With todays shot will end week 2 of my new TRT protocol as had bit more test on week 3 before, so not counting it. Too early to make anything out of it so Ill just keep chipping away. Morning wood in place, workouts in the gym getting better, gaining weight slowly as per plan. I’m having lots of stress these days, and been having for years, so getting some fatigue and its tough to say why because so many variables at play. Also getting bit depressed but thats from real life issues on the daily basis and should get better. I’m a fighter and and look into world not by problems but solutions. Anxious a bit to get blood tests done but still 4-6 weeks left so patience and discipline is the name of the game as always. Will be very interesting to see what my #s are at and then manage from there. Current morning weight 86kg and still in pretty decent condition. Working out 6 days/week. Currently in the offseason to build as much muscle tissue as possible but also striving for wellness and longevity at the moment, since i’m 36 years young and been busting my ass in the gym since 2007 hardcore. Just a bit of info about myself and my journey for anyone interested. Lets see where it takes me from here:)
Man, when I started training again after getting on trt a couple of years ago, I had the headaches as well. Research on TNation let me know this was fairly common and most said theirs went away in time. Mine did as well (two to three weeks). Hang in there.
I hear ya bro…Then fucking headaches sucks…I’ve been on higher then TRT dose (250mg test-e/week) once a week IM injection for around 3 years and just recently lowered my dose to 125mg/week split in E3.5D sub-q injections. So maybe the change is causing the headaches, not sure as many variables in play. Too fucking many. I also need to buy a new bed cuz I have a nasty feeling this is whats fucking with my neck and joints overall as I wake up in pain so perhaps thus the headaches? Seems if I drink 1 liter of water upon waking up I most likely won’t have it at all or not so severe. Next variable I’ve been in caloric deficit for around 4 months and went into probably less then 8% bf. Now around 1 month into my offseason and basically having more fats only as I’ve always been a high carb guy even when shredding bf. So diet is also something to look into as well. Its a sea of variables bro at this point so I’m just waiting for 6-8 weeks to be able to run full blood tests to see where my #s are at and will start managing from there.
Thanks for support @cdmac24 lets see where this one goes
Quick update. This week will end week #3 of going from 250mg 1 IM injection per week to 125mg 2 SUB-Q injections per week. Currently not much of a difference as of now I can say. Making steady progress in the gym. Up 3kg since I’ve started off-season more then a month ago. Regaining strength after cutting and being in deficit for 4 months, slow but think steady at this pace. Looking nice and full, keeping waist as tight as possible and not going fat fwiw. Eating 3800kcal/daily, training 3on/1off or 4on/1off depending on how I feel. Cardio on training days post workout 20mins slow incline(max) walk. Have reduces calories as the weight was climbing too bast. Slow and steady wins the race as I have a long growing season in front of me;-)
Wishing everyone a great day and lets crush those goals!
Sorry for MIA guys but life got in the way…so heres a little update:
Off self-prescribed 250mg “TRT” since 2019 Q3. Done proper PCT.
Down 10kg.
Still train 3-5x/week
Did recent bloods and here are my results. What do you guys think? Am I a candidate for real TRT with these numbers? Symptoms are there as well, sadly. Sometimes more ruff sometimes milder. Been researching all my options as Im in the UK.
Thanks in advance.
P.s. ill share my symptoms if anyone be interested going forward.
Your Free T, estrogen and low and Total T are low normal. If you weren’t a candidate under your current healthcare system for TRT, don’t how why you wouldn’t be, that doesn’t mean you won’t show benefit.
More Science-Based “Low Normal” Testosterone Facts
“Low normal” total testosterone concentrations are associated with reductions in motivation, initiative, self-confidence, concentration and memory, sleep quality, muscle bulk and strength, diminished physical or work performance, feeling sad or blue, depressed mood, mild anemia, and increased body fat and body mass index.
Low normal serum testosterone concentrations are associated with reduced male sexual desire, function, performance and potency.
Low normal serum testosterone concentrations increase the risk for premature death from any cause.
Low normal serum testosterone concentrations increase the risk for death from cardiovascular disease, and increase the combined risk for suffering a first stroke or first transient ischemic attack.
Low normal serum testosterone concentrations increase the risk for both memory loss and developing clinical depression.
Low normal serum testosterone concentrations increase the risk of developing an increased level of systemic inflammation.
Multiple peer-reviewed papers state that “testosterone deficiencies” are more prevalent and “desirable testosterone” levels in men are actually much higher than what is currently being considered as “normal” in doctors’ practices across the country. Case in point: A cross-sectional study of Swedish men ages 69 to 80 years showed the risk for premature death from any cause and the risk for suffering a major cardiovascular event were inversely correlated with the total serum testosterone concentration (i.e., the higher the testosterone levels, the lower the risk of death).
Specifically with regards to cardiovascular events, men in the highest quartile of testosterone (at or higher than 550 ng/dL) had a lower risk of cardiovascular events compared with men with lower testosterone.
More importantly, details from this study show that it did not matter if a man’s total testosterone was very low (below 340 ng/dL ) or moderately low (up to 549 ng/dL ) – all men with T levels below 549 ng/dL had a similar increased risk for suffering a cardiovascular event. Only when total testosterone exceeded 550 ng/dL did cardiovascular risk drop.
This is truly alarming, as cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of men in the United States and even more – this study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. These researchers documented a 30 percent reduction in cardiovascular events as well as a decrease in cerebrovascular disease incidence. Men with the highest total testosterone had a 24 percent reduced risk of transient ischemic attack or full-blown stroke. Clearly, based on this study, the only target for “healthy testosterone” is to maintain total testosterone at or above 550 ng/dL.
As a health care practitioner, please note the following:
According to LabCorp, the “healthy reference range” for total testosterone is 348–1,197 ng/dL. So, the lower part of this range completely ignores recent science that shows total testosterone levels need to be maintained above 550 ng/dL.
Subjectively, this broad range is ridiculous. As any 45-year-old man who has suffered with low normal testosterone knows,there is a world of difference in how a man feels and performs (both mentally and physically) when testosterone is “low normal” versus higher up the healthy “normal” reference range.
Thanks for reply and info mate.I tried getting NHS to do me this blood test as I have been having most symptoms but nobody listened to me. Kept doing the same ol blood work which always comes back normal. I need myself at 100% to perform at the highest level in my field so decided to do a private blood test after 3 years since comming off self-prescribed 250mg dose. On monday Ill be seeing my GP so Ill show her this blood test and ask her to send me to endo but to be honest i think that will be no bueno as well. So you think with my numbers I’m a candidate mate?
Having read, watched and researched a lot of docs and folks involved in TRT general suggestion it seems when starting TRT go 100mg or 150mg right out the gate. That makes sense, but it also makes sense to start lower and see what happens, imho. I’m curious what would the guys that have good experience here would advise? I key as I understand is the lowest dose and the lowest injection frequence to fix ones symptoms. I don’t care about gym gains as I still look decent, but I want to feel decent as well. Improve cognitive/brain health, brain fog, increase libido and decrease fatigue. Basically like everyone else. With my above range SHGB I’m leaning towards one weekly injection, but the main question still what dosage to run with. I’ve been thinking, researching and trying to raise my natural T for 3 years, so its been a long time coming. Have time and patience to do everything methodically and systematically, not rushing anywhere and changing protocols every 2 weeks like most impatient guys. No disrespect so lets get some comments guys. If you have anything to say- you are more then welcome:)
Very interesting info systemlord. Thank you. So to me it screams that I must start TRT and try getting my levels above that 550mg minimum. What is your opinion regarding the starting dosage considering my numbers I’ve posted above?
150mg and blood work 8-12 wks later sounds reasonable. To be honest most of the folks I’ve talked to suggest 150mg/wk. Minority anything sub 100mg/wk fwiw.
It’s TRT approved then. Supplies from pharmacy ordered. Yeah buddy! After 3 years I’m back at it after suffering numerous symptoms and one thing I can say for sure- fuck lowT. Will put notes in here so any questions/comments/suggestions are welcome. It’s been a long way and still a long way to go so lets get rolling;)
