Self Medicating TRT In The UK - Gymffiti's Journey

[gymffiti]

Been suggested, I start this thread here, so here it goes ...

Hopefully I can learn a lot and others from my experiences too.

Introduction:

For years doctors said, both my mental & physical symptoms, were due to depression & (social) anxiety. This obviously resulted in antidepressant prescriptions.

It’s a long story, but in a nutshell -

I now realise I’ve been living with low T, since brain surgery 20 years ago - Just had bloodwork to confirm this.

Stats:

34 Years Old

5'7"

200lbs

Blood Work:

Thyroid Function

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 1.82 mIU/L 0.270 - 4.200

FREE THYROXINE 16.27 pmol/L 12.000 - 22.000

Hormones

FOLLICLE STIM. HORMONE 2.4 IU/L 1.500 - 12.400

TESTOSTERONE *6.59 nmol/L 7.600 - 31.400

FREE-TESTOSTERONE(CALCULATED)*0.144 nmol/L 0.300 - 1.000

SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOB 26.42 nmol/L 16.000 - 55.000

17-BETA OESTRADIOL *38.57 pmol/L 44.000 - 156.000


Oh & this maybe useful too


Proteins

TOTAL PROTEIN 72.4 g/L 63.000 - 83.000

ALBUMIN 42 g/L 34.000 - 50.000

GLOBULIN 30.4 g/L 19.000 - 35.000


Notes & Questions:

I've been reading all the stickies and Austinite's 'My First Cycle' thread, raised some questions regarding my weight

I'm currenty about 30lbs overweight. 170lbs is around my ideal weight, but I've been as low as 150lbs, 3 or 4 years ago. At 150lbs, obviously my gyno was more visible (remember my nipple issues were worse too)

Sooo, being overweight atm, should I try to deal with my pre-existing gyno issues, before I start TRT?

A kind of Pre TRT PCT? With Nolvadex etc?

Protocol Ideas:

I was thinking of basing my protocol on the 'Novice Cutting Cycle' from Sterioid,com, then weening off the Anavar after 12 weeks

Am I on the right track?


Any help would be much appreciated

[marcus300]

Your doctor will send you to a specialists and you will be able to get your T on prescription, no need to go down the self prescribe route especially if you are always having bloods done due to your condition. In the UK they are really governed by BW and ranges but once you tip out of range they will send you to the right people to get you on T for life.

[gymffiti]

Your doctor will send you to a specialists and you will be able to get your T on prescription, no need to go down the self prescribe route especially if you are always having bloods done due to your condition. In the UK they are really governed by BW and ranges but once you tip out of range they will send you to the right people to get you on T for life.

I'm kinda torn between doing that and going it alone ...

It's been such an upheaval to get this far. I'm dreading the thought of months of appointments with Urologists, Endocrinologists and awkward conversations about HCG's

How difficult is it to get HCG / SERM support, along with T prescriptions?

Thanks for your input btw

[marcus300]

I'm kinda torn between doing that and going it alone ...

It's been such an upheaval to get this far. I'm dreading the thought of months of appointments with Urologists, Endocrinologists and awkward conversations about HCG's

How difficult is it to get HCG / SERM support, along with T prescriptions?

Thanks for your input btw

There aren't months and months of appointments, once they have done one or two sets of blood work the Endo will prescribe you T replacement, you have to go down this route otherwise every time you get bloods done in the future they will be all over the place and once you admit your taking T it wont land on sensitive ear trust me. Just explain the exaggerate the low T symptoms to the endo and he will put you on T replacement straight away and then you will have some appointments to attend so he can get you dialled in properly.

Don't even mention hcg or an AI, leave that to them but trust me hcg they wont prescribe but you can always do that yourself. Also how do you know you will need an AI? in the uk we use the little amounts of T to get you in range without causing other issues in your blood, which personally is the right way to go, with your low T you will feel like a new man very soon after you start so go down the proper channels for trt and DONT DO IT YOURSELF.

Your already going to be flagged up for lowT anyway and you don't need an AI looking at things so play with them not against them because in the long run going on trt by your doctor is the best way forward.

[Back In Black]

^^^agree what Marcus says.

It won't take long but you've been waiting decades anyway.

Also they won't prescribe HCG but as Marcus says, that's easily found elsewhere, that's what I do.

Good luck.

[gymffiti]

There aren't months and months of appointments, once they have done one or two sets of blood work the Endo will prescribe you T replacement, you have to go down this route otherwise every time you get bloods done in the future they will be all over the place and once you admit your taking T it wont land on sensitive ear trust me. Just explain the exaggerate the low T symptoms to the endo and he will put you on T replacement straight away and then you will have some appointments to attend so he can get you dialled in properly.

Don't even mention hcg or an AI, leave that to them but trust me hcg they wont prescribe but you can always do that yourself. Also how do you know you will need an AI? in the uk we use the little amounts of T to get you in range without causing other issues in your blood, which personally is the right way to go, with your low T you will feel like a new man very soon after you start so go down the proper channels for trt and DONT DO IT YOURSELF.

Your already going to be flagged up for lowT anyway and you don't need an AI looking at things so play with them not against them because in the long run going on trt by your doctor is the best way forward.

I actually have an appointment with my GP, later today. In an ideal world, that's ^ how things will pan out

My GP is always happy to give me anti-depressants, but I couldn't get the blood tests from him. I managed to get them done at a private clinic

I'll go to my appointment, armed with my blood test results and hopefully he'll be willing to get me in touch with an Endo

[hammerheart]

You must pretend an endo referral from him. Remember you are a taxpayer and have some rights... he cannot deny the problem anymore, as you are clearly below range, and that has clinical relevance.

[gymffiti]

Just a quick update, for those interested -

Managed to get a referral, so now I play the waiting game.

With my blood work, I'm hopeful

[krugerr]

Just a quick update, for those interested -

Managed to get a referral, so now I play the waiting game.

With my blood work, I'm hopeful

Hey friend. Welcome to the forums firstly.

Secondly, if you care to have a read, I am currently on the early stages of TRT. I strongly strongly advise you continue down the route of seeing your Endo and getting it on the NHS.
I self TRT'd around some cycles for a couple of years using Test Enanthate. The problem lies with injection frequency, and dosing. I'd already been diagnosed with Low-T, but chose to ignore it for a few years. Whilst I self TRT'd on "about" 150mg a week of Test-E. I say about because i was using UGL gear, and I can only trust that my source was deadly accurate on his dosing. I couldnt very well pop down to the surgery and get a blood test, because if the levels were too high, Id be identified as a steroid user, or if they were too low they'd chase me for a referral to Endo.

So I went it alone for maybe two years. And if I am honest, I know that I was probably on too much, as I felt "on cycle" for most of that time. The reality is all I did was delay the inevitable. You're always going to end up going down the NHS route, so just cut right too it. Get it sorted, and properly.

my 2 cents. The above from BIB and Marcus are very valid comments, both are TRT users.

[hammerheart]

Just a quick update, for those interested -

Managed to get a referral, so now I play the waiting game.

With my blood work, I'm hopeful

Very well.

Get a formal diagnosis first thing. You can always optimize TRT on your own if endo's prescription is unsatisfying.

UGL crap is a hit and miss. Sometimes you might get legit, proper dosed test, others overdosed and contaminated, or even completely bunk. Stick to pharma grade...

I couldnt very well pop down to the surgery and get a blood test, because if the levels were too high, Id be identified as a steroid user, or if they were too low they'd chase me for a referral to Endo.

Well no way to do it right without BW. I feel kind of lucky that I can run all the bloods I please without a prescription.

Myself I got a diagnosis then went for two years on prescription test and thereafter jumped on self-TRT. If I need to confront with a doc, I can still tell him I'm on Nebido. No need to hide

[gymffiti]

Hey friend. Welcome to the forums firstly.

Secondly, if you care to have a read, I am currently on the early stages of TRT. I strongly strongly advise you continue down the route of seeing your Endo and getting it on the NHS.
I self TRT'd around some cycles for a couple of years using Test Enanthate. The problem lies with injection frequency, and dosing. I'd already been diagnosed with Low-T, but chose to ignore it for a few years. Whilst I self TRT'd on "about" 150mg a week of Test-E. I say about because i was using UGL gear, and I can only trust that my source was deadly accurate on his dosing. I couldnt very well pop down to the surgery and get a blood test, because if the levels were too high, Id be identified as a steroid user, or if they were too low they'd chase me for a referral to Endo.

So I went it alone for maybe two years. And if I am honest, I know that I was probably on too much, as I felt "on cycle" for most of that time. The reality is all I did was delay the inevitable. You're always going to end up going down the NHS route, so just cut right too it. Get it sorted, and properly.

my 2 cents. The above from BIB and Marcus are very valid comments, both are TRT users.

Yeah, hopefully I can get treated on the NHS. We'll see how it goes

I've never done a cycle, so just out of interest ...What was the 'On Cycle' feeling(s) like?

Thanks for your input. It's interesting to hear from someone, who has experienced both sides. I'll definitely check out your thread, when I get time

[gymffiti]

Very well.

Get a formal diagnosis first thing. You can always optimize TRT on your own if endo's prescription is unsatisfying.

UGL crap is a hit and miss. Sometimes you might get legit, proper dosed test, others overdosed and contaminated, or even completely bunk. Stick to pharma grade...

I'll keep this in mind, if my next appointment doesn't go to plan.

Hopefully I can get adequate treatment, but like you say, diagnosis should be a minimum.

[JKW]

Hopefully it all goes well for you sir.

[gymffiti]

Hopefully it all goes well for you sir.

Thank you.

I should have an update in a couple of weeks

[gymffiti]

For those interested, I have an update from my latest appointment.

A major problem for me atm, is panic attacks & stress induced fatigue. So I wasn't able to fight my corner, as well as I'd hoped. The frustrating thing is, those symptoms could be at least partly due to my Low T

Anyway, here's how it went

They don't want to prescribe TRT to me, because it's not advised for people with "past or present liver tumours". Technically I'm living with dormant small tumours on most of my organs. If they grow, they would then need to be dealt with

Due to all that, they want to concentrate & exhaust all avenues of improving my mental symptoms

Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Brain fog / memory loss
Fatigue

We discussed whether Citalopram (celexa) was helping or hindering the above

The whole thing is kinda wearing on me atm. So I was thinking of taking a break from the 'fight' and running a short cycle at home, just to see how it goes for me.


If it benefits me enough, maybe I'll have enough drive to go back to the Doctors? What you you think?

[hammerheart]

I had serious anxiety at the moment I was first diagnosed with hypogonadism and I believe was mostly from low E2. I'm a poor responder to TRT but anxiety was one of the burdens it helped me with.

About the tumors, I don't know, but frankly I don't see the problem with restoring normal/average levels.

If you are already dealing with antidepressants and not getting desired response from SSRIs then try to get Manerix (moclobemide). It's an old but effective medication and also shown to raise endogeous testosterone a bit.

[gymffiti]

I had serious anxiety at the moment I was first diagnosed with hypogonadism and I believe was mostly from low E2. I'm a poor responder to TRT but anxiety was one of the burdens it helped me with.

About the tumors, I don't know, but frankly I don't see the problem with restoring normal/average levels.

If you are already dealing with antidepressants and not getting desired response from SSRIs then try to get Manerix (moclobemide). It's an old but effective medication and also shown to raise endogeous testosterone a bit.

Very interesting. I'll certainly look into Manerix

Thanks for that.

Just had a look over my bloodwork. If I'm reading it correctly, my E2 is - 38.57 pmol/L