11 months on TRT - 1,980 dollars later, not impressed with results

[halfwit]

Your story reads as if you're looking at TRT purely for anabolic benefits.
Low testosterone or not, eating 3,500 calories a day will have you putting on weight (assuming your day job is fairly sedentary). If your diet is genuine and you still aren't putting on weight, add another 500 calories and see how you go.

While I agree that the tone of the original post was a bit on the questionable side (TRT is NOT a cycle), I can personally tell you that this is simply not true. Unless of course we're talking fat - which is completely doable with a damaged metabolism. We're talking guys with a lack of the hormone here; a completely different ballgame than telling Joe Teenager in the AAS section that he's doing it wrong and needs to fix his diet. If you're lacking testosterone, it's damn near impossible to add muscle/lose fat. I know, I tried for many years.

Nothing else to add here OP. Gels are money vacuums and will mess with DHT/E2 (in MOST - some guys DO like them) while making life more difficult. Your doctor sounds like he knows exactly what he's doing; getting you to keep renewing that script every month. I don't even want to ask if he's checked your LH/FSH/Prolactin/E2/thyroid as I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this already...

 

[Reignman003]

I was older when I sought TRT but I have to admit I was almost doing it because I was not putting on muscle. That and a little less sex drive were my issues. Sure I felt the other sides of low T but I was not really moved my them. I was just frustrated because my diet and exercise was very good and guys with no diet or exercise were bigger and stronger.

But after going on TRT and actually feeling so much better I realize how shitty I REALLY was feeling now that I can compare it to something. In my case all the sides of low T came on slowly enough that I didn't notice the change over time and/ or my body sort of learned to accept the new, low T me.

Physically I see that my muscle build has changed slightly for the better and I have lost fat and yes I am very happy about that but now looking back on the old me I see I am more clear headed, focused, motivated, have more energy, I sleep better, my joints feel better, I have more confidence and all round just feel more like a man.

The OP is probably only considering the the physical benefits right now (although I wouldn't say anabolic benefits ) because that is just humane nature. All guys want to be big and strong (especially if you train for it, you wanna see results) but ultimately if he goes on a good TRT he is going to feel the benefits too.

He can prolly add another 500 cal like you said but thats not going to change his Low T nor get him out of this crappy issue with the gel. At that low T his body prob can't make anymore muscle. He may just add fat to his stomach . I think being on gel and still having T of a 70 yr old is the first issue to take care of.

Yes!!!!! Any weight I've put on has gone straight to my GUT! I'm lean all around and pretty ripped, especially in upper body. But my stomach is flab. I can feel the abs under it, but the thick layer of fat is embarrassing and does not look proportional with the rest of my body.

 

[Reignman003]

I did blood work last week and it was sent to my dr. Tomorrow night, I have an appointment with him to discuss my TT #. I will then introduce my displeasure/satisfaction with using Testim 1%. I am going to demand I get on Test injects. What do you think is a decent starting dose? 200mg/week? I gotta a feeling this guy is going to say like 50mg a week. You guys think Test-E? Test-C? Any info you have would be appreciated! I'm gathering research so I am organized for tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[Mprtz]

Try to agree on the treatment goals... getting you in the upper range and feeling good.
200mg will likely put you a bit high, 50mg probably low.
You have to gauge how receptive he is to suggestions. You can always ask for 200mg starting, but if he wants less than 100mg starting it will be an uphill battle.

Test E vs. Test C doesn't really make any difference, don't waste any capital asking for one or the other - let him choose. Probably it will be Test C.

As others have said, rather than demanding, check out the side-effects and cautions of the gel and make sure they apply to you: I.E. you are worried about transfer to others, it's irritating your skin, etc.

 

[Alpin]

Try to agree on the treatment goals... getting you in the upper range and feeling good.
200mg will likely put you a bit high, 50mg probably low.
You have to gauge how receptive he is to suggestions. You can always ask for 200mg starting, but if he wants less than 100mg starting it will be an uphill battle.

Test E vs. Test C doesn't really make any difference, don't waste any capital asking for one or the other - let him choose. Probably it will be Test C.

As others have said, rather than demanding, check out the side-effects and cautions of the gel and make sure they apply to you: I.E. you are worried about transfer to others, it's irritating your skin, etc.

200 mg/week starting ?
Come on bro!
lol
no doc will start their patient at 200....

 

[STAUNCHED427]

200 mg/week starting ?
Come on bro!
lol
no doc will start their patient at 200....

You sure about that Apollon

 

[Mprtz]

200 mg/week starting ?
Come on bro!
lol
no doc will start their patient at 200....

Mine did, I have seen many others post the same.

 

[Alpin]

You guys are lucky....
My peak levels on 160 mg/week were 1100 and the endo said he would never go over this....
lol

 

[Reignman003]

200 mg/week starting ?
Come on bro!
lol
no doc will start their patient at 200....

Apollon - Please advise of what you believe might be a decent starting point. Thanks in advance.

 

[Farney]

Umi have been in trt for 15 months now. Every two weeks I get 250mgs of testosterone
In my urology department. I also see a dietician almost once a month. She has me on a 2000
Calorie high protein diet. I am a paraplegic for 15 months now and my test levels were just checked
Thru blood work acouple weeks ago and I was right over 800. So I plan to up my protein levels
And run 12 weeks of test prop eod 100mgs. All I can work on is upper body for the reason
From the bottom of my ribs down I have no feeling. Totally dead, but still there! I am reading allot
And learning allot. Already placed order so rock it man and good luck

 

[Reignman003]

Guys, I got him to get my on test cypionate. The dr had no idea about prescribing test injectables. So he grabbed his pharmacist. Both concluded to start me with 50mg injection every 2 weeks. Isn't that rather low I asked? The pharmacist said this is stronger than the gel and will last me 2 weeks. I have to have a nurse do it. My TT after 11 months on Test 1% gel ended at 421. He thought it was "fine" for a very active 29 year old who eats healthy and works out 4-5 days a week. So 11 months of gel got me from 193 to 421. At first he recommended a double dose of gel. I said absolutely not. That would be $380 a month.

Should I be concerned with 50mg bi-weekly? I'm not satisfied. Blah.

 

[STAUNCHED427]

50mg every 2 weeks? What the fuck is that? 50mg twice a week at the least is what you should be on.

Should you be concerned? Hell yeah, I'd either demand your doctor to wise up and prescribe 50mg twice weekly (total 100mg per week) or get the hell out of there and find a new doc.

 

[Reignman003]

I'm thinking about self injecting myself. I got 10 vials. Then I can look for a new doc when I near to my 7th or 8th vial. I can do 50-100mg a week myself. Thoughts?

 

[Reignman003]

I'm not confident with my doc's knowledge on the subject that controls my life.

 

[STAUNCHED427]

Yeah learn to pin it yourself, it's really not hard or painful at all and eventually you are going to have to start doing it yourself. Plus it is 100x more convenient than having to go to the doc to get it done. You say you have 10 vials? I'm going to assume you meant 10 amps of 50mg/ml test? What exactly do you have and what are they dosed at?

No do not wait until you are low on supplies, get looking for a new doc NOW. That would be foolish to wait until your nearly out as you may be looking for a while (fingers crossed you don't have to though).

I'm not confident with my doc's knowledge on the subject that controls my life.

I wouldn't be either.

 

[Reignman003]

Yeah learn to pin it yourself, it's really not hard or painful at all and eventually you are going to have to start doing it yourself. Plus it is 100x more convenient than having to go to the doc to get it done. You say you have 10 vials? I'm going to assume you meant 10 amps of 50mg/ml test? What exactly do you have and what are they dosed at?

No do not wait until you are low on supplies, get looking for a new doc NOW. That would be foolish to wait until your nearly out as you may be looking for a while (fingers crossed you don't have to though).



I wouldn't be either.

Thanks! I'll know in an hour. The pharmacy is out of 100mg/1mL so my doc called in 200mg/1mL. I'll let you know exactly what I got.

 

[Reignman003]

I got one vial of Watson 10mL. 200mg per mL. So I'm expected to take 1/4 mL every 2 weeks? What a joke!

The pharmacist said with my dosage it will last 80 weeks. Lol.

 

[STAUNCHED427]

Ok if it is ampoules/preloaded syringes you could probably get ahold of a sterile vial and transfer it all into that (here in Aus I get Primoteston which is 250mg/ml preloaded syringes which I transfer to a sterile vial). Let us know what you get though anyway. Don't start anything yet.

EDIT: Just saw that last post come through, so you got yourself a vial. of 200mg/ml Test Cypionate (Watson is Cyp from memory) which is interchangeable with enanthate anyway. At 100mg a week that should get you through 20 weeks worth, plenty of time to go find yourself a new doctor/online TRT clinic. That doesn't mean you should hold off, I would go and find yourself another doctor now and get yourself going on a protocol of 100mg split up twice a week (ie, 50mg Sunday Morning/50mg Wednesday night) and see how you go on that. I would also recommend your get yourself an AI from AR-R just to have on hand, e2 may or may not be an issue at that dose and you won't know for sure where that dose of test puts you until you have bloodwork. I would suggest if you still have not found a doctor by 6 weeks in on 100mg a week, make sure you get blood tests, post them up here and keep us updated each week/day and then adjust from there until you find a new doctor that wants to work with you.

50mg every 2 weeks is a fucking joke, I would let my doctor have it for that if he tried to pull that shit on me.

 

[Mprtz]

I got one vial of Watson 10mL. 200mg per mL. So I'm expected to take 1/4 mL every 2 weeks? What a joke!

The pharmacist said with my dosage it will last 80 weeks. Lol.

I'm really blown away that a pharmacist would say that... It is standard for multi-use vials to carry a 28 day "beyond use date", meaning that they need to need to be discarded after 28 days once the seal has been punctured!

 

[STAUNCHED427]

I'm really blown away that a pharmacist would say that... It is standard for multi-use vials to carry a 28 day "beyond use date", meaning that they need to need to be discarded after 28 days once the seal has been punctured!

Makes you wonder how much doctors/pharmacists are really aware or in the know... But from what I have been told, pharmacists are either not allowed to or not meant to ask questions, rather dispense and instruct how to use as per doctor recommendation. Makes sense because I have had a few eyebrows raised but no questions asked when filling my TRT scripts, Test/Adex (with another pharmacist other than my usual one, he is aware) and the latest filling my Raloxifene script for an attempt gyno treatment (she was a different pharmacist than my usual again, you could tell she had that stunned look on her face and from her point of view it is for Breast Cancer or Menopause and I obviously fit neither of those criteria lol).