Starting TRT - Tips , Advice , Experience

[TucsonJJ]

You didn't mention if you are working with a doctor? While its great to get a bunch of suggestions from guys on a forum, you should probably listen to his/her advice first. If it seems like a poor protocol, then its time to double check. Plus, unless you are going rogue, they are the one writing the prescription.

And no, wait at least 6-8 weeks on a dosage before you do testing. It takes awhile for your body to stabilize. Don't mess with dosing based on initial symptom relief (or lack thereof).

I went to EIGHT doctors before finding one taht knew anything about TRT or even male hormones... that included 3 primary care Docs, 4 urologists and one endocrinologist... so many doctors these days are dunces. Even my current Uro-PA only knows a few basics... do a LOT of your own reading and viewing videos online... you may know a lot more than most Docs... TRT clinics usually know enough, but are expensive...

 

[TucsonJJ]

That puts my trough number 650-700ng

Total testosterone means very little... what is your FREE testosterone? SHBG? Estradiol?

 

[sh1973]

I really don’t care about free t honestly or estradiol. This is where I feel good. My shbg is usually 55-70 depending on when I get labs and estradiol has never been more than 30pg/ml even with total levels over 1500ng. Whenever I have checked free t I feel the best in the 15-20ng range. More than that I feel terrible.

 

[deletedacct]

Well, my doc started me on 120mg per week... enanthate here (Delatestryl) ... and I failled to follow up properly... and cruised way too high... both my T anf Free T were super physiological and my E was pretty high too.. So, after a year went back for yearly... and discovered that... Since then lowered my dose to 100mg per week... and feel MUCH better... like a stress left my body... I am not an overly anxious guy, but it was like someone removed a burden off my shoulders...

Now I felt great, just a little too ... difficult to say... anxious is the only word that comes to mind but it's not exactly that... it was just too much. I also was having palpitations... which went away by magic when I lowered the dose...

So Start slow... Test, keep your total T in a physiological level where your free T is good... and you will feel like a million dollars... I do not do AI, HCG... or anything else... I keep it simple and kind of like my juvenile looking ball sack... lol

One thing I also learned is that I feel best at an EOD protocol... So currently, this is .14ml Every Other Day... I do subq, easy at those low doses...

You could start at 80 or 100 mg per week... divided into preferably at least 2 doses ... Test after 8 weeks... adjust... considering how you feel also.

The other factor you have to consider if using UG Lab Test... is quality of the product and the actual dose accuracy. It might be good to test yourself more often mayby to make sure you are consistent...

I don't know if others have noticed that too... but the more consistant I am, the better I feel and the better the libido is too... Seems that when you cruise at an even level, your body addapts and normalizes the other hormones and factors...

Godspeed... TRT gave me my life back, hope you get as much benefit as I did...

Great info! Thanks for the input. Definitely sounds like starting slow is the way to go! I’m hoping to see changes with TRT, not magic but improvements! I plan on doing injections Monday’s and Thursday’s.. Is there a reason you inject sub q instead of IM?

 

[deletedacct]

Nick , long term trt guy here. I had bad luck in the beginning of my journey I stopped and started a few times . Here’s what I would tell a new trt user. Pick a dose and stick with it whatever it is for six weeks get blood tested and go from there do not add hCG until you are stable with your Trt Dose. Hcg aromatizes fast and can cause e2 sides.
start low with multiple shots a week If you’re using a cypionate and I use a propionate and do daily shots 17 to 20 mg depending on how I feel. You have to pay attention to your body but remember this Testosterone is all natural and it should make you feel better but it is not a magic Bullet you still have to get enough sleep to feel better than next day you could still get tired and angry all that other stuff. With a cypionate I would start with 50 - 60 mg 3 times a week mwf. Get tested in 5 - 6 weeks. Adjust dose up or down and test again in 5-6 weeks. But you need to go by how you feel not all these guys on this board metabolize test in the Sane manner. So it you feel better at a 1200 test level then great some guys feel better at a 600 test level.

I agree I will have to go off how I feel, I’m thinking of doing 75 mg twice a week and go from there. I know the last time I got “tested” My TT was 550, and I was feeling horrible! Doc wouldn’t test anything else. Just gave anti depressant. Which is why I chose to do it UG. I’m awaiting my labs from discounted labs to see my Free T, E2 etc.

 

[deletedacct]

Does anyone know where I can find a chart / breakdowns of labs?

I’d like to learn the importanance of TT, FT, E2, SHBG etc. And the effects it has on the body. If numbers are too high/low

 

[deletedacct]

I went to EIGHT doctors before finding one taht knew anything about TRT or even male hormones... that included 3 primary care Docs, 4 urologists and one endocrinologist... so many doctors these days are dunces. Even my current Uro-PA only knows a few basics... do a LOT of your own reading and viewing videos online... you may know a lot more than most Docs... TRT clinics usually know enough, but are expensive...

This is exactly how I feel. I went to my doc and they didn’t know squat. It’s sad I have to go my own route but with the price of TRT clinics, there is no way!
Eventually I hope my circumstances change. I am worried about travels

 

[Sergel]

Great info! Thanks for the input. Definitely sounds like starting slow is the way to go! I’m hoping to see changes with TRT, not magic but improvements! I plan on doing injections Monday’s and Thursday’s.. Is there a reason you inject sub q instead of IM?

SubQ is convenient, painless most of the time and real easy. I use 27g, 1/2in needles to inject, 22g needle to draw from the vial... Get some 1ml syringes ... Do belly fat...

There is a lot of debate on Im vs SubQ... but those that complain are mostly the body building types as the doses are large and create bumps and stuff... but subq is ideal for small doses like we do on trt, especially on split doses... In your case if you started at say 100mg per week divided in two doses, that would be .25ml per injection... Nothing major really and well suited for subq.

 

[ForeverMuscle]

The BEST advice I could give you is, start with THE LOWEST dose possible. I also recommend mirco-dosing. Use insulin needles in the delts.

 

[deletedacct]

SubQ is convenient, painless most of the time and real easy. I use 27g, 1/2in needles to inject, 22g needle to draw from the vial... Get some 1ml syringes ... Do belly fat...

There is a lot of debate on Im vs SubQ... but those that complain are mostly the body building types as the doses are large and create bumps and stuff... but subq is ideal for small doses like we do on trt, especially on split doses... In your case if you started at say 100mg per week divided in two doses, that would be .25ml per injection... Nothing major really and well suited for subq.

Okay great, I will definitely look more into IM vs SubQ. Have you done both?
I have some 1/2ml 30g needles on hand already. I’m hoping that does the trick.

 

[LukeAndrews39]

The BEST advice I could give you is, start with THE LOWEST dose possible. I also recommend mirco-dosing. Use insulin needles in the delts.

Not to hijack the thread... but i'm also about to start daily subQ shots... have been on the fence about starting for a LONG time, but have been prescribed 100mg weekly T Cyp only, to start, from my Dr...then follow up labs in 8 weeks after first shot... i'd like to take the lowest dose that i can, and still feel better and be in range... my SHBG has been low 20s the past several years, and i dont want to feel all "amped" all the time...

what low dose would you suggest starting with?

 

[deletedacct]

Is anyone still following the thread? If so, I could definitely use some help reading off my initial labs

 

[BigBamBoo]

Post them up Nick.

 

[Rabbit91476]

I’d recommend no more than 80mg. I feel my best in the 60-80mg range. I’ve tried as high as 200mg per week and felt awful in every aspect. It’s a lot easier to work your way up then to start too high, get side effects and come back down.

Awful how?

 

[sh1973]

Insomnia at night, fatigue during the day, zero libido, acne, high hr, high blood pressure angry all the time, depressed etc...
At 60mg I sleep well, have tons of energy and all the other issues are resolved

 

[LukeAndrews39]

Insomnia at night, fatigue during the day, zero libido, acne, high hr, high blood pressure angry all the time, depressed etc...
At 60mg I sleep well, have tons of energy and all the other issues are resolved

I'm also going to be starting soon (prescribed 100mg per week) but wanting to start lower and see how i feel... do you do IM or SubQ? I have lower SHBG than you, mine was 22 last test...so i was planning to do daily small dose shots, but not sure how low i should start? Any recommendations?

 

[sh1973]

I think 80mg per week is a good place and you can always work your way up slowly if needed. I would think 3 times a week or every other day would be more than enough as far as frequency. I do once a week and feel best doing so but I have higher shbg.

 

[LukeAndrews39]

I think 80mg per week is a good place and you can always work your way up slowly if needed. I would think 3 times a week or every other day would be more than enough as far as frequency. I do once a week and feel best doing so but I have higher shbg.

the main reason i was thinking daily, is it would be easiest to just make it part of my daily routine... my wife has diabetes (at 30 and not overweight at any point in life, just genetics) and has to take 4 subQ shots per day...so i figure 1 wouldnt be that bad in comparison.
Do you feel that subq gives as good of results? do you think that i could possibly start lower than 80?

I'm 39 (40 in November) 6'4" 265lbs, desk job, low end of vitamin D...all other bloodwork was good... total T was mid 300s on my last test... have been anywhere from 250s to 480s over the past 7 years... if i KNEW that losing the extra 40lbs and eating/lifting/sleeping better would work, i'd just do that... i sleep fine, i have morning wood over 50% of the time...just a lack of energy/motivation and some brain fog are my main symptoms.

 

[LukeAndrews39]

the main reason i was thinking daily, is it would be easiest to just make it part of my daily routine... my wife has diabetes (at 30 and not overweight at any point in life, just genetics) and has to take 4 subQ shots per day...so i figure 1 wouldnt be that bad in comparison.
Do you feel that subq gives as good of results? do you think that i could possibly start lower than 80?

I'm 39 (40 in November) 6'4" 265lbs, desk job, low end of vitamin D...all other bloodwork was good... total T was mid 300s on my last test... have been anywhere from 250s to 480s over the past 7 years... if i KNEW that losing the extra 40lbs and eating/lifting/sleeping better would work, i'd just do that... i sleep fine, i have morning wood over 50% of the time...just a lack of energy/motivation and some brain fog are my main symptoms.

ive seen some people say that you CAN boost yourself naturally with lifestyle changes etc...and some that say it is a waste of time trying... i dont feel "bad", i just want my #s to put me in the normal range, so that i dont have any health issues related to low t, honestly

 

[sh1973]

Yeah a lower dose is possible because I use 60mg per week. I like IM better than sub q but you can try both to see which one you like best. My 7 day trough is 650-700ng on 60mg but my shbg is higher than yours. You can start at 60mg and work your way up if needed. It’s much easier to start low and work your way up as opposed to starting too high then backing off.