in the higher normal range after being on supplements for almost a year. I think those will level out now that I’m off the iron. I posted to my labs below, and was wondering if any of you veterans see some things that I should bring up in my console. I also know that defy will go over all these things with me in depth. Thank you.

 

[Phil Goodman]

Not much to add and I’m sure you’ll be in good hands with Defy. They may recommend adding DHEA supplementation as well, though they might want you to get dialed in on just the test by itself first. If you do go decide to add DHEA, you can order directly from Life Extensions and probably save some money. For the liver stuff, I’d say adding NAC(n-acetyl cysteine) and/or glutathione will probably help there. If they recommend that or you decide to try them, those are things you can get directly from Life Extensions as well. Good luck on your journey!

 

[madman]

After years of trying other methods, and dodging going full go, I am finally starting a TRT regiment very soon. I finished my intake in my labs with Defy, and I have my initial consult on Monday afternoon. Looking forward to getting a full rundown of what they think of my labs.

After looking at my results, a couple things stand out. Obviously my total T and my free T are awful. My SHBG is low and my fatty liver numbers are kind of high. I just got off iron supplements a few days ago and we’re on the one I took my labs. I was dealing with a bleed that had to depleted my iron and ferritin levels down to almost nothing. My numbers are obviously back in the higher normal range after being on supplements for almost a year. I think those will level out now that I’m off the iron. I posted to my labs below, and was wondering if any of you veterans see some things that I should bring up in my console. I also know that defy will go over all these things with me in depth. Thank you.

Start low and go slow!

Do not jump in head first here no matter what your provider tells you as many clinics tend to overmedicated men on T ffrom the get-go!

Most men on TTh are injecting 100-200 mg T/week whether once weekly or split into more frequent injections as in twice-weekly (every 3.5 days), M/W/F, EOD or daily.

The majority of men can easily achieve a healthy let alone high trough FT injecting 100-150 mg T/week especially when split into more frequent injections.

Yes there are some outliers who may need the higher-end dose 200 mg T/week but it is far from common as in RARE!

Seeing as your RBCs, H/H are already on the high-end pre-TTH then chances are you will end up struggling with elevated RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit once you jump on exogenous T especially if you push your trough/steady-state FT too high!

Its a given that you will drive up such blood markers and to what degree mainly comes down to dose/blood levels of FT achieved (trough/steady-state) on said protocol.

Most struggling with such are overmedicated!

You would be wise to pay out of pocket and do your own labs when it comes to the most critical blood marker free testosterone as Defy is out to lunch when it comes too testing FT as they use/rely upon the know to be inaccurate direct FT immunoassay!

In order to know where your FT level truly sits you would need to use what would be considered the most accurate assay the gold standard Equilibrium Dialysis especially in cases of altered SHBG or for anyone f**king withthose DHT gels/derivatives!

Your best bet if you are going to be paying out of pocket would be through Nelson's discounted labs.

Testosterone, Free (Equilibrium Dialysis) and Total, MS - Most Affordable and Accurate Test

Get an affordable and accurate testosterone test results with our Total Testosterone, M and Free (Equilibrium Dialysis) test. Visit DiscountedLabs.com for more information.

www.discountedlabs.com

 

[joetown2001]

Start low and go slow!

Do not jump in head first here no matter what your provider tells you as many clinics tend to overmedicated men on T ffrom the get-go!

Most men on TTh are injecting 100-200 mg T/week whether once weekly or split into more frequent injections as in twice-weekly (every 3.5 days), M/W/F, EOD or daily.

The majority of men can easily achieve a healthy let alone high trough FT injecting 100-150 mg T/week especially when split into more frequent injections.

Yes there are some outliers who may need the higher-end dose 200 mg T/week but it is far from common as in RARE!

Seeing as your RBCs, H/H are already on the high-end pre-TTH then chances are you will end up struggling with elevated RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit once you jump on exogenous T especially if you push your trough/steady-state FT too high!

Its a given that you will drive up such blood markers and to what degree mainly comes down to dose/blood levels of FT achieved (trough/steady-state) on said protocol.

Most struggling with such are overmedicated!

You would be wise to pay out of pocket and do your own labs when it comes to the most critical blood marker free testosterone as Defy is out to lunch when it comes too testing FT as they use/rely upon the know to be inaccurate direct FT immunoassay!

In order to know where your FT level truly sits you would need to use what would be considered the most accurate assay the gold standard Equilibrium Dialysis especially in cases of altered SHBG or for anyone f**king withthose DHT gels/derivatives!

Your best bet if you are going to be paying out of pocket would be through Nelson's discounted labs.

Testosterone, Free (Equilibrium Dialysis) and Total, MS - Most Affordable and Accurate Test

Get an affordable and accurate testosterone test results with our Total Testosterone, M and Free (Equilibrium Dialysis) test. Visit DiscountedLabs.com for more information.

www.discountedlabs.com

Thanks for the feedback. I agree to hope to start out between 100-150 a week as well. My blood count numbers are high because I was on iron supplements for over a year to drive my iron levels back up after a continuous bleed. I just stopped taking them three days ago. Normally my blood numbers are much lower than that.

 

[madman]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree to hope to start out between 101 150 a week as well. My blood count numbers are high because I was on iron supplements for over a year to drive my iron levels back up after a continuous bleed. I just stopped taking them three days ago. Normally my blood numbers are much lower than that.

The standard starting dose is 100 mg T/week or better yet 50 mg T injected twice-weekly.

Yes you can start a little higher say 120 mg/week but do not jump in any higher as you may very well easily achieve a high-end/high trough FT 100 mg T/week especiallly when split into more frquent injections.

Patience is key here!

There will always be time to increase your dose of T if need be.

 

[madman]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree to hope to start out between 100-150 a week as well. My blood count numbers are high because I was on iron supplements for over a year to drive my iron levels back up after a continuous bleed. I just stopped taking them three days ago. Normally my blood numbers are much lower than that.

Also need to tread lighty when it comes to everyone and their brother gunning from this so called needing to run a high-end let alone high trough FT as there is a drastic difference between a high-end/high trough FT injecting once weekly vs twice-weekly vs daily!

Definitely do not want to be hitting a high-end/high trough FT injecting once weekly!

Many overlook this and are left scratching their heads when they end up struggling with sides!

Yes there is such a thing as having too high a trough FT which can be just as bad in many ways as having too low a FT especially when it comes to libido and erectile function as you will be hammering the shit out of your dopamine 24/7 let alone T has a tonic effect on the CNS and can easily make one feel amped up!

Yes many may very well fare better achieving a high-end/high trough FT (within reason) but you need to pay attention to your injection frequency/trough level achieved.

 

[joetown2001]

Also need to tread lighty when it comes to everyone and their brother gunning from this so called needing to run a high-end let alone high trough FT as there is a drastic difference between a high-end/high trough FT injecting once weekly vs twice-weekly vs daily!

Definitely do not want to be hitting a high-end/high trough FT injecting once weekly!

Many overlook this and are left scratching their heads when they end up struggling with sides!

Yes there is such a thing as having too high a trough FT which can be just as bad in many ways as having too low a FT especially when it comes to libido and erectile function as you will be hammering the shit out of your dopamine 24/7 let alone T has a tonic effect on the CNS and can easily make one feel amped up!

Yes many may very well fare better achieving a high-end/high trough FT (within reason) but you need to pay attention to your injection frequency/trough level achieved.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Cataceous]

... I agree to hope to start out between 100-150 a week as well. ...

Allow me to offer an even more conservative perspective. That 100 mg per week of testosterone cypionate would already be giving you more testosterone than most men ever make naturally. The average testosterone production for healthy young men is equivalent to around 60-70 mg of testosterone cypionate per week. This is a safer starting point for TRT as long as it's in divided doses. Although a lot of men seem to tolerate supraphysiological doses, many experience side effects and regret starting higher rather than adopting a true low-and-slow approach. I have collected some of these anecdotes here:

C

Post in thread 'Answering some questions, new to forum. Much appreciated!'

Feb 6, 2023

Adding to what @Systemlord said, you're currently on 200 mg of testosterone cypionate per week. This averages to 20 mg of testosterone per day, which is about three times the average amount that a healthy young man makes naturally. Would you consider this advisable if it were any other hormone? High levels of testosterone can negatively affect more than 20 other hormones.

Unfortunately it's a very common experience, with many doctors succumbing to the more-is-better mentality. Ideally you should have been started on 75 mg TC split into 2-3 doses per week. You go up or down from...

• Cataceous

• 

If your goal is overall good health then I suggest you tell your consultant at Defy that you would prefer to start with doses in the physiological range. If you do this then you will at least have a baseline to compare against should you want to try higher doses later on.

By the way, I have been with Defy for 10 years and they have no objections to use of lower doses, e.g. equivalent to ~40 mg TC/week in my case. You just have to ask.

 

[joetown2001]

My console went well today. He suggested 150 mg a week broken up into MWF injections to keep my free T over 20, and my E2 in range due to my lower end SBHG. I asked what he thought about starting at 125 a week. He said that would most likely put my trough at between 600-700 and my FT trough at between 17-18. He said he supported that if I wanted to, and to just let him know.

 

[madman]

My console went well today. He suggested 150 mg a week broken up into MWF injections to keep my free T over 20, and my E2 in range due to my lower end SBHG. I asked what he thought about starting at 125 a week. He said that would most likely put my trough at between 600-700 and my FT trough at between 17-18. He said he supported that if I wanted to, and to just let him know.

Do not jump in at 150 mg T/week as chances are it will have your trough FT high off the hop.

Not even a given that one will need to hit a trough FT 20+ ng/dL.

Again there will be lots of time to increae your dose if need be.

Everyone needs to gert out of the mindset that a high trough FT is needed.

Yes you may very well end up there eventually but its a much smarter move starting low and going slow.

Bottom line here do what you feel is best for you!

 

[Phil Goodman]

My console went well today. He suggested 150 mg a week broken up into MWF injections to keep my free T over 20, and my E2 in range due to my lower end SBHG. I asked what he thought about starting at 125 a week. He said that would most likely put my trough at between 600-700 and my FT trough at between 17-18. He said he supported that if I wanted to, and to just let him know.

Like madman said, you could start lower than that. However, if you say you’re going to start at 150 then start around 120(or even lower if you want) then you can start building up an emergency supply of your medication.

 

[joetown2001]

They put 30 Anastrozole tablets in my cart. Do I really want 30 of those things?

 

[Phil Goodman]

They put 30 Anastrozole tablets in my cart. Do I really want 30 of those things?

No, you can just remove those and say you want to hold off for now or that you don’t want them period.

 

[madman]

They put 30 Anastrozole tablets in my cart. Do I really want 30 of those things?

Dishing out an AI off the hop is not a good move here!

 

[joetown2001]

Dishing out an AI off the hop is not a good move here!

He told me that he was requesting them in case I needed them, but he didn't feel like that I would. I was suprised it was that many tablets. I ordered a few to keep in case, but not that whole amount. He even said if I got to the point where E2 symptoms kicked in, to contact him and he would suggest only taking part of one and adjusting protocol from there. Again, I knew they wuld be in there, I just was suprised it was 30 pills.