Went to the Endo today and got my lab results (that were taken about a month ago but haven't seen her since then). The blood was drawn about 36 hours after an injection. Without discussing dosage of course, my T is really low. My total was 295 and my free was 10.2. The "free" T is mid range. The "total" T is rock bottom.

I inject "the standard" dose every ten days and now she has switched me to every seven days. However, she says that won't really effect my levels. It will just keep me from bottoming out before the next injection. That doesn't make sense to me really. I'm injecting MORE by injecting more often. That's an extra shot a month. Wouldn't that raise my levels?

As far as transition I'm on target for the typical things that happen at almost 4 months. She is giving me the option to increase the dose amount that will be taken weekly or to stay on the same amount. Not really sure what to do. I've had a complete hysto so I thought my levels should/would be higher. If I stay at this dose she says I can get my labs done yearly if I want (labs cost me $400 out of pocket). That is nice because it eats away at my surgery fund.

Has anyone else experienced this or have any suggestions?

Also, per site rules please do not post any dose information (be vague as possible), thanks.

Where do you inject? Do you self inject, or does somebody else?

I draw up the injection myself and my gf sticks it in my gluteal muscle.

Have you tried reading "The Natural Testosterone Plan" by Stephen Harrod Buhner? You could try some of the suggestions in that to help you body take the T better.

What kind of T do you inject? It's confusing to me, I have to inject now every three weeks cause with bi-weekly my levels were so high. I know, everyone is different.

Do you inject deep enough?
My mom(nurse) and endo said you need to inject in muscle,
because fat won't absorb the t as well.

To know if it's muscle or fat, put the needle in and let go of it.
If it tilts to the side, it's fat. If your needle sticks straight up, it's muscle.

I don't know, just a suggestion.

Keep in mind, those are the words from MY medical professionals,
and that other doctors may say differently.

According to everything I have studied up on TRT, it takes between 1 and 3 days for your body to begin sufficiently breaking down the suspension oil and to absorb/use the testosterone. This is a highly individualized thing however, because everyone's metabolic rate is different and this is what determines how much or how little you need to carry you through until the next dose, and also how often to dose too (because that determines how slow or quickly your body is able to break down that suspension oil). So your own metabolic rate is actually the primary variable of TRT dosing and schedule.

That stated, I get my T level checked exactly a week on the day from the previous injection (bi-monthly/2 weeks dosing schedule). That is actually the standard for TRT monitoring through labs. For example, I dose on Thursday. So the following Thursday, I go get the lab draw. No exceptions. Even if I really don't want too, I go and get it done on that day.

Anyway. The reference range levels of total testosterone that my Endo wanted me to end up in after seven days from a dose was between 400 and 800. And it turned out to be 800 as the optimal for me (any lower than that, I'm too lazy and tired-like and the last four days of the cycle really drag, but any higher, I'm a bit too amped up and edgy).

It doesn't take very much to put me in that range either. Just a bit over half of the stated dose amount of the vial is about what it takes for me. And sometimes, for reasons we don't know exactly why yet, that same amount in my quad muscle (vastus lateralis) can skyrocket my TT to an inhuman 1,356! Whereas that same amount, in my glute muscles, will average 800 every time with the seven day post-injection lab schedule.

Just more proof of how highly individual TRT is and how widely variable levels can go.

Hope you get your dose and schedule sorted. We're still working on mine, just over six months after starting for me. It can be a bit frustrating but I'm sure once its figured out, it's all smooth sailing from there.

But yeah, maybe talk to your doc about trying to get your TT checked the following insert-day-of-week-here to see where you fall into the 400-800 reference range at the mid-point of your dose/schedule.

Quote from: Jared on April 11, 2013, 03:18:08 AM
What kind of T do you inject? It's confusing to me, I have to inject now every three weeks cause with bi-weekly my levels were so high. I know, everyone is different.

Testosterone Cypionate in Cottonseed oil.

Quote from: Jayr on April 11, 2013, 04:30:53 AM
Do you inject deep enough?

My gf is an EMT and she injects me (I draw it up...just because I like to). It's a 1 1/2" 21G needle she pushes all the way in and aspirates. She uses a Z track technique so none comes back out.

Quote from: Magnus on April 11, 2013, 05:25:43 AM
According to everything I have studied up on TRT, it takes between 1 and 3 days for your body to begin sufficiently breaking down the suspension oil and to absorb/use the testosterone.

That right there could be the reason why. My blood was taken not even 36 hours after the injection. I have just started the every 7 days injection schedule on Tuesday and already notice the difference in energy. The last 3 days before the shot (when I was doing them every 10 days) my energy was non existent. Hopefully this will work out better.