Test E - Feel likeI am going backwards

[buckeyes#1]

I have been on for 5 weeks. I am getting 200mg every 2 weeks. I know I need to try 100mg per week, but my doc originally wanted to give me a one shot a month. So I am making headway.

The problem is, I felt good for the first 8-9 days after my first two shots, but I have not felt any better after my third. I almost feel like they gave me a placebo. I am constantly lazy, feeling like I am glued to the coach. I worked out four days this week, but not with the same vigor.

Has anyone else experienced a regression in their feeling better?

[Subotai]

The problem could be mental
Test e is a long ester, you really shouldn't feel much better in the first few weeks unless your production was basically zero.

Maybe you did have a slight placeebo effect, and now that effect is gone and your levels still haven't really built up.

Keep pushing for weekly shots, and give it a little more time

[Vettester]

Have you ran any recent blood work? It would be good to do a complete panel, A to Z, just to make sure you're not dealing with something else besides your testosterone stats.

[zaggahamma]

The problem could be mental
Test e is a long ester, you really shouldn't feel much better in the first few weeks unless your production was basically zero.

Maybe you did have a slight placeebo effect, and now that effect is gone and your levels still haven't really built up.

Keep pushing for weekly shots, and give it a little more time

never really understand the long ester hypothesis...isnt test e quite similar to c? on the chart for cyp, it shoes serum test rising to peak at 4 or 5 days?

[Okinawa_Power]

200mg every two weeks? Will that even do anything for you? What are your test levels?

[gigabitbucket]

I have been on for 5 weeks. I am getting 200mg every 2 weeks. I know I need to try 100mg per week, but my doc originally wanted to give me a one shot a month. So I am making headway.

The problem is, I felt good for the first 8-9 days after my first two shots, but I have not felt any better after my third. I almost feel like they gave me a placebo. I am constantly lazy, feeling like I am glued to the coach. I worked out four days this week, but not with the same vigor.

Has anyone else experienced a regression in their feeling better?

I am right there with you, 6 weeks this monday. That will be my 3rd shot, I was on gel for a little over a year, waste of time. I finally talked my primary care doctor into 200mg of test-c every 2 weeks, he wanted a once a month shot, but my levels were way down ( dont have my labs in front of me)
Sounds like we are going through the same "feelings".

I am hoping for the best, last year I was in hell, no energy, no sex drive, depression was getting the best of me.

When I got my first shot I felt great, amazing how your brain ( dont believe it was all because of the Test-C) works and can control your body, emotions etc. But, 7 to 8 days later , crash , I could not wait till my next shot. With my second shot, I did not feel as "good". Waiting for my 3rd, shot, counting the hours.

I just dont believe a shot every 2 weeks is correct, but my doc wants me to wait it out and do more labs in 3 months. Just a roller-coaster ride until that time.

I am looking at the anti aging clinics to see if I can get a little more help. BUT, The clinic I located needs me to meet the doc online via webcam for an eval. Just not sure if it is legit.

anyway i dont want this to be about me

I wish you the best

[Charlie6]

you could be going thru some sort of test flu, or your body could be reacting to the oil that the hormone is suspended in

unless you frontload, you won't feel the test for a couple weeks, i promise

don't think into it so much...just roll with it and let it do its work

[Subotai]

never really understand the long ester hypothesis...isnt test e quite similar to c? on the chart for cyp, it shoes serum test rising to peak at 4 or 5 days?

I think that while the half life is 5 days, after 10 you still have 1/4 ect. So that means that there is a building effect. Its like you are cooking food for a hungry crowd, and every 5 minutes they've eaten half of what you can cook in that time.... But you slowly start winning the battle and building up more and more hot dogs for them until you have more than they can eat right away.


I dunno, it seems like for cycling everyone reports it takes 3-5 weeks before they really feel like they are super-on. I learned everything I know as a drug user, not as an HRT patient. I could be miles away from correct

[THORSZ]

You might need just a little more. 150 EW is my sweet spot. Many people say that they never feel as good as when they first go on. I think we just get used to it. It isn't magic either. If you are stressed, skipping meals, staying up late than you will feel like crap. I would monitor blood and adjust if needed.

[buckeyes#1]

Have you ran any recent blood work? It would be good to do a complete panel, A to Z, just to make sure you're not dealing with something else besides your testosterone stats.

Vette,
I have had a hodge podge of blood work done over the past 4 months. My test has been consistently in the 200's. 10G of Androgel got me up to 400.

Blood work is scheduled for next Tuesday before my 4th shot. He is checking total test, free test and E2

[buckeyes#1]

you could be going thru some sort of test flu, or your body could be reacting to the oil that the hormone is suspended in

unless you frontload, you won't feel the test for a couple weeks, i promise

don't think into it so much...just roll with it and let it do its work

Charlie,
I don't think its any kind of test flu. I don't feel sick or anything like that. Just do not feel like it is working.

[buckeyes#1]

You might need just a little more. 150 EW is my sweet spot. Many people say that they never feel as good as when they first go on. I think we just get used to it. It isn't magic either. If you are stressed, skipping meals, staying up late than you will feel like crap. I would monitor blood and adjust if needed.

Thorsz,
I think you might be right about it not being enough. I am eating better and healthier, getting good sleep, etc. Not sure how I will get him to prescribe more. He is the 3rd doctor I have been to and the first to give injections. He wanted to start me off at 200mg/month, but I told him I didn't want to waste my time like that. I knew the results would not be good. I have a feeling if my scores come back low, he will say he needs to refer me to someone else. I am not having any luck finding anyone in the Columbus area who can properly treat low test. There are anti-agingi clinics, but I don't want to go outside of my insurance and pay out of pocket.

[Subotai]

If you do end up needing another Doc.
John Crissler in Michigan.

Lansing specifically.

Should be a fun drive for a buckeyes fan

He's considered the best HRT doctor in America

[buckeyes#1]

I take it that Dr. Crisler does not take insurance. I looked over the website and it seems quite costly compared to what I would pay through my insurance if I can find a good doc.

[whiteowl]

Are you still dealing with your GP or has he passed you to an endocronologist yet? The GP gives you just enough to stay upright...the every two weeks rings a bell. The endo is the DR who will do other tests which are just precautionary to eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer or a malfunction in the endocrine system....basically to make sure the system is telling your boys to get to work and they are just refusing to do the work. The endo then does a series of peaks and trough tests and once he is satisfied he has the right dosage it will be an annual visit from then on. But your GP should be explaining this to you.

[zaggahamma]

Are you still dealing with your GP or has he passed you to an endocronologist yet? The GP gives you just enough to stay upright...the every two weeks rings a bell. The endo is the DR who will do other tests which are just precautionary to eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer or a malfunction in the endocrine system....basically to make sure the system is telling your boys to get to work and they are just refusing to do the work. The endo then does a series of peaks and trough tests and once he is satisfied he has the right dosage it will be an annual visit from then on. But your GP should be explaining this to you.

theyre better at explaining where the desk is on the way out

[buckeyes#1]

Are you still dealing with your GP or has he passed you to an endocronologist yet? The GP gives you just enough to stay upright...the every two weeks rings a bell. The endo is the DR who will do other tests which are just precautionary to eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer or a malfunction in the endocrine system....basically to make sure the system is telling your boys to get to work and they are just refusing to do the work. The endo then does a series of peaks and trough tests and once he is satisfied he has the right dosage it will be an annual visit from then on. But your GP should be explaining this to you.

Whiteowl,
I am on my 3rd doctor. I went to a GP and they put me on Gel, referred me to a Urologist. The Urologist wanted to do implants, but I didn't. So he referred me to an endo. I called for an appointment and asked the secretary questions about the doctor treating hypogonadism. She said he doesn't.

So I was kind of stuck, but my best friends bro-n-law is on the injections, so I went to see his doctor. Now he is just a GP, but he started me on 200mg/ every other week. I am scheduled to go in for bloodwork next Tuesday before I get my 4th shot.

I will schedule a followup appointment with him for after my bloodwork results come in and try to get him to allow me to do weekly injections myself. There is no reason I need to go and pay admin charges every other week for something I could do myself.

[whiteowl]

Spot on mate. That was the deciding factor for me as well. Paying them weekly or worst EOW so the roller coaster ride was too much to ask a guy.

My advice is to be your own advocate...hell, it's not my advice, it is the advice i got from reading threads here on this site. Seems like you are doing that if you are on the
3rd doc and good job dumping the first two for two good reasons.

[Enfuego129]

theyre better at explaining where the desk is on the way out

Jpkman, its enfuego129 you're helping me out on a thread I started regarding pants getting tighter. Sounds like this is also the course I am going through with my GP. Sucks fo sho. It appears that I am about three weeks behind what buckeye is experiencing.

[Enfuego129]

Buckeye, sorry to read what you are going through I too am just starting HRT and am into it for about two weeks and feel I have plateaued already.

I am curious is your GP a HMO or PPO doctor and has he referred you to an Endo yet? I wonder if there is a certain protocol that the insurance companies need followed by the doctors before they approve more aggressive treatment or referrals to specialists. My doctor seems conservitive or possibly ignorant to HRT.

I will keep an eye on this thread and wish you well in what you have in front of you. Keep us up to date on changes in your medications,treatment, or dosing.

[buckeyes#1]

Buckeye, sorry to read what you are going through I too am just starting HRT and am into it for about two weeks and feel I have plateaued already.

I am curious is your GP a HMO or PPO doctor and has he referred you to an Endo yet? I wonder if there is a certain protocol that the insurance companies need followed by the doctors before they approve more aggressive treatment or referrals to specialists. My doctor seems conservitive or possibly ignorant to HRT.

I will keep an eye on this thread and wish you well in what you have in front of you. Keep us up to date on changes in your medications,treatment, or dosing.

Enfuego,
I have a PPO plan for my insurance. My 1st GP referred me to a urologist and the urologist referred me to an endo. That endo he reffered me to does not deal with testosterone. So I found a new GP who does treat with IM. My guess if my levels come back low after the bloodwork next Tuesday that he will probably refer me out to someone new.

[Enfuego129]

Enfuego,
I have a PPO plan for my insurance. My 1st GP referred me to a urologist and the urologist referred me to an endo. That endo he reffered me to does not deal with testosterone. So I found a new GP who does treat with IM. My guess if my levels come back low after the bloodwork next Tuesday that he will probably refer me out to someone new.

I am waiting for my first followup blood work as well. I get the feeling if my GP (HMO) does not have much experience in HRT for men. I will wait until after the results are in and see what levels might need to be adjusted and what he is willing to do.

[ZonaDave]

there are a number of problems with taking large infrequent T shots. when you first start TRT your T goes up within a few days and you feel pretty good but after a few shots your own T production slows down and your E2 level goes up. as E2 goes up Free T goes down.

the half-life of T is 5-8 days so as a minimum you need to be on a weekly shot schedule. you also have to keep an eye on your E2 and take Arimidex if needed.

[Vettester]

there are a number of problems with taking large infrequent T shots. when you first start TRT your T goes up within a few days and you feel pretty good but after a few shots your own T production slows down and your E2 level goes up. as E2 goes up Free T goes down.

the half-life of T is 5-8 days so as a minimum you need to be on a weekly shot schedule. you also have to keep an eye on your E2 and take Arimidex if needed.

Dave, all I know is that my Test levels go through the ceiling every time that I see your Av-Pic.

[buckeyes#1]

there are a number of problems with taking large infrequent T shots. when you first start TRT your T goes up within a few days and you feel pretty good but after a few shots your own T production slows down and your E2 level goes up. as E2 goes up Free T goes down.

the half-life of T is 5-8 days so as a minimum you need to be on a weekly shot schedule. you also have to keep an eye on your E2 and take Arimidex if needed.

ZonaDave,
I was on 10g of Androgel for a couple months before I started the shots, so my natural production was already slowed down.

Why do doctors not underdstand half-lifes and things? Most doctors don't seem to want to expand their knowledge of the subject. If I get questioned about something at my job and I don't know the answer, I research the topic and try to find the most i can out about it. Just wish doctors did the same thing.

[buckeyes#1]

To follow up the previous post with an example.

There is a guy that works out at my gym at work. He is also low test. A year ago his doctor put him on TRT. She told him to take 200mg/week for 4 weeks and then tested his blood. His levels were at 1043 and she took him off completely for six months. He went back in six months later tested at 235.

She just did the same thing to him again. Four weeks and stop for six months. It is the most ridiculous treatment I have heard of yet.

[zaggahamma]

guinea pig you are if you dont do your own research

[buckeyes#1]

I have done a ton of research myself and understand the best protocol is going to be once a week shot. The other guy I work with has no clue. She is just screwing him up worse.

The problem is, no matter howmuch research you do or how much you understand, is getting the doctor to listen to a non-dr.s advice.

[buckeyes#1]

One more thing, I received my last shot on the 5th of this month. Today I have totally felt the crash coming on. I am just irritated by everything, big or small. I wish my doctor could feel this way and maybe he would understand why once a week shots are better

[ZonaDave]

Dave, all I know is that my Test levels go through the ceiling every time that I see your Av-Pic.

lol, i hear that alot. i took that one last summer in our pool.

[ZonaDave]

ZonaDave,
I was on 10g of Androgel for a couple months before I started the shots, so my natural production was already slowed down.

Why do doctors not underdstand half-lifes and things? Most doctors don't seem to want to expand their knowledge of the subject. If I get questioned about something at my job and I don't know the answer, I research the topic and try to find the most i can out about it. Just wish doctors did the same thing.

i think their hands are tied to some degree because they are going by the published half-life. it's most likely a liability issue. the best thing to do is start doing self-shots so you can do weekly shots to see if that helps.

[ZonaDave]

One more thing, I received my last shot on the 5th of this month. Today I have totally felt the crash coming on. I am just irritated by everything, big or small. I wish my doctor could feel this way and maybe he would understand why once a week shots are better

hormones are nothing to mess with. now you know why women get so crazy when they PMS.

[buckeyes#1]

Zona,

I totally feel like a bitchy PMSing wife. I am having anxiety issues since last Friday. I am being snappy about every little thing. It sucks that I recognize it, but still continue to be pissy. Bloodwork and 200mg tomorrow, follow up appointment is Thursday to go over the bloodwork.

[buckeyes#1]

Went in for my bloodwork this morning. The tech stabbed me like five times trying to find the vein. I have never had anyone miss because it is right there. I wanted to reach out grab her by the throat. Didn't really hurt, but I am sure my arm is going to be black and blue for awhile.
Stopped at the Dr.s and got shot #4 today (200mg flowing through me as I type this). Hope I feel it soon because the last 5-6 days have been a pain in the ass. I have my followup appointment Thursday morning. Will let you know the results then.

[zaggahamma]

Went in for my bloodwork this morning. The tech stabbed me like five times trying to find the vein. I have never had anyone miss because it is right there. I wanted to reach out grab her by the throat. Didn't really hurt, but I am sure my arm is going to be black and blue for awhile.
Stopped at the Dr.s and got shot #4 today (200mg flowing through me as I type this). Hope I feel it soon because the last 5-6 days have been a pain in the ass. I have my followup appointment Thursday morning. Will let you know the results then.

sometimes i wonder where/if these people/nurses train

[buckeyes#1]

she was a phlebotomist according to her name tag. so she must have done at least two years of schooling. She never fully removed the needle, just brought it out like 3/4 of the way and then jabbed it back in, over and over and over. Ridiculous.

[zaggahamma]

she was a phlebotomist according to her name tag. so she must have done at least two years of schooling. She never fully removed the needle, just brought it out like 3/4 of the way and then jabbed it back in, over and over and over. Ridiculous.

then it gets duller and duller yep youre gonna bruise....should giver the same treatment in the pooper

[buckeyes#1]

then it gets duller and duller yep youre gonna bruise....should giver the same treatment in the pooper

Not sure there is enough test. in the world for me to give it her. She was not attractive, fit or young.

[zaggahamma]

Not sure there is enough test. in the world for me to give it her. She was not attractive, fit or young.

oh u got a waffle house phlebotemist holy shiat

[ZonaDave]

Went in for my bloodwork this morning. The tech stabbed me like five times trying to find the vein. I have never had anyone miss because it is right there. I wanted to reach out grab her by the throat. Didn't really hurt, but I am sure my arm is going to be black and blue for awhile.
Stopped at the Dr.s and got shot #4 today (200mg flowing through me as I type this). Hope I feel it soon because the last 5-6 days have been a pain in the ass. I have my followup appointment Thursday morning. Will let you know the results then.

my last doc was the worst at drawing blood. she had me in a sweat a few times digging around for a vein.

keep and eye on your E2. when mine is off i find myself complaining about everything and enjoying it.

i started taking pregnenolone caps two days ago...so far, so good. i heard it helps with energy and mood. so between T, DHEA and preg i should be able to replace the important hormones my balls use to produce.