I'm going to have to. This was my initial script with our local Rite-Aid and the girl told me they could only give out a 30 day supply due to being a controlled substance. One problem I see with the smaller vials is adjusting dosages by small increments, i.e. 60mg, 70mg, versus an even 50mg. I'll definitely shop around in the future but opted for this simply out of convenience.
Newb potentially starting TRT in the next few months. Advice?
- Thread starter ChronosOceanus
- Start date
ChronosOceanus
New member
Thanks for the perspective, Cap'n. To be fair, the doc may be very knowledgeable about TRT and willing to accommodate me - I just won't know until Wednesday. It's just been such a long road with all this fertility stuff, and now hormone issues and symptoms I tend to be cynical, but hopefully it all works out and I won't have to search for a doc.
I"ll also keep in mind that not all pharmacies are easy to deal with. Lots to think about!
I"ll also keep in mind that not all pharmacies are easy to deal with. Lots to think about!
Megatron28
Moderator
They are just saying that so they can make more money off you
ChronosOceanus
New member
I had the appointment this morning with my urologist to follow up on my blood tests from last week. He prescribed 200mg Testosterone (not sure which ester yet) every 2 weeks. I know this isn't ideal. When I brought up more frequent injections he said he'd be fine with that, but wanted to get a baseline at 200mg every 2 weeks. I'm assuming I'm going to feel like shit at the end of 2 weeks, but at least he is willing to change it up after that. I asked him if he had a lot of patients on TRT and he said that he did and everyone has different protocols, so it looks like he is definitely willing to work with me.
Next step is I pick up my prescription tomorrow and I'm supposed to bring it to an appointment with the nurse next Wednesday to show me how to do injections. I'm guessing I'll do my first pin then, but wish I could start tomorrow. Probably unwise though, right? Don't want to ruin the relationship I have with the doc by doing that, although, it might be fine. I dunno.
I forgot to ask him about possibility of using hCG or an AI (if necessary), but he seems pretty open and knowledgeable. I'd like to dial in my Test levels before starting hCG anyway, so no rush.
A couple curveballs were thrown at me. He did mention that I could start TRT and come off of it if I didn't think it was helping and my levels would probably just come back to what they were previously, which I'm not sure is the case. He also wanted to wait another 3-6 months and retest my blood levels to see if it was just the surgery dropping me down so low. I told him I couldn't wait that long for relief of my symptoms, and I didn't want to get fired for doing a shitty job at work, and he was fine with that. He also said that 274 ng/dl was "borderline" low, but thought that I'd probably feel a lot better on TRT. He said it's even beneficial for guys with low-normal levels. Make of that what you will.
Please let me know your thoughts on the protocol and if you think this seems like a good doc to stick with for now.
-CO
Next step is I pick up my prescription tomorrow and I'm supposed to bring it to an appointment with the nurse next Wednesday to show me how to do injections. I'm guessing I'll do my first pin then, but wish I could start tomorrow. Probably unwise though, right? Don't want to ruin the relationship I have with the doc by doing that, although, it might be fine. I dunno.
I forgot to ask him about possibility of using hCG or an AI (if necessary), but he seems pretty open and knowledgeable. I'd like to dial in my Test levels before starting hCG anyway, so no rush.
A couple curveballs were thrown at me. He did mention that I could start TRT and come off of it if I didn't think it was helping and my levels would probably just come back to what they were previously, which I'm not sure is the case. He also wanted to wait another 3-6 months and retest my blood levels to see if it was just the surgery dropping me down so low. I told him I couldn't wait that long for relief of my symptoms, and I didn't want to get fired for doing a shitty job at work, and he was fine with that. He also said that 274 ng/dl was "borderline" low, but thought that I'd probably feel a lot better on TRT. He said it's even beneficial for guys with low-normal levels. Make of that what you will.
Please let me know your thoughts on the protocol and if you think this seems like a good doc to stick with for now.
-CO
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Megatron28
Moderator
Your doc is giving you bad information and bad advice, but it at least sounds like he will be flexible. Just look at it as a means to an end for getting your script. Once at home you can pin as often as you want to.
I would push to get blood work after 6 weeks.
And I would recommend starting hCG immediately. Why let your testicles atrophy? It can take 6-12 months to get dialed in on TRT.
ChronosOceanus
New member
Thanks for the feedback, Mega. I'll email him to ask about hCG, and what his view is on waiting 6 weeks to retest.
Just to confirm - waiting 6 weeks will give a more accurate reading since it takes a while for the body to adjust?
Megatron28
Moderator
In about 6 weeks your test will have reached saturation levels given the half life. Although on second thought, given that you may only be injecting once every two weeks, waiting 8 weeks might be better.
I would really push the doc to let you pin once or twice a week. You need to explain the concept of half life and esters to him perhaps.
Milton
Administrator
Absolutely, well put!
Wouldn't it be more difficult to try to dial in both at one time versus a single variable?
Megatron28
Moderator
Not necessarily if both are started at the same time. Many find that hCG has minimal effects on TT and E2 levels -- but some do see more pronounced effects.
ChronosOceanus
New member
Mega - regardless of whether I do once per week or every two weeks, and hCG or no hCG - what happens if the protocol I'm on raises my E2 levels and I don't get my blood test for 6 weeks? Is it OK for E2 to be elevated for that long?
I've read of a few people having T -> E aromatase problems after adding in HCG and getting a bump in testosterone levels. Obviously a small sampling of people on the internet doesn't equate to being a widespread issue, but it is enough to spark a bit of concern. I don't have personal experience, yet, but do appreciate your input.
Megatron28
Moderator
You should be OK given it is a TRT dose that you are on and it will only be 6-8 weeks. If you are worried though or run into complications, read the link below in my signature for info on how to get your own blood work. Just make sure you understand the difference between checking peak and trough levels.
If your body fat % is high it would not hurt to check levels sooner. Just understand that making adjustments at that point can be trickier as serum blood levels have not stabilized yet.
ChronosOceanus
New member
My BF% is probably 16-17%. I also live in NJ, so while it's probably not impossible to get private bloodwork done, it would be a huge pain in my ass to drive 2 hours to Connecticut and hope they don't ask for ID.
I already got an email back from my doc. Regarding hCG, he states that it would be ineffective for me given that my LH levels are very elevated and hCG is biologically equivalent to LH. In order to prevent atrophy we will try to keep LH levels detectable... Is this a thing?
He said that he's fine with doing once per week, instead of every two weeks.
Regarding moving testing to 6 weeks, he responded saying only that we will get a mid-cycle Test level after the third injection. Guess he's firm on that. I guess I don't really see it as a negative as long as we test again at the 6-8 week mark, right? Do you think he has a legit reason for this?
I already got an email back from my doc. Regarding hCG, he states that it would be ineffective for me given that my LH levels are very elevated and hCG is biologically equivalent to LH. In order to prevent atrophy we will try to keep LH levels detectable... Is this a thing?
He said that he's fine with doing once per week, instead of every two weeks.
Regarding moving testing to 6 weeks, he responded saying only that we will get a mid-cycle Test level after the third injection. Guess he's firm on that. I guess I don't really see it as a negative as long as we test again at the 6-8 week mark, right? Do you think he has a legit reason for this?
Megatron28
Moderator
I forgot that you were diagnosed with Primary Hypogonadism. Sorry... It gets hard to keep track of threads that go on for 56+ posts that go on for over a month.
There is no point in you running hCG. Your testicles don't work.
Running exogenous test will shut down your LH. Your testicles are going to atrophy more than they already have.
There is no point in you running hCG. Your testicles don't work.
Running exogenous test will shut down your LH. Your testicles are going to atrophy more than they already have.
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ChronosOceanus
New member
No worries, Mega. Thanks for all of your help so far.
Damn, son. So my boys are going to atrophy no matter what? Would hCG have any affect on "well-being" for me, or no?
Milton
Administrator
You mean something that will make you feel better about the son sons hibernation?
Megatron28
Moderator
I am sure they already have atrophied some. It will just gradually continue. It doesn't happen over night. 8 months from now you might notice that they seem smaller.
As for hCG benefits, let's see what Halfwit has to say. He was diagnosed as Primary and he used hCG.
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