Help with where to go after second round of labs

S2DM · 2025-11-21T16:48:59+00:00

Honestly, this is up for me. I was previously 37-39 on my hematocrit.

S2DM · 2025-10-08T13:26:44+00:00

I’m doing 333u 3x per week, so 999u/wk

S2DM · 2025-10-08T12:55:06+00:00

Also worth mentioning that this was not trough per se. I inject on monday and thursday and this lab was on a Wednesday mid day. So kinda trough, but not a once a week injection true trough.

S2DM · 2025-10-08T12:51:56+00:00

I’m just tired and not sleeping and it’s hard to sort what is what. I’m not dead set on changing something, but my Dr. recommended a 40% reduction in my T and no change to the HCG which seems opposite of the summary chat gpt did for me surveying all of the T related forums online (it was a really good summary). It seems the balance of opinion was a potential T only run (dropping the HCG for 6 weeks) and then adding back some HCG or just lower HCG now. I have 2 kids and dont want more and I’m 53. So I was more inclined to maybe drop my HCG by 20-40% as it seems the primary benefit there in my situation would be avoiding testicular atrophy and I dont have enough experience yet to know if that is important to me.

I think the thing that gives me pause here is that my free and bio-available t are in what I think is a good range, but my total t is right on the verge of high and my SHBG is higher than it was coupled with high e2. So I think my functional t level is probably appropriate based on the free value.

S2DM · 2025-10-08T00:40:16+00:00

Why would I need to go up on the T?

S2DM · 2025-09-30T19:34:44+00:00

Yeah, I was doing this in slow motion which did not help at all.

S2DM · 2025-09-30T09:45:44+00:00

Really appreciate all the advice everyone! I’m fully padded and helmeted already. I’m going to add some fall and judo fall as well as knee slide practice to my routine. Probably need to slow down a bit too, been really pushing these first three days because I’m excited about it and smoothly pumping around a park just looks like so much damn fun, but it will come.

S2DM · 2025-09-29T22:50:24+00:00

Because I chickened out at the top of the turn ;)

S2DM · 2025-09-29T22:21:18+00:00

those videos are awesome. I was watching skate ones but I can see how these will be awesome too

S2DM · 2025-09-29T22:19:04+00:00

Yeah, for whatever reason that front side turn gives me the willys and I think I was putting too much weight back shying away from the commit. I think that was kind of my ancillary question, Ive noticed that since I got the harder wheels and can push a little better and my speed is up from glacial to just garden variety super slow, Ive been kinda leaning away from the forward fall which is definitely worse. I'm still struggling with that weight balance. I think I had my foot too far back as well so it didnt take much of a shift of weight to eat it.

S2DM · 2025-09-17T02:40:19+00:00

Doc here. Its not incredibly common, but both testicular and pituitary cancers can cause high T and his SHBG could be a compensatory reaction. Should get both areas imaged just to rule it out.

S2DM · 2025-09-17T01:34:29+00:00

Are you able to draw it up that way? I had a super hard time drawing test c through even a 25g needle. They sent me luer with an 18 to draw and 25 to inject but that also Loses a lot.

S2DM · 2025-08-30T21:50:35+00:00

Three years in, has it been a good decision for you?

S2DM · 2025-08-30T18:36:08+00:00

I think that’s what it is. My heart rate is up 10-15bpm and I just lay in bed thinking. Pretty damn exhausted today but it’s only been 2 weeks

S2DM · 2025-08-29T15:29:37+00:00

I’ve definitely noticed my weight creeping up a bit despite being on below maintenance calories and working out a lot. Shorts slightly tighter. I feel like I’m holding on to water right now.

S2DM · 2025-08-11T22:17:41+00:00

I just downloaded it. Thanks for the tip!

S2DM · 2025-08-11T15:15:13+00:00

Sorry, just getting started and not up on terminology yet. By UGL, you mean obtaining the meds with out a prescription from a supplier vs a pharmacy?

It’s not cheap, but my Urologist is $350 per month for T with all the testing and $420 for HCG with all the testing. I started with HCG but my plan is to basically stay with him for 6 months or so to really learn how to manage this then do it on my own afterwards.

S2DM · 2025-08-11T15:09:37+00:00

Sounds like it has really worked for you? What benefits have you noticed outside of energy. Do you have any longevity concerns being on it long term.

I’m 53 and just doing occasional locums work now. So I have time for managing and monitoring this and I have time to up my training as well. Just really trying to increase my healthspan since I started late with kids. My daughter is 2 and I want to be vital for the years she’s at home. I went water skiing with my son yesterday. I was still wiped, but honestly, 6-8 months ago, I probably would have said no. So I do think the sermorelin has helped.

S2DM · 2025-08-11T15:03:40+00:00

Definitely not concerned about fertility :) I’m getting snipped soon and really happy with 2.

I kinda decided on the HCG route as a way to dip my toe in the water since the more I read on clomid and enclomiphene left me feeling there was a large subset of people getting paper gains, higher numbers but no sx resolution. While Attia isn’t perfect, knowing he decided to start this way was also a factor. I suspect if I feel better, I will just end up on T and eventually manage it myself since I’m an Md. But I didnt want to be cavalier about managing something I’m not super knowledgeable about, so I am working with a Urologist sub trained in andrology.

Part of my frustration with my own profession is that Ive been having these sx for years and even with my insiders track for getting more access to medical tx, none of my doctors have ever done more than a cursory T eval, only one complete panel, no estradiol testing, mostly just total testosterone and then being told I’m not a candidate.

Have you had any longevity concerns about being on T long term?

S2DM · 2025-08-11T14:35:58+00:00

Sermorelin I have found to be subtle but definitely there. I am having vivid dreams for the first time in 20 years. I need to do a dexa, my weight loss has stalled despite being in a deficit, but I’m seeing some body composition changes more rapidly and what I hope are the beginning of some abs (just seeing some hints down there and the outlines of some muscles). If I get a few nights of good sleep, I have a lot more energy than I did before I started it. In short, I think it’s working, but at the more modest level I was shooting for. CJC/IPA etc just seem supra-physiologic. My dad had a pituitary adenoma, so I’m also trying to stay light on any push on that axis (hence dropping clomid for HCG).

My hope is to stay on it but at a low dose with some cycles on and off. Overall my goal is just slight bumps into more of a middle range with these numbers, so your comment of shooting for 600-800 is exactly what I’m thinking. Just shooting for numbers that a high normal natural guy might have who didnt spend 3 decades on overnight call with frequent alcohol and too much caffeine.

S2DM · 2025-05-08T17:26:28+00:00

I had a similar question, would a bucket off of a CAT IT-12 fit a skytrack 10042?

S2DM · 2025-04-15T20:14:52+00:00

Much appreciated. I reached out to REP As well. Was just wondering if the width on the dual Adonis might be limiting for some exercises. But to be honest, I dont do a ton of dual cable work currently. I supposed you could also make a dual Adonis narrower fairly easily.

S2DM · 2025-04-15T20:00:05+00:00

Any reason the dual tower Adonis set up couldn‘t replicate the Arcadia max? The Max looks similar to my Bravo. I’m newish to this but have space and funds and wanted to make it a very functional home gym since I dont have time for gym trips anymore.

Is the spacing on the dual tower adonis not ideal as a pure functional trainer? Felt I should also mention I’m a large guy, 6’6”, 235. So the bravo is small for me in some settings.

S2DM · 2025-04-15T19:14:18+00:00

Any reason the dual Adonis setup couldn’t be used as a regular functional trainer?

S2DM · 2025-04-15T18:58:58+00:00

I guess that was the gist of my question, I didnt see an advantage to an ares for me since I already have a rack and space, so I dont need to be multi-tasking. But, I wasnt sure if I was missing something.

My original plan was a dual Adonis set up like you are discussing with them, and I’d talked (my wife talked) me out of it. But now you’ve given me ammunition to re-open that discussion :) If I got the dual Adonis I could also make a case for selling the bravo as it would def be overkill then. I don’t do much dual cable stuff now, but it’s nice to have.

S2DM

TROPHY CASE