Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) Opinions/ advice

[mikeofarabia]

TRT Opinions/ advice

I have been considering going onto testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for a while now and finally got my blood work done which came back as follows: (some names are not exact because i took the results over the phone)

estrogen - 12.1
Total Test - 527
Free Test - 9.4
IGF 1 - 139

The doctor (anti-aging clinic) recommended me to start the following

test cyp 160mg 1/week
hCG ??mg 2/week
estrogen blocker Anastrosol 0.5mg 3/week

she also recommended sermorelin but I think that is cost prohibitive for me.

Does this seem like a good program with a good chance to see results of increased energy, focus, motivation and improved mood?

btw I am 30 years old 6'2" 205 lbs and fairly out of shape (22-25% fat is my guess)

thanks in advance for your opinions and advice

 

[halfwit]

Sounds like they're pushing testosterone on you without treating your symptoms. You actually have estrogen (I'm assuming it's estradiol) on the low end, which could give you many of the symptoms of low testosterone such as anxiety, low energy, and memory issues. Your total test is not on the low end by any means, so I don't know how they can get a doctor to prescribe this for you. Your free test might be considered low, but I don't know the range for the specific lab you were sent to and it might be fine.

I'd think about what you're getting into before committing to such a protocol.

 

[My_Pitch27]

I'm curious to find out the ranges for Total Test, Estrogen, Free Test and IDF 1

I have been considering going onto testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for a while now and finally got my blood work done which came back as follows: (some names are not exact because i took the results over the phone)

estrogen - 12.1
Total Test - 527
Free Test - 9.4
IGF 1 - 139

The doctor (anti-aging clinic) recommended me to start the following

test cyp 160mg 1/week
hCG ??mg 2/week
estrogen blocker Anastrosol 0.5mg 3/week

she also recommended sermorelin but I think that is cost prohibitive for me.

Does this seem like a good program with a good chance to see results of increased energy, focus, motivation and improved mood?

btw I am 30 years old 6'2" 205 lbs and fairly out of shape (22-25% fat is my guess)

thanks in advance for your opinions and advice

 

[mikeofarabia]

Pitch -
I'm not quite sure what you mean by ranges but I'm sure they are all reported in the standard units. She did give me what she considered to be optimal ranges. Unfortunately I haven't received my paper copy of the blood work yet so all i have to go on is notes i took during the phone call.

Dr's optimal ranges for me:
total test 900-1100
free test 20-30
IGF 1 250-300

I think this is just what she was hoping I would reach if I go on the said protocol. I don't think they have any bearing on the type of test done

Halfwit-
It did feel like they are trying to push their standard protocol. I haven't made a decision one way or the other yet but now that I have (some of) my numbers I'm trying to do as much research as I can.

To both of you, thanks for the advice

 

[R9]

900-1100 might be their "optimal range", but I think your test level is well within the healthy, expected range.

Might be a case of her being good at using a hammer so everything looks like a nail.

 

[willnorthwest]

i wish my natural test was 526. i was at 219.

 

[IMT staff]

your numbers aren't too shabby, your free T is borderline low though.

 

[Mprtz]

Before you proceed, make sure you fully understand and give consideration to what you are giving up as well as what you stand to gain.

 

[mikeofarabia]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Since most say my total T is average but my free T is low, is there any good way to naturally free up some of my total test? I will keep searching google but would appreciate any advice I can get.

 

[1693]

I think vitamin d is suppose to help have more free test.

You should make sure all your other hormones are optimized before considering testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), especially your thyroid since it can create symptoms like low test.

 

[halfwit]

your numbers aren't too shabby, your free T is borderline low though.

OP: Contact ^^^^^^ THESE GUYS ^^^^^^. I've yet to see one bad thing come from the IMT camp and they know their stuff. I bet they're far more reasonable too.

 

[Good.2.Go]

I have been considering going onto testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for a while now and finally got my blood work done which came back as follows: (some names are not exact because i took the results over the phone)

estrogen - 12.1
Total Test - 527
Free Test - 9.4
IGF 1 - 139

The doctor (anti-aging clinic) recommended me to start the following

test cyp 160mg 1/week
hCG ??mg 2/week
estrogen blocker Anastrosol 0.5mg 3/week

she also recommended sermorelin but I think that is cost prohibitive for me.

Does this seem like a good program with a good chance to see results of increased energy, focus, motivation and improved mood?

btw I am 30 years old 6'2" 205 lbs and fairly out of shape (22-25% fat is my guess)

thanks in advance for your opinions and advice

'"Does this seem like a good program with a good chance to see results of increased energy, focus, motivation & improved mood?"'

My answer to your specific question above is "YES" based on my short term experience. I have only taken my 3rd injection of Test C E14D's. However, my expectations were much higher than my actual results & especially compared to others that I have read. On a scale 1-10 before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) I would give the above question an overall 4+. However, 7 weeks later on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) I would rate a 6+ some days even higher. I definitely have seen improvements but they are small steps & not huge leaps. There are many other Pro's & Con's that you have simply not asked about. There is so much great information on this site as well as people willing to help you. Ask & read away...then make your decision. I hope my .02 helped & best of luck!

 

[1693]

'"Does this seem like a good program with a good chance to see results of increased energy, focus, motivation & improved mood?"'

My answer to your specific question above is "YES" based on my short term experience. I have only taken my 3rd injection of Test C E14D's. However, my expectations were much higher than my actual results & especially compared to others that I have read. On a scale 1-10 before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) I would give the above question an overall 4+. However, 7 weeks later on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) I would rate a 6+ some days even higher. I definitely have seen improvements but they are small steps & not huge leaps. There are many other Pro's & Con's that you have simply not asked about. There is so much great information on this site as well as people willing to help you. Ask & read away...then make your decision. I hope my .02 helped & best of luck!

Good, I wouldn't think your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) experience wouldn't be very good injecting once every two weeks like you do, that's an outdated protocol...too much of a roller coaster ride for most people. The best testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) docs have their clients injecting once a week minumum and many are injecting every 3.5 days and some like every 5.

 

[Good.2.Go]

Good, I wouldn't think your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) experience would be very good injecting once every two weeks like you do, that's an outdated protocol...too much of a roller coaster ride for most people. The best testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) docs have their clients injecting once a week minumum and many are injecting every 3.5 days and some like every 5.

The script reads 200mg E14D's. My first pin was as suggested. However, I was crashing before the
14th day. My second pin, I halved the dosage each week. I didn't crash hard but I also did not feel as good. My third injection I followed the script as suggested to see if it was just a fluke. I'm half way through until my next pin and feel good thus far. I will know more by next Sat. If I receive the same results, I may try pinning every 3.5 days to see how my body reacts. My Dr. actually stated to experiment however I feel is needed but not to exceed the 200mg in a two week period. If the 3.5 days is not better he has already agreed to up the dosage where I can feel the most optimum & limit the crashes.

I believe the best protocol for pinning is different for each individual & each must find what is right for themselves as well as how their body adjust to it. Actually the best Dr.'s let you choose how often to inject a controlled amount. It is also my opinion that many individuals pin more often because there are a lot of intelligent/crafty people on the site that has spent countless hours & money experimenting what works best & sharing that with others.

 

[Megatron28]

The script reads 200mg E14D's. My first pin was as suggested. However, I was crashing before the
14th day. My second pin, I halved the dosage each week. I didn't crash hard but I also did not feel as good. My third injection I followed the script as suggested to see if it was just a fluke. I'm half way through until my next pin and feel good thus far. I will know more by next Sat. If I receive the same results, I may try pinning every 3.5 days to see how my body reacts. My Dr. actually stated to experiment however I feel is needed but not to exceed the 200mg in a two week period. If the 3.5 days is not better he has already agreed to up the dosage where I can feel the most optimum & limit the crashes.

I believe the best protocol for pinning is different for each individual & each must find what is right for themselves as well as how their body adjust to it. Actually the best Dr.'s let you choose how often to inject a controlled amount. It is also my opinion that many individuals pin more often because there are a lot of intelligent/crafty people on the site that has spent countless hours & money experimenting what works best & sharing that with others.

You can inject how you want and find what works best for you. Yes a good doc will let you do that. I think what 1693 was trying to share with you is that you may not have to reinvent the wheel all by yourself. MANY guys here have gone through what you have before. I'm making up numbers here, but lets say 97% of them find that they need to inject at least once a week or more frequently. So you can go through trial and error your way or you can choose to learn vicariously from others who have already gone through this. Up to you. You might be in the 3% and do great every two weeks. Some guys come here injecting once a month -- you might want to try that too.

I would encourage you to learn about half lives, hematocrit and especially aromatisation into estradiol so you can make an intelligent decision rather than just go about your experiment trying random protocols.

P.S. This thread has been officially hijacked!

 

[mikeofarabia]

Thanks for all the input. I think I will go ahead with the doctor's plan and see what happens. If it doesn't do what I want I can always quit. From what people have told me and what I have read online most bounce back to their original levels within a month or 2 or 3.

 

[Megatron28]

Thanks for all the input. I think I will go ahead with the doctor's plan and see what happens. If it doesn't do what I want I can always quit. From what people have told me and what I have read online most bounce back to their original levels within a month or 2 or 3.

That's not necessarily true. You don't always just bounce back in a month or two after you quit testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Many guys never recover. I would talk to your doctors about how they would "restart" you if you decide to quit. Make sure they are running a proper PCT. But keep in mind, they may not want you to stop and end their gravy train.

 

[riprockwell]

Honestly, if I had your T levels, I would have never got on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the first place. Here are the average test levels for males in the last decade.....

Age 20 to 29: 681 ng/dl
Age 30 to 39: 609 ng/dl
Age 40 to 49: 572 ng/dl
Age 50 to 59: 548 ng/dl

Sure you could say you are a tad low but not by much. Remember, there are a lot of things to balance in a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol. In fact, it took me a year to dial in my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol. This is not something you can start and then say fuck it, I'm off now. You could but you could make things more difficult. I would definitely do some amino acid testing. I felt great once I started supplementing aminos. I would also look in to taking some zinc. Those levels are not bad. I would definitely hold off and do some more research before taking the plunge. Good luck.

 

[mikeofarabia]

Yeah, after those last 2 posts it does give me reason to pause. I guess since I have made it this long without anything I can wait a bit longer to see what I can do naturally. I am trying to eat better and start eating vitamin D.

I will also look into amino acids, does anyone have a good reference for amino acids and what I should do with them?

Any other ways to boost free testosterone without supplementing testosterone? I haven't been able to find much about this yet

 

[totalburnout]

Sleep, a healthy diet with good fats (cholesterol is the building block to all hormones) and exercise.