TRT Saga

Gentlemen,

Thanks for all your prior help in my TRT education in prior posts. All of you have pointed to the fact that serious study and reading through the posts and stickies is critical. Additionally, you all have asked for blood-work results.

I have now done tons of reading and as I was going back to my original blood-work that started me on TRT I ran across something I need advice on.

In Feb 2011 I started on TRT therapy after going to a TRT Clinic that advertised Testosterone supplementation. I knew nothing about it, and went through their testing, and they recommended testosterone supplementation. I went on a lark, simply because I figured more testosterone must be better, and I was feeling sluggish, fatigued, etc and TRT looked like a fix. At first I started on a gel with no other protocols (AI, HCG, etc) and all went well for 3 months or so.

I moved out of state, and switched doctors, and was informed I would become sterile due to the supplementation. New doc did not mention HCG. So I stopped for two or three months as I wanted to have more kids. No ill effects when I stopped.

In September of last year I was feeling sluggish and felt like giving TRT another shot so I went to a new TRT clinic and they ran blood-work and put me on a new protocol of 120MG Test Injections along with HCH and AI as they stated I fit the criteria for TRT. I never looked or asked about my blood-work. Again, just trusted. And I did not know what TRT was really about. As I said, I was ignorant.

All went well until a few months ago when my sex drive vanished and my testicles ached and began to shrink. That's when I started to post questions here and get educated. Until just recently I have trusted the Doctors and paid no attention to actually reading my blood-work or understanding TRT to any degree at all.

This brings me to my original blood work in Jan 2011.

So, I am posting the lab results and my questions are:

1) Do you guys think I should have started on TRT in the first place? Do some clinics put you on TRT if you are borderline just to get your business?

2) Can I stop at this point if my original results were in line for my age (42) or have I gone too far now and have to stay on TRT.

Personally, if it's possible, I'd like to stop.

Thanks for your feedback, this site has been incredibly educating and I appreciate all feedback from prior posts.

Rob

Lipids are a tad high...diet or hereditary?

No Thyroid issues from what was tested...more could have been tested you know.

Cortisol is a tad high but it's a snap shot in time and 24 hour saliva would have been better.

DHEA-S is high; are you supplementing???

SHBG is high and will lower your bio-available and Free Testosterone levels. This is best in the mid range.

E2 is fine; was this a sensitive assay?

Start taking 5000 to 1000 units of D3 each day with your multi.

Your Testosterone serum and Free assays look excellent for a man your age; you were not a candidate for Testosterone Replacement Therapy...you know that right?

Honestly, you look great for a guy your age...very healthy.

You went to a dishonest clinic and they put you on controlled substances that you didn't need.

I would get a new set of labs run; read the sticky on Finding a TRT Doc and see the follow up labs.

You can get restarted with the right PCT initiative...but get blood work done first and post here in this thread.

Many of your current symptoms could point to a few things like elevated E2 and testicular atrophy due to no or bad HCG.

i agree with what GD said.

few hormones were out of range, one that stands out is your WBC, have your doctor looked at this?

Total T: 656 (249 - 836)
SHBG: 53.6 (14.5 - 48.4)
Albumin: 4.3 (3.5 -5.5)
Free T: 18.5 (6.8 - 21.5)

That's a pretty high SHBG. It makes me question how Free T could be at the top end of the range and whether that's really accurate. Then again, maybe 656 is such a high total T number that it makes up for it?

Your questions:

1) Do you guys think I should have started on TRT in the first place? Do some clinics put you on TRT if you are borderline just to get your business?

Probably wasn't really warranted despite my questioning the Free T number above. Some clinics do yes. Of course there are also people who are trying to help but don't know what they are doing.

2) Can I stop at this point if my original results were in line for my age (42) or have I gone too far now and have to stay on TRT.

Yeah refer to what GD said on this. Personally I went on TRT for a year then stopped and my LH and FSH came right back after several months of doing nothing so I think you have a good shot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gdevine

Lipids are a tad high...diet or hereditary?

No Thyroid issues from what was tested...more could have been tested you know.

Cortisol is a tad high but it's a snap shot in time and 24 hour saliva would have been better.

DHEA-S is high; are you supplementing???

SHBG is high and will lower your bio-available and Free Testosterone levels. This is best in the mid range.

E2 is fine; was this a sensitive assay?

Start taking 5000 to 1000 units of D3 each day with your multi.

Your Testosterone serum and Free assays look excellent for a man your age; you were not a candidate for Testosterone Replacement Therapy...you know that right?

Honestly, you look great for a guy your age...very healthy.

You went to a dishonest clinic and they put you on controlled substances that you didn't need.

I would get a new set of labs run; read the sticky on Finding a TRT Doc and see the follow up labs.

You can get restarted with the right PCT initiative...but get blood work done first and post here in this thread.

Many of your current symptoms could point to a few things like elevated E2 and testicular atrophy due to no or bad HCG.

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gdevine - Thanks for the feedback

Thanks for that feedback. I'll get fresh bloodwork now, and continue as I drop off TRT Therapy. I'll post as I go along for your, and others opinion.

I'm gonna drop off TRT and hope my body responds. As for PCT, would you recommend anything other then HCG?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xtitan1

Total T: 656 (249 - 836)
SHBG: 53.6 (14.5 - 48.4)
Albumin: 4.3 (3.5 -5.5)
Free T: 18.5 (6.8 - 21.5)

That's a pretty high SHBG. It makes me question how Free T could be at the top end of the range and whether that's really accurate. Then again, maybe 656 is such a high total T number that it makes up for it?

Your questions:

1) Do you guys think I should have started on TRT in the first place? Do some clinics put you on TRT if you are borderline just to get your business?

Probably wasn't really warranted despite my questioning the Free T number above. Some clinics do yes. Of course there are also people who are trying to help but don't know what they are doing.

2) Can I stop at this point if my original results were in line for my age (42) or have I gone too far now and have to stay on TRT.

Yeah refer to what GD said on this. Personally I went on TRT for a year then stopped and my LH and FSH came right back after several months of doing nothing so I think you have a good shot.

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Thanks xtitan - I'm gonna drop and see how it goes. Wish I would have found this forum sooner!!

Just make sure you do it with doctor supervision brother. If you stop doing TRT too fast or in the wrong way it can really mess you up - regardless of whether you needed it in the first place or not.

HCG and Clomid are the two drugs of choice to get restarted correctly.

Speak with your Physician.