Bummed out now...After successful start with HCG monotherapy

[ERO]

That is an extreme reaction. Most of us never feel anything like that when starting T injections. some do but it typically only lasts a short time like 2-4 weeks.

 

[CSI007]

Is that a good or bad thing? I mean wow. My body is still humming. I am feeling waves of euphoria (the only way I can describe it).

I guess my values have been so low again that if I get a sharp jolt to the system this is what it feels like.

But now I am starting to wonder if 400iu every day may be a bit too much. :/ As of now, except for my testicles hurting I feel fantastic (as of this moment) so I am not going to stop unless told to do so.

 

[Re-Ride]

I would back off a bit. Don't assume everything is an hCG response. Testicular pain, higher libido and higher volume semen are consistent with a testicular response to hCG. For me it could last days or months then suddenly stop. If you are over-activated cut back. Enjoy it while it lasts. With hCG mono it's not inconceivable that low dose daily with an occasional blast might turn out to be a legitimate protocol for some. That might be o.k. from a fertility point of view but it doesn't help much with maintaining high serum T for other aspects of health.

 

[CSI007]

I'm wondering if this is direct T increase response so soon, or is it just HCG acting on receptors in the brain? I guess I will find out in a month when I test again. Obviously it's doing something in the testicles though so things must be getting turned on again.

I still feel fantastic this morning and on only about 5 hours of sleep!

 

[Re-Ride]

As long as your Leydigs are healthy , yes , they can respond very quickly to injection in minutes or hours. How you feel after hCG is the composite effect of LH receptor activity throughout the body and things we can only speculate the peptide does in the testes and elsewhere.

In the package insert at least one protocol for males suggests waiting a month before restarting IIRC. Anyhow for many there is not a consistent response adequate to maintain high serum T.

 

[CSI007]

Well after a "weird" weekend the muscle pain has subsided. I did not change the dose. Will continue the course.

 

[CSI007]

Just a quick update for those following along on this Journey. Oct 6th makes it 3 weeks since I started 400iu HCG every day. My energy level has returned. I am hornier but my ED is only slightly improved over what it was right before my T crash on 500iu every 3.5 days. Hot flashes have subsided. However, this past week has not been a good gauge. I have been fighting a head cold so not sure how I actually "feel" right now. LOL

Overall though, my memory is getting better, I feel better and my mood is much, much better. I have not had any crazy sensations like the one I reported about a week and half ago. Although I seem to have minor episodes of euphoria from time to time. Which is a welcome change from feeling like I want to jump off a building. I have been toying with the idea of getting another T test done the end of this week from Discount labs just to see where things are moving but being sick I don't want anything to skew the numbers so I may just wait til the end of next week now.

Also had to but the MRI on hold just a few more weeks because of cash flow. Oh and I am running out of HCG. My pharmacy is not getting this stuff to me in a timely fashion even though my Doc orders it 2 weeks ahead for me. Anyone else have issues getting their HCG in a timely manner on a regular basis?

 

[CSI007]

Just over a month on 400iu per day. It appears that it has only successfully raised my T about 10 from the last test but my E2 is about 6 points over what it was but still well within normal ranges but I am sure the ratio is not good.

Any suggestions now? Increase dosage worth a shot or is this a lost cause and I should just move on to T.

 

[Vince Carter]

I forget which it is exactly but primary/secondary Hypogonadal an HCG mono isn't going to work, for T anyway, as the testes seem to be the problem vs the Pituitary/LH. I think that's what we're seeing here.

 

[CSI007]

I think you could be right, however, my LH was very low. Around 2 or so when measured. I think the highest measured was 4 something.

The HCG initially got me to 567 and my free T was at 22 during this time. That is within 6 weeks of first starting.

I am at a total loss to be honest.

At least I know why I still feel like crap. After I increased the dosage I had a period of time where I felt pretty damn good but it faded again within weeks.

How the heck is my E2 rising when my T is still in the shitter? I thought you needed excess T to make E2

 

[CSI007]

I'm waiting for my Doctor to call me so we can discuss further but he says it's time to do cream or injections of T.

Gonna ask him if I can use the Nateso I have while I wait for other stuff to get here.

 

[Re-Ride]

... How the heck is my E2 rising when my T is still in the shitter? I thought you needed excess T to make E2

https://www.auanet.org/university/abstract_detail.cfm?id=MP47-01&meetingID=14ORL

 

[CSI007]

https://www.auanet.org/university/abstract_detail.cfm?id=MP47-01&meetingID=14ORL

Yes, I know about the amortase in the testicles but you I figured you would actually need excessive T to get the ball rolling so to speak.

Just spoke with my Doctor, and after a pretty good beginning trying HCG monotherapy and then failing, I am moving on to Testosterone cream. In the mean time, I am still trying to get my brain scan scheduled. But it would seem that perhaps this is more involved then just being a lack of LH in the system.

Doctor will be ordering T- cream from Empower and we will see where that gets me. Also, says that using the nateso for a week or so should not be a problem. I guess I will give that a shot starting either tonight or tomorrow.

 

[CSI007]

Took my first dose of Natesto this morning. First impressions are I am not sure I like it. My nose is running now, the gel has a weird feeling and I can taste some residual running down my throat. Been 30 minutes since I administered the first dose and this product is supposed to spike on average between 700 and 1000 with in 45 minutes. The only other reviews online of the product that I could find - people said they felt almost immediate positive affects from it. We'll see. If I can deal with this stuff until my compounded cream arrives I will be giving my self HCG injections every 3.5 days in addition.

 

[johndoesmith]

Took my first dose of Natesto this morning. First impressions are I am not sure I like it. My nose is running now, the gel has a weird feeling and I can taste some residual running down my throat. Been 30 minutes since I administered the first dose and this product is supposed to spike on average between 700 and 1000 with in 45 minutes. The only other reviews online of the product that I could find - people said they felt almost immediate positive affects from it. We'll see. If I can deal with this stuff until my compounded cream arrives I will be giving my self HCG injections every 3.5 days in addition.

Some of the effects of testosterone can be noticeable immediately, but very few. Vasodilation such as surface veins on your arms, maybe a bit of energy from vasodilation in certain organs, but the real effects mood, anxiety, erections, muscle gain, or libido take longer to happen really.

Testosterone isn't like drinking a cup of coffee where all of the effects are felt in an hour.

 

[CSI007]

Second dose, spontaneous erection 15 minutes later? :thumbsup: I guess its the T doing it. This doesn't happen to much anymore.

 

[johndoesmith]

Second dose, spontaneous erection 15 minutes later? :thumbsup: I guess its the T doing it. This doesn't happen to much anymore.

I guess it's possible if your lack of erections or weaker erections was caused by lack of nitric oxide due to low test.

It could also be because you believe it will fix erections, therefore it fixed your erections. Either way it's working for you! It's always good to be able to have an erection.

 

[CSI007]

Thats very possible. I will say this. Despite my set backs with HCG mono, it did help in that department and strangely when I experienced the crash feelings with hot flashes and mental issues the ED was still better then before but not normal. Hopefully this will help in that department as well since the HCG alone seemed too for a time anyway.

 

[johndoesmith]

Thats very possible. I will say this. Despite my set backs with HCG mono, it did help in that department and strangely when I experienced the crash feelings with hot flashes and mental issues the ED was still better then before but not normal. Hopefully this will help in that department as well since the HCG alone seemed too for a time anyway.

Which one?

Crash feeling with hot flashes sounds like low E2 man. You never listed any E2 levels but that's what it sounds like to me.

 

[CSI007]

My E2 has always been very low. I posted results in my other threads. Before starting this journey my low point for T was 280s with E2 around 7. The highest my E2 read was last week at 19 with only HCG mono 400iu.

Brief History:

For years I have had hot flashes off and on. Joint pain, muscle aches etc. But last year it got really bad (especially my energy levels and brain fog, concentration issues) then came the ED issues and that's when I started to search.

I am willing to bet my problem is two fold. Testicles and Pituitary. I think the chemo I had 15 years ago did damage and now that I am older and my body is falling apart the parts that worked OK when I was 15 years younger just ain't cutting it now.

Still can't figure out why the HCG worked at first and then faded. But I have read that it can happen and there doesn't seem to be a definite answer as to why.