Self Medicating TRT

My doc goes by how good you feel but he's 100% against any a.i usage. He also doesn't want my free testosterone levels over I think 770ng/dl. My script is 180mg a week and I don't even need it I usually stick with 140ish or the apnea and other sides start kicking in. Don't forget it Cann also be a case of less is more where as too high of levels can be dangerous, make you feel like crap etc..
Did you say FREE levels of 770?!?
That seems like bonkers-high…..
Jerbear, what’s your perspective been on RX vs UGL test when it comes to accuracy of concentrations???
 
Did you say FREE levels of 770?!?
That seems like bonkers-high…..
Jerbear, what’s your perspective been on RX vs UGL test when it comes to accuracy of concentrations???
When on trt, I don't think there's any reason to be blasted for making 250 your cycle dose. If your someone who cycles on and off. You wanna get the most out of your 10-12 weeks. But when you trt, I don't think it's a problem unless ur hoping to be a mass monster. In the last 5year I've only done one cycle that most would consider a cycle, which I did last year. Other than that my 'cycles' have been like 150 test + 150 deca or dbh.... Or tren lol.... But yea. I find it great. It gives results I hope for. I had an issue with drugs years ago so my weight kept going down from not eating so I didn't think I was in a position to need a 'real' cycle anyways. But now that I am a decent size again I still don't see a need to do a large dose yet.
I did just kick my test up to 350 though. But that's gunna be my cycle dose, I won't be going higher. Idk what I'm gunna do come January yet though
 
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When on trt, I don't think there's any reason to be blasted for making 250 your cycle dose. If your someone who cycles. You wanna get the most out of your 10-12 weeks. But when you try I don't think it's a problem unless ur hoping to be a mass monster. In the last 5year I've only done one cycle that most would consider a cycle, which I did last year. Other than that my 'cycles' have been like 150 test 150 deca or dbh.... Or tren lol.... But yea. I find it great. It gives results I hope for. I had an issue with drugs years ago so my weight kept going down from not eating so I didn't think I was in a position to need a 'real' cycle. But now that I am a decent size again I still don't see a need to do a large dose yet.
I did just kick my test up to 350 though. But that's gunna be my cycle dose, I won't be going higher. Idk what I'm gunna do come January yet though
Thanks man- so encouraging to hear that guys with more experience than me are not MILES apart from what I’m finding is working for me
 
It sounds like you’ve got things relatively dialed in, or as best as they can be on the TRT front….
I’ve got a few questions for you….

1) how did you determine at 14mg/day, or 98/week that you needed an AI? Presumably, it was through your bloodwork, which you seem to have pretty good insight into.

2) how long have you been running these low dosages and are you running RX or UGL test-cyp? Because of your low volumes and dosages, how have you been able to establish a measure of consistency from one batch to the next? Another way to frame this question is that a variance in concentration would have more impact the lower the dosage, from a percentage basis.
 
@5-8%advantage Im using UGL test cyp😀😊. I normally have to take an AI at even 60mg a day of test E when Im on cycle, so I guess I am sensitive to any kind of test in general😖☹️.
I was at 14mg a day for a few weeks:) . I noticed some slight water retention in my face and started to take aromasin at about 1.25mg a day for a couple of weeks as well as slowly lowering my test dosage down to 10mg a day over the course of 4 weeks. I stayed at 10mg a day for another 4 weeks and got blood work. I just got my results a week ago and Estrodiol came back as 30 pg/ml. Total test was 750 ng/dl and free test was a whopping 49 ng/dl😲. Test bioavailable was 415 ng/dl😖. I feel my free test is too high, so I will drop down my dosage further to 6mg a day slowly because I would like to see my free test at about 35 nd/dl. I know very well that my test cyp is dosed accurately because the UGL lab I get it from does regular lab test on their products by Janoshik😀🫠.
 
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@5-8%advantage Im using UGL test cyp😀😊. I normally have to take an AI at even 60mg a day of test E when Im on cycle, so I guess I am sensitive to any kind of test in general😖☹️.
I was at 14mg a day for a few weeks:) . I noticed some slight water retention in my face and started to take aromasin at about 1.25mg a day for a couple of weeks as well as slowly lowering my test dosage down to 10mg a day over the course of 4 weeks. I stayed at 10mg a day for another 4 weeks and got blood work. I just got my results a week ago and Estrodiol came back as 30 pg/ml. Total test was 750 ng/dl and free test was a whopping 49 ng/dl😲. Test bioavailable was 415 ng/dl😖. I feel my free test is too high, so I will drop down my dosage further to 6mg a day slowly because I would like to see my free test at about 35 nd/dl. I know very well that my test cyp is dosed accurately because the UGL lab I get it from does regular lab test on their products by Janoshik😀🫠.
Wow, you’re saying 1.25mg/day of Aromasin or arimidex?!?
I would say you’ve got probably the most sensitive Endo system around!
Labs don’t lie, and if you’re getting things dialed with not only such low doses of both your test and your AI, but also seeing such fluctuations in numbers from such small deviations….
Man, talk about precision work.
 
Wow, you’re saying 1.25mg/day of Aromasin or arimidex?!?
I would say you’ve got probably the most sensitive Endo system around!
Labs don’t lie, and if you’re getting things dialed with not only such low doses of both your test and your AI, but also seeing such fluctuations in numbers from such small deviations….
Man, talk about precision work.
Its aromasin😀😊. I just took it for about two weeks to get my water retention down, notably in my face. But ya, Im not a believer of the "more is better" class. I will have to be on TRT for the rest of my life. With a higher dosage of lets say 100mg a week or more, then I (and other guys) may experience things such as sleep apnia, high PSA, high hemotocrit, high estrodiol, high blood pressure and acne latter in life😥, which I obviously don't want to experience. Sure, the the amount I take will have zero effect on my bodybuilding goals😖. But when I want to put on some serious mass, then I will simply take on the likes of anadrol, deca, tren, DHB and so forth😊. Im positive that the same dosage would work well for you 5-8%advantage. Be sure to take bloods on such a dosage to know where you stand🙂.
 
Its aromasin😀😊. I just took it for about two weeks to get my water retention down, notably in my face. But ya, Im not a believer of the "more is better" class. I will have to be on TRT for the rest of my life. With a higher dosage of lets say 100mg a week or more, then I (and other guys) may experience things such as sleep apnia, high PSA, high hemotocrit, high estrodiol, high blood pressure and acne latter in life😥, which I obviously don't want to experience. Sure, the the amount I take will have zero effect on my bodybuilding goals😖. But when I want to put on some serious mass, then I will simply take on the likes of anadrol, deca, tren, DHB and so forth😊. Im positive that the same dosage would work well for you 5-8%advantage. Be sure to take bloods on such a dosage to know where you stand🙂.
Great info thanks man, where the hell did you find Aromasin in such small dosages?
 
Great info thanks man, where the hell did you find Aromasin in such small dosages?
Its UGL aromasin🙂. The tabs I have are 12.5mg. Im able to cut the tabs into quarters with a pill splitter, but trying to cut the quarters in half is a bitch😠. I end up wasting some of my tablets by doing it this way😢.
 
I'd like to add that I view TRT a bit differently. I view TRT as the opportunity to maximize my biological potential for my age. I'm not a bodybuilder, but I want to remain as strong and physically capable as possible for my age. Right now I'm shooting 100e5, which may not be sustainable, but I don't have acne, I'm lean as fuck, no e2 issues to speak of, and I feel pretty good. Although I do feel a bit of a rise a day post shot it's minimal. I particularly enjoy the edge I have on a higher dose. Imo e2 is much more easily managed when shooting less frequently when ai is being used. At your dose your body is able to manage e2 on its own, which is essentially natty, which is great if that's your aim. I've been there, and I found it lacking, but we'll see how this goes. I do think it's great that you are in a place that you feel good and your protocol works for you.
Right now I feel pretty good at 90e5, but I'm going to go w 100e5 so I can dose asin without the risk of crashing my e2.

These two quotes have me stomped:confused:. When on TRT, shouldn't the body be able to manage E2 efficiently without the use of an AI🤔? I mean, when you look at your earlier life without the use of PEDs or TRT, then you will have noticed that you never needed an AI (at least I assume I hope😕). Thats because your body produced the amount of proper testosterone needed, which balanced out all other hormones like E2, SHBG, dihydrotestosterone, DHEA, progesterone and so forth. Im of the opinion that guys who use an AI on TRT are either using too much test, or their injection frequency are too spread out which causes large peaks and troughs which can cause other hormones to be unbalanced. Whats your take on this🤔? My 8mg a day of test equals out to be 56mg a week. Im sure if I injected 56mg every 5 days that I would run into some problems☹️.
 
Right now I feel pretty good at 90e5, but I'm going to go w 100e5 so I can dose asin without the risk of crashing my e2.

These two quotes have me stomped:confused:. When on TRT, shouldn't the body be able to manage E2 efficiently without the use of an AI🤔? I mean, when you look at your earlier life without the use of PEDs or TRT, then you will have noticed that you never needed an AI (at least I assume I hope😕). Thats because your body produced the amount of proper testosterone needed, which balanced out all other hormones like E2, SHBG, dihydrotestosterone, DHEA, progesterone and so forth. Im of the opinion that guys who use an AI on TRT are either using too much test, or their injection frequency are too spread out which causes large peaks and troughs which can cause other hormones to be unbalanced. Whats your take on this🤔? My 8mg a day of test equals out to be 56mg a week. Im sure if I injected 56mg every 5 days that I would run into some problems☹️.
I agree fully. You shouldn't need an a.i if your dose is right. I haven't seen any trt clinics that perscribe a.i. at all. They might be out there or for special case scenarios but not that I know much of.
 
Right now I feel pretty good at 90e5, but I'm going to go w 100e5 so I can dose asin without the risk of crashing my e2.

These two quotes have me stomped:confused:. When on TRT, shouldn't the body be able to manage E2 efficiently without the use of an AI🤔? I mean, when you look at your earlier life without the use of PEDs or TRT, then you will have noticed that you never needed an AI (at least I assume I hope😕). Thats because your body produced the amount of proper testosterone needed, which balanced out all other hormones like E2, SHBG, dihydrotestosterone, DHEA, progesterone and so forth. Im of the opinion that guys who use an AI on TRT are either using too much test, or their injection frequency are too spread out which causes large peaks and troughs which can cause other hormones to be unbalanced. Whats your take on this🤔? My 8mg a day of test equals out to be 56mg a week. Im sure if I injected 56mg every 5 days that I would run into some problems☹️.
I'm quite certain if you injected 56mg every 5 days you would feel terrible. If you feel as though your approach to trt is the best for you then that's great, but why would I want to feel, look, or have the energy of an ordinary 49y/o if I don't have to?
First off, spacing out injections does not necessarily equal aromatization issues. This is a common misunderstanding perpetuated by those who believe that injecting ed or eod is somehow superior to other injection frequencies. My SHBG is one of the main reasons for my injection frequency, it's also the reason I feel better injecting more test less frequently. Injecting less frequently also does not necessarily result in hormonal imbalance. For me it has been superior to injecting more frequently; my hematocrit is lower than 50e3d, and my DHEA, progesterone, and dht are all at normal levels. The only thing that is occasionally higher than I would like is my e2, which is also not a big deal.
As for using too much test, I suppose I could scale back my dose to 80e5, and not require an AI, but why are you so steadfastly opposed to the use of an AI? My trt is adminstered by and monitored by an endocrinologist who does not have any issue with the use of AIs.
Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly like using aromasin, but I don't mind using it once every week or two when it enables me to enjoy superior benefits of trt. I feel that your view of trt is narrow and dogmatic.
 
So based what I'm understanding from all this is: over time, even if at the three month mark everything is where u want it to be, your estrogen still may continue rising at time progresses?
 
I'm quite certain if you injected 56mg every 5 days you would feel terrible. If you feel as though your approach to trt is the best for you then that's great, but why would I want to feel, look, or have the energy of an ordinary 49y/o if I don't have to?
First off, spacing out injections does not necessarily equal aromatization issues. This is a common misunderstanding perpetuated by those who believe that injecting ed or eod is somehow superior to other injection frequencies. My SHBG is one of the main reasons for my injection frequency, it's also the reason I feel better injecting more test less frequently. Injecting less frequently also does not necessarily result in hormonal imbalance. For me it has been superior to injecting more frequently; my hematocrit is lower than 50e3d, and my DHEA, progesterone, and dht are all at normal levels. The only thing that is occasionally higher than I would like is my e2, which is also not a big deal.
As for using too much test, I suppose I could scale back my dose to 80e5, and not require an AI, but why are you so steadfastly opposed to the use of an AI? My trt is adminstered by and monitored by an endocrinologist who does not have any issue with the use of AIs.
Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly like using aromasin, but I don't mind using it once every week or two when it enables me to enjoy superior benefits of trt. I feel that your view of trt is narrow and dogmatic.
I never did say that I an opposed to an AI😠. I beleive its justifiable in certain circumstances, especially on a cycle with a hefty does of test. But lets face it, most people on TRT don't need an AI. And my views on TRT are not narrow. They are very logical🙂. Injecting everyday, whether its test prop or test cyp, is becoming the new fad in the TRT world. Just look at various TRT sites and you will see this for yourself. Most people seem to feel their best by injecting every day and experience the least side effects🙂
 
I never did say that I an opposed to an AI😠. I beleive its justifiable in certain circumstances, especially on a cycle with a hefty does of test. But lets face it, most people on TRT don't need an AI. And my views on TRT are not narrow. They are very logical🙂. Injecting everyday, whether its test prop or test cyp, is becoming the new fad in the TRT world. Just look at various TRT sites and you will see this for yourself. Most people seem to feel their best by injecting every day and experience the least side effects🙂
Most people? Please produce the sources that back up your claim. Oh, I get it, b/c it works for you and a few hundred other guys on these forums that somehow equates to most? Do you know what most of the guys who are having success at trt are doing? I will tell you what they aren't doing, they aren't on a forum wasting their time talking about how great they feel. One thing I have found is that it's the guys who are not feeling great who are on forums, the guys who want to believe their protocol is the best, but in reality they are there because they don't feel great, but they buy into a fad and don't actually try a protocol that works with their biology and takes into consideration the half-life of the ester they are injecting. Of all the guys on trt on this forum the vast majority are not doing shots ed or eod, and that is also trend you will find on any open forum aside from a dedicated trt forum that advocates ed or eod.

As for using an AI, do you consider frequency, or is your judgement based on an absolute? My endo believes in having my values near the top end of the range at my trough, which they are, but I'm a high responder so every couple weeks or so I will take 6.25mg of asin. If I use adex I require a quarter about once a week, sometimes not. I have a buddy who can take up to 200mg/wk and not require any ai, all his values are in check, but b/c he doesn't require an Ai does that mean his protocol is somehow more legitimate than mine? Of everyone I know only one guy does eod, and that's because he metabolizes test quickly. His SHBG is in the low teens, and he absolutely needs frequent injections. He uses test e b/c he benefits from the half life due to how quickly his body metabolizes FT, whereas, b/c my SHBG is in the 40s I metabolize test more slowly and as such respond better to less frequent shots. I have far more FT floating around for longer.
I've been trying different things since I began trt 7 yrs ago, and so far this is the best I have felt. And, the fact that all my values are in check is all I need to know. That's why the ester of enth or cyp is ideal for me. It's not perfect, but it's damned good, and it works. There are guys who feel best using decanoate, are you going to try and tell me that they are doing it wrong b/c they only inject once every two weeks?

Also, you can't lump a prop protocol and cyp protocol together because you absolutely need frequent injections when taking prop. But, by that logic why leave out test base? Perhaps intraday shots would be ideal for you? But, that's just ridiculous, however, no less ridiculous that making a blanket statement that x is best. Lastly, if you believe your protocol is best because that's what is espoused on the trt forums you frequent, well, that's just confirmation bias. I don't deny that more frequent shots work best for some, but the attitude that it is the holy grail of trt is most definitely a fad, and the logic of such a claim is deeply flawed. Again, if it works for you then great, but you really need to broaden your views. Good luck.
 
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Im taking test cyp😀😊. As you might of guessed, my injections constitutes a very small amount of oil. I inject 0.04ml (by the way, my test cyp is 200mg/ml) which constitutes 8mg. I was taking 10mg a day, but when I saw my last labs at something like 750ng/dl, I decided to drop it to 8mg a day. There is some theory that smaller injections break down faster in the body, causing a higher peak and a lower trough all in one day, especially if its in MCT oil. My SHBG is 30, so this supposedly allows me to utilize less test. Also, estrogen is better managed on daily injections. Acne is drastically decreased. Sleep is great, permitting I inject before bedtime. I have never needed an AI on injecting everyday, except when I injected 14mg a day.☹️ So on my part, I strongly sense that my levels arn't level throughout the day. But the only real way to find out would be if I test my total test 3 times in one day, and god forbid any doctor to give me 3 blood requisitions in one day for my total test🫢😥. My main purpose for TRT is to replicate my own test levels to what they should be for my age, and not for bodybuilding purposes. My focus is now on natural bodybuilding until I can get myself down to the right test levels:)
mct oil? are you serious? please show me
 
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