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07-29-2011, 11:27 AM #1New Member
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Help! Feeling symptoms with total test of 354
Hi everyone. I am new to all of this so I don't know much about all of the totals other than total test..
I have been experiencing most if not all of the low t symptoms. The biggest thing that I am desperate about is the feeling of fatigue. I wake up feeling like I need to sleep and have no energy. It feels that way all day everyday. I have all of the other symptoms too.
Im sure you have all heard this story before but here is my version of it. I went to my regular dr and he did a full blood work panel on me. Everything was "normal". He said my total test was "normal" but on the low end. It was 354. I am 37 yr old. So he sent me to an endo. I just went to the endo and he was saying the same thing. 354 is within normal but he would have expect between 500 and 600. He started asking me questions about my hobbies and if I feel depressed. I told him I don't have many hobbies and I don't do much because Im always so fatigued. So then towards the end of the visit he tells me he thinks the cause of my fatigue is depression and wants to put me on paxel. He order the free test bloodwork. Im waiting for the results.
So my question is, based on my total test of 354 would this be concern to get a second opinion? I only feel slightly depressed because of the fatigue and other symptoms. I am actually in a pretty good place in life as far as stress and things go. I really don't want to be on antidepressants forever and feel like an emotional zombie. I am willing to go o it and give it a try, heck if it makes me feel normal, then great. But I have a feeling it won't help. I do have insomnia and it might help me get better rest. That might be the whole cause but the 354 make me think not.
Second question would be.. What should my free test test be in order for me not to need trt or am i a candidate for it with my total being what it is?
I have tried to research this but I am having a hard time focusing and its been more difficult than ever to learn more. I use to be really good at researching things and learning it inside and out. Im just not the same anymore.
Any help is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.Last edited by cah027; 07-29-2011 at 11:30 AM.
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07-29-2011, 11:36 AM #2
welcome
hows your sleep
hows your diet, bf%...
free test is usually looked at yes but 300 something aint much to work with as far as total..not sure if there is a number doctors use to say yes or no to trt....
guess you'll have to try one more doc and hope they do more bloodwork...free test, thyroid...
sounds like your getting the run around already....
anti aging clinics wont do that
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07-29-2011, 11:39 AM #3
depression can be a symptom of low T. I would try another doc or like JP said an anti aging clinic.
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07-29-2011, 11:44 AM #4New Member
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Thanks for the reply. My sleep is total garbage. I actually started taking an anti anxiety medication because my mind wouldn't shutdown when I was trying to sleep. I would think about everything I had to do the next day. I was only getting 3 to 5 hours of broken sleep per night without it. Now I get 6 to 8 of somewhat broken sleep with it but it is starting to be 6 hour most of the times since my fatigue hit. I am trying to get off the anti anxiety med and so my sleep is getting worse again. I would say I average 6 hours of broken sleep now.
They tested for my thyroid and said it was normal. The only thing I haven't gotten the results for is all of the free testosterone tests. The orders he gave today looked like 2 or 3 different types of testosterone tests. The only one I ave to date is the total which was 354 .. I think it was on that scale of 300-1000 being normal one for the total.
I would say I probably am getting the run around but I am open to taking the paxel I just don't want to waste my time or money if its really my test.
What kind of Dr are at anti aging clinics ?
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07-29-2011, 11:53 AM #5New Member
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My diet is very good. I have type 2 diabetes which I control with Diet and exercise. I have high cholesterol. I got that checked 2 months ago, so I adjusted my diet and changed my work outs to mostly cardio. I dropped my total cholesterol from 247 to 181 but my bad level is still a little high begin 116. I need to keep going but haven't been able to workout much in the past 2 weeks because of this fatigue.
My BF is not bad but not what I want it to be. With all of this cardio i was doing I would have thought I would have lost that last little bit of fat on the bottom of my stomach. Im am just thin. I have always been a hard gainer in the gym. I use to lift a lot and got fairly strong for me.. But in the past few yrs I have been on a decline and have lost almost 25 lbs in muscle weight. It wasn't fat because I haven't been fat since finding out I was diabetic at age 26. Now I can't even bench my own body weight. I am 6'2" and weight 196.
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07-29-2011, 12:14 PM #6
do you have the results from your blood work? It sounds like they just told you that everything was normal. If you don't have the results you should call the doc and get a copy of the bw.
If you do have all the results, post them up.
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07-29-2011, 12:23 PM #7New Member
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The endo just ordered the Fee testosterone test today and I went to the lab today. So it will be a few days before I get those results. I can get a copy of my other blood work. I will post them all when I get them..
Thanks again.
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07-29-2011, 12:36 PM #8New Member
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noni cena
Jeżeli chcemy zadbać o należyte funkcjonowanie naszego ciała zakupmy tahitian noni. Jego pierwiastek to tropikalny noni sok, który dzięki swym własnością z pewnością wpłynie na wzniesienie naszego samopoczucia zarówno fizycznego, jak i umysłowego. Dzięki swym własnościom noni zadba o odporność i energię Twojego ciała. Polecany noni original jest dla każdego z uwagi na brak szkodliwych substancji i korzystny wpływ na nasz rozwój. Cieszmy się siłą i popijajmy noni dawkowanie!
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07-29-2011, 01:11 PM #9Member
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This is exactly like me cept my meds were ADHD meds and when i started taking them i would feel sharp pains in my nutsack and then boom i started with the fatigue. I came in at 400 and have all the symptoms. I am 34. I would tell the endo you are sure it's low T and NOT depression as you still yearn to do things but have no energy to do such. Tell them it's about energy and strength not a mental block but lack of physical energy now mental energy!
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07-29-2011, 01:29 PM #10New Member
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See I think that is where I messed up. I don't have a lot of motivation and I told him that. But isn't lack of motivation a symptom of low t ? I can already tell this guy is old school and probably doesn't do a lot of trt unless its someone on deaths doors. I am already starting to miss work because of this and he is spending my money like i make his money. He wants me to go to a sleep clinic and have a study done and he doesn't want to see me again for another month. So I have to just deal with it with no help for at least another month. Its so frustrating. He said he wasn't going to put me on paxel until after the tests are back but he won't even tell me anything for a month. So far, worthless.
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07-29-2011, 01:45 PM #11
i would do the sleep study either way bro....if you can afford it...sleep is sooooooo important man
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07-29-2011, 01:51 PM #12Associate Member
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I agree about the sleep. Too little sleep can wreck havoc on your test levels and it increases cortisol levels as well.
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07-29-2011, 03:40 PM #13New Member
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Yea, I agree. I haven't had steady good sleep in years. I don't snore but I guess I could still have apnea or something. I was tested way back when I was 25 and remember them saying it was on the low side of normal then as well.
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07-29-2011, 03:50 PM #14Associate Member
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I am not sure how much adequate sleep will increase test levels. You may want to find a male clinic that specializes in low t and other male aliments. I had my test levels tested at a male clinic and my total test was 550. I was told the optimal level as 750-800 so they put me on weekly injections of test c. Three months later my test levels were 1079.
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07-29-2011, 04:26 PM #15
ftw, i didnt mean check your sleep to fix your hormones...i meant it as sleep is important, period.
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07-29-2011, 04:29 PM #16Member
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I found a few sleep studies saying T levels are affected by sleep apnea...
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07-29-2011, 04:35 PM #17New Member
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Wow! Did you feel fatigued at 550? I would be ecstatic to be 550 much less 1079! I bet you feel like superman now.. I can only dream.. maybe I should ditch the dr Im going to now and go to one of those guys..
I think all of my issues are either the cause of or result of low t.. I have so many issues its hard to pen down.
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07-29-2011, 04:51 PM #18
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07-29-2011, 05:39 PM #19HRT
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The reference range for TSH, which most Docs use to measure Thyroid performance, is old and not correct by most anti aging Docs. Normal is .5 to 5 uIU/ml. Optimal. however, is 1 to 2. You can have the exact same symptoms that you are describing in the upper "normal range". You need to see your thyroid panels. You want to see TSH, Free T3 and 4 and Reverse T3. That will tell the story.
IMO, mid 300 Total Test presenting with symptoms (and with normal thyroid function) you are a total candidate for TRT. Most if not all Anti Aging Docs would get you on a proper protocol right quick.
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07-29-2011, 07:49 PM #20Associate Member
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I wasn't really that fatigued at 550 but I didn't exactly feel 100%. I did feel much better after going on test c. After 3 mths of injections I had my test levels checked and it was 1079. I then went on 10% testosterone cream. After 6 mths on that I had my levels re-checked and they were even lower than my initial test. I could tell the cream wasn't working. I didn't have the same feeling of well being and I lost a little strength. I recently went back on test c injections but instead of weekly injections I am doing half dosage twice a week.
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08-01-2011, 05:26 PM #21New Member
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Should be getting the rest of my results tomorrow. I got a call from a lady at the endo's office. I could hardly understand her but I think she said my TS3 was a little high. I think that is a Thyroid test isn't it? She said the rest were normal but didn't say that the dr wanted to see me sooner than my next apt which is almost a month out. I feel like poo and this guy wants me to wait so he can keep telling me its all in my head or Im depressed. Its just sucks. The more I read about the symptom of low t the more I think this is exactly my problem. It has kept me on cholesterol meds and almost on high blodd pressure meds my whole life. I even had borderline high BP when I was a skinny teen that use to run full court b-ball all day long back in the day.
I will update when I get the new numbers. I will probably go and see the guy for the follow up to give the benefit of a doubt but I won't be going on paxel like he wants. I just don't need it. I am in a good place with life and depression. I don't need another mind altering drug clouding my head. It feels clouded with fatigue enough already.. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frustrating. !
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08-01-2011, 06:04 PM #22
Well dont ignore your symptoms no matter what these quacks tell you. And "quacks" is what they are. We know our bodies & we know when something isnt right. I would get a second opinion before letting them put you on anti-D's. Also, what Blood Pressure med are you on? Some of the older ones like Metoprolol can actually contribute to "feeling" tired by lowering resting heart rates & other side effects...
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08-01-2011, 06:33 PM #23New Member
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I haven't taken any BP meds yet. My Dr wanted to put me on them but I tweaked my diet and started doing more cardio and brought it down on my own. I may end up on it if my health keeps going down or if I keep having issues with fatigue. I haven't been able to workout nearly as much as I want to lately. I hate the fact that I have lose so much muscle weight in the past 3 yrs. I feel so weak..
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08-01-2011, 07:52 PM #24
i like what your saying here...your are anxious about fixing your health and it IS frustrating.....take it out here and go in with patience and data and confidence in being in charge of your well being...i agree...it DOESNT sound like u need paxil either...i think we know as men if we are depressed mentally or if its more physical...i know nobody wants to say or be on anti D's but theres really no stigma so if we feel that way WE WILL ASK FOR IT!!!!!! these docs are borderline malpractice pushing these meds...
stay patient bro...have another doctor/appointment lined up in case this guy doesnt go in your favor..dont do anything if hes an asshole..IT MAY FOLLOW YOU(YOUR INSURANCE, ETC.).....i had a lawsuit where they obtained my dr. records from early on and his notes said that I said that x amount ISNT ENOUGH testosterone ....lmao....educate, be patient, do whatever you can YOURSELF in the meantime
best of luck...we will be here for your update bro
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08-02-2011, 04:31 PM #25New Member
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Thanks for the support you guys. This really does suck.. I do have an update. The endo's nurse called me today and said the dr says my test is low and he will address it when I come in for my next apt IN 3 MONTHS.. So he still wants me to take a sleep study which I wont do until after I see him next and he wants me to wait 3 weeks before he even does anything.. Man this guy just wants me to suffer. I guess thats what I get for putting off dealing with this for so long. I know its going to take months of treatment before I will feel better. I just wish I could get started yesterday.. I am getting my yearly review at work next week and I know I might get some flack. I've already told my boss that I have medical issues and even told her what I thought it was. I gained her sympathy by explaining that it effects men just as bad to have male hormone problems as it does for women to have their hormone issues. So I hope she and the big boss take it easy on me. I haven't been as gung ho.
I still don't have my numbers on the final tests yet. They just mailed them out today.. Will post those when I get them.
I wonder what he is going to put me on.. There are some pills coming out from a major pharma company. I know I've heard gels and creams don't usually work well. I have really crummy ins so if I have to inject, I hope he lets me do it on my own so I don't have to pay his office to give me a shot every week.
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08-02-2011, 07:23 PM #26
np bro...we all want you to hit it out of the park and yes it looks as if you have got some time to kill and have a few things on your plate coming up....
right now focus on a good diet and exercise program to keep your mind off the wait and build on that...by the time you get your hormones straight, you will snowball in that same positive path....you actually have taken the biggest step already..
good lookin out
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08-03-2011, 04:19 PM #27New Member
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Got my second set of tests back today.. OMFG guys ! it doesn't look pretty at all. No wonder I have been a basket case zombie for so long! Now I feel sorry for my ex wife.. naa. I don't.. lol anyway here is the dirty:
Sex Horm Bind Glob Ser 25nmol/L Norm 11-80
Testosterone 160ng/dl Norm 300-1080 (this one was even lower this time than 1 week before.This time it was taken around 11am.time before that when it was 354 it was taken at 8am. this explains why I tank hard at 11:30am everyday)
Testosterone Free Ser QN 32pg/mL norm 47-244 (Even my free test is super low, man I am scrotaly challenged out the yinyang !)
Well just getting this info makes me feel so much better emotionally. Now I know I am not crazy or "Overly depressed" as I was told. gosh.. no wonder I was getting emotional and squirting some tears and stuff. I am turning into a B*tch, well as far as T lvls go anyway...
Gosh.. So do you guys think the endo will put me on injections or something else like a patch or cream ?Last edited by cah027; 08-03-2011 at 04:47 PM.
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08-03-2011, 07:52 PM #28
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08-05-2011, 03:33 PM #29New Member
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Went to the endo again today. He was concerned that my level dropped so quickly from 354 to 160 in just a couple of weeks. He wrote me a script for androgel but when I went down the hall to the pharmacy my ins wouldn't cover it. So with the $50 discount card he gave it was going to cost me $244 per month out of pocket. I went back and asked to be put on injections. They agreed. I just have to wait a few more days to start it. He ordered more labs to test for inflammation in my body somewhere. This is the first step to test for a tumor that might be causing such a sharp drop. I have been having headaches but I always have sinus headaches especially this time of year. I hope it isn't a brain tumor.. He said if this round of tests come back clear he will let me take the test-meds for 3 months and see if I feel better. If the labs come back showing something, he said he will pretty much turn me inside out testing me to look for a tumor or cause of the low t. If clean, I will probably stay on trt. I haven't spoken with the dr since asking for the cheaper injections, so I don't know what dose or type he will prescribe. Wouldn't you know it. As soon as I left there, I got a headache.. ugh..
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08-05-2011, 03:45 PM #30
hope it turns out in your favor bro
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08-06-2011, 12:08 PM #31
One of these days I'm gonna sit down and type an in depth account of what my life was like and how I felt before TRT and during my "self education" period as compared to now, I'll bet there are hundreds of accounts that would be similar. Those were tough times!!
When I read these posts I can sense the desperation and frustration of the posters combined with the absolute inability to think things through in a clear, concise and focused manner due to the hormone imbalance, it makes everything seem impossible . I wanna grab some of these doctors by their huevos and rip em off then tell them to go get some medical attention......in 3 months!!!!
cah027........you keep the faith bro!! You're almost there!! Good job, way to be persistant, it WILL pay off. Many of us have similar stories and struggles.......trust me when I say that once that fog is gone from your mind and the energy comes back along with all the other things, you'll be kickin ass and takin names in everything you do in life, your boss will want all of her male employees on TRT once she sees what it does for you! .....hang in there bro!!
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08-06-2011, 09:41 PM #32
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08-07-2011, 12:42 PM #33New Member
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Good luck, Bro. I'm in the same boat. 23 year old with 150 Total Testosterone . From my research, injections are the way to go, especially with very low levels.
You'll be superman soon!
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08-07-2011, 05:33 PM #34New Member
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Hey guys.. Thanks for your support. I really do appreciate it.
Wow man 150 that is low.. Have you started treatment yet? What are you up to now? I need to start reading and learning more about estrogen levels and what not. I don't want to rely on the dr to do everything right. I want to know whats going on and why. I should know more Monday or tuesday.
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08-07-2011, 07:37 PM #35
Wow what a wild ride. shots are way cheaper than gels, but the pharmaceutical industry tries hard to get the doctors to prescribe it anyways. Your Doc is probably checking for a possible pituitary tumor. Also you may have to have an mri on your head to check out your pituitary gland as you just might have a non functioning pituitary gland. It tells your testicles when to make more testosterone and how much. If it is not working or not working properly then you will be on lifetime TRT. At your age and with those Test numbers, it sounds like that is the problem. A lot of times your pituitary gland switches off due severe head trauma, head injuries at a younger age, not always but a lot of times this causes this issue on that gland. Unfortunately there is no cure for a non functioning pituitary gland once it fails. Your Doc will figure it all out and get you squared away. Just be patient as he sorts it all out and get used to self injections and welcome to the board.
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08-08-2011, 09:21 AM #36New Member
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Thanks for the info. Came home from work again today. Dr office called and said I should have my script this afternoon. I really hope it isn't a tumor.. They said I would have to take a big shot in the butt. Is this my only option of delivery? Couldn't I use a diabetic needle in the thigh and just push it slow?
Thanks again
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08-08-2011, 11:19 AM #37
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08-08-2011, 11:43 AM #38New Member
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I think some medical people are really old school about things. I asked the nurse about pushing it slow with small needle and she said I could but she will have to check with the dr about putting it in the thigh. Just called the pharmacy and they have a call into the dr because the amount on the script was different than the amount he listed in the instructions. So they need clarification. ugh.. I don't have anyone but my mom or dad to shoot me in the arse so I hope I can thigh it. But oh well. Mom and dad made it so no biggy if they have to stab it (with needle)
Question for you guys.. Dr said it would take 3 months for my levels to get to normal and for me to feel good. Will I notice anything after the first shot? How long will I feel like poo? Oh and I got the last round of test back (told me over the phone). I had some lvls that were low end of normal I think it was Lm and the other one not sure what she called them but I will get them in the mail in a few days. Whatever the test was to see about inflammation in the body came back ok, so it doesn't look like a tumor.Last edited by cah027; 08-08-2011 at 11:46 AM.
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08-08-2011, 12:37 PM #39Member
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Good luck buddy. I just got off the phone with the NP at my new Endo's office. I pretty much screened her for how the doctor goes about treating low Test levels. She said he treats the patient and he does what he needs for them to feel right again and some how by my luck he happened to have a space open up where he could get me in this Thursday!
Last edited by jtuner77; 08-08-2011 at 01:13 PM.
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08-08-2011, 01:35 PM #40
everybody's different broski...seems like thats the hot question of late...r we there yet re we there yet....some ppl its close to immediate and others takes a while...best you can do is tell us when you DO start to feel better...i'm glad you got more good news and are getting started with little to no hassel right there is a huge thing as some have to jump thru hoops to get a rx.....
a lot of us pin ourselves in the arse and dont need help at all....idk...i guess some have backs with lat spreads like bat wings and cant reach there arse....idk...never had a problem with glute injects and have never pinned anywhere else...
if you want thigh shots so be it...any muscle...thigh is second most popular..i think shoulder is 3rd...
keep us posted
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