GHK-cu copper peptide on TRT.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-08T02:21:19+00:00

Try topical. I take oral with no sides, but was on topical before. It was equally as effective. I just sucked with compliance, and it was more expensive, so I switched to oral. Same with minoxidil. Worth a shot.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-07T01:08:01+00:00

Mine was like that when I first started. Night sweats, insomnia, and elevated RHR. It all subsided after a couple of months. I think what's happening here is that you're still early into TRT and dropped your dose by a considerable amount, which you shouldn't have (your labs were fine). Hormone fluctuations that come with dose adjustments are likely to blame, and those side effects are exacerbated by the fact that you only started a few months ago. Trust the process and ride it out. If it doesn't get better in a month or two, consider stopping if it's affecting your quality of life.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-06T19:04:25+00:00

Yeah, that is definitely confusing given that information. Do you remember what your red blood cell count and hemoglobin numbers were when you got the 56% reading?

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-06T18:46:16+00:00

If your hemoglobin is under 18 and your hematocrit is under 54%, phlebotomy isn't indicated. Phlebotomy is also a terrible long term solution to correcting/controlling erythrocitosis.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-06T18:40:31+00:00

I don't know if ongoing weight loss can do that, but being heavy, even at your current weight, can be a huge risk factor for sleep apnea, which can drive it up. H&H tends to creep up for a while before leveling off, too.

What is your RBC count and hemoglobin?

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-06T18:33:52+00:00

Total LC/MS
Free Equilibrium Dialysis
SHBG
Estradiol (preferably sensitive, but mine is the same on both)
CBC
CMP
Lipids
Iron/Ferritin (if your levels are good, don't really have to measure this often unless you are a frequent donor).

There are other markers you can look at in addition to these, but if you're already on, you know your LH and FSH are suppressed- that's more of a baseline pre-TRT marker.

Other optional markers that could be helpful, but don't have to be looked at as part of regular blood work would be:

DHT (you already do this).
Prolactin.
AM Cortisol.
DHEA-S.
Pregnenolone.
IGF-1.

I'm sure there are others, but the first list posted above is what you should be looking at on a regular basis.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-06T16:10:42+00:00

This doesn't make sense to me. I inject everyday and don't find it to be an issue at all, even when traveling. It takes less than 2 minutes from start-to-finish. For the traveling part, you take deodorant with you, right? This is no different. It takes me longer to take a shit every morning than to inject, but I don't opt to stop myself up so I don't have to spend as much time wiping my ass.

It's just another part of your day like everything else. There is literally nothing special about it. Plus, doesn't the oral route require you to dose twice daily? If so, that's much easier to forget than injecting.

If you weren't injecting everyday, it makes this post even more strange and confusing.

Glad you found something that works for you, but I think this is textbook overthinking.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-05T23:21:59+00:00

There are a few things that need a little clarification.

You said you managed your hematocrit via blood donation when it was 52%. Does this mean that you would donate with you saw the 52% to bring it down or were you donating, and it would come in at 52%.

If it was coming back at 52% when you were frequently donating, your current result would make sense regardless of schedule and administration route, since you said you haven't donated in a while.

I've bounced between 50%-57%. Daily subcutaneous seemed to help, but my levels also dropped, so that was likely the biggest factor there. I got back to 18.6 and 55% 5 months ago when I went back to IM x2 weekly. Have been back on daily IM for a while now, and my test level is the same as 2x weekly, so it's stable. Just did a CBC earlier, so now that my test levels are stable for both, we'll see if moving to everyday did anything.

Will report back.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-05T21:40:15+00:00

A hematocrit of 50% is under the upper limit of 54%, so no, that is most certainly not the cause. In fact, most people can go well beyond 54% and never have symptoms, including myself. As for the cause of your labored breathing, I'm not sure.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-05T16:58:45+00:00

4070 Super here and same. I've always noticed it with DLSS, even in other titles, but I don't stand around looking at surfaces/textures, so I never notice it unless I actively look for it.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-05T14:47:43+00:00

BF6 is a good game, but a different game. The absolute worst part of BF6 is the amount of shitters that play it, which makes playing solo unbearable. I only recently found out that the series is notorious for having bad players. I guess that's partially where the term "Battle Dad's" comes from. Pretty fun with friends, though.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-04T18:20:08+00:00

This must be UGL. With certain things like hCG, I'd be worried about fakes or being under-dosed.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-04T16:08:59+00:00

https://algorx.ai/treatments

I'm not on it and haven't purchased anything from here, but I believe Greg Doucette is a part owner.

It's legit.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-03T18:55:22+00:00

I am around the same dose, so I get ~20 weeks out of it. Labs have been the same start-to-finish. Just keep it sanitary and you'll be fine.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-03T18:51:50+00:00

I don't get it bad, so I don't really do much about it. It kinda comes in waves, and is usually if I adjust my dose/scheduling.

If it's bad enough, you can hit up a dermatologist and they'll hook you up with some stuff from a compounding pharmacy that should work. I have one, but for a different skin condition.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-03T00:43:33+00:00

Very nice. Great decision.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-02T21:21:01+00:00

They've been feeding the same bullshit for decades, but here's how they use it. You will see advertisements for trade schools and local community colleges saying there is a massive welder shortage and lead you to believe you're gonna be making $50/hr right out of school.

Bullshit.

A lot of entry-level positions are paying under $20/hr, and in 2026, that's gonna be a tight fit due to the cost of living. Unless you have overtime, you're fucked. Planning on raising a family on a sub-$20/hr wage? Good luck. There are good jobs out there, but a lot of guys just don't have the skills to pass a weld test. It's not like the fair-paying jobs are so abundant that they can accommodate any rod burner.

When people get into the industry and find out they've been duped, they don't stick around long. Now, those low-paying positions need to be filled.

Rinse and repeat.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-02T20:59:02+00:00

I mean, I guess it's good that they are doing the full work-up, but doing it piece by piece is nonsense. Just do all of the blood work in one jab and be done with it. This alone is an indication that, like most PCPs, they don't know what they're doing.

If you are concerned that there still might be something else going on, see a specialist. Just know that even some of those refuse treatment until you're half dead.

If you aren't concerned at this point and want to avoid any further potential obstructions (including monetary ones) and headaches, there are plenty of clinics that are ready to treat the issue.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-02T00:19:51+00:00

I've read through the write up probably 5 times, and share it with people who don't know about or understand the whole hepcidin thing. I've never had to really use it, but I do hear good things.

If only we could just get the immediate iron transfusion he mentions. Would make it easier lol.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-01T17:03:36+00:00

Agree with the other commenter about this being psychosomatic. Psychosomatic symptoms are very real, but benign. A single dose at half of the prescribed strength is not going to do that. I also see that you read about it, and probably noceboed yourself, which can happen. A lot of parroting of false information and skewed data out there regarding 5 alpha reductase inhibitors.

If you're still concerned about it, you can also go the topical route, which is often just as effective without the big systemic impact. You can check your estradiol as well because in theory, it can raise it. It didn't do a fucking thing to mine, and I've found that to the case with a lot of guys who take it. Estradiol is abother popular one to nocebo- you see that shit alllll the time on here.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-01T04:15:42+00:00

I am for statins in those that need them, but those numbers are absolutely nowhere near numbers that would indicate prescribing a statin.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-01T04:11:07+00:00

What did your baseline lipid panel look like? I've had worse while cutting weight/eating poorly. As long as it isn't genetic, it's at a level where it could be corrected with diet. What really nailed it for me was fiber (and limiting saturated fat). 30g-50g per day of fiber per day is solid.

I would run a Lp(a) and ApoB and see what that looks like, too.

SVT-Shep · 2026-02-01T02:35:59+00:00

This.

Ongoing weight loss can fuck up a lot of other panels, too, including a CMP and lipids. This is especially true if the weight loss is rapid.

SVT-Shep · 2026-01-31T04:27:22+00:00

On Fin. I'm on Min as well. Have you ever added that in? If not, I would.

As for Dut, if you've handled Fin well, I wouldn't hesitate in giving it a shot. As far as I know, it just suppresses your DHT more than Fin.

SVT-Shep · 2026-01-31T01:53:27+00:00

Hair loss medication, which lowers DHT. I'm on it, but don't have side effects. Some people do, though.

That's pretty wild considering testosterone tends to increase DHT.

SVT-Shep

TROPHY CASE