Hi guys, gals, other.

My Dr.'s office can't seem to understand this question.

I am injecting T every 2 weeks. When, during the cycle, is the best time to get the lab work done.

day 2? day 8? Monday ?

thanks.

I've always done the lab work the day of the shot, but before getting the shot. That way they're testing you at the low point of the cycle.

Yep. thats the way to go. Look for the lowest level to dial in the dose properly. I think its also a very good idea to keep notes on how your doing to report back to the doctor when you do your next exam. Don't go nuts chasing some specific number but rather look for the amount that makes you feel "right"

Some men get by on a low dose. Many need to be in a middle of the normal range and some need to be nearer the top (of the normal range) Injections give you maybe a bit more "peak" then normal but your low level should be withing the normal range.

Keep at it and do the regular physicals, PSA, DRE etc.

Within the normal range? That is a big range though.

Bumping between say 400 and 250 is normal?

I think this HRT issues is a huge pain without knowing the original number (pre surgery and pre other issues)

Which is more important do you think; dialing in the low or the high?

For me the high is far worse than the low, plus adding more T is easy whereas one just has to wait for it to degrade if one adds too much.

For injections anywhere from 50 - 400 mgs is acceptable according to the paperwork, .... I know a lot of guys around will take 100mgs per week.

At the moment I am on 125mgs every 10 days, that you might consider low right? But I was technically low of "normal" at about 300 (271 day of surgery) with the one (apparently failing) testicle.

Is there any value in doing blood work 24 hours after the injection to get the peak and then like 8 days later to get the half? Thus getting a number to plot a graph to show the rate of processing? That changes with diet, age, activity level, etc?

With the HRT thing over here I feel very much alone. THe local uro is not a lot of help as he was the one that thought I needed more because I have a "big body" compared to Japanese men.

Cheers

Yeah, the body mass versus amount of testosterone is a common thought but I honestly don't think its true.

100 to 200mg every 7 to 10 days. You fiddle with the dose and do labs back and forth until you start to feel normal. *You still will need labs every 6 months to a year to rejiggle if needed.

No, I don't think there is much value in getting a peak reading. Non of the Doctors I've seen look at peak values and I think its just assumed that with injections your going to peak over the normal range for a short time. Thats one reason Gels, Rub ons and Patch systems have a plus over injections. They don't over do you on Testosterone and they mimic normal male cycles. *24 hours

Taking Homones IS going to shut down your remaining testicle. Its not "Failing" its just not switched on when your doing HRT. If you want to try getting your remaining testicle to function ask your doctor about a drug like Clomid. I don't think you can take it long term but... I am not up on all that.

My GP doesn't seem to be too worried about the low end number as long as it in the normal range. She is the one that said chasing a number is the wrong way to do this. Its nice if your doctor will let you do a bit of adjustment (Within reason) to get it so you feel normal throughout the cycle.

I had one doctor say that she was doing this perfectly because my labs were around 500 at the end of a weekly injection cycle. But I think the doctor who said forget the numbers is right. And I do not think high or low end of normal is the right way because we are all different.

I know some folks want to get by with the minimum dose and try to fiddle with their sex drive etc. Thats all well and good but for me (for example) that would not be fun. Nor I think having it be above the normal range and be getting "roid rage" etc.

Wellesley (imported) wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:59 pm Within the normal range? That is a big range though.

Bumping between say 400 and 250 is normal?

I think this HRT issues is a huge pain without knowing the original number (pre surgery and pre other issues)

Which is more important do you think; dialing in the low or the high?

For me the high is far worse than the low, plus adding more T is easy whereas one just has to wait for it to degrade if one adds too much.

For injections anywhere from 50 - 400 mgs is acceptable according to the paperwork, .... I know a lot of guys around will take 100mgs per week.

At the moment I am on 125mgs every 10 days, that you might consider low right? But I was technically low of "normal" at about 300 (271 day of surgery) with the one (apparently failing) testicle.

Is there any value in doing blood work 24 hours after the injection to get the peak and then like 8 days later to get the half? Thus getting a number to plot a graph to show the rate of processing? That changes with diet, age, activity level, etc?

With the HRT thing over here I feel very much alone. THe local uro is not a lot of help as he was the one that thought I needed more because I have a "big body" compared to Japanese men.

Cheers

Thanks for the reply,

Sorry, no all testes are gone at this point. Perhaps you recall we emailed about 6 months ago about the pain versus keeping the testes and the deal with HRT

I am basically happy now with the lower dose, I had the rage issues with the higher dose I must have been into the 600 or higher

Cheers (thanks for the reply on the yahoo group as well)