TRT

[BHC Vic]

So last year sometime there was a thread on here about Trt. I posted I was going to get blood work done as I don’t feel the same anymore but I got pretty busy with life and didn’t get around to it till recently. I’ve been hitting the gym hard lately, but I just don’t have the strength I used to have. I’m always tired, it’s extremely hard to cut fat. At any rate I went and got bloodwork done as I found a new dr I really like. When I asked about having my levels checked he kind of smiled and said ok but just by looking at you I can tell your levels aren’t low. I credit that to how hard I push myself and the cutting out as much sugar as possible. Well labs came back and my test is pretty low. 152… Dr said that could explain why I’m feeling the way I am and said we can start to work on it. He said I need to get bloodwork one more time so insurance can cover treatment. The reason I started this thread is because he said there’s options. Cream or injections. I have 3 young boys so he said injections might be tougher. What are your guys thoughts? I know there’s plenty of guys on trt so I have to imagine some are running cream and some injections. How low were you guys? Could the cream get me to a decent spot? I’d imagine anything is better than where I’m at? I have other questions but don’t want too long of a first post

 

[FlyByWire]

I do injections personally. I wasn’t too low and I’m forgetting my numbers currently, but I need to go back and get tested as it’s been about 6 months. I’ve liked the change, but if I’m guessing I’m still a tad low. I do these every 2 weeks.

 

[Rajobigguy]

No experience with this stuff myself but I’m interested in learning. At my age I can’t imagine that my levels aren’t low. I’m having trouble keeping the weight off and don’t have the stamina that did only a couple of years ago. I could just write it off to age but but if it’s actually low-T it would be nice to know.

 

[BHC Vic]

I do injections personally. I wasn’t too low and I’m forgetting my numbers currently, but I need to go back and get tested as it’s been about 6 months. I’ve liked the change, but if I’m guessing I’m still a tad low. I do these every 2 weeks.

View attachment 1481861

2 weeks? That’s not too bad. I’m not a big fan of shots if I’m being honest but I guess I could get used to it

 

[FlyByWire]

2 weeks? That’s not too bad. I’m not a big fan of shots if I’m being honest but I guess I could get used to it

Twice a month, yeah.

I found a video on the YouTube from a nurse about giving yourself injections, and I barely feel it.

 

[shockwave714]

I’m not an expert but from what I’ve read if you use the cream and you hug your wife or the kids it rubs off on them.

 

[OC Daytona]

Do the INJECTIONS. The creams and gels won't get you to 700-800 or keep you there for most ppl and if you have kids you have to be sure to wash the gels and creams off your hands and don't let them or your wife rub against the area that you rubbed the cream/gel on or it can transfer to them. The syringes are best once you get the hang of it. Like flyByWire says, you barely feel them once you're used to it.

 

[shockwave714]

Not sure if your insurance would cover it, but there is pellets those work really well

 

[shockwave714]

I know this isn’t in your area, but this guy has a lot of good information.

Best Anti-Aging Beverly Hills & Newport Beach | AsandraMD

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asandramd.com

 

[OC Daytona]

Not sure if your insurance would cover it, but there is pellets those work really well

The problem with the pellets is they are the most expensive way to do it....usually at least $300 and once they are in you can't adjust the dose up or down for months.
The hot ticket is to get your doctor to get you a 10ml bottle of test and you use 27 gauge half inch insulin syringes and inject is subcutaneously instead of using nail size 22 or 23 gauge 1 1/2' needles. The 27 gauge will load in 5 seconds from the bottle and most insurance covers you for $10 a bottle which will get you at least 10 shots or 2 1/2 months. You're welcome SubQ works just as well as intramuscular, I've been on it since 2008.

Easy peasy. The dr will tell you 27 gauge won't work and I tell them,
"really, I've been doing it for 15 years". All of my friends use this method.

 

[8dayz]

If your Dr. won’t won’t write you a prescription, look for a Game Day Men’s Health. It’s super easy. One stop shop. I give myself a shot every four days. I wasn’t low enough for the insurance to cover it. I went from mid 300’s to almost 900. It’s been almost a year. It has made a YUGE difference. Mood, energy, strength and body composition changes. All the supplies show up on your porch and they bang your credit card almost $200 a month.

 

[Done-it-again]

Get injections, gel doesn’t work and it’s bad news if the kids or wife touches you where you apply it.

I do injects 1x a week and blood work every 3 months. When taking injections you also should be on estrogen blocker as that will raise when T raises. You will know as your nips will be sensitive.

 

[8dayz]

I forgot to mention better sleep and it will put some extra snap in your party whistle…

 

[Rajobigguy]

I’m not an expert but from what I’ve read if you use the cream and you hug your wife or the kids it rubs off on them.

Yeah that doesn’t sound good. A wife with a 5 o’clock shadow and a couple of young boys running around with woody’s.
Best to stick with injections.

 

[PlumLoco]

Lots of folks will say a single monthly injection will make you feel "highs and lows" in the cycle. I've been getting them for over 15 years and I've never noticed it.
I experimented a few years ago with going 2X a month, but I found that remembering to go every 2 weeks for a half dose was too inconvenient with too much pressure to get there at the right time every two weeks.
My wife just started T pellets and the first round didn't go well but the anticipated improvements in hot flashes, night sweats, and lack of energy turned around in the first 24 hrs.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Get injections. I’m 40 and will be starting soon. I’ve talked to a ton of people and they are living their best life on this stuff. Just keep monitoring.

 

[LazyLavey]

Game Day here

I was tired of feeling exhausted in the afternoons and I felt my mental clarity was diminishing. ...

Injection once a week took me from 200 up to 800.

Wife does the injection although I have done it myself. Easier than I thought

Worth it? I'm on month 3 and frankly haven't noticed a significant difference. I'm probably expecting too much... Still questionable.

However, I was advised if you're already in pretty good condition and lead a active lifestyle it's likely you may not notice a significant difference.

I'm not overweight, exercise regularly, pretty strict diet.... Maybe I'm just getting old???

Side effects.... ya, a lot of wood (when the wind blows) and arthritis seems to have calmed a bit.... good things. Nothing negative to report

No insurance, out of pocket

 

[boatnam2]

The problem with the pellets is they are the most expensive way to do it....usually at least $300 and once they are in you can't adjust the dose up or down for months.
The hot ticket is to get your doctor to get you a 10ml bottle of test and you use 27 gauge half inch insulin syringes and inject is subcutaneously instead of using nail size 22 or 23 gauge 1 1/2' needles. The 27 gauge will load in 5 seconds from the bottle and most insurance covers you for $10 a bottle which will get you at least 10 shots or 2 1/2 months. You're welcome SubQ works just as well as intramuscular, I've been on it since 2008.

Easy peasy. The dr will tell you 27 gauge won't work and I tell them,
"really, I've been doing it for 15 years". All of my friends use this method.

This!

 

[RitcheyRch]

For those that do testosterone injections, please make sure you donate blood on a regular basis. I didn't and my hemoglobin was elevated (above 17.0) and my blood would clot during blood draws. Very dangerous. It took a 2-3 years of donating blood 3-4 time per year for my hemoglobin levels to get back to normal.

Hemoglobin test - Mayo Clinic

www.mayoclinic.org

 

[Riverbound]

So last year sometime there was a thread on here about Trt. I posted I was going to get blood work done as I don’t feel the same anymore but I got pretty busy with life and didn’t get around to it till recently. I’ve been hitting the gym hard lately, but I just don’t have the strength I used to have. I’m always tired, it’s extremely hard to cut fat. At any rate I went and got bloodwork done as I found a new dr I really like. When I asked about having my levels checked he kind of smiled and said ok but just by looking at you I can tell your levels aren’t low. I credit that to how hard I push myself and the cutting out as much sugar as possible. Well labs came back and my test is pretty low. 152… Dr said that could explain why I’m feeling the way I am and said we can start to work on it. He said I need to get bloodwork one more time so insurance can cover treatment. The reason I started this thread is because he said there’s options. Cream or injections. I have 3 young boys so he said injections might be tougher. What are your guys thoughts? I know there’s plenty of guys on trt so I have to imagine some are running cream and some injections. How low were you guys? Could the cream get me to a decent spot? I’d imagine anything is better than where I’m at? I have other questions but don’t want too long of a first post

Mine was at 200 I found a great Dr and get Biote pellets. I go every 6 months and she keeps an eye on my levels with periodic bloodwork. My bloodwork is covered by insurance the pellets are not. For me the benefit of going with something like biote over just straight trt is my dr monitors all of my hormones and keeps everything in line.

My T now sits at 1200 I hit the gym 5 days a week. Down 30+ lbs. much better mood and am off all RX meds. This was part of my journey to fix my back without surgery (3 herniated discs, 2 tears degenerative discs and stenosis).

I’m 3 years into a 5 says a week at the gym and will be competing in the upcoming CrossFit open starting this week.

Getting all your levels right is a huge part of fighting the way you feel.

 

[petie6464]

It's very simple. Your doctor will prescribed a dosage assuming you dont have a pre existing condition that may cause issues. (Note not all general doctors are up on trt replacement, in fact some are living in the dark ages and are not up on the other health advantages of having a healthy test level.) In that case find a new doctor and beware mens health centers as they often bypass/ shortcut and over prescribe and that cam be unhealthy and dangerous.

It will typically be a very small dosage probably in the .5cc/ range of Test Cypionate every two weeks, however that will base from your labs and your health etc. A good doctor will start on the low side, check you and adjust your dosage based on how you're responding to treatment.

The fact: Creams don't work well and yes they cam rub off on your wife and are definitely a no if you have adolescent girls around you. Don't waste your time with gels.

Frequently is important as larger spaced injections will give you "swings" in your levels and that's not what you want. Two weeks seems to be the good compromise, no one wants to be doing injections every few days or even every week. If you have never done self injection or given injections it's a good life skill to have. The needles are small gage 22 or 23 gage. (Smaller # bigger needle) they are not painful and often not even felt.

Regular blood test are definitely something your doctor will want you to do, testosterone raises red blood cell levels and will typically raise your hemoglobin. Hi hemoglobin is dangerous, Think of it as your bloods thickness and as it get thick you can imagine what can happen.

Its something that has to be tuned in for each as everyone is different and men respond differently to treatments (Dosages frequency and testosterone type)

The cost is negligible even if cash pay, 10mil. of test Cypionate is usually $50ish. (It varies wildly from pharmacy to pharmacy, use an app like Good RX to find the best price) Depending on your dosage that could last you 40 weeks.

Bottom line it's 100% worth the effort, if your levels are low and you get them up to a healthy level you will feel like a new man.

 

[THE WIDGE]

Anyone try Clomiphene aka Clomid. It tricks your body to produce more testosterone . A Dr suggested I try this first.

 

[DWC]

Anyone try Clomiphene aka Clomid. It tricks your body to produce more testosterone . A Dr suggested I try this first.

Started this a few months ago. Helped raise my test numbers to solid levels and no needles . Energy levels are 100% better and no mood swings.

 

[BHC Vic]

Game Day here

I was tired of feeling exhausted in the afternoons and I felt my mental clarity was diminishing. ...

Injection once a week took me from 200 up to 800.

Wife does the injection although I have done it myself. Easier than I thought

Worth it? I'm on month 3 and frankly haven't noticed a significant difference. I'm probably expecting too much... Still questionable.

However, I was advised if you're already in pretty good condition and lead a active lifestyle it's likely you may not notice a significant difference.

I'm not overweight, exercise regularly, pretty strict diet.... Maybe I'm just getting old???

Side effects.... ya, a lot of wood (when the wind blows) and arthritis seems to have calmed a bit.... good things. Nothing negative to report

No insurance, out of pocket

That’s another thing we are going to take a look at. In afraid I have arthritis so if this helps that’s a bonus

 

[THE WIDGE]

Started this a few months ago. Helped raise my test numbers to solid levels and no needles . Energy levels are 100% better and no mood swings.

Did insurance cover it. My number is 366 and my regular Dr said I needed to be under 300 for trt. I’m going to ask if if Clomid would be covered with the lower number and tiredness.

Clomid seemed like a good option for me to start and see if it works.

 

[BHC Vic]

Im starting to feel even worse with my number being 152

 

[Icky]

Im starting to feel even worse with my number being 152

I just checked my last test from 2 years ago 277. Now I want to ask my Dr about this

 

[gqchris]

Please get biweekly blood draws. Like others have mentioned, I red blood cells shot thru the roof. I could not get them down, even with blood donating. It was always a bitch noone could draw blood from me.

 

[DWC]

Did insurance cover it. My number is 366 and my regular Dr said I needed to be under 300 for trt. I’m going to ask if if Clomid would be covered with the lower number and tiredness.

Clomid seemed like a good option for me to start and see if it works.

Nope, insurance didn’t cover it. I didn’t push it though. I was at 374 to start and jumped to 900 on the follow up test. Prescription error and i didn’t follow the pre-lab instructions led to the jump. 2nd bottle had double dosage by mistake. .

 

[FCT]

Don’t do pellets, gel or any of that crap. Take actual injections. “Normal” ranges are to broad and if your a guy that’s used to operating at 700 why would you want to operate at 500 even though it’s “normal”.

 

[HTTP404]

ugh, I've been ignoring this. My levels are low. I hate needles.

 

[Runs2rch]

What about the pills Frank Thomas and Doug Flutie are telling me to take?!

 

[petie6464]

Please get biweekly blood draws. Like others have mentioned, I red blood cells shot thru the roof. I could not get them down, even with blood donating. It was always a bitch noone could draw blood from me.

If thatbwhere the case something was drama off.

Please get biweekly blood draws. Like others have mentioned, I red blood cells shot thru the roof. I could not get them down, even with blood donating. It was always a bitch noone could draw blood from me.

Where you tested for polycythemia Vera? Although rare it's possible.

If that where the case something was way off. Some men do react and do have issues with this as I mentioned. Typically a different testosterone and or lower doses will bring it in check.

You shouldn't need phlebotomy when your levels and dosages are correct although some can but certainly not that often, that's dangerous unless your hemoglobin was 20+ they did it to get it down quickly as you where at-risk of a stroke or other cardiac event with it that high.

Reason to walk before running and my mention of caution towards mens health type places as I've known guys that will go in and has <100 total testosterone and the doctor says "We need you to be @ 900-1000" I would walk out. Creeping up on it is the right and safe way to do it.

Someone with <100 and gets it to 500 is going to feel 100% better and will most likely not have issues, going to 900-1000 you probably won't feel any better than @ 500 but you may start having these and other side effects.

 

[FreeBird236]

Any truth to the statement that once you start you can't stop, because your body quits producing testosterone?

 

[petie6464]

ugh, I've been ignoring this. My levels are low. I hate needles.

Get over it, those tiny needles are laughable.

Seriously, it's no joke you will be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner. Low T creeps up on most slowly and you just become use to the way you feel and that's not who you use to be.

It really can be life changing!

 

[petie6464]

Any truth to the statement that once you start you can't stop, because your body quits producing testosterone?

Pretty much. The whole idea is to do it once your body has already pretty much stopped producing it already naturally or perhaps from some medical condition.

 

[Done-it-again]

Any truth to the statement that once you start you can't stop, because your body quits producing testosterone?

Your body does stop producing T when on it. I also take HCG to help my body produce its own.

 

[WTR&PWR]

I was in a similar situation. Changed my diet and started giving my body the fuel it needs for the output I expect to get out of it. I have noticed a change of 100% and can tell my testosterone is way up.

I would recommend doing a strict diet for a few weeks and see what that does for you. Like anything else, there’s no quick fix and you likely should search for what caused your T to lower rather than what a quick fix is. Just my .02.

 

[MonkeyButt70]

The one common thing I have heard from friends on TRT is that they could not recommend it enough. Not one person has said they regretted starting it. Their older body finally started feeling like their 20 year old Mind.

 

[JL95]

Can a bossy wife cause low T? LMFAO If vic is at 152 i gotta be at 40 I don't think it's normal for a dude in his late 20's to feel as shitty as i do daily. Gotta get tested for this.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Pretty much. The whole idea is to do it once your body has already pretty much stopped producing it already naturally or perhaps from some medical condition.

Yep. This.

 

[boatnam2]

Didn't try it too long but I could see the difference after 3-5 weeks in muscle and being able to do more push ups ect ect and I'm 62, had to stop the shit with persistent afib, last thing I need right now is thick blood.

 

[FlyByWire]

ugh, I've been ignoring this. My levels are low. I hate needles.

You’ll be fine. If I can do it, you can too. It’s worth it for sure.

 

[BHC Vic]

Don’t do pellets, gel or any of that crap. Take actual injections. “Normal” ranges are to broad and if your a guy that’s used to operating at 700 why would you want to operate at 500 even though it’s “normal”.

I was kind of shocked to see my numbers so low. The doc you recommend has been awesome and I was super happy that he said we could fix it. I thought I was going to have to start jumping through hoops.

 

[LazyLavey]

Needle phobia?

Keep in mind, there are different size needles...

I use the pink for loading the syringe, only because I was having a hard time loading, and orange or yellow for injection. My wife was a phlebotomist for a short period of time...... she loves the Dr Pimple Popper stuff...lol. didn't have to talk her into it

 

[FCT]

I was kind of shocked to see my numbers so low. The doc you recommend has been awesome and I was super happy that he said we could fix it. I thought I was going to have to start jumping through hoops.

That’s rad. He’s a great guy and as red as they get!

Glad he’s taking care of you

 

[ChumpChange]

Any truth to the statement that once you start you can't stop, because your body quits producing testosterone?

No. Not necessarily with TRT. But let’s say you start at forty. And you feel great.

After ten years you tell yourself you want to stop. So you do. And now you feel worse. Well not only did you stop the TRT but you’re also ten years older than when you started. Why would you do that?

 

[BabyRay]

If thatbwhere the case something was drama off.

Where you tested for polycythemia Vera? Although rare it's possible.

If that where the case something was way off. Some men do react and do have issues with this as I mentioned. Typically a different testosterone and or lower doses will bring it in check.

You shouldn't need phlebotomy when your levels and dosages are correct although some can but certainly not that often, that's dangerous unless your hemoglobin was 20+ they did it to get it down quickly as you where at-risk of a stroke or other cardiac event with it that high.

Reason to walk before running and my mention of caution towards mens health type places as I've known guys that will go in and has <100 total testosterone and the doctor says "We need you to be @ 900-1000" I would walk out. Creeping up on it is the right and safe way to do it.

Someone with <100 and gets it to 500 is going to feel 100% better and will most likely not have issues, going to 900-1000 you probably won't feel any better than @ 500 but you may start having these and other side effects.

Due to its rarity, I was surprised by your mention of polycythemia Vera, but you could be correct.

My brother happens to have it, and blood draws are a part of managing the red cell count. One of the symptoms is extreme fatigue, much like low T.

 

[Yoshiro]

TRT did a lot for me. I've been on weekly shots for about 8+ years now. You get used to the needles. It's well worth it.

When I started my test levels were around 200.

 

[FreeBird236]

No. Not necessarily with TRT. But let’s say you start at forty. And you feel great.

After ten years you tell yourself you want to stop. So you do. And now you feel worse. Well not only did you stop the TRT but you’re also ten years older than when you started. Why would you do that?

I don't know, maybe some of the info I've heard over the years is no longer viable. I've heard of safety concerns, increased prostate cancer, heart attacks etc.