Is trt for me? Help me please!

Hey guys, this forum is very informative. I've been lurking for a few weeks and now I'm in search of answers. I think I've read every study that pertains to my situation, so advice or personal experience is welcomed. Here goes nothing:

-age - 30
-height - 6'0"
-waist 40-42 jeans
-weight - 285-290 lbs

-describe body and facial hair - I almost always wear a respectable full beard. No problems there. Moderately hairy chest/belly. Patchy on shoulders and back.

I carry a lot of my fat around my midsection and chest. Legs are muscular, arms don't have tons of fat.

-health conditions, symptoms - I take humira for psoriasis. Symptoms: fatigue, depression, terrible social anxiety, low self confidence, inability to lose body fat, poor sleep, loss of libido and mood swings.

-lab results with ranges - limited at this point, but total test was 474 on 6/1/2013 and last week it was 277( 250-1100) I should have my full report in the next few days.

-describe diet - in June, I was eating about 50% crap and not counting calories. I weighed 315lbs and did crossfit sporadically. Since, over the summer, I continued to eat whatever I wanted, but stuck with a calorie deficit. Total daily intake was 2400-2600. In September, I dropped down to 2200-2400 daily and it became much cleaner. Chicken, rice, water, green vegetables mostly.
It's been the same since with the occasional cheat meal or weekend binge.

-describe training - at the time of my June labs, it was sporadic crossfit. Over the summer I made a point to sweat everyday and in September I started strength training 3-5 days per week

-testes ache, ever, with a fever? No

-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed - morning erections only when I wake up needing to urinate. Been this way since my symptoms began.

So I've been really focused on body recomp and since June, I've only lost 25-30 lbs. I don't find this acceptable considering my starting size. My body fat has stayed the same too. (35%) I've read a lot about insulin sensitivity and I think this could be a problem for me. I have never given this much effort for this little result before. I just turned 30 and I feel like a switch was flipped off. I hurt all the time, my bones pop when I walk, I don't recover from lifting etc.

For the past few years my wife has complained of my snoring. It has decreased since the lifestyle change, but I'm still a bit concerned about sleep apnea. Last week, I was approved for TRT, but I decided to get a sleep study first to see if I have apnea and if so, if treating it will get me back to normal.

Does anyone have experience with that? Can treating it raise testosterone several hundred points? I would hate to start a life of injections if I can avoid it, but since I was diagnosed I feel like it's been harder to fight through the symptoms and need some answers quickly!
 
Treating sleep apnea can absolutely improve your testosterone levels. You make most of your T while you are sleeping. Guess what happens if you wake up hundreds of times a night.

I can't advise you on whether or not TRT is for you without seeing full lab results. There are too many things that can cause your symptoms.

What time of the day did you have your blood tests done?
 
I know it will improve test levels, but I'm curious if it will drastically improve. Both of my labs were done around 10am. Thanks for your input! I'll post my full report when I get it.
 
Yes, it could drastically increase your TT if it is the cause. Definitely worth trying before hopping on TRT.

You should always get your Natty T checked out first thing in the morning. Try to get in there by 8:00 am. This too can make a big difference.
 
Listen to Mega....
he has all the answers to many problems.
He's knows as the TRT specialist on S'ology.
 
How much could be the increase / decrease in total T between a morning reading and an evening one in general?
 
Anecdotally, I have heard a few hundred points. There are probably some charts out there with this info.



Thnx buddy..
My last reading was 460 and bloods were done at 4 pm so I was wondering.
Will do a morning blood test in two weeks and will post in here the variation ..
Might be interesting
 
Anyone with more info on this sleep apnea testing? Links? Has anyone on here been diagnosed with Low T and fixed there sleeping problems and returned to normal?

How do they go about fixing sleep apnea? Sleeping pills?
 
The sleep apnea treatment is a cpap machine. It blows constant air pressure into your nose/mouth while you sleep. I believe sleeping pills would exacerbate apnea.

You may or may not need to visit your pcp for a referral to a sleep study center. My doctor was ready to start TRT, but I asked if I could look into sleep apnea first, just in case.
 
I just read into...I highly doubt I have sleep apnea. My problem is getting to sleep (mind racing). But I will still look into it. Thank you.
 
Melatonin helps you get to sleep. I have the same problem. Take about 1-2mg sublingually about 1-3 hours before you want to go to sleep. This helps shift your bedtime forward.

I can't always take it that farnin advance so if I want to fall asleep quickly I take 5mg sublingually.

You can get it on Amazon or at the local drug store.
 
Yes, it could drastically increase your TT if it is the cause. Definitely worth trying before hopping on TRT.

You should always get your Natty T checked out first thing in the morning. Try to get in there by 8:00 am. This too can make a big difference.

Didn't do F all for me. Ran HCG at a decent dose and could only restart to 500 ng/dl..
CPAP and all.
 
you need to do something to your BMI in a healthy range. Many doctors recommend TRT to those that test low even if the plan is temporary. There is nothing wrong with a trial period and if things go great attempt to restart and hold healthy natural levels. This has worked for some of our clients.
 
you need to do something to your BMI in a healthy range. Many doctors recommend TRT to those that test low even if the plan is temporary. There is nothing wrong with a trial period and if things go great attempt to restart and hold healthy natural levels. This has worked for some of our clients.

That sounds interesting. I have zero reservations starting if it's temporary. Are there recommended durations?
 
you need to do something to your BMI in a healthy range. Many doctors recommend TRT to those that test low even if the plan is temporary. There is nothing wrong with a trial period and if things go great attempt to restart and hold healthy natural levels. This has worked for some of our clients.

When I stopped TRT, my body composition kept changing as the months went by. Never ate fast food, or junk food...
Just home cooked meals mostly and I noticed I was always very hungry. Fat mass piled on and I reached a weight I never thought I would in my life. Finally brought it to a halt and said enough is enough. Started working out hard from last summer and dieting more...some weight loss was achieved...
But living with hypogonadal....I was barely recovering from strenuous exercise...
The fatigue one feels with Low T is enough to slow down a lot of weight loss to change BMI.
Ultimately Low T causes an increase in BMI (fat mass)...

Once I went on the HCG....my body started tightening up and appetite was under control.
 
Bench Press.....

I would get on that CPAP machine pronto. That and Low T will put you in the grave faster than anything.
You can die in your sleep if you have OSA.
 
I'm scheduling a sleep study, but I'm not convinced I even have sleep apnea. I just want to do my due diligence before starting TRT. Trying to rule out anything that low T could be a symptom of. I honestly don't know which would be preferred: having OSA and treating it and raising t levels or not having OSA and starting trt. I just want some answers!
 
yes if your going to to stop TRT you have to do a proper restart or you will wind up back where you started. Obviously there is no guarantee you will bounce back but the odds are def in your favor, especially after reducing your body fat.
 
you need to do something to your BMI in a healthy range. Many doctors recommend TRT to those that test low even if the plan is temporary. There is nothing wrong with a trial period and if things go great attempt to restart and hold healthy natural levels. This has worked for some of our clients.

yes if your going to to stop TRT you have to do a proper restart or you will wind up back where you started. Obviously there is no guarantee you will bounce back but the odds are def in your favor, especially after reducing your body fat.

Agree 100%

Having a high BMI creates an evil circle. It will increase your fat storage, increase estrogen levels which will then lower your testosterone.

So once you have a higher BMI and lower T levels, you are even less likely to start exercising because you are suffering low t symptoms(lack of energy, focus).

Keep in mind that heart disease is the number one killer in America which almost directly translates to being overweight. If you would consider the physical fitness from people on TRT to those not on TRT with low t, the people on TRT will have a lot slimmer waist line and better chance of avoiding premature death.

Preventative care is overlooked so often and it is something I feel strongly about because so many people are maimed by stroke, die early from heart attacks et cetera.

If you could find a cure for cancer that would be great! However, cancer is something that is diagnosed rather than risk assessed and although hereditary for the arguments sake you cannot tell by looking at a person if they will get cancer. But!!! Heart disease, you can!

Get in shape by eating healthier first and foremost! This will help your cholesterol and keep you from in taking as many calories. You can consume calories faster than you burn them so keep meal sizes small. Exercising is really important as well and doesn't have to be too extreme! Wake up early so you can go for a 30 min jog or some other activity! And it does sound like you have made great gains(losses)! 35 lbs is a lot. As long as you are heading in the right direction you will end up at your destination sooner or later. If it took x years to accumulate all the weight, don't expect to lose it in only 1-2 months!

Benchpress I am sorry if I got a little off topic or wrote you a book but I do believe that if your T levels are low and you have low T symptoms. Start TRT! While on TRT do the life-style changes you need to get your natural T levels back.

IMT has had a lot of clients here on 'ology and you would be hard pressed to find threads "Started TRT worst decision ever" rather you will find success stories and how people have benefited from TRT and also how their restart protocols have worked from us. In your case, I would strongly suggest using the tools available to you so that you can lose some weight and regain your energy levels/rid of the low t symptoms.


Megatron- I like Melatonin as well, it works very well. It won't knock you out if you aren't tired but if you are kinda tired it will help you fall asleep faster and you wake up refreshed. Beware of vivid dreams in the beginning however! Melatonin is used by anti-aging clinics as well!
 
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