1st testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) shot today..help appreciated!

[Good.2.Go]

1st TRT shot today..help appreciated!

First I want to say that this site offers wonderful information that helps newb's like myself. Thanks to all for your discussions...keep it up.

Approximately 3 years ago I started noticing most all of the symptoms of low T...loss of muscle mass, midsection became flabby, loss of concentration & etc.
But the thought of low T never crossed my mind. I mentioned the symptoms to my GP & he would just offer general advise. Jan. of this year I went to a Doc in the box...the ones that will take a chest x-ray for a splinter in the finger. I assured them something was wrong and requested them to run every test possible. Bingo...Low T. Was referred to a Uro....same result. Was referred to Endo...same result. I'm 38 the results showed my T was 210 & free was 3.4. He started me on cyp. 200mg every 2 weeks. I do work out & always have but only to keep my mid-section down & to stay healthy. Now that I know that I will be on T for the duration of my life per doctor. I'm trying to learn all I can & would like to use it to my advantage. Thank GOD for this website & the members. I strongly feel that my Doc is going to be a minimalist...Ugh. I mean, I want to do & perform everything safely & will be receiving regular check ups. Therefore why not make my T the ultimate it could be safely? Base on the information provided, will this be enough? Is there anything that I should ask for or about? Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.

 

[30yostarter]

Are you simply wondering if 200mg every 2 weeks is average for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)? Yes, that is normal. Is it a muscle building amount? no, it is enough to bring your T levels back up to 'normal'. A muscle building cycle is typically minimum 400mg per week. Test is safe, when used properly, so if you are looking to stay safe, but make it "ultimate", you could run a test only cycle at 400mg per week for a few months, then go back to cruising on your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dose.

 

[Good.2.Go]

Are you simply wondering if 200mg every 2 weeks is average for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)? Yes, that is normal. Is it a muscle building amount? no, it is enough to bring your T levels back up to 'normal'. A muscle building cycle is typically minimum 400mg per week. Test is safe, when used properly, so if you are looking to stay safe, but make it "ultimate", you could run a test only cycle at 400mg per week for a few months, then go back to cruising on your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dose.

Thanks. What expectations of T or free T can I expect from my current dosage? Or does it depend on each individual? In 90 days I will go back to Endo for bloodwork. Just wondering whether to expect my T levels in the 400's, 600's or ??? I guess the odds of Doc prescribing 400mg per week is ZERO? Again my hopes are to convince the Doc to raise my T as high and safely as possible & not saying your new level is 300-400 & calling it good.

 

[Mprtz]

I recently started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at 200mg per week. 8 weeks in I can say that this is definitely enough for me to change my body composition... probably have more muscle now than any time in my life and that is 2 months from a low point in terms of low strength and fat around the middle. For me the effects are pretty dramatic. Wanting to make the most of it, I cleaned up my diet - fairly low carbs, high protein, multivitamin, fish oil, creatine, etc. All but eliminated alcohol, especially beer. I'm almost 50.
Will your MD let you self inject? Are you getting anything besides T, like HCG or an estrogen blocker? 200mg a week put me at high 800s at the end of the week and a little high on the estrogen. I hope I will able to stabilize and keep my dosage.

 

[30yostarter]

Thanks. What expectations of T or free T can I expect from my current dosage? Or does it depend on each individual? In 90 days I will go back to Endo for bloodwork. Just wondering whether to expect my T levels in the 400's, 600's or ??? I guess the odds of Doc prescribing 400mg per week is ZERO? Again my hopes are to convince the Doc to raise my T as high and safely as possible & not saying your new level is 300-400 & calling it good.

I dunno bro, everyone is different, likely your doc will adjust how much you're taking depending on what your levels show at your next checkup. And no, I don't anticipate he'd give you 400 per week! I guess it depends on what your goals are, as you could always track down your own test to supplement what he's giving you.

I recently started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at 200mg per week.

You are doing twice the amount as he is.

 

[R9]

I think it would be a good idea to split that "200mg every two weeks" into two injections per week. Seems like you're flirting with the old roller-coaster effect and maybe even some minor sides for a very small dose that shouldn't have any negatives at all.

I've experimented with 200mg/wk down to 100mg/week and now I'm settled at about 130-140 for my "minimal effective" dose -but everyone's different. Seems like it takes about a month or five weeks on a particlular dose to really get a feel for how it effects you.

I was lucky my doctor started me high so I really got a feel for what I'm looking for then I could experiment to find the minimum amount that does the trick.

Good luck!

 

[Sedg1]

As with most medical agents, everyone processes them differently. The way your body metabolizes testosterone, your weight, your age and other individual factors will impact what you get out of your dose. Like you, my doc started me off at 200mg @14 days. I felt great for several days but crashed before the next dose. Let me put it this way, I would count down the days until my next injection. That seems to me as the definition of hormonal instability and too low a dose or sequence.
My doc was pretty responsive. He would not put me at 200mg @7 days. But for the past two months or so I have been on 200mg @10 days. This seems to be a good balance of physiologic benefit without the undesirable side effects - man boobs, etc. Actually, my doc seemed rather surprised at my levels at 10 days - 750 total/155 free. He was pretty cool with it. Even though this was beyond what level he was shooting for, because I am doing real well, we did not mess with the dose.
I have been working out for more than 30 years - lifting 3-5 times per week. In the months before I started the cyp I could not build mass to save my life. No strength. No stamina. And bad bone density (an issue that does not get much play here). On the dose I am taking I get great workouts. I have put on mass and lost body fat. I am, by a long shot, the fittest guy in his mid-50's at the gym - but I was before as well.
I have no illusions that I will look like the guys who are cycling, and have utterly no desire to. Just read that forum to see what kind of issues those guys face and how much crap they have to take to counteract the high T doses they are taking. No thanks. I am doing this to get healthy not to turn my body into a hormonal science experiment.
Reminds me of that saying - too much of a good thing is bad for you.
My suggestion is that you go with as little as you can to get the result you want. As with all things in life, find the cost/benefit.
Best of luck.

 

[JJ5012]

Glad you have an opportunity to get your levels back to normal. I cant speak for 200mg a week or every 2 weeks...i'm sure other will chime in on that amount and how to correctly space you shots and milligrams out. As for myself i take 100mg E7D of test cyp. I felt peaks and valleys along the way but at my dose test cyp 100mg E7D... I felt good again around week 8 of my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program.


So.. (Good.2.go).....Since your starting your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program.... the vitals that need to be monitored are PSA/Estradiol/Total Testosterone......For starters (Around week 6 thru week 8). Like others have said in previous threads as far as Total Testosterone is concerned.... Its just a number..... Knowing how you feel at that 6 to 8 week make will be a good indicator along with knowing where you are with labs numbers. From there things can be tweeked aliitle up or alittle down.

Good luck,
JJ5012

 

[Good.2.Go]

I recently started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at 200mg per week. 8 weeks in I can say that this is definitely enough for me to change my body composition... probably have more muscle now than any time in my life and that is 2 months from a low point in terms of low strength and fat around the middle. For me the effects are pretty dramatic. Wanting to make the most of it, I cleaned up my diet - fairly low carbs, high protein, multivitamin, fish oil, creatine, etc. All but eliminated alcohol, especially beer. I'm almost 50.
Will your MD let you self inject? Are you getting anything besides T, like HCG or an estrogen blocker? 200mg a week put me at high 800s at the end of the week and a little high on the estrogen. I hope I will able to stabilize and keep my dosage.

I hope my results help dramatically as well. I have started cleaning my diet up approximately in Jan. when I first found out that I had low T. I seem to be extremely carb sensitive. This site & the information that you & others have provided will give me the strength to improve my diet & knowledge, so thanks! The injection yesterday was administered by the nurse but from here on I must do it myself...not sure about that just yet. He did not prescribe anything else other that vitiamin D2. He said all else looked excellent & normally with low T is usually associated with other low or negative results. I asked him would an estrogen blocker be needed & he said it is normally on needed for people taking really high doses or sensitive to T. Thanks for replying & I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Good.2.Go]

I think it would be a good idea to split that "200mg every two weeks" into two injections per week. Seems like you're flirting with the old roller-coaster effect and maybe even some minor sides for a very small dose that shouldn't have any negatives at all.

I've experimented with 200mg/wk down to 100mg/week and now I'm settled at about 130-140 for my "minimal effective" dose -but everyone's different. Seems like it takes about a month or five weeks on a particlular dose to really get a feel for how it effects you.

I was lucky my doctor started me high so I really got a feel for what I'm looking for then I could experiment to find the minimum amount that does the trick.

Good luck!

"Roller Coaster?" Please explain. From my limited research, I read that whether Ethanate or Cyp will stay in your system for 11-12 days. Are you saying a possible two day low until I inject again?

 

[Good.2.Go]

As with most medical agents, everyone processes them differently. The way your body metabolizes testosterone, your weight, your age and other individual factors will impact what you get out of your dose. Like you, my doc started me off at 200mg @14 days. I felt great for several days but crashed before the next dose. Let me put it this way, I would count down the days until my next injection. That seems to me as the definition of hormonal instability and too low a dose or sequence.
My doc was pretty responsive. He would not put me at 200mg @7 days. But for the past two months or so I have been on 200mg @10 days. This seems to be a good balance of physiologic benefit without the undesirable side effects - man boobs, etc. Actually, my doc seemed rather surprised at my levels at 10 days - 750 total/155 free. He was pretty cool with it. Even though this was beyond what level he was shooting for, because I am doing real well, we did not mess with the dose.
I have been working out for more than 30 years - lifting 3-5 times per week. In the months before I started the cyp I could not build mass to save my life. No strength. No stamina. And bad bone density (an issue that does not get much play here). On the dose I am taking I get great workouts. I have put on mass and lost body fat. I am, by a long shot, the fittest guy in his mid-50's at the gym - but I was before as well.
I have no illusions that I will look like the guys who are cycling, and have utterly no desire to. Just read that forum to see what kind of issues those guys face and how much crap they have to take to counteract the high T doses they are taking. No thanks. I am doing this to get healthy not to turn my body into a hormonal science experiment.
Reminds me of that saying - too much of a good thing is bad for you.
My suggestion is that you go with as little as you can to get the result you want. As with all things in life, find the cost/benefit.
Best of luck.

I agree, "little as possible for great results." I'm just wanting to use T to my advantage & have no interest of expect making a mag. cover. You mentioned low bone density. My Doc stated that my Vitamin D was extremely low & is would cause my body to steal it from my bones & etc... You may want to have yours checked. I can tell you how much he prescribe me if your curious?

 

[Mprtz]

I hope my results help dramatically as well. I have started cleaning my diet up approximately in Jan. when I first found out that I had low T. I seem to be extremely carb sensitive. This site & the information that you & others have provided will give me the strength to improve my diet & knowledge, so thanks! The injection yesterday was administered by the nurse but from here on I must do it myself...not sure about that just yet. He did not prescribe anything else other that vitiamin D2. He said all else looked excellent & normally with low T is usually associated with other low or negative results. I asked him would an estrogen blocker be needed & he said it is normally on needed for people taking really high doses or sensitive to T. Thanks for replying & I wish you the best of luck!

I have always hated needles and injections but found it very easy to adjust to. There is something empowering about overcoming a fear. When I was shown how I did it in the doctors office the first time - just to make sure I could.
I don't think 200mg every 2 weeks is optimal at all... with a half-life of 5 days you will be down to around 15% of peak at the end of 2 weeks, as I understand it. I'm splitting mine up into twice a week starting next week.
I also bought an inexpensive blood pressure wrist monitor and check my BP a few times a week just for peace of mind.

 

[Mprtz]

...
You are doing twice the amount as he is.

Yes I know that. My point was that at least for me 400mg per week is not required for noticeable muscle growth.

 

[Megatron28]

"Roller Coaster?" Please explain. From my limited research, I read that whether Ethanate or Cyp will stay in your system for 11-12 days. Are you saying a possible two day low until I inject again?

Sure, it will still be in your system. Question is how much? Research half lifes of Test Cyp.

 

[Megatron28]

Yes I know that. My point was that at least for me 400mg per week is not required for noticeable muscle growth.

Men all over the world with "normal" test levels pack on muscle. You will be ablr to also.

 

[Good.2.Go]

Glad you have an opportunity to get your levels back to normal. I cant speak for 200mg a week or every 2 weeks...i'm sure other will chime in on that amount and how to correctly space you shots and milligrams out. As for myself i take 100mg E7D of test cyp. I felt peaks and valleys along the way but at my dose test cyp 100mg E7D... I felt good again around week 8 of my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program.


So.. (Good.2.go).....Since your starting your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program.... the vitals that need to be monitored are PSA/Estradiol/Total Testosterone......For starters (Around week 6 thru week 8). Like others have said in previous threads as far as Total Testosterone is concerned.... Its just a number..... Knowing how you feel at that 6 to 8 week make will be a good indicator along with knowing where you are with labs numbers. From there things can be tweeked aliitle up or alittle down.

Good luck,
JJ5012

What is PSA? Also out of 3 different doctors that I seen not one ever mentioned anything about my Est. level. Maybe because it was fine? What is E7D? My bottle just reads Test Cyp. Thanks!

 

[willnorthwest]

use your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol to your advantage. 100-200mg cyp per week will not make you look like Jay Cutler or Ronnie Coleman, however, it will and can put your test levels to the average or above average range. Coupled with a good diet, good supplements, and good rest, you will most definitely look and feel better, probably better than you ever have before. Please know that with any good testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol, your total testosterone score is not the only, nor ultimate gage for overall health and well being. Check your bloodwork often, and keep an eye out for estrogen.

 

[Sedg1]

I agree, "little as possible for great results." I'm just wanting to use T to my advantage & have no interest of expect making a mag. cover. You mentioned low bone density. My Doc stated that my Vitamin D was extremely low & is would cause my body to steal it from my bones & etc... You may want to have yours checked. I can tell you how much he prescribe me if your curious?

I have many bone density tests over the years to measure loss from doing the real evil steroid - prednisone - a powerful anti-inflammatory. It robs the body of the ability to absorb calcium, leading to osteopenia and then osteoporosis and then fragile bones. After just two months on cyp, my blood tests indicated that the building blocks for new bone growth were being stimulated. Great news for me as I am a very active skier and do not need weak bones on the hill.
My vitamin D was way down as well. My doc put me on 50,000 units 1x pw for 8 weeks to get it back. Now I take 3k mg pd. Read about it. Vit D is actually catagorized as a hormone which, among other things, facilitates the absorption of calcium in the bones. It can also boost the natural production of testosterone.
All these amazing things about the body that so few people know - or even care about.
Good luck, bud. You are on the yellow brick road.

 

[JJ5012]

* PSA is a reading that gives you the health of your prostate gland. Which is real important!! Research normal PSA reading...

* Estradiol levels need to be balanced. 30's is a good balanced Estradiol reading. Lower than that or higher than could present problems in the bedroom department.

* E7D means ---> Every 7 Days

 

[Good.2.Go]

* PSA is a reading that gives you the health of your prostate gland. Which is real important!! Research normal PSA reading...

* Estradiol levels need to be balanced. 30's is a good balanced Estradiol reading. Lower than that or higher than could present problems in the bedroom department.

* E7D means ---> Every 7 Days

Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.