Should I be on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) at 36yo and 262 testosterone level?

[Rix]

Should I be on HRT at 36yo and 262 testosterone level?

I've been feeling like crap for a couple of years. I've been gaining some weight and feeling lethargic with no sex drive. I went and got my blood tested from a local physician and got the following results:

FSH 2.5
LH 5.0
Testosterone 262
TSH Receptor Ab (TBII) 3

The Dr. indicated that I was borderline normal/low and that he would prescribe Test Cyp at 100mg per week, revised as necessary. I'm a bit concerned about this. I don't have much experience with this and I am very wary of getting myself into a lifelong situation.

Right now I'm in the process of trying to have a kid, so I intend to put the test aside for a few months. Then I'm considering taking a "test run" so to speak with a 8-10 week cycle.

Weeks 1-10 200mg Test C
PCT: 30 days Clomid 50mg ED + Exemistane 12.5mg EOD
.
Is this a good idea? Should I be looking for something else? Am I going to F-up my remaining natural test? I'm not looking for an IFBB card, but rather to feel better, get better libido and reverse this crappy weight gain.

 

[Megatron28]

I'm not an expert on cycles, but I don't think that will get you anywhere. Just start TRT. Your numbers are low.

 

[SolomonGrundy]

your "cycle" will be just like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and when you quit you're going to be even lower and feel like shit, with depression and no libido. Do it right, if you want babies see an Endo or ask your doc if you can try Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) first

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Yes. Your levels should never drop below 300ng/dl. The risks of carrying number like that are far greater than the risks of injecting supplemental doses of testosterone.

 

[LittleJohnny]

I agree with the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) approach, and will add one more thought. The choice between having low T and having to take injections for life, is the easiest decision to live with. My quality of life on test shots is light years better than without it. If you try Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) without success, feel at ease that going on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a no brainer.

 

[Rix]

I agree with the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) approach, and will add one more thought. The choice between having low T and having to take injections for life, is the easiest decision to live with. My quality of life on test shots is light years better than without it. If you try Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) without success, feel at ease that going on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a no brainer.

I think I need to get some more sophisticated advice. I don't think the internal medicine guy knows what he is doing. When I double checked the prescription, it was for 200mg once a month. That seems low.

 

[halfwit]

I think I need to get some more sophisticated advice. I don't think the internal medicine guy knows what he is doing. When I double checked the prescription, it was for 200mg once a month. That seems low.

50mg/wk is pretty low, but you certainly are low enough to qualify for TRT. I'd give the doc a call to make sure (this gives you a chance to challenge the dosage) that you are reading the script correctly. Keep in mind, most pharma vials are 200mg/mL - so an rx of 200mg/mL qty 2 could be 100mg/wk, etc. My scripts come as 200mg/mL qty 10 for a 10mL vial, but my doc and I have an understanding that I'm not to use all 10mL in a month.

Then again, some guys DO react well to lower dosages...

Either way, if you're looking to have kids - you can always read up and touch base with ScottyB28. Good luck!

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I think I need to get some more sophisticated advice. I don't think the internal medicine guy knows what he is doing. When I double checked the prescription, it was for 200mg once a month. That seems low.

It is common for the docs to script 200mg a month. Thats what the inside of the box on Watson cyp calls for Unfortunately most docs are just following those directions.

 

[Rix]

It is common for the docs to script 200mg a month. Thats what the inside of the box on Watson cyp calls for Unfortunately most docs are just following those directions.

Yah, that once a month is what is on the prescription label.

I'm considering going to a urologist at the local hospital who has a sideline in HRT and something called the 'mens clinic'. WTF, I've got nothing to lose.

The wife is NOT on board with this as she thinks me losing 20lbs will put my test back in the normal range.

 

[LittleJohnny]

Yah, that once a month is what is on the prescription label.

I'm considering going to a urologist at the local hospital who has a sideline in HRT and something called the 'mens clinic'. WTF, I've got nothing to lose.

The wife is NOT on board with this as she thinks me losing 20lbs will put my test back in the normal range.

Ask your wife what she would do if she had the same symptoms that you have, and they were caused by her estrogen being low. It's the same thing. Estrogen is the primary female hormone, testosterone is the primary male hormone. And losing 20 lbs. won't fix a 262 testosterone level, but fixing your low testosterone might fix the extra 20 lbs.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Yah, that once a month is what is on the prescription label.

I'm considering going to a urologist at the local hospital who has a sideline in HRT and something called the 'mens clinic'. WTF, I've got nothing to lose.

The wife is NOT on board with this as she thinks me losing 20lbs will put my test back in the normal range.

if your going to go through a clinic just go through IMT.

 

[Rix]

Probably that is the next step. If it were just me, I would just hit up IMT. But when the wife gets involved, there is the whole credentialing issue.

Happy wife, happy life...

 

[IMT staff]

Probably that is the next step. If it were just me, I would just hit up IMT. But when the wife gets involved, there is the whole credentialing issue.

Happy wife, happy life...

I dont understand what you mean by this? Why would your wife have a problem with our credentials?


Our expertise in the field is far an above most practices. On top of that its legal prescription testosterone...........so........... I am confused.

 

[Rix]

Quick update on this.

I went and saw the urologist. I originally picked him because he has a sideline in HRT and male fertility and is the director of the 'mens health center' at the local hospital.

Bottom line, he pretty much checked off every blood test on the sheet and I walked away with a prescription for Clomid 25mg eod and 1mg Arimidex eod.

He is sending me for a bone density scan as I have a history of several years of low T, and some pretty nasty (non anabolic) meds in my past. I also had to give a semen sample. We'll see what happens.

He urged me to finish up having kids so he could get me on 'the good stuff.'

All in all, a pretty good visit. The clomid dose seems low based on what others are taking for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), but we'll see for now. He seems to know what he is doing so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Rix]

Another quick addendum: I found a coupon online for the clomid and the arimidex that will bring it less than my copay. I'll put the vial of test the last doc prescribed in a drawer for now.

 

[Rix]

One month on Clomid update.

Oddly last month when I was tested, I had a 292 total test with 76 free test. That isn't supposed to happen and I'm not sure why. (There are a few cases that I was able to google that came to the conclusion that the free test indicator is really error prone but I really have no clue on it whatsoever).

After one month, I can say that I am really feeling better in some ways and other ways need to...improve.

Workout wise, I've been hitting the gym really hard. My total weight loss in the month prior to Clomid: 2lb. My total weight loss in the last month: 6lb, with me feeling much better in the gym (crossfit 3-4x week). Last night I really surprised myself by banging out situps at a rate that would have left me on the floor a month ago. This, by the way, is without eating clean at all.

Libido still low but the wood is solid.

No side effects whatsoever to report.

I still have another few weeks until my blood test, but based on my experience, Clomid offers a valid alternative to Test for TRT. If I could get the libido thing worked out, it would be perfect long term.

 

[boxhead78]

Have you found it is cheaper in general to purchase your Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) gear directly instead of going through your insurance?

 

[Rix]

I don't have that much experience with buying Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) gear, but I am an incredibly cheap bastard.

Insurance would only let me get 3ml of test, even though I had a 10ml prescription. The copay was $15 for the three ampules. That's when I got pissed off and started looking for a cheaper way. (I didn't want to keep going back to the pharmacy - PITA.)

By finding a coupon online I could get a 10ml vial of test for $45 at a big chain drug store (Walgreens.). Costco was $67. CVS rack rate is over $100 (thieves!)

Blue Cross rejected my Aromatase inhibitor (AI) (plan exclusion except for women with breast cancer). So I went back and got another coupon (this time to CVS.) I paid not too much for the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) or Clomid. I can't remember the exact price but was $20-30 each for 30 tabs. I actually considered getting it from the board sponsor, but decided not to for now.

Another interesting addendum: The men's health clinic here in California has an in house sleep specialist. The sleep doc told me that 50% of the low testosterone clients have sleep issues. I'm getting an overnight sleep exam on Monday.

 

[boxhead78]

That's a seriously good deal!

 

[Rix]

Just google "testosterone cypionate coupon code" and about 100 results come up. Pick one, print out the coupon, and take it to your pharmacy. (the tech at CVS told me that there were so many coupon codes in her system she had difficulty finding the one I brought in).