Guess I may start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) soon

[SJC]

Guess I may start TRT soon

2 months ago I went to the Dr for the first time since 2001. Wife has been on me about getting blood work done to make sure everything is ok. I started working out again after 5 years and found this forum which has been helpful and got me thinking about how my body actually feels. It funny that I just thought I was getting old and thats what comes along with it meaning labido, being lethargic, irritability an such.

I had them check my Testosterone while I was there and it came back at 259 with a free of 8.6. The Doc said to return in 2 months to check it again because it was low and usually insurance won't cover it unless its below 200(or maybe I misunderstood). I got my results today and now I'm at 240 with a free of 7 LH is 3.9 FSH is 4.5.

I won't be able to see the doc until the 15th to see which way he might won't to go about treatment. I'm 36 with a BF% around 24 last I checked about 6 months ago.

 

[Spunkey71]

Welcome, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for those of us who need it is life changing. When you get your next blood panel done make sure the doctor checks your LH, FSH, Prolactin and Estradiol. Once you get your new test results if you post them here we can help you with evaluating the results as well as make suggestions.


Best of luck to you!

 

[SJC]

welcome, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for those of us who need it is life changing. When you get your next blood panel done make sure the doctor checks your lh, fsh, prolactin and estradiol. Once you get your new test results if you post them here we can help you with evaluating the results as well as make suggestions.


Best of luck to you!

lh 3.9
fsh 4.5

 

[Spunkey71]

lh 3.9
fsh 4.5

I am not the expert, (Megatron, Halwit & Austinite) are far better at reading results than I am but it looks like you are on your way to being secondary hypogonadal.

Have you ever run a cycle in the past? The reason I ask is that if you had you might not have fully recovered and could benefit from a restart. If you have not then has your doctor performed a MRI to rule out any issues with your pituitary gland?

 

[halfwit]

I'd get your prolactin looked at. Definitely looks like a case of secondary. Who cares if insurance won't cover it if you don't feel well. As long as the office visits are covered, you can pick up the testosterone from a pharmacy for under 30 bucks a month (less if you use online coupons) cash price. Small price to pay if you need to go the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) route. It's honestly not your doctor's place to determine if treatment is right based on insurance coverage, that's between you and your health care insurer to be quite frank.

I honestly have a feeling he wants to push a gel on you, which is why he wants to see lower numbers as that is quite expensive; and most docs get a kick-back for prescribing them. You can fight that as well on moral grounds as you're in a relationship and cross-contamination is a very real possibility that he cannot ignore.

My .02c

 

[SJC]

I am not the expert, (Megatron, Halwit & Austinite) are far better at reading results than I am but it looks like you are on your way to being secondary hypogonadal.

Have you ever run a cycle in the past? The reason I ask is that if you had you might not have fully recovered and could benefit from a restart. If you have not then has your doctor performed a MRI to rule out any issues with your pituitary gland?

I have not done a cycle. I was thinking about it ut I have to see how this plays out.

 

[SJC]

I'd get your prolactin looked at. Definitely looks like a case of secondary. Who cares if insurance won't cover it if you don't feel well. As long as the office visits are covered, you can pick up the testosterone from a pharmacy for under 30 bucks a month (less if you use online coupons) cash price. Small price to pay if you need to go the TRT route. It's honestly not your doctor's place to determine if treatment is right based on insurance coverage, that's between you and your health care insurer to be quite frank.

I honestly have a feeling he wants to push a gel on you, which is why he wants to see lower numbers as that is quite expensive; and most docs get a kick-back for prescribing them. You can fight that as well on moral grounds as you're in a relationship and cross-contamination is a very real possibility that he cannot ignore.

My .02c

Yeah I've been on this board for a while now reading and getting all my facts together. I already have an answer if he tries to put me on a gel.

 

[Megatron28]

Yeah I've been on this board for a while now reading and getting all my facts together. I already have an answer if he tries to put me on a gel.

There is no need to wait two months to go back in for labs. Go right away to get the hypogonadism confirmed.

It is starting to sound like you need a new doc. Is he someone you have been seeing for a long time?

 

[SJC]

Megatron... No I haven't seen a Dr since 2001, so he is new to me.

Saw the doc today for my follow up. He came in and burried his face into my paper work and kinda half assed asked how I was feeling. I described to him about my low labido and weak erections. He wasn't moved, didn't even look at me. Then I said I have zero motivation and all I want to do is lay on the couch. I guess I said the magic word and he became real attentive and actually started paying attention too me and what I had to say. We ended up talking for 20 minutes about a lot of things. Doesn't seem to give a crap about my sex life but doesn't want me foggy and lounging on a couch

Ended up with a scrip for Test Cyp. He wants me to do 200 every 2 weeks. I asked if I could do 100 a week to avoid the up and down feelings I may get and he said sure. He diagnosed me with primary hypogonadism and want to see me again in 3 months.

Very excited to get my energy, focus and sex drive back.

 

[Spunkey71]

Megatron... No I haven't seen a Dr since 2001, so he is new to me.

Saw the doc today for my follow up. He came in and burried his face into my paper work and kinda half assed asked how I was feeling. I described to him about my low labido and weak erections. He wasn't moved, didn't even look at me. Then I said I have zero motivation and all I want to do is lay on the couch. I guess I said the magic word and he became real attentive and actually started paying attention too me and what I had to say. We ended up talking for 20 minutes about a lot of things. Doesn't seem to give a crap about my sex life but doesn't want me foggy and lounging on a couch

Ended up with a scrip for Test Cyp. He wants me to do 200 every 2 weeks. I asked if I could do 100 a week to avoid the up and down feelings I may get and he said sure. He diagnosed me with primary hypogonadism and want to see me again in 3 months.

Very excited to get my energy, focus and sex drive back.

Congrats on having a doctor that didn't put you off and actually prescribed you what you need, although I would think 100mg a week is on the low side for a weekly dose. Not only do you want to inject one a week but you should inject twice a week (every 3.5 days) 100mg a week = 50mg every 3.5 days.

I did not see you mention anything about him prescribing you a Aromatase inhibitor (AI), you need to watch your E2 as well as keep an eye out for any estrogen related symptoms. Injecting twice a week will help with keeping the conversion of test to estrogen down on a dose of 100mg a week you may not need an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) but just keep on eye on your E2.

One thing you should also do is get in the habit of donating blood every 60 days, TRT will increase your RBC's over time but if you get in the habit now, then it should never become an issue.


Congrats and good luck, keep us informed as to your progress!

 

[jomamma007]

I'm going to have to disagree just on a few things. First 100mgs is the ideal starting dosage, as this will put MOST men in the upper 1/3 range.
Second I wouldn't donate unless you have blood work confirming your levels are elevated. Most guys on 100mgs per week don't need to ever donate. I haven't. Now when you get to 150-200mgs+, that's when it seems to become an issue.

You should also look into HCG for the boys. As stated keep an eye out for estrogen related sife effects. 3 months is way too long to wait to test. the 6 week mark is perfect and you should at least get your own blood work for 50 bucks from private md labs dot com. The Hormone panel for Females.

 

[Megatron28]

I'm going to have to disagree just on a few things. First 100mgs is the ideal starting dosage, as this will put MOST men in the upper 1/3 range.
Second I wouldn't donate unless you have blood work confirming your levels are elevated. Most guys on 100mgs per week don't need to ever donate. I haven't. Now when you get to 150-200mgs+, that's when it seems to become an issue.

You should also look into HCG for the boys. As stated keep an eye out for estrogen related sife effects. 3 months is way too long to wait to test. the 6 week mark is perfect and you should at least get your own blood work for 50 bucks from private md labs dot com. The Hormone panel for Females.

What's the harm in donating blood whether you need or not because of high hematocrit? You are helping people and probably helping yourself at the same time.

I agree with the 100mg starting point, 6 week checkup and that OP should consider HCG. If he doesn't go on HCG, supplementing Pregnenolone and DHEA is recommended.

 

[SJC]

I agree with the 100mg starting point, 6 week checkup and that OP should consider HCG. If he doesn't go on HCG, supplementing Pregnenolone and DHEA is recommended.

I was reading up on Preg & DHEA in your thred Mega. I came away thinking that those 2 can cause a rise in E2?

Which is better HCG or DHEA & Preg, or does it matter.

 

[Megatron28]

I was reading up on Preg & DHEA in your thred Mega. I came away thinking that those 2 can cause a rise in E2?

Which is better HCG or DHEA & Preg, or does it matter.

I have never used HCG myself, but from what everyone says using HCG is the preferred way to go.

As for estradiol, you just have to continue to run labs as always on TRT and make sure everything is inline.

As for me, I am really curious to see what happens when I add the two of them back in and get labs to see what specific impact they have. I probably won't know for several months though.

 

[Medhead]

Yes, if he prescribed you 200mg to take every 2 weeks, definitely inject 100mg every week. I actually prefer giving myself two injections every 3.5 days to keep blood levels more stable. Injecting 50mg twice per week is a night/day difference compared to injecting 200mg every 14 days.