Had a similar TRT route as yours. Strongly considering switching to Dr. Nichol's approaches and clinic, after 3 years with another clinic. Like so many that have found success, you might not check in with Excel, but just in case...looking for an update before I make my final decision.Still going strong. Reduced my dose to 150mg daily. Currently taking armour thyroid, 2grains daily. Might start looking into hcg in a few months for fertility but other than that I have no complaints!
Always happy to keep this thread updated. Wouldn't change this protocol for anything and I strongly recommend Dr. Nichols to every guy I know that's interested in TRTHad a similar TRT route as yours. Strongly considering switching to Dr. Nichol's approaches and clinic, after 3 years with another clinic. Like so many that have found success, you might not check in with Excel, but just in case...looking for an update before I make my final decision.
Na, but my hair is unusually thick so I'm not a good data point. It's really helped my beard though!@_CTI_ thank you for your updates, have you noticed any thinning of the hair since starting the cream?
Thanks for the update...I think I will go for it with Dr. Nichols. For some reason, I just haven't responded well to the injections and I don't have the patients to wait 2 months after every dose change. 3 years and I feel the same with low and high T, low and high Free t, low and lower estogen, etc... I've had a few weeks where I felt really good--when I first started and for about 3 weeks running 30mg depo a day then crazy allergies kicked in including my tongue feeling swollen. I've experimented with creams, lately, up to 75 mg a day while keeping a low dose of injectable on board, and I don't seem to have any of the sides I had with injections. However, I can feel the daily fluctuations with the cream, which does concern me a little bit.Always happy to keep this thread updated. Wouldn't change this protocol for anything and I strongly recommend Dr. Nichols to every guy I know that's interested in TRT
From my experience and what I've read about endocrine cycles, the flux is desirable and tends to replicate the natural testosterone patterns in a healthy male. It's not exact but it's pretty damn close. Also, a higher dose of cream should keep the lower end of the fluctions in a decent spot.Thanks for the update...I think I will go for it with Dr. Nichols. For some reason, I just haven't responded well to the injections and I don't have the patients to wait 2 months after every dose change. 3 years and I feel the same with low and high T, low and high Free t, low and lower estogen, etc... I've had a few weeks where I felt really good--when I first started and for about 3 weeks running 30mg depo a day then crazy allergies kicked in including my tongue feeling swollen. I've experimented with creams, lately, up to 75 mg a day while keeping a low dose of injectable on board, and I don't seem to have any of the sides I had with injections. However, I can feel the daily fluctuations with the cream, which does concern me a little bit.
Looking through your older posts, it looks like you had lower end SHBG, like myself.From my experience and what I've read about endocrine cycles, the flux is desirable and tends to replicate the natural testosterone patterns in a healthy male. It's not exact but it's pretty damn close. Also, a higher dose of cream should keep the lower end of the fluctions in a decent spot.
It's not perfect and I'm not an alpha male (if thats even a thing) 24/7 since the body needs rest and relaxation, but I'm probably about as good as I'm gonna get with out cycling other compounds. And tbh....after covid hit and I couldn't go to the gym I thought I would lose a lot of my progress. Turns out all I really need to do these days are a bunch of prison workouts and a game of basketball once or twice a week to keep myself in the same (or better) shape I was in when I was doing 4x a week at the gym. Granted, my peak power probably isn't what it used to be but I'm at like 90% with half the work. YMMV but for a guy with a family and desk job this protocol is a great fit.
Thanks for the update. I've tried lower dosed gel in the past, but I had a mid afternoon crash. Not sure if it's my low SHBG. I am assuming the higher doses will keep that from happening. I am not sure if I want to take the plunge to full on cream or drop my injections to 10mg a day. I feel better on the lower injected dose, sides related, but then I don't have the benefits of T.From my experience and what I've read about endocrine cycles, the flux is desirable and tends to replicate the natural testosterone patterns in a healthy male. It's not exact but it's pretty damn close. Also, a higher dose of cream should keep the lower end of the fluctions in a decent spot.
It's not perfect and I'm not an alpha male (if thats even a thing) 24/7 since the body needs rest and relaxation, but I'm probably about as good as I'm gonna get with out cycling other compounds. And tbh....after covid hit and I couldn't go to the gym I thought I would lose a lot of my progress. Turns out all I really need to do these days are a bunch of prison workouts and a game of basketball once or twice a week to keep myself in the same (or better) shape I was in when I was doing 4x a week at the gym. Granted, my peak power probably isn't what it used to be but I'm at like 90% with half the work. YMMV but for a guy with a family and desk job this protocol is a great fit.
I’m wondering how the low SHBG guys would do on the cream actually.Looking through your older posts, it looks like you had lower end SHBG, like myself.
Thanks for the update. I've tried lower dosed gel in the past, but I had a mid afternoon crash. Not sure if it's my low SHBG. I am assuming the higher doses will keep that from happening. I am not sure if I want to take the plunge to full on cream or drop my injections to 10mg a day. I feel better on the lower injected dose, sides related, but then I don't have the benefits of T.
CTI had lowish SHBG as well, so that is encouraging to me...regarding the cream at high doses working.I’m wondering how the low SHBG guys would do on the cream actually.
Like you say, keeping a higher test level to obtain the full benefits but then developing the side effects may not be ideal, and lowering the dose so much not to develop any sides, but then not obtaining the benefits of test, it is not ideal either.
The cream makes sense, and since at night levels would drop, like we are supposed to, that would possibly give a break to the body, and minimize the development of side effects. Think about it, with injections of any type of frequency, we never mimic that natural daily raise in the am and fall at night of test. I think the body can handle more testosterone during the day that at night when we sleep
Or maybe consider Jatenzo.Looking to progress to creams and no HCG in future
Or maybe consider Jatenzo.
A new oral testosterone undecanoate therapy comes of age for the treatment of hypogonadal men
@TescoValueJam How much anastrozole were you typically using, and how much crashed you estrogen?
I have low shbg as well, and I've tried anastrozole up to .5mg 3x/week which crashed me E, and I've tried no anastrozole which didn't work either. I've tried varying doses of both test cypionate and anastrozole and just can't figure it out.
The one weird thing that I noticed, is that I never hit the sweet spot when I let me estrogen climb, I would only hit the sweet spot on the way down, and it would only last a very short time.
Like @Systemlord, I’ll recommend what has worked for me: Natesto. I would encourage you to read up on it.UK based unfortunately..
I've just got below results back. And it basically echos what you say, that no AI doesn't work either..
If you're similar to me, then .5mg anastrazole 3x week would be excessive and lead to a confirmed "crash" both on bloods and symptoms very quickly. The dose has varied a lot, but averaged .125mg-.0.25mg 1x week but need to stress, I've yet to find a formula that works.
That's interesting, I dont see why that would happen, I deffo hit sweet spot both on upside and downside.
So bloods-This is shbg of 7, doing daily TE of 0.09mls (of 250/1ml) daily past 1m, with a a smattering of 200-300iu weekly. Have not taken any AI past 6 weeks. Subjectively feel prettybad.
I think? this confirms, despite daily injections, albeit have done HCG but essentially minimal dose, i still aromatize. And add to low shbg, it's not conducive to feeling good.
Adds further weight to the idea injections are not working for me..??
also wish to redact my previous comment, that the 50mg zinc did NOT in fact "crash" e2 at all, my e2 was sky high all along.
Next steps, i am thinking, is trial of daily cream for 2 months (am quite hopeful-more dht, less e2, daily, etc), and if still no luck, trial of clomid.
What dosage of Pregnenolone and DHEA does he have you on? And any HCG?Always happy to keep this thread updated. Wouldn't change this protocol for anything and I strongly recommend Dr. Nichols to every guy I know that's interested in TRT