New to TRT

[Texkota]

Hello from south Texas. Glad I found this place it's full of great information, lots of vets with plenty of knowledge. I hope to add to the conversation.

Here's my "story", short version:

I've been feeling like crap for several years now, suffered from depression, anxiety, and sleepless nights. Tired all the time, no motivation, and no feeling of self-worth etc. etc. You guys know the symptoms. I've tried antidepressants, anti anxiety, prescriptions for sleeping, meditation, nothing worked. Yes everything gave me some relief, but only for one symptom.

Lately there have been tons of commercials on TV and radio about TRT or HRT, they all list symptoms that I have. Hmmm maybe there's something to this? So I start doing research on Low T, guess what, I have almost every single symptom associated with low T. Now what am I going to do about it? A few weeks ago I went to my GP for a regular check up, she ordered labs, so I thought great let me get my test levels checked, she said no problem. I get a call from the nurse, she tells me everything checks out fine. What about my test levels? She says I'm good I came back with a level of 3.1 (which doesn't mean anything to me, why do I have to pry to get MY info?) she then says the range is 3.0 to 10.6 and with a 3.1 I'm well within the normal level. HUH!? Maybe for an 80 year old, but I'm 41!!! SO you guessed it, my test is good; there is no need to treat.

I then find a HRT clinic (won't mention names per forum rules) and talk to the doc. Based on my symptoms and test levels he agrees that I'm a good candidate for TRT. Before prescribing anything he wanted to do a full lab work up to see exactly what I need. I got my new labs done on Friday, doc should have results on Tuesday, and my consult on Wednesday. From what I've read my doc is spot on, he prescribes Test C, HCG , 2 different AIs, and B12. I haven't seen too much relating B12 to TRT; I understand that B12 helps with energy levels and metabolism of carbs. I need to drop about 30 lbs of fat, so I guess that's why I get the B12.

Anyway, that's my story so far. I'll post my labs and protocols when I get them, hopefully this time next week I'll be on my way to feeling good.

[cindylou_38]

Hello and welcome. Sorry your feeling sodown. Sounds like you need some good advice here. I am new myself.

[steroid.com 1]

Welcome Tex.

Sounds like you found the correct care. Most GP's, Endo's and Euro's just aren't trained in Hormone Replacement in men so they don't know how to diagnose nor treat correctly. Not really their fault but it's becoming more main stream now and they should be learning. The bad side to this is that many of these untrained Physicians will prescribe half-ass treatments that end up hurting men more then they are good.

Whey you get your BW and protocol from your Doctor post all of it here in this thread and we'll jump in with some thoughts and insight.

gd

[Texkota]

Here's my labs, way too much stuff to figure out.


Glucose, Serum 100 High mg/dL 65 − 99 01
BUN 19 mg/dL 6 − 24 01
Creatinine, Serum 1.24 mg/dL 0.76 − 1.27 01
eGFR If NonAfricn Am 72 mL/min/1.73 >59
eGFR If Africn Am 83 mL/min/1.73 >59
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 15 9 − 20
Sodium, Serum 137 mmol/L 134 − 144 01
Potassium, Serum 4.3 mmol/L 3.5 − 5.2 01
Chloride, Serum 99 mmol/L 97 − 108 01
Carbon Dioxide, Total 24 mmol/L 20 − 32 01
Calcium, Serum 10.2 mg/dL 8.7 − 10.2 01
Protein, Total, Serum 7.7 g/dL 6.0 − 8.5 01
Albumin, Serum 4.8 g/dL 3.5 − 5.5 01
Globulin, Total 2.9 g/dL 1.5 − 4.5
A/G Ratio 1.7 1.1 − 2.5
Bilirubin, Total 0.6 mg/dL 0.0 − 1.2 01
Alkaline Phosphatase 78 IU/L 25 − 150 01
AST (SGOT) 26 IU/L 0 − 40 01
ALT (SGPT) 46 IU/L 0 − 55 01

Cholesterol, Total 280 High mg/dL 100 – 199
Triglycerides 167 High mg/dL 0 – 149
HDL Cholesterol 56 mg/dL >39
LDL Cholesterol Calc 191 High mg/dL 0 − 99

Thyroid 01
TSH 2.130 uIU/mL 0.450 − 4.500 01
T4,Free(Direct) 0.84 ng/dL 0.82 − 1.77 01
Immunoassay 01
Prostate Specific Ag, 0.9 ng/mL 0.0 − 4.0 01

IGF- I 228 High ng/mL 64 – 210
Testosterone , Serum 454 ng/dL 348 − 1197

CBC, Platelet Ct, and Diff 01
WBC 6.4 x10E3/uL 4.0 − 10.5 01
RBC 5.34 x10E6/uL 4.14 − 5.80 01
Hemoglobin 15.2 g/dL 12.6 − 17.7 01
Hematocrit 44.8 % 37.5 − 51.0 01
MCV 84 fL 79 − 97 01
MCH 28.5 pg 26.6 − 33.0 01
MCHC 33.9 g/dL 31.5 − 35.7 01
RDW 14.0 % 12.3 − 15.4 01
Platelets 237 x10E3/uL 140 − 415 01
Neutrophils 55 % 40 − 74 01
Lymphs 33 % 14 − 46 01
Monocytes 9 % 4 − 13 01
Eos 3 % 0 − 7 01
Basos 0 % 0 − 3 01
Neutrophils (Absolute) 3.5 x10E3/uL 1.8 − 7.8 01
Lymphs (Absolute) 2.1 x10E3/uL 0.7 − 4.5 01
Monocytes(Absolute) 0.6 x10E3/uL 0.1 − 1.0 01
Eos (Absolute) 0.2 x10E3/uL 0.0 − 0.4 01
Baso (Absolute) 0.0 x10E3/uL 0.0 − 0.2 01
Immature Granulocytes 0 % 0 − 2 01
Immature Grans (Abs) 0.0 x10E3/uL 0.0 − 0.1 01

[Texkota]

Here's my starting protocol:

Test C 150mg 2 times/wk
HCG 250 IU 2 times/wk (Day before Test C)
Anastrazole .05 mg day after 1st Test C injection
Tamoxafin 11 mg day after 2nd Test C injection
B-12 MIC Vitamin Complex 1/2 ml 2 times/wk

Man that's a lot of test, 300 mg that's almost cycle strength.

[bass]

o my lord! here we go with the clinics. Tex, i used to get treated by a clinic, they over loaded me with drugs and it did more harm than good. 150 mgs twice a week is way too high, normal starting dose is about 100 per week.

to be honest your total T is no too bad, but that's only half of what you need to look at to determine whether you need trt or something else. where is the free T, LH, FSH. not a complete BW imo

[jasondd1]

Good luck

[Texkota]

I have a really good shot at getting transferred to D.C. If/when that happens I'm booking an appointment with Dr. Eugene Shippen, he will be a three hour drive away and I'm thinking that he'll get me dialed in 100%. I should find out within the month and then I would be there the first part of December.

I'm thinking it's worth holding off until then. How can I pass up Dr. Shippen when he's only three hours away.

[JAMIE07652]

Knowing what I know now , from the great folks on this site . I'd take 200 Mgs a week and save the balance for a rainy day ..

[freshmaker]

Knowing what I know now , from the great folks on this site . I'd take 200 Mgs a week and save the balance for a rainy day ..

Based on my experience I would start off with 100mg split into 50 2x weekly and after 8 weeks do bloodwork and go from there.

After 7 mos I am at 150 split twice a week. I don't need an AI at this dosage and I am at peak levels. The less stuff you put in your body the better, IMHO.

300 mg right off the bat would have been a real problem for me. I had trouble sleeping as it was for the first 2 months along with a few other side effects.

[fit2bOld]

That is quite a bit of product to start, average Test prescribed on the board is 120mg-180 mg. A few of the guys take more....