Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 15, 2010, 04:47:32 PM

Title: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 15, 2010, 04:47:32 PM
I've noticed that between 7-10 days after my shot I get extremely moody, irritable, more dysphoric, feel weaker, and generally feel like my T levels are low. I've had a bunch of other guys who do shots bi weekly say the same thing. I'm gonna ask my doc when i see him Monday if I can switch to weekly shots but I wanna know..who else gets this 7-10 day mind****, and did it cause you to switch to weekly shots or did you stick with it? If you stuck with it, did the ups and downs level out? I've been on t 63 days and this has happened every 7-10 days after my shot. As soon as I do my shot again, I'm fine. For 7-10 days. Then it starts all over.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Ryan on July 15, 2010, 04:54:01 PM
I'm on fortnightly shots and I get it, but only for the last 2 days before my shot.
Although I have high male levels after my shot so maybe mine doesn't drop down far enough to make me too irritable.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 15, 2010, 05:05:32 PM
Fortnightly...? (American here, don't know british talk, lol)

I get my first round of blood work done on Monday so idk my levels yet.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Tay on July 15, 2010, 08:56:37 PM
It means the same. Fortnight is Fourteen nights, shortened. So biweekly!

I used to get a horrendous come-down on day 17 when I was on a 21 day cycle. Now I'm every fortnight and everything is fine!
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Rosa on July 15, 2010, 09:27:29 PM
I used to take T injections every two weeks and I could tell when it was close to the time when I was due for my next shot.  I don't know if it is affordable for you, but I've found that the T gel provides a much more regular dose.  I used the T patches for a while but they made my skin itch terribly.  With the injections I felt like I peaked then went down hill, then peaked again, which I think made me a bit moody. 
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Snowdoggy on July 15, 2010, 09:38:38 PM
When I was initially prescribed T I was on bi-weekly injections and got terrible dips but also incredible surges and also had low testosterone blood test readings.

I have been on a different type/brand of T now and have been on it for nearly 2 years. I have my shots every 16 weeks now and get no dips or surges and my blood test results now are still slightly too high for a cisgendered male even when my next shot is due so my endo is thinking of spacing them out even further.

I can't say what I was on or what I am now on now as that is forbidden on here.

John
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Lachlann on July 15, 2010, 09:42:50 PM
I did for a while but not anymore.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: j83 on July 16, 2010, 12:06:42 PM
Im on sustanon 250 and i get my shots three-weekly, and i start to feel a dip in my mood at the 2 week mark. Saw an endo yesterday and he wasnt very helpful, so just cause i have a good amount of facial hair, that seems to cancel out the other things im experiencing - low mood, dysphoric feelings, weight gain (especially since hysto), etc..

Was just wondering if any of the guys in this thread (in the UK).. if you're getting your shots bi-weekly, what sorta T are you on, and how much?
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 16, 2010, 12:24:44 PM
We can't post dosages.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Arch on July 16, 2010, 01:33:06 PM
I was on a biweekly shot for something like eight or nine months, and the troughs never smoothed out. I tended to start feeling moody and washed out two days before my shot, but sometimes I didn't feel it much until the day before or the day of. It was very unpleasant and interfered with my already marginal ability to function.

On the weekly shot, my moods and my energy level are much more stable.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Osiris on July 16, 2010, 01:38:25 PM
FYI sustanon 250 is a blend of testosterone, not a dosage.

Brands of testosterone are fine to discuss as long as you don't advocate/provide information on how to obtain hormones illegally, or doses used.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 16, 2010, 04:09:53 PM
Another curious question...for those who chose to stay on biweekly shots or switch to weekly....what were your T levels when you had bloodwork done? Did that influence your switching?
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Tay on July 16, 2010, 11:01:07 PM
I'm in the UK, I use Sustanon 250 and I do my injections fortnightly.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Ender on July 16, 2010, 11:02:32 PM
I never was on bi-weekly shots, per my request.  My doctor basically said that some people prefer a bi-weekly schedule because it means fewer needle pokes.  But some people just can't stand the hormone fluctuations; she asked me if I thought I would be sensitive to them, and I said yes.  I just didn't want to deal with the hormone fluctuations that I kept hearing about from other guys, especially after reading this:

QuoteWith cypionate and enanthate, peak serum levels are achieved within 2 to 5 days after
injection, and return to baseline after 10-14 days.
The adverse effects of injected
testosterone are often associated with high peak levels in the first few days after an
injection. Moreover, with injected testosterone esters given every two to three weeks,
serum levels of testosterone may be outside of the eugonadal range between 45-55% of
the time. These significant changes in serum levels can result in unpleasant fluctuations in
mood, energy, and sexual function. Some adverse effects may be ameliorated by using a
shorter dosing interval (weekly or every ten days instead of twice monthly.)
  [dosage removed]
weekly gives much lower peak and higher trough levels of testosterone than does [dosage removed]
every two weeks, while still maintaining the same total dose of androgen. This benefit
must be weighed by the patient and provider against the risks and inconvenience of
doubling the number of injections.

The above is from the book "Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers" written by Nick Gorton, MD (who is an FtM himself), Jamie Buth MD, and Dean Spade Esq.

A copy of the book can be downloaded at his site: http://www.nickgorton.org/ (http://www.nickgorton.org/) (mods, hope a link in this case is permitted; this book is a valuable resource for FtMs).
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Nimetön on July 17, 2010, 12:39:52 PM
Quote from: Ender on July 16, 2010, 11:02:32 PM
The above is from the book "Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers" written by Nick Gorton, MD (who is an FtM himself), Jamie Buth MD, and Dean Spade Esq.

Thank you for pointing out this book.  I am going to print this, read it, and add it to my library.

- N
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 17, 2010, 02:57:51 PM
Ahh. At the suggestion of someone I know, I'm gonna start dividing my dose and doing it weekly. He pointed out that I don't have to really ask before I switch cause It equals out to the same dose anyhow. I could've been doing this the whole time and avoiding this phase of the shot cycle. Oh well. I can do my next shot Monday after the doc appt and bloodwork. Can't wait. I hate this state of....not enough T in me.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Nimetön on July 17, 2010, 03:05:26 PM
Quote from: zombiesarepeaceful on July 17, 2010, 02:57:51 PM
He pointed out that I don't have to really ask before I switch cause It equals out to the same dose anyhow.

This statement is medically and physically baseless, both on the basis of organic and biological chemistry and mathematical control theory and also on the premises that led to the course of action under discussion.  I suggest that you discuss your medication with your doctor before altering your dosing schedule.

- N
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Ryan on July 17, 2010, 03:49:13 PM
Quote from: j83 on July 16, 2010, 12:06:42 PM
Was just wondering if any of the guys in this thread (in the UK).. if you're getting your shots bi-weekly, what sorta T are you on, and how much?
UK guy here. I'm on half dose of Sustanon fortnightly. Hopefully this post doesn't break any rules.
Title: Re: For guys who do shots biweekly...the 7-10 day dip
Post by: Arch on July 17, 2010, 03:56:23 PM
Quote from: zombiesarepeaceful on July 17, 2010, 02:57:51 PMAhh. At the suggestion of someone I know, I'm gonna start dividing my dose and doing it weekly. He pointed out that I don't have to really ask before I switch cause It equals out to the same dose anyhow.

Well, I would do as Nimeton suggests. Technically, this is not the same dosage because you're administering it differently. Maybe you can just drop a note to your doc and say that you want to do it and is it okay?

Post Merge: July 17, 2010, 03:59:52 PM

Quote from: zombiesarepeaceful on July 16, 2010, 04:09:53 PMAnother curious question...for those who chose to stay on biweekly shots or switch to weekly....what were your T levels when you had bloodwork done? Did that influence your switching?

I've only had my T levels checked once, before T. I mentioned this to my GP, and he said, "Are you doing well on your current dosage?" I said yes, and he observed that my other blood work has been coming back fine. He added, "Anyway, what if your T levels turned out to be pretty high or pretty low--would you want to change your dosage based on that alone?" I had to admit that I wouldn't want to change a thing.

I would be curious, though, to see how other guys' levels changed, if at all, when they went from biweekly to weekly.