NEED GUIDANCE!! - Started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with Bad effects - PLEASE ADVISE!

[jckilla]

NEED GUIDANCE!! - Started TRT with Bad effects - PLEASE ADVISE!

AGE - 35
SEX - MALE
TOTAL TEST - 121
TOTAL ESTROGEN - 177
PROGESTRONE - 0.28
TSH - 5.81
T3-2.81
T4-1.0
DHEA-1.95
Okay so April 22nd my Total Test came back at 77. So my primary care dr, not knowing much about testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), prescribed 200 mg of cypionate, every 2 weeks. After the 1st injection my feet and legs swole up really bad, I could barely walk. I immediately stopped the test, ( no more shots since )- My Dr. then decided I needed a full hormone panel & I just got the results back 5 days ago. Total test was 121 ( she did not order a free count, just total ) My Estrogen ( Estradiol ) was 177 - I called and freaked out on the nurse & she said it was under 200 & that it was within the normal range. ( This is the nurse, not the dr, so when I see my Dr on Tuesday, we are going to put a plan together. We spoke after my 1st injection back in April, and she said if my next tests were bad, she was going to treat me with BHRT - As of right now, my bloodwork has been sent to a compounding pharmacy, and I will find out Tuesday what I will be taking, and If it isn't the right thing ( if i get some good info from anyone who can help me here in the forum, I will be switching Drs Immediately to a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) clinic that I already spoke with & they told me the protocol, it's just a little expensive. $250 a month, and once a week I would go in, get a shot of Cypionate, Arimidex 2x a week, and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for an extra $15 a week. I just think that's crazy when I already have the Test Cypionate on hand, as well as some Letro (0.5mg caps)- So my latest tests came back as Total Test 121, Estrogen 177, Progestrone, 0.28, TSH-5.81, T3- 2.81, T4- 1.0. DHEA- 1.05 - I have been put on Synthroid( Levotyroxine o.o25 mg (25 mcg ) daily for hyper thyroidism, and when I see my dr, all i want is for her to agree with me that I need an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) immediately, and to stay on the test cypionate, only lower it to around 100-120 mgs a week, instead of dosing 200 mgs every 2 weeks. I.m not sure what's going to be in the BHRT, but will find out Tuesday, and will definitely update, but if anyone had anything they can add, as far as ideas, or questions to ask the dr, PLEASE HELP! I have had really Low T for a long time now, I broke my back twice, and take heavy doses of opiates for pain, and I know that combined with a completely sedentary lifestyle can kill my hormones, and as far as getting an erection, that's almost impossible without the help of Viagra. I should also mention i have a stage 3 Variococele, but it doesn't bother me, but one of the drs i spoke to on the phone said he wouldn't put me on anything, he's more inclined to believe I have a pituitary tumor, or testicle tumor. i've had the Ultrasound & don't have a tumor, i just want to get back in shape, and get my levels to what they should be, and from what the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) clinic drs I've called have told me is, Testosterone to Estradiol ratio should be 35 to 1. What do you guys think? Also, I probably can get my dr to put me on HGH if it will work better than Cypionate & Arimidex, but ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN!- I spend 18 hours a day in bed, i weigh 209 with 34% body fat, BMI is 39% Water is 44% and bones are 29 lbs ( not really sure about these #'s, its the scale I have that is giving me those #'s - Anyone out there, Please help me, i am so depressed, and just need some practical guidance & I think my dr doesn't know much about treating men, just women with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Thanks & anyone is welcome to PM me if they need more info on my blood tests. Thanks & I hope to hear from some of you. Peace

 

[Megatron28]

Taking 200mg of Test Cyp once every two weeks is a normal starting point. A lot of people here though find that more frequent dosing works better for them. Try starting at 100mg once per week. You should be able to do the injections yourself. Unless you are freaked out by needles you don't need to go into a clinic to have the injections done for you once you learn how.

Your estadiol is very high. You need an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) like arimidex. Normal estradiol levels for a man max out in the 40's I think. When you get your lab results they should also provide reference ranges for what normal is. Take a look there and compare your results to the normal ranges.

I would stay on the test cyp since your total T is very low. I wouldn't worry about not having run Free T. You Total T is so low that Free isn't going to matter, imho. And get an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) prescribed to you and start taking it right away. Unless you are trying to have kids I would stay off the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for now.

Start reading through this forum as much as you can. Read old posts. You will learn a lot.

Finally, I'm not trying to be jerk or anything, but it really sounds like you need to see a shrink for your depression. Getting your T and E into normal ranges will help you start feeling like a normal person again with energy. But it won't cure your depression.

Good luck and hang in there. You will start feeling better soon if you give it a chance.

I'm not a doctor so make sure you consult with yours before starting any treatment.

P.S. That was a really long posting so I easily could have missed reading something. Sorry...

 

[RedLang]

As mega has said, i would definately suggest injections at 5-7 days. The active half life of test cyp is around 7 days. Your starting off on a very standard dose, and should now monitor your blood levels accordingly. It pays to understand what is happening to your body, so read up on the threads and responses here on this forum.

Also noticed your TSH is high (if range is standard 0.4-5.0). Balancing thyroid is also an art that requires time, symtpom evaluation and blood tests. Postong ranges helps forum members give more accurate advice

If you can, it will also help if you go for a walk every day. Depending on what physical condition your in, even if you start by walking out to your mailbox, them 50ms down your street, then round the block. Getting up and getting out in the sun and moving will have a big positivr psychological impact.

Opiates are notorious for causing all of your described symptoms. I suggest you consult your concerns with your doctor by writing them down in an email, or letter and sending to them prior to your consultation. You need to setup a plan of action on how to resolve your issues, mean you need to actively work with your doctors to achieve the best outcome. I would also suggest psychological support from a professional.

Its a hard situation your in, keep your head up, follow a plan and actively play a role in your own health.

 

[SamSong]

Oh God. The entire medical profession should be taken out and shot.

Spend the rest of your weekend reading EVERYTHING you can. I guarantee that if you have at least half a brain that you will know more than the so-called specialists by Monday.

RedLang is dead right - he's going through what you are suffering, almost exactly, and he has researched the shit out of this.

For God's sake KNOW what you are talking about when you see the doc, make it quite apparent to him/her that he/she is there to serve you, not the other way around, and never, ever accept anything they say without referenced proof.

Take control of everything. Do not let them decide when they inject you. A testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) shot takes less than two minutes - but if you go to a doctor for it it'll take an hour of your life and they'll make money out of you.

And keep asking for help. You'll get it.

I'm going to come back with more input when I have more time. There's more here than can be addressed in half an hour.

 

[zgx]

As far as the clinic goes ditch them and call IMT (board sponsor) if you're dead on with going with a clinic.

Also it helps when you post your results with the ranges for that particular lab since 177 could be within range for a lab and very low for another.

 

[David1963]

Hopefully OAK will chime in, but the swelling after the Test shot sounds odd to me. How quickly did the swelling occur? I'm wondering if it's more of a reaction to the injection, and not the testosterone's effects. If your doctor saw you when the swelling was occurring, I'm hoping that the doctor could determine if that's a possibility, but perhaps not. Do you know anything about the Testosterone that you were given, what kind of oil it was compounded with etc. ??

Do read up on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on this forum. I'd suggest ruling out that you had an allergic reaction to the oil, or that there was something wrong with the Testosterone that you were given before you take another 100-200 mg injection of that stuff. (Ask the doctor if that is a possibility, he/she should hopefully be able to answer that question.)

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I have seen some guys get bad edema when there estrogen goes up like that. This usually comes in the form of water retention in the ankles.

You would need to take an aromatase inhibitor with your testosterone to keep this from happening. I would also keep your injection dose at 100mg or less per dose until you drop some body fat.

The aromatase enzymes are found in the fat cells so the higher your body fat the more of your testosterone will convert to estrogen.

Once every 2 week injections, especially at first, is not a good idea at all. This is why your numbers came back the way they did.

I wouldn't give up, you seem like a perfect candidate for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), you just gotta find someone that knows what they are doing.

IncreaseMyT.com

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

remember things like drinking make you convert more testosterone to estrogen. You also need to look into foods that do not promote aroma, and maybe clean out your liver, it sounds like the other medications your taking are messing your liver.

Your liver discards drugs and toxins so if it is not working correctly they will pile up in the body.

 

[2rude4u]

I'm not sure what kind of doctor you have, but dump her now! You have multiple issues and are being given incorrect information or you are misunderstanding.

To begin with, if your TSH is 5.81 you are hypo, not hyper thyroid. If doc said hyper, fire the bitch. Your estro is wacked and nobody in their right mind would tell a 35 yo male that 177 is within range. Once again, fire the bitch. She should also have hit you with a smaller initial dose to see how you react, strike three, fire the bitch. I can keep going, but what's the point? You need a doc that knows what they're doing, not one that is OJT with your health!