8 Weeks BW & Review/Adjustment

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simonw

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Trusted Member
Good evening all.
More questions from this newbie and would like to run them by you and see what you guys think.
So in 2 weeks i will be off to get my review as a brand new TRT user.
Currently on 80mg of Test C & Arimadex 1mg per week and DHEA 50mg/day. I actually just dropped the Arimadex as I have been researching the negatives of AI.
So far the only thing I’ve noticed is Woodie is back more regularly, say, first 4 days of weekly injection. He was only out once of twice a week before TRT. Energy, inflammation, recovery time etc are all about the same as before.
Question: I wonder when I talk to my NP if I should ask for a higher dosage like 150mg/wk so I can hopefully feel the actual improvements then move my way down to optimize base on how I feel. You guys think she will “let” me make adjustments?
I am working with Truebalance in AB if that helps.
Thanks in advance for your input.
New guy
 
A. No way you need an ai on 80mg. What does your bw look like. You need to let your hormones settle out to see how you feel and that will take 6 weeks after you stopped the ai.i hate true balance cookie cutter approach to TRT.

B. Not likely true balance will increase from 80 to 150. That is almost a 100% increase. You need to aim for the least amount to get the most benefit. I recommend you try 100 wait 6-8 weeks get BW. Increase to 120 wait 6-8 weeks seee how you feel and then get bw. And so on. True balance will mot let your free test go above 750 pmol
 
DHEAS=2.9
Estradiol=103
Test Free=414
Test total=17.1
SHBG=26
My biggest concern with AI is Oseoprosis as I am already suffering from it, don't want to make it worse. The other thing I didnt mention is that they also put me on DHEA 50mg/day.
When I mentioned "up to 150mg" I didnt mean that I would jump right up to 150 but increase by 20-30mg to see how I feel, similar to your suggestion. I guess I am just getting a little impatient that's all, I will just wait & see what she has to say with the new BW.
 
simonw said:
DHEAS=2.9
Estradiol=103
Test Free=414
Test total=17.1
SHBG=26
My biggest concern with AI is Oseoprosis as I am already suffering from it, don't want to make it worse. The other thing I didnt mention is that they also put me on DHEA 50mg/day.
When I mentioned "up to 150mg" I didnt mean that I would jump right up to 150 but increase by 20-30mg to see how I feel, similar to your suggestion. I guess I am just getting a little impatient that's all, I will just wait & see what she has to say with the new BW.
Click to expand...
Your bloodwork looks good. Your DHEA is on the lower side but you did mention you're supplementing with DHEA so it will go up. I think your bloodwork is fine
 
simonw said:
DHEAS=2.9
Estradiol=103
Test Free=414
Test total=17.1
SHBG=26
My biggest concern with AI is Oseoprosis as I am already suffering from it, don't want to make it worse. The other thing I didnt mention is that they also put me on DHEA 50mg/day.
When I mentioned "up to 150mg" I didnt mean that I would jump right up to 150 but increase by 20-30mg to see how I feel, similar to your suggestion. I guess I am just getting a little impatient that's all, I will just wait & see what she has to say with the new BW.
Click to expand...
I assume this BW is for 80mg with no ai? If this is true then your numbers are about what would be expected. I would get the dosage upped to 100 mg as your free test will be close to 600 and at that level you will be in the upper half of the range. Most see benefits with those numbers.

Unless you get symptoms of Gyno or high blood pressure, don’t let anyone tell you that your estrogen needs to be addressed. Let the body find its own natural level as long as you’re pinning twice per week.

Sorry to tell you, but testosterone is not likely going to fix the inflammation caused by osteoporosis. And you mention being impatient. Finding the correct level of testosterone is all about patience, experimentation, getting in tune with how your body feels at different levels, which can be quite subtle and blood work. Then you need to realize that as you age every five years, you have to go to adapt again because things likely change.

PS - Be careful how much DHEA you take. From lmost 25 mg is plenty but watch your blood work because after 3 to 6 months on DHEA you will likely notice that your SHGB will drop, your estrogen as a result will drop and your free test climb. This sounds great but will take you pretty far from the natural t/e ratio and many feel lousy when that happens. I can’t take dhea…feels good at first few weeks then it all goes down hill.

Good luck
 
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DEHA is part of the test tree so playing with it will have consequences. Looks like your body like to produce estrogen a bit more than me. Should be good though if the dex has cleared your system. Test and estrogen play a dance inside us so letting it do it's thing is best if possible on TRT. The body will find it's own equilibrium, let it and see how things go. It is TRT not a cycle so it's long game
 
Actually those numbers are from before I started TRT.
Can you give me a rough idea where t/e ratio should be at?
I am fully committed to getting dialed in, as impatient as I am. Once I get my 8 week BW I am certain I am going to pin twice a week, from some google research, higher frequency of injection can help narrow the peaks. And it also could help with the effect of high estrogen.
 
simonw said:
Actually those numbers are from before I started TRT.
Can you give me a rough idea where t/e ratio should be at?
I am fully committed to getting dialed in, as impatient as I am. Once I get my 8 week BW I am certain I am going to pin twice a week, from some google research, higher frequency of injection can help narrow the peaks. And it also could help with the effect of high estrogen.
Click to expand...
Hmmmmm. You didn’t have low testosterone or high estrogen. Why did you start TRT? And shame on True Balance for giving it to you.

Ed Cohen, a legendary power lifter had free testosterone levels in the 400s for most of his life

I suspect that 80 mg of testosterone would put your free testosterone levels almost exactly where you were prior to taking the TRT, so what true balance gave you was pointless other than your introduced drugs and potential side effects

If you want to do a cycle, that’s a completely different topic.

Sorry, hope this doesn’t offend you. But I am pointing out reality of your situation
 
Oldguyjiujitsu said:
Hmmmmm. You didn’t have low testosterone or high estrogen. Why did you start TRT? And shame on True Balance for giving it to you.

Ed Cohen, a legendary power lifter had free testosterone levels in the 400s for most of his life

I suspect that 80 mg of testosterone would put your free testosterone levels almost exactly where you were prior to taking the TRT, so what true balance gave you was pointless other than your introduced drugs and potential side effects

If you want to do a cycle, that’s a completely different topic.

Sorry, hope this doesn’t offend you. But I am pointing out reality of your situation
Click to expand...
Not offended at all, appreciate your opinion. I have had all the symptoms of low t and I have been trying different methods to fix the issues. In 2022 my free t (266) & total was 12.1 or 11.2 (can’t remember now). Out of everything I tried, better diet & raw ashwagandha seems to be the reason why free t got up to 414. Honestly I knew I wasn’t quite low enough according to the bw but having spent few years looking for answers and trying different diet, supplements etc, I decided I’d give TRT a go and hope it can improve most of my deficiencies.
 
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