How Should I Proceed With My TRT

[tenbender]

First, I would like to say hello to everyone here. I extend my thanks to all the great contributors here providing a wealth of information not readily available anywhere else.

I just turned 53 and for the last year or so, I have been in the toilet as far energy, libido and overall outlook which in reality was depression. Basically, I was a zombie if and when I could pull myself out of bed. I am married (23 years) and the Mrs. and I had always enjoyed a healthy love life. That all began to change just about Christmas time last year although I think it had been gradually whittling me down and I just blew it off to my job. NOT!

I subscribe to a rather popular health org and had conveyed my problems to my primary care physician. As you can imagine, he didn't offer much help. After a plethora of email, he finally ordered a panel at my request to include test. I actually had one panel about a three weeks ago and he then ordered the second to be sure it wasn't a fluke or some horse crap. Here are my results with from the two tests.

Component My Value Standard Range
TESTOSTERONE , TOTAL 115 >200- ng/dL

TESTOSTERONE FREE 15.6 35.0-155.0 pg/mL
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL 137 250-1100 ng/dL

Amazingly, he told me he didn't think my levels were too low. I had to insist on seeing a specialist. He then referred me to an endocrinologist. I literally have to remind him several times before he finally budged and referred me. Finally, this last Wednesday, I saw a wonderful female physician. She was really quite pleasant compared to my know it all PCP. After some briefing and a scheduling of an appointment for an MRI of my pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, she prescribed 200mg of Test Cypianate every other week IM.

Considering my levels, is that really enough test to get my levels back up to normal? The first few days after the injection, I felt somewhat better, but man I don't feel as good as I was hoping. I still have the low energy and though I am sporting wood much easier, my libido is still in the crapper.
Does TRT take some time before things improve to the state they once were?
I don't mean to be asking a bunch of lame queries, but I am really at a loss.

Lastly, the doc said that the IM had many risks and was really hitting me with how great androgel is in contrast to test. She explained the injection would be noticeable within hours whereas the andro would be several days. I really wanted an immediate fix and opted for the TC. The IM site did get sore and puffy and remained that way for several days, so I gave her a call and complained a bit. I then asked if she would consider prescribing the androgel to use. She wrote me a script for that today and I should have it in the mail by this weekend.

I know she will instruct me to use ONLY the andro, but considering my levels, may I get some ideas from those who are in the know here? I am sure because of the health org I belong to, they are rather conservative on the levels of test they feel adequate to "wellness. Can I get some ideas from other undergoing similar symptoms/diagnosis with like treatments? I really am so new to this, I have milk on my breath. I have read, but much of the jargon if out of my league because I am such a novice. I welcome each and every comment and even some constructive criticism if it is warranted. Thank you in advance for all help. Take care all.

[ZonaDave]

welcome to the board.

did you only get one shot of 200mg?

the half-life of T is 5-8 days for most people so weekly injections are recommended for stabil levels. you would have been much better off shooting 100mg/weekly and allow 4-6 weeks before retesting to see where your levels are.

now that you already have a script, you should give the gel a try. some do very well on it providing your doc will give you enough of it to get your levels up.

the people that switch from gels to shots do it because they either have a problem absorbing the gel or it's too expensive compared to shots.

[FlyingIllini]

My pcp also started me on 200 mg every other week. Same experience here... felt great the first week then not so much later, I think because I had natural test at the time of the first shot and it was shut down on subsequent shots.

We also tried Testim. That left me at 215 on afternoon BW. I am back on test c, she has me doing a large dose in order to get my number moving up and will re-evaluate next month based on BW. I think being a big guy who trains hard, I clear test at a fairly high rate. Just had a 400 mg shot on Monday and I feel pretty damn good.

[talstar]

I am on 200mg every 6 days and feel great. How often are you doing 400mg?

[Bio-Active]

First, I would like to say hello to everyone here. I extend my thanks to all the great contributors here providing a wealth of information not readily available anywhere else.

I just turned 53 and for the last year or so, I have been in the toilet as far energy, libido and overall outlook which in reality was depression. Basically, I was a zombie if and when I could pull myself out of bed. I am married (23 years) and the Mrs. and I had always enjoyed a healthy love life. That all began to change just about Christmas time last year although I think it had been gradually whittling me down and I just blew it off to my job. NOT!

I subscribe to a rather popular health org and had conveyed my problems to my primary care physician. As you can imagine, he didn't offer much help. After a plethora of email, he finally ordered a panel at my request to include test. I actually had one panel about a three weeks ago and he then ordered the second to be sure it wasn't a fluke or some horse crap. Here are my results with from the two tests.

Component My Value Standard Range
TESTOSTERONE , TOTAL 115 >200- ng/dL

TESTOSTERONE FREE 15.6 35.0-155.0 pg/mL
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL 137 250-1100 ng/dL

Amazingly, he told me he didn't think my levels were too low. I had to insist on seeing a specialist. He then referred me to an endocrinologist. I literally have to remind him several times before he finally budged and referred me. Finally, this last Wednesday, I saw a wonderful female physician. She was really quite pleasant compared to my know it all PCP. After some briefing and a scheduling of an appointment for an MRI of my pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, she prescribed 200mg of Test Cypianate every other week IM.

Considering my levels, is that really enough test to get my levels back up to normal? The first few days after the injection, I felt somewhat better, but man I don't feel as good as I was hoping. I still have the low energy and though I am sporting wood much easier, my libido is still in the crapper.
Does TRT take some time before things improve to the state they once were?
I don't mean to be asking a bunch of lame queries, but I am really at a loss.

Lastly, the doc said that the IM had many risks and was really hitting me with how great androgel is in contrast to test. She explained the injection would be noticeable within hours whereas the andro would be several days. I really wanted an immediate fix and opted for the TC. The IM site did get sore and puffy and remained that way for several days, so I gave her a call and complained a bit. I then asked if she would consider prescribing the androgel to use. She wrote me a script for that today and I should have it in the mail by this weekend.

I know she will instruct me to use ONLY the andro, but considering my levels, may I get some ideas from those who are in the know here? I am sure because of the health org I belong to, they are rather conservative on the levels of test they feel adequate to "wellness. Can I get some ideas from other undergoing similar symptoms/diagnosis with like treatments? I really am so new to this, I have milk on my breath. I have read, but much of the jargon if out of my league because I am such a novice. I welcome each and every comment and even some constructive criticism if it is warranted. Thank you in advance for all help. Take care all.

Every other week injections are rough! I do 100mg per week and i am a new man! been on for 20 weeks now. Give it some time. The first 3 weeks it takes time to level out but were your levels are at naturally will make no difference as you wont be producing test natty anymore. I think 100 mg per week is a good starting point. Everyone that i know much prefers the injections for more stable blood levels as opposed to the androgel. Good luck!

[tenbender]

Thank you for all the replies. I have had two shots now taking some of your advice. If the half life of test is only 5-8 days, it really surprises me that she didn't recommend that originally instead of prescribing every other week. Do any of you know folks undergoing TRT who use the androgel and the test in conjunction? I just have felt so washed out. Are the sources here good for buying test and is it reputable? This is my first experince with TRT so I am pretty clueless when it comes right down to it. Thank you again for all the help. Take care.

[Bio-Active]

You need to edit your post! No asking for sources here and second Doctors usually prescribe a higher dose because of the fact that for alot of people shot are a pain to do every week. Most of us know that you feel much better on a lower weekly dose though. Good luck!

[ZonaDave]

Thank you for all the replies. I have had two shots now taking some of your advice. If the half life of test is only 5-8 days, it really surprises me that she didn't recommend that originally instead of prescribing every other week. Do any of you know folks undergoing TRT who use the androgel and the test in conjunction? I just have felt so washed out. Are the sources here good for buying test and is it reputable? This is my first experince with TRT so I am pretty clueless when it comes right down to it. Thank you again for all the help. Take care.

i'm sure some guys do ok on bi-weekly shots but most don't and need weekly or even semi-weekly for more stabil levels. unexperienced docs are just going by published data on T, not experience.

i wouldn't do shots and gels at the same time, one or the other.