This is my first post after reading through the forums for the past few months and I thought I'd give my story.
I'm 31, 5'11 and 185lbs. I sit at about 17-19% body fat right now. Most of my life I was heavy set and weighed as much as 215lbs at 24. One day after seeing a fat picture of me I decided to make a change. Over the course of the next year I dropped down to 160lbs, but I was still "fat" looking. I would hold weight around here for the next few years fulxuating around 10lbs. Then I finally decided to start weight training at 27 and put on 10lbs of muscle in the first year. I was training 3-4 days a week consistently, but the subsequent years gains became more difficult and then non-existant.
Now, I hold no illusion that my diet was great. I'm a foodie and eating good food is a big part of my life (and enjoying the occasional cocktail), but it got to the point that all I could do was maintain my weight and just barely. Around the age of 30 I started doing research and stumbled on the concept of having Low T. It was something I never knew could be an issue and the more research I did the more I realized it was something that I should get checked. Still, even armed with the knowledge that I was experiencing may of the symptoms of Low T it took me a year to break down and have myself checked out. I don't know that it was embarassment, but it just felt like TRT/HRT could be a hoax. I guess I'm naturally sceptical.
Shortly before my 31st birthday I went to my General Practicioner and tried to get him to check me out and see what is wrong, he was disinterested in having me tested and blew me off. Unfortunately, it seems most insurance doctors (I hate to generalize) are pretty clueless about TRT/HRT and the effects on quality of life. This lead me to doing some more research to find a clinic. I'm located in Southern California and decided to try Ageless Men's Health. They accepted my insurance (I'm out of network because I chose a tier just slightly to low to get covered as in network, oops) and run about ~$250 a month (if you care). My first visit they interviewed me, took some blood work from me and told me they'd get back to me the next day. And true to their word, they got back to me the next day.
My testosterone was 349. I am sorry I do not have the rest of my results, but I don't have access to them currently. The next week I started treatment.
They started me off at 150mg of Testosterone Cypionate once a week for the first four weeks. Over the next four weeks I started to feel better, less tired, sharper mentally, better endurance in the gym (and bed) and just in a better mood in general. Unfortunately I also started breaking out from this dose on my face, chest and shoulders. After the fourth week I got my retest done. They tested me on what they said was my lowest day just before my next weekly shot. My results came back and I was at 967. They said this was a little high as they wanted to keep me in the 800 range. And my Estrogen levels were a bit high, so they started me on a quarter tab twice a week and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) shot twice a week. I do not have the number for this currently, but will be happy to post when I get access to the information at home. They decided to drop my does to 140mg once a week and we did this for two weeks, but I still was breaking out pretty bad.
After doing some research it seemed that the best course of action was to get a shot twice a week. After speaking with the clinic they said they do offer this (no extra charge, thankfully) and I started doing a split dose of 60mg twice a week. This became my protocol for the three months. The unfortunate part is that I have to drive into their office twice a week, but it is close by for me. My breakouts cleared up and after another six weeks they checked my levels again. My testosterone was sitting at 1007. They told me everything else was inline, but again I do not have access to those numbers right now. They said that they could drop me lower if I wanted or if I am feeling OK and comfortable they would let me stay at this level. I decided to no go any lower. They do not allow you to take shots home. This will cause a problem for me later.
Unfortunately I have now been off the shots for the last month because of a vacation and they would not perscribe shots to take with me. I'll be starting back up next week, but I'm looking forward to getting back on treatment. I've noticed, now in my third week off, some of the mental fog returning, issues with endurance and being not quite as happy.
-----
Physically I've made some very nice gains while I was on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). My endurance in the gym is way up and I enjoy being at the gym more. I am going 4-5 times a week, making 5 my weekly goal. I've put on some noticable size and strength. I regeret not taking initial measurements, but I will be doing this when I start back up in a week. I've lost 2 inches from my waist.
I'm now starting to get interested in improving my diet and regimenting my workout more. Once I start back next week I'll get some initial measurements and calculate my BF%.
I didn't find a lot of stories when I was searching and I hope this helps people who are interested in HRT/TRT and what it can do for them. testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) isn't a miricale solution, but it also isn't snake oil. You get out of it what you put into it.
I'm 31, 5'11 and 185lbs. I sit at about 17-19% body fat right now. Most of my life I was heavy set and weighed as much as 215lbs at 24. One day after seeing a fat picture of me I decided to make a change. Over the course of the next year I dropped down to 160lbs, but I was still "fat" looking. I would hold weight around here for the next few years fulxuating around 10lbs. Then I finally decided to start weight training at 27 and put on 10lbs of muscle in the first year. I was training 3-4 days a week consistently, but the subsequent years gains became more difficult and then non-existant.
Now, I hold no illusion that my diet was great. I'm a foodie and eating good food is a big part of my life (and enjoying the occasional cocktail), but it got to the point that all I could do was maintain my weight and just barely. Around the age of 30 I started doing research and stumbled on the concept of having Low T. It was something I never knew could be an issue and the more research I did the more I realized it was something that I should get checked. Still, even armed with the knowledge that I was experiencing may of the symptoms of Low T it took me a year to break down and have myself checked out. I don't know that it was embarassment, but it just felt like TRT/HRT could be a hoax. I guess I'm naturally sceptical.
Shortly before my 31st birthday I went to my General Practicioner and tried to get him to check me out and see what is wrong, he was disinterested in having me tested and blew me off. Unfortunately, it seems most insurance doctors (I hate to generalize) are pretty clueless about TRT/HRT and the effects on quality of life. This lead me to doing some more research to find a clinic. I'm located in Southern California and decided to try Ageless Men's Health. They accepted my insurance (I'm out of network because I chose a tier just slightly to low to get covered as in network, oops) and run about ~$250 a month (if you care). My first visit they interviewed me, took some blood work from me and told me they'd get back to me the next day. And true to their word, they got back to me the next day.
My testosterone was 349. I am sorry I do not have the rest of my results, but I don't have access to them currently. The next week I started treatment.
They started me off at 150mg of Testosterone Cypionate once a week for the first four weeks. Over the next four weeks I started to feel better, less tired, sharper mentally, better endurance in the gym (and bed) and just in a better mood in general. Unfortunately I also started breaking out from this dose on my face, chest and shoulders. After the fourth week I got my retest done. They tested me on what they said was my lowest day just before my next weekly shot. My results came back and I was at 967. They said this was a little high as they wanted to keep me in the 800 range. And my Estrogen levels were a bit high, so they started me on a quarter tab twice a week and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) shot twice a week. I do not have the number for this currently, but will be happy to post when I get access to the information at home. They decided to drop my does to 140mg once a week and we did this for two weeks, but I still was breaking out pretty bad.
After doing some research it seemed that the best course of action was to get a shot twice a week. After speaking with the clinic they said they do offer this (no extra charge, thankfully) and I started doing a split dose of 60mg twice a week. This became my protocol for the three months. The unfortunate part is that I have to drive into their office twice a week, but it is close by for me. My breakouts cleared up and after another six weeks they checked my levels again. My testosterone was sitting at 1007. They told me everything else was inline, but again I do not have access to those numbers right now. They said that they could drop me lower if I wanted or if I am feeling OK and comfortable they would let me stay at this level. I decided to no go any lower. They do not allow you to take shots home. This will cause a problem for me later.
Unfortunately I have now been off the shots for the last month because of a vacation and they would not perscribe shots to take with me. I'll be starting back up next week, but I'm looking forward to getting back on treatment. I've noticed, now in my third week off, some of the mental fog returning, issues with endurance and being not quite as happy.
-----
Physically I've made some very nice gains while I was on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). My endurance in the gym is way up and I enjoy being at the gym more. I am going 4-5 times a week, making 5 my weekly goal. I've put on some noticable size and strength. I regeret not taking initial measurements, but I will be doing this when I start back up in a week. I've lost 2 inches from my waist.
I'm now starting to get interested in improving my diet and regimenting my workout more. Once I start back next week I'll get some initial measurements and calculate my BF%.
I didn't find a lot of stories when I was searching and I hope this helps people who are interested in HRT/TRT and what it can do for them. testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) isn't a miricale solution, but it also isn't snake oil. You get out of it what you put into it.
