First Time Bloodwork- (Never Cycled- Low Test)

[Megatron28]

I would also recommend two things:

Self-inject. Is that what you planning?

Injecting once every two weeks is too infrequent. You are going to be on a big roller coaster if you do that. And you will also more likely have estradiol problems. A better schedule for you would be 100mg/week or 50mg every 3.5 days. This helps many guys keep their testosterone levels more even and can often help reduce estradiol (and thus the need for Aromatase inhibitor (AI) sometimes).

Good luck!

 

[Bodybuilder4Life1]

I would also recommend two things:

Self-inject. Is that what you planning?

Injecting once every two weeks is too infrequent. You are going to be on a big roller coaster if you do that. And you will also more likely have estradiol problems. A better schedule for you would be 100mg/week or 50mg every 3.5 days. This helps many guys keep their testosterone levels more even and can often help reduce estradiol (and thus the need for Aromatase inhibitor (AI) sometimes).

Good luck!

Funny story actually, when I went in last time the doctor said he would eventually teach me how to inject. So I went in today and told the nurse that I wanted to learn (I already did a ton of research about how to inject, just asked as a formality) and she said "I'm not comfortable teaching you how to inject, and the doctor doesn't have any notes down about you self injecting". I knew where that was heading (they get money every time I go in there so of course they want me to come in every two weeks). So I explained to her that I already knew the process and went through every step with her (she was completely dumbfounded- I;m assuming because of my age), injected without flinching and more or less told her I was going to self-inject from now on out. So it ended up working out pretty well I guess.

I'm definitely planning on injecting every week, the doctor said that I could pick my dosage schedule and that I could get up to 800 mg/ml a month so I'll probably try 100/week after this month and see where that takes me. What serum test should I be shooting for at my age? I see many sticking in the 800's long term

 

[Megatron28]

Funny story actually, when I went in last time the doctor said he would eventually teach me how to inject. So I went in today and told the nurse that I wanted to learn (I already did a ton of research about how to inject, just asked as a formality) and she said "I'm not comfortable teaching you how to inject, and the doctor doesn't have any notes down about you self injecting". I knew where that was heading (they get money every time I go in there so of course they want me to come in every two weeks). So I explained to her that I already knew the process and went through every step with her (she was completely dumbfounded- I;m assuming because of my age), injected without flinching and more or less told her I was going to self-inject from now on out. So it ended up working out pretty well I guess.

I'm definitely planning on injecting every week, the doctor said that I could pick my dosage schedule and that I could get up to 800 mg/ml a month so I'll probably try 100/week after this month and see where that takes me. What serum test should I be shooting for at my age? I see many sticking in the 800's long term

It would be cheaper and more convenient for you to get a prescription for a 10ml vial of test cyp that you can fill at the local pharmacy. Demand that too. Going to their office all the time to get your meds dispensed is retarded.

800 is a good level. Play around with the dose a bit an see how you feel at different doses. Just keep things withing the normal range. Maybe lower than 800 feels better if you can avoid the need for an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). Maybe you feel better at the top of the normal range. I take 200mg/week and .50mg of arimidex/week (split into two injections every 3.5 days) and that puts me just around 1080 for TT which is almost at the top of Labcorp's normal range. I have tried all sorts of different levels and that is the one that feels good for me.

 

[Bodybuilder4Life1]

It would be cheaper and more convenient for you to get a prescription for a 10ml vial of test cyp that you can fill at the local pharmacy. Demand that too. Going to their office all the time to get your meds dispensed is retarded.

800 is a good level. Play around with the dose a bit an see how you feel at different doses. Just keep things withing the normal range. Maybe lower than 800 feels better if you can avoid the need for an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). Maybe you feel better at the top of the normal range. I take 200mg/week and .50mg of arimidex/week (split into two injections every 3.5 days) and that puts me just around 1080 for TT which is almost at the top of Labcorp's normal range. I have tried all sorts of different levels and that is the one that feels good for me.

I'll definitely do that, will save me a lot of time and hassle. Also did you have to do anything special for your insurance to cover arimidex since its normally prescribed to breast cancer patients etc?

 

[Megatron28]

I'll definitely do that, will save me a lot of time and hassle. Also did you have to do anything special for your insurance to cover arimidex since its normally prescribed to breast cancer patients etc?

I personally did not have to do anything special. My doc wrote a script and insurance covered it. I don't know if he had to do anything special on his end. He did (surprisingly) tell me that it was the first time he wrote an arimidex script for a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) patient. He put me on .50mg EOD. Let's just say that crashed my E pretty quick and left me in a world of hurt.

And my pharmacy gave it a double take when I handed it over to them. They asked me if I was sure I wanted arimidex. They actually were quite interested in it and wanted to chat with me for a bit to understand why I was taking it for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Goes to show you how behind the medical community can be in regard to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocols.

 

[Bodybuilder4Life1]

So I've done 2 200mg/ml injections and it has been 3 weeks since my first injection. I haven't noticed much difference, but have experienced bloating/weight gain/and puffy nipples. I told the doctor about my symptoms and that I suspect my estradiol is high, but he said he wasn't comfortable prescribing anything other than test. So I asked him to refer me to an endocrinologist, and the earliest I can get in is mid October. Not sure what I should do at the present time, but I'm strongly considering self-medicating an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) at this point to avoid gyno/other complications. Also the doctor isn't planning on getting blood work until the 7th week now for some reason, so I'm probably going to get a panel done myself to see exactly where E2/TT is at

 

[Megatron28]

Splitting your dose and injecting every 3.5 days would help. Just do the math so you take the same amount of test in a 7 day period that your are currently taking.

If that doesn't work you could reduce the amount of test you take.

Without an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), those are your best options.

 

[Bodybuilder4Life1]

Splitting your dose and injecting every 3.5 days would help. Just do the math so you take the same amount of test in a 7 day period that your are currently taking.

If that doesn't work you could reduce the amount of test you take.

Without an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), those are your best options.

The only problem is that my doctor is still wanting me to come in to inject myself (he said until he gets his blood panel done, to ensure I'm doing it), and I brought him research regarding the half-life of test cypionate and the rollercoaster you go through but he's stuck on "the FDA has approved a shot every two weeks..." So for at least the next month I'm stuck doing every 2 weeks. I've been looking hard for a new doctor, but haven't been able to find one I can get into without waiting a few months, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I do plan to get a panel taken either tomorrow or Friday, to see exactly where I'm at. I also ordered 30ml of anastrozole from Purity to test a few of my lab rats.

 

[Bodybuilder4Life1]

Got my results back:
TT: 797
LH: .1
FSH: .4
E2: 37

This was basically a trough reading (4 days until my next injection). Test is good I think for a near trough reading? LH and FSH make sense. E2 wasn't as high as I thought it was going to be, but I still think something should be done to lower it. Any thoughts?

 

[Megatron28]

Got my results back:
TT: 797
LH: .1
FSH: .4
E2: 37

This was basically a trough reading (4 days until my next injection). Test is good I think for a near trough reading? LH and FSH make sense. E2 wasn't as high as I thought it was going to be, but I still think something should be done to lower it. Any thoughts?

E2 at 37 looks fine. Was that the regular or sensitive E2 assay? This is a long thread, but am I recalling correctly that you are not experiencing any symptoms of high E2 right now?

If I were you I would get blood work done two or three days after your injection to see what your E2 looks like near the peak. That might be a different story.

Oh, and the 797 TT at the trough is a good place to be. Your peak might be above the normal range though.

 

[Bodybuilder4Life1]

-Regular I believe, and I am definitely experiencing symptoms of high e2 (really really puffy nipples, randomly crying etc.) but I noticed the symptoms get better as I get farther away from the injection date.
-Will try to get a blood test after my next injection

 

[DrHouse]

I am no doctor, nor am I claiming to be all knowing.

However I would like to make a couple of comments:

1) I think testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at 20 is ridiculous and I think you should research other alternatives to help your levels produce normally. An example is long term treatment with Clomiphene Citrate. It has been found to be very successful in young men with low T.
2) Starting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at 20, I think, will just cause even lower levels in the future and that's cool if you want to inject for life. Think about in 5, 10, 50 years from now what you may or may not want to do.
3) testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is meant to maintain normal levels so I suspect that if you're experiencing negative symptoms the dosing isn't right for you.
4) Total T is far less important the Free T. Total could be through the roof but if it's getting bound by something or whatever is going on then its useless.

I am 22 and I will be seeing an Endo Tuesday to discuss my Low T issues. Similarly, I experience some symptoms of low T and I just pretty much want to get to the bottom of it. Yes, I may use anabolics in the future, but at 22 there is no way I am at my genetic potential and I have a feeling neither are you. No offense.

Also, unless you're getting your levels checked in the AM (within a few hours of waking) you're getting an inaccurate reading of your peak level. Your level will be highest in the morning and gradually declines throughout the day. Also, I've been told that working out will decrease your level as well so if you're taking the tests post workout, that could be another factor.

If you want, I will keep you posted on my experience with the Endo.

I hope I didn't come off as rude. I do not mean that at all. I simply just wanted to share my thoughts and research with you! Feel free to send me a PM if you want to ask me how it went or anything!