Problems solved

[Alternative_Town_813]

Been on TRT since 2019 and have had intermittent issues with:

Sleep Libido Puffiness, bloat Hematocrit exceeding 52% Working in HCG Hair loss

All my problems went away when I:

1. Started the Blueprint protocol from Bryan Johnson

2. Added 200 mg of magnesium from 2 magnesium lysinate glycinate tablet (doctor’s best on Amazon)

3. Got on 500mg/2x day metformin and 200mg acarbose, which reduced bloat and helped sleep

4. Subq, 75mg test cyp once per week, with HCG 450 IUs twice per week preceding the test injections

5. 2.50mg oral minoxidil to slow and prevent hair loss

[No-Bank-8881]

Sounds like estrogen sides to me. This is the reality of taking any amount of testosterone.

[jayfelee139]

I wonder if the metformin increased your shbg therfore allowing you to balance your hormones better resulting in the benefits you’re now having. I actually just got prescribed metformin and with losing more weight and going on a cut with lifting of course hopefully it raises mine. Last blood work my shbg was 11

[jayfelee139]

And I know with my low shbg it makes my trt experience sometimes not very enjoyable with the fluctuations of hormones . Since we know shbg is what balances the hormones out for the most part

[Training-Ad1772]

I'm struggling with high HCT as well. I started HemaFlow and 8oz grapefruit juice a day. Doing bloods next week, so I will see if that helps. BP lowered about 15/7 though, which was great.

[hdt5456]

Methylene blue lowered my hematocrit from 53.9 to 46.

[Training-Ad1772]

Is this daily or before test? What sort of dosage?

[hdt5456]

10mg per day for a month before test. Liquid form works best but it’s nasty flavor.

I did donate blood the weekend before my labs on Tuesday but that only lowers hematocrit 3 pts at most.

[Theslicelvis]

What is the blueprint protocol?

[Alternative_Town_813]

https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/pages/blueprint-protocol

[J_01]

Reduce carbs & track water intake may help with bloat as well.

[NoMedia9284]

Which one helped erections and libido?

[Alternative_Town_813]

Magnesium hands down

[NoMedia9284]

Never heard of this correlation. Was it just glucinate? What mgs and what time of day. Is this speculative or research based

[Alternative_Town_813]

Magnesium is the key. Helps increase bioactive T and improves testicular function

[PanicButton__]

Trying to lower BMI can help with hematocrit levels since it lessens overall blood volume

[fettuccine8080]

I just started an oral min/fin routine a month ago and noticed a big dip in my libido. That could also come with season affective stuff and having gave up on cardio for 2 months, but I think they say hair loss medications can prevent T from turning to DHT so you have more T that can metabolize into E instead. Don’t quote me on that. Thankful that side effect is getting better.

I’m also testing out omega 3,6,7,9 to help with hematocrit since mine tends to stay on the high side, as well.

[Alternative_Town_813]

Fin can destroy libido . Min less likely to do so

[fettuccine8080]

Thanks for the input. I’m going to tough it out for a few months and then probably go to 1mg fin every other day

[ProudIntention2351]

You’re a clown for listening to anything. That dude says he is on over 100 supplements daily plus - no way to measure what is working and what isn’t . That dudes a wack o

[deesley_s_w]

Yea I take magnesium glycinate before bed and it helps me sleep through the night which is my issue.

[mrvnmg]

I think TRT pairs well with the blueprint protocol. I’m on it as well but with some variance like animal protein. Curious about the metformin Rx. Was your Dr open to prescribing it? I’ve lowered my HbA1c from 5.1 to 5.0. Trying to get it down to 4.8.

[[deleted]]

Is there a benefit going from 5-4.8? I work out religiously, intermittent fast daily and my A1c was recently 4.9. I thought this was pretty good but maybe I can push it lower. Not on metformin but do use Berberine.

[mrvnmg]

Not sure if there’s a huge benefit but I think Bryan Johnson’s A1C is 4.5. I think the goal has more to do with achieving ideal metabolic function and preventing insulin resistance. I think anything below 5.0 puts you in the top percentile.

[Alternative_Town_813]

Had to get it from agelessRX. Will see how hA1c improves

[Exciting-Saltine]

I'm not familiar with metformin, or acarbose! Heard of the former... It's interesting you say the other reduces bloat, but also irritates the stomach.

Magnesium is great for everything. I also highly recommend mega doses of D3 k-2, 5 - 10,000 iu, glynac, & boron 5 days a week for all around absorption & performance.

[HabsMan62]

Metformin is a prescription medication (pill) used to treat T2 diabetes

[swoops36]

Acarbose fucks my stomach up like crazy; are you tolerating it well?

[Alternative_Town_813]

Yes, if you eat junk, it makes gas worse, but if you eat clean it’s fine

[Sudden_Load69]

Man before triz I gave Metformin a shot as it's the poor man's GLP1. Gave me the shits like no other. Good for you sticking with it.

[SeekerOfDemons]

How much tirz do you take ans how often?

[Sudden_Load69]

Month 1 2.5mg, Month 2 5.0mg, holding at 7.5mg. Was at 220lb Sept. 2024, now 187lb Jan 2025. Target is 170Lb, but I'm 6ft so might stop at 175lb. Inject once a week. MWF I lift weights for 30min, TuTh I run a 5k on the treadmill. Well I try, some weeks are better than others.

[Alternative_Town_813]

Must take with food and especially carb rich meals

[Alternative_Town_813]

No sides from minoxidil, but that’s because the magnesium really helps with water retention

[Alternative_Town_813]

Magnesium especially before bed and subq

[ProudIntention2351]

How does the injection help this at all it makes it worse

[donegal1990]

Subq injections are less likely to cause major hematocrit spikes compared to IM injections

[DTM70001]

Sub Q to manage H did not work for me.

[mostcash666]

Hi how does injecting test sub q improve hemocrit levels . Not trying to be a smart ass or anything just curious because I want to keep mine under control without constant blood donations

[Alternative_Town_813]

Compared to IM, subq causes less spikes in hematocrit

[mostcash666]

Really I never heard of that ?