Running my TRT on my own...

[shibbi]

OK....

Been on TRT for almost a year and all levels are now good (48 years young in good health and enjoying lifting).

Get a 2000mg10mL (200 mg/mL) Vial, take 0.25 three time a week and 1/4 of a 1mg Anastrozole once a week.

Currently with Optimale and looking to now manage myself.

Could do with some advice...

* when moving to self managed, who do you use for bloods and how often? 3/6 months? or are you going on how you feel?

* not trying to go hard but would like to see how I feel with a "blast", ok not blast but you know bit more, then back to TRT levels, any suggestions on protocol etc?

* I have a 50 and ripped target (unless I have a target I lack the motivation and by ripped I don't mean comp ripped just looking 25 and well worked out lol), TRT has made me feel great and has given me results, would just like to see how I feel and perform outside the normal levels. But not bonkers F**k me up if you know what I mean .

Will add a pic to my profile for my current state.

Thank all, Shibbi.

 

[Ghoul]

Surprised you need an AI at such a low dose. Try 200mg/wk for a few weeks and see how you feel. That's a better metric than any blood test and doesn't take you into blasting territory. Most docs have a hard stop at 150mg on principle, insurance, and liability reasons, not because it wouldn't be better for you.

 

[shibbi]

They said my 17-Beta Oestradiol was hi i.e. I was sensitive to the test, honestly I always get a bit emotional to some films LOL. I had no nip issues etc.

Sort of think I should just follow how I'm feeling and use the blood tests for thickening or any other step change?

Thanks for the comments Ghoul.

 

[Ghoul]

That sounds like a good plan. I'd just drop the AI until and unless I got nip sensitivity. The extra estrogen will be cardioprotective and lube up your joints. 200mg is well below the level you need to be concerned about anything only a blood test would reveal, and the slight boost in assertiveness should offset any excess emotional sensitivity.

Just remember it takes a few
weeks to reach stable levels after you adjust. I used go to 250, but nip sensitivity set in so I backed down to 200.

As for blood tests, when you decide to do them, QuestDiagnostics (dotcom) has a Men's Hormone panel you can schedule online and go to a local center to do the blood draw.

If you're looking to lose some fat, test pairs very well with Semaglutide, countering the muscle mass loss of a calorie deficient diet. I've used it and Tirz for years so ask any questions you like.

I personally love throwing Modafinil in the mix as well. It's an atypical stimulant with fewer side effects than caffeine, non addictive or habit forming, lasts all day, makes work effortless, and studies show
users consume 30% fewer calories than non users.

In the same demographic group as you so just sharing what I've discovered over a few years.

 

[Sector]

OK....

Been on TRT for almost a year and all levels are now good (48 years young in good health and enjoying lifting).

Get a 2000mg10mL (200 mg/mL) Vial, take 0.25 three time a week and 1/4 of a 1mg Anastrozole once a week.

Currently with Optimale and looking to now manage myself.

Could do with some advice...

* when moving to self managed, who do you use for bloods and how often? 3/6 months? or are you going on how you feel?

* not trying to go hard but would like to see how I feel with a "blast", ok not blast but you know bit more, then back to TRT levels, any suggestions on protocol etc?

* I have a 50 and ripped target (unless I have a target I lack the motivation and by ripped I don't mean comp ripped just looking 25 and well worked out lol), TRT has made me feel great and has given me results, would just like to see how I feel and perform outside the normal levels. But not bonkers F**k me up if you know what I mean .

Will add a pic to my profile for my current state.

Thank all, Shibbi.

Try 300-400mg test a week if you want a little more than just the normal TRT protocol. It's relatively safe, sides should be minimal and bloodwork shouldn't be skewed too much if you're diet/training/cardio are on point. You might have to modify/increase your AI dose to coincide with the increased exogenous testosterone. Run it 12-16 weeks, then you can always drop back down to your TRT dose.

Do bloodwork 3 months after you start it just to gauge your change in lipids, sensitivity to estrogen, etc. ; After that you can probably move to every 6 months

 

[Werewolf Piss]

I hate when people say "I'm x years YOUNG".

I hope I helped

 

[Ghoul]

I hate when people say "I'm x years YOUNG".

I hope I helped

Pre-internet, roid ragers were limited to some good old fashioned domestic violence in the privacy of their homes, leaving everyone else in peace.

 

[RiceNKimchi]

I've been loving dropping my ai and adding in a low dose of primo. Estrogen and bloods have been in check and I feel like it just adds to growth.... everyone responds differently though, I've heard horror stories with bloods on primo from some. Maybe I'm lucky

 

[Sector]

I've been loving dropping my ai and adding in a low dose of primo. Estrogen and bloods have been in check and I feel like it just adds to growth.... everyone responds differently though, I've heard horror stories with bloods on primo from some. Maybe I'm lucky

How much primo are you running if you don't mind me asking? Been debating adding 200-400mg a week just for the estrogen suppression effects, and to maybe reduce sex drive a bit

 

[borkies]

* when moving to self managed, who do you use for bloods and how often? 3/6 months? or are you going on how you feel?

I run bloods at least every 6 months unless I am feeling "off". As far as managing estrogen and getting your E2 numbers regularly, eventually you learn to feel it out for yourself - I can usually guess right about where my E2 is at and am usually fairly correct at it. But yeah, CBC/metabolic/lipids every 6 months or so. Oh privatemdlabs if you're in the US is decent for bloodwork.

* not trying to go hard but would like to see how I feel with a "blast", ok not blast but you know bit more, then back to TRT levels, any suggestions on protocol etc?

The boilerplate 500mg test per week for 16 weeks is a decent beginner blast.

* I have a 50 and ripped target (unless I have a target I lack the motivation and by ripped I don't mean comp ripped just looking 25 and well worked out lol), TRT has made me feel great and has given me results, would just like to see how I feel and perform outside the normal levels. But not bonkers F**k me up if you know what I mean .

Just be careful, especially at our age (I'm 47). Honestly one blast isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but I guarantee you it won't be your last blast. You'll get some results at that dose but you're not going to turn into an IFBB pro in 16 weeks.

 

[RiceNKimchi]

How much primo are you running if you don't mind me asking? Been debating adding 200-400mg a week just for the estrogen suppression effects, and to maybe reduce sex drive a bit

Personally 100 mg wk is keeping my bloods perfect and estrogen is relatively the same spot just a few digits higher. This has been over months.

I am playing with 200 mg wk now and seeing how that effects me.

I wouldn't take 400 mg wk. I highly doubt things would be good over time, but there is a possibility

 

[shibbi]

1st, thanks for the advice Ghoul and Sector. This is why I decided to join up here.

Going to put one last Test C order in and pull the plug, might as well as I'm paying a lot for it from them (not bagging them, they have been great).
Ghoul, Semaglutide works well for me. I've have only run it once for two months pre holiday, as you do and it worked well. I manage my diet ok and only have the random big binge day.... do enjoy a good curry.

Modafinil is a god send for me in the UK, on the spectrum but since being back in the UK this is all I can get without trying to go through the system for ADAD meds. Not as affective but enough to get me through heavy work pressures.

Sector, do you dose your AI on physical affects and in small increment?
I would also like to run xx weeks and then just return to the TRT levels and see how it goes.

Werewolf Piss, its just how I feel LOL. I take your comment lite heartedly and apricate you adding some humour. Can you fix my Boner?

Shibbi.

 

[shibbi]

borkies, thanks for the comments, I guess that's the thing will one blast send me down the rabbit hole .

RiceNKimchi, This is the thing, slow increments and see how we feel. That's the best marker I guess.

Shibbi.

 

[Sector]

1st, thanks for the advice Ghoul and Sector. This is why I decided to join up here.

Going to put one last Test C order in and pull the plug, might as well as I'm paying a lot for it from them (not bagging them, they have been great).
Ghoul, Semaglutide works well for me. I've have only run it once for two months pre holiday, as you do and it worked well. I manage my diet ok and only have the random big binge day.... do enjoy a good curry.

Modafinil is a god send for me in the UK, on the spectrum but since being back in the UK this is all I can get without trying to go through the system for ADAD meds. Not as affective but enough to get me through heavy work pressures.

Sector, do you dose your AI on physical affects and in small increment?
I would also like to run xx weeks and then just return to the TRT levels and see how it goes.

Werewolf Piss, its just how I feel LOL. I take your comment lite heartedly and apricate you adding some humour. Can you fix my Bonner?

Shibbi.

Of course man, that's why we're here (to help)

I take my AI anytime I do my test injections, so 2x a week I'll do 12.5mg aromasin. I probably wouldn't reccomend this approach though, I've just been at this long enough that I know how my body responds to different test dosages and how it affects my estrogen (I'm heavily sensitive to aromatizing compounds, and also have to worry about some pre existing gyno so I do it this way to prevent my gyno from flaring up)

On 400mg test/week, you may need to take your AI once a week. You may need to take it twice a week. It's hard to say because responses are so individualized

If you start getting dry joints and lethargy, you're probably overdoing the AI. If you start bloating, getting moonface, and/or nipple sensitivity, you probably need more AI. If you're getting neither dry joints and fatigue, nor are you getting bloated and having nipple sensitivity, your doing it right and your estrogen is probably in range

^^ estrogen 101 crash course

 

[RiceNKimchi]

RiceNKimchi, This is the thing, slow increments and see how we feel. That's the best marker I guess.

Shibbi.

Not sure if there was sarcasm but.... hell no, this is off bloodwork over months. If the bloodwork is bad we drop the dose or compound. Health is my priority, bbing is just a hobby for me now. Feelz were for the younger years lol

Please get bloods if you're doing this long term.

Also sorry for the tangent on the thread it was is just had been working for myself on a trt based dose.

 

[Greenbay68]

Welcome to the dark side! As long as the doc dialed you in, you no longer need the training wheels in my opinion!

I’ve been DIY TRT for 3 years now. I use letsgetchecked and everlywell for home health tests a couple times a year, although discountedlabs is a great value if you’re near a Quest walkin blood lab.

I advise you to buy a large batch of testosterone at a time and test one vial through Janoshik or at least a roidtest semi-quantitative. Whether or not you test the substance itself, you can dial in your dosage with a blood test after ~6 weeks.

My prescribed 200mg test c TRT left me at 1017ng/dl at trough, and the batch I bought to last 5 years leaves me at 1030ng/dl at 200mg.

so it’s dead on balls accurate. Even if it was a little hot or weak, I’d just titrate the dose and continue with that. Boom, dialed in and free from the man.