I'll chime in on this, too. I've read most if not all of the previous posts. I'll also give you a little background on me, so you know where I'm coming from.
I started TRT at 42. Like you, I started off following the guidance of the person administering the TRT without really understanding my hormones or what was happening, trusting him to know his shit and give me what I needed. Since then I've moved across the country and by now have seen a half a dozen doctors (total, including a couple where I lived before moving) about this issue. I finally found one who seems to know his shit.
The most impirtant thing I've learned is that MOST DOCTORS DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT HORMONES. This INCLUDES endocrinologists. Example: I have been told by a DO; a urologist; and an endocrinologist that "Testosterone has nothing to do with erections." (ED is what led me to TRT in the first place).
Since then I have become much better educated. In large part that has happened here. I have learned more from the experienced guys here than I have from any doctor. This has encouraged me to experiment a little bit and learn how my own body responds. You have read in some of the replies to ypur thread that everybody responds differently. That is one of the most important things you can take away from all of this. You're going to have to figure out what works for you.
With that said, there are some things that are pretty cut and dry. I will try to address a couple of them first; Muscle Mechanic has already done so, but I'll touch on them again because I see the same things come up in your posts.
One thing is, your estrogen is TOO LOW. 7 is too low. Mechanic went over this, but I'll repeat: the RATIO of estrogen to testosterone is very important, not just the estrodiol number. You are driving it too low with your AI. You said you're taking 0.5mg 2x per week. If I were you, I would drop that to 0.5mg ONE x per week. See what happens. You may be able to drop it completely, nut you mentioned that you need to drop 20 or so pounds. It might be helpful to know your body fat percentage. The reason is that the aromatase enzyme, which is what causes testosterone to aromatise, or convert to estrogen, is stored in fat. In general, the leaner you are, the less aromatase you'll have. Therefore, the less AI you'll need for a given amount of test. Following that? This is one of those things - AI dosing is what I'm talking about here - that you'll have to figure out what works for you, as I think how much one's body converts to estrogen is one of those things that varies from person to person. But regardless, 7 is too low. Personally, I feel best when total test is in the 1200 range amd estrogen is in the low 40's to upper 30's. I have had it as high as 80 on bloodwork with no negative estrogenic sides. No puffy nipples, nothing like that.
Don't be too scared of gyno at the test doses you're taking. Pay attention. Be alert for itchy nipples. But it is unlikely you'll experience that if you drop your AI dose to 0.5mg 1x per week. I am betting if you change nothing else, your estrodiol will come up to maybe mid 20's.
Your free test is at 112 with total test of 559? That's pretty damned good. My last labs had total test at 850, free test around 50. Estrodiol at 37. This was at a dose of 180 mg/week test (I was injecting 100 mg Fri; 80 mg Tues and taking an AI, MC's Aquadex at approx 1/4mg each dose - 1/2 mg per week).
So, yes, I would say you can increase your test dose to 70mg and 80mg for a total of 150mg per week and still be well into reasonable range as far as a doc is concerned. Again, this is one of those things that is highly variable. Like I said, for me at 180mg/week I came up with total test of 850 last labs. Muscle Mechanic says he gets to 850 or so total test at 100mg/week. Go figure. I have so had my labs come back with total test at 1400 at the same 180mg/week. So not only does this vary from person to person, but it may vary from time to time in the same person. Or maybe the lab screwed up.....
Regarding HCG: again, as Mechanic said, the ONLY readon to use HCG is to preserve your nuts and to maintain - or restore - fertility. You said you're done having kids. I am too. I have 7 grandkids, I am DAMNED SURE done having kids! So drop the HCG, you don't need it. Your balls are glands. They will not continue to shrivel until they're the size of peas. They will shrink somewhat; they will soften; then they'll stop and that's where they'll be. Who gives a shit. They're decoration at this point. Again, your balls are not muscles. Muscles atrophy until there's nothing left. Glands do not do that. They'll get a little smaller and be a little softer. Don't worry about it, you'll never notice after a while. And like Mechanic said, maybe that'll make your dick look bigger.....
I gotta tell you, this whole thing is still a learning process for me. The guys here have been a huge help. Muscle Mechanic soecifically has been a tremendous help. Others as well, including BigZ and other guys. Stick around, we're glad to have you aboard and glad to help, which we do here by giving our own experience. That's what I love about this board. I've asked several of the doctors I've seen about my low test/erectile dysfunction when they've told me - incorrectly - that testosterone has nothing to do with erections, and told me there's nothing to do except take viagra or the like if THEY have experienced my issues. "No." Was the answer every time. These guys here know what they are talking about from personal experience.
