I have had exogenous T in my system for months, and have had high total and high free for two months straight, and the only thing different in my life is that I'm eating way too much.
Admittedly I have not been good about sticking to a protocol. However, while I understand that stabilizing blood levels is important, I find it hard to believe that total-T steadily between 1000 and 1350, and free-T steadily between 20 and 30, would not give me even the slightest, occasional, temporary positive symptom in two months.
I was high-normal SHBG, low-normal free when I started my journey, and looking back I'm wondering if those two negatives might actually be the reason why it was so easy for me pre-trt to keep my eating in check. Since I have gotten nothing of benefit from trt sex-wise, energy-wise, body-wise, or mood-wise, I'd rather have high SHBG, low free, and go back to eating like a pigeon and be thin.
This wasn't supposed to be a rant. It was more of me just thinking out loud and coming to a conclusion.
I have had exogenous T in my system for months, and have had high total and high free for two months straight, and the only thing different in my life is that I'm eating way too much.
Again as I have stated numerous times on the forum although TT is important to know FT is what truly matters as it is the active unbound fraction of testosterone responsible for the positive effects.
Do you even know where your trough FT level truly sits?
Unfortunately many are using/relying upon inaccurate assays.
The only way to know where your FT level truly sits is to have it tested using the most accurate assays such as the gold standard Equilibrium Dialysis or ultrafiltration (next best).
Looking over your previous posts it is clear that you are using/relying upon the piss poor direct immunoassay which is known to be inaccurate.
Admittedly I have not been good about sticking to a protocol. However, while I understand that stabilizing blood levels is important, I find it hard to believe that total-T steadily between 1000 and 1350, and free-T steadily between 20 and 30, would not give me even the slightest, occasional, temporary positive symptom in two months.
Looking over your previous threads you were overmedicated from the get-go you know that 200 mg T once-weekly protocol with the AI thrown in to boot to control the elevated e2 which is basically a given.
Let alone you eventually switched it up to 100 mg T every 4 days which would still be a fairly high dose of 175 mg T/week.
Have no clue how many different protocols (dose T/injection frequency) you have tried since hopping on trt let alone how many weeks you gave each protocol or where your trough FT level truly sat as it was most likely never even tested using the most accurate assays (ED/UF).
From some of your previous threads which are far and few, I would say that a majority of your protocols were high dose T/less frequent injections.
Hate to burst your bubble but if you have been running a trough TT 1000-1350 ng/dL once weekly let alone twice-weekly (every 3.5 days) then your trough FT is going to be way higher than 20-30ng/dL even if you had highish/high SHBG.
If one had highish/high SHBG and was running a trough TT 1000-1350 ng/dL then trough FT could be as high 30---> an absurd 46 ng/dL.
Even worse if one had lowish/low SHBG and was running a trough TT 1000-1350ng/dL then trough FT could be as high 38---> an absurd 53 ng/dL.
Peak TT, FT, and estradiol will be higher.
I would say 2 of your biggest issues are not sticking to a protocol and running too high a trough FT level.
Have no idea where your SHBG sits as of now but keep in mind that it is critical to know as it will have a significant impact on TT/FT let alone can dictate what injection frequency may suit you best.
I was high-normal SHBG, low-normal free when I started my journey, and looking back I'm wondering if those two negatives might actually be the reason why it was so easy for me pre-trt to keep my eating in check. Since I have gotten nothing of benefit from trt sex-wise, energy-wise, body-wise, or mood-wise, I'd rather have high SHBG, low free, and go back to eating like a pigeon and be thin.
You are most likely caught up on that more T is better mentality let alone a good chance that you have been following piss poor protocols (dose T/injection frequency).
You had a high-normal SHBG pre-trt.
You stated in a previous thread.....
I got started on trt because I was the opposite. I had a high-normal total T, but high SHBG was binding it, causing low-normal free T. The first couple of blood tests on trt showed that my SHBG had gone down to the middle of the normal range, and I haven't had it tested since then.
You basically drove down your highish SHBG to the middle of the normal range and that is only the results from the first couple of blood tests since you have been on trt.
For all, we know you drove your SHBG down even further as you seem to be caught up on that more T is where its at mentality.
*Admittedly I have not been good about sticking to a protocol. However, while I understand that stabilizing blood levels is important, I find it hard to believe that total-T steadily between 1000 and 1350, and free-T steadily between 20 and 30, would not give me even the slightest, occasional, temporary positive symptom in two months.
Most men on trt are injecting 100-200mg T/week and even then many would never need the higher-end dose
Sure some do but it is far from common.
Most can easily achieve a healthy, high let alone absurdly high trough FT on 100-150 mg T/week when split twice weekly (every 3.5 days), M/W/F, EOD let alone daily.
FT 5-10ng/dL would be considered low.
FT 20-30ng/dL (high-end) is healthy.
Most men will do well FT 20-30 ng/dL.
Some may need/choose to run higher levels.
Comes down to the individual.
Unfortunately many are caught up on that more T is better mentality and even worse are jumping on trt blasting out the gate.....200 mg T/week.
Many end up struggling on such a dose sooner or later.
Start slow and go slow we say.
100-120mg T/week split twice-weekly (50-60 mg T every 3.5 days) is a good starting point.
T-only protocol as we want to see how the body reacts to testosterone and where the said protocol has trough TT, FT, and estradiol levels.
Many can end up feeling great running much lower FT levels than they think.
The use of hCG can be added eventually and in some cases, micro-doses of an AI may be needed by some.
Numerous approaches can be taken when it comes to manipulating the dose of T needed let alone injection frequency to manage estradiol without the use of an AI.
Every protocol needs to be given a fighting chance (12 weeks) let alone using accurate assays when testing is critical.
You have been on the forum long enough to know that when starting trt or tweaking a protocol (dose T) that it takes 4-6 weeks (using TC/TE) for blood levels to stabilize and it is common for many to experience ups/downs during the weeks leading up until blood levels have stabilized as the body is trying to adjust.
Even once blood levels have stabilized it will take time for the body to adapt to the new setpoint and this is the critical time period when one should gauge how they truly feel regarding relief/improvement of low-t symptoms and overall well-being.
How one truly feels during the first 6 weeks can be very misleading.
Many make the grave mistake of jumping the gun 6 weeks in upping their T dose if they do not feel well.
The dose of T should only be tweaked at the 6-week mark if one truly feels unwell because trough serum levels are still too low (highly doubtful) or in many cases too high (common).
You need to take a step back and rethink this.
Critical to know where your SHBG sits let alone use accurate assays when testing your FT.
Unfortunately, many of the same men struggling are running much high trough FT levels than they think.
