9 Weeks Cold Turkey?

Call it being naive or just not doing my homework, but I am not ready for TRT right now. I’m getting zero benefits, plus my chest feels incredible itchy and hot. I’ve also lost the ability to orgasm. I don’t want to go on an AI or have some concoction of drugs to normalize everything. I’m 50lbs overweight and don’t exercise. I need to get that in order before doing anything else.

Just had a few questions, not looking for a “just try XYZ”, just hoping to get some advice.

I’ve done 9 injections of 200mg test-c. 9 weeks.

Is going cold turkey feasible or do I need to take anything on my way down?

When will the (what I assume are) high E symptoms subside on their own?

How long until “norm” again?

Trying not to, but I’ve never had sexual problems in my life, now I can’t orgasm? Hard not to freak out a bit.

You didn’t mention in your thread at EM. Don’t freak out, this is not uncommon on ridiculous weekly doses of Test for TRT. Hang in there and get that blood work at trough and learn something. Then report back and I can show you how ridiculuous (or not) your blood levels are right now.

High TT/fT---->neurotransmitters all f’ed up. E2 may be jacked up. Flying blind without the blood work. You are taking a modest “cycle level” dose of Test right now and I told you prior that thou shall not prescribe 200 mg/week of Test Cyp to testosterone naive patient for TRT when you have no idea their clearance or distribution volume. Especially an older fatter guy.

I understand where you are at and it is easy to freak out. Hang in there.

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I thought it was a fluke. Now that 3-4 “attempts” have been unsuccessful, I know it’s definitely not a fluke.

I have another call into my doctor. I’m just ready to be done. My doc won’t see me for 3 weeks. I don’t want to continue taking this for that long and further screw things up or cause more issues coming off.

I am normally fairly cool headed, but no orgasm and weird nipple stuff (with the existing gyno fears) has me ready to be done. I just never imagined going through this.

Really just wanting to know what will happen if I stop.

3-4 attempts at what? You have tried testosterone replacement therapy prior?

If you go cold turkey it will take 3-5 weeks for your levels to bottom out and then more time for your HPTA to restart. How long until your testicles start making Test again? Could be 8 weeks or could be months. There are ways to come off Test and give yourself the best possible chance of starting up again as quickly as possible but time usually solves the issue.

3-4 attempts to achieve orgasm. I was answering why I didn’t include it in my last message.

Ok, did not follow.

Again, this is common with supraphysiologic testosterone usage. Hey do what you want but messed up (not your fault although I wish you would have done more HW as we discussed on EM) that you did not start low and slow with the TRT if you initially had a medical need (can’t remember your baseline numbers). Good luck I have given you my best advice.

My current protocol and over almost 5 years on TRT:
80 mg/week Test Cyp (done weekly and twice weekly injections)
400 IU u-hCG twice weekly.

I wish you the best. You will get through this.

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Baseline was low 200’s. Probably should have just stuck there.

Easy candidate for reasonable TRT. Walk before you run and all that. I am sorry you have been put off by this experience.

There are/were so many other options than to start you at 200 mg/week of testosterone cypionate. I would strongly consider giving TRT a fair evalulation. Odds are what you are currently doing is not TRT. Good luck

I went back to other thread and pulled these numbers:

Free test prior was 49 pg/mL. Total was 245.9 ng/dL.

At these levels you’re at high risk for cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.

Your doctor and starting protocol are to blame for no benefits.

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So do you feel like cutting down to 100/mg per week would help curb these side effects until I can get back to my doc in 3 weeks?

Without a doubt because too much testosterone can be just as bad as not enough.

If you think you can inject exogenous T and feel amazing without correcting the poor lifestyle choices that lead to you being overweight and having low-T, then you’re delusional.

You’re a metabolic emergency and TRT is a tool to achieving a healthy mind and body, if you don’t use that tool, you’re not going to get better!

Thanks!

Update, I am going tomorrow to see another doctor in the practice. Mine is out for the week.

I guess option 4 is lower the dose and ask for an AI to curb the immediate side effects?

My hope was TRT would give me the mental and physical energy to make changes in my life. And in a way, I guess it has. I’ve lifted 3x per week for 9 weeks doing the 5x5 StrongLifts plan. It’s longer than I’ve ever done before. Squatting 225 now (started at 135). Benching 135 (started at 95). Seeing similar gains on overhead press and deadlift.

But yes, I’m still fat, and my diet still needs work.

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The side effects are direct result of the extra weight. Shed the weight and you’ll feel a lot better.

I would get bloodwork NOW, at 200mg/week to see where you lie FIRST.

Then cut down based upon those numbers. Dropping to 100mg may be too much of a drop. Get blood work. Thank me later. They’re your ONLY roadmap here.

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You understand why I feel like I’m literally stuck.

So essentially I keep on 200mg and keep getting worse and worse side effects. Or cut dose, but who knows if that will help. Or ask for an AI but who knows if I should take it. Or just stop injecting but who knows how long and how what the heck will happen to me.

This is why I feel flustered with TRT. This is so complicated it makes me want to scream. Doses, AI, HCG, 18 different blood work measures, 1,000,000 different opinions. How anybody feels comfortable doing this is beyond me. Everything feels like it’s just throwing stuff at the wall to see if it sticks. Google any question and you literally get polar opposite answers. Got Gyno? Take T to make it go away. On T? You’ll get gyno. On T? You’ll have a heart attack. Unhealthy? Take T to prevent heart attack. What I assumed was a normal medical intervention seems like it’s just witchcraft at this point. Nobody trusts doctors, everybody has something they think is right.

I will be asking for blood work during the appointment tomorrow. Hopefully that will clear things up, but I’m beyond frustrated that all I’ve gotten from this is not being able to orgasm on my anniversary.

Sorry for the rant - blame the E2.

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The only change I’m making is not injecting today so I can pull bloods in a trough tomorrow.

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Sir, you are over reacting. You can’t orgasm… ok. Can you walk, talk, breath, go to work etc? Seems like you’re ok for now. Your sexy time fun will return. You need to be patient and put this into perspective. A month here or there in the scale of life isn’t “stuck forever”

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I get it. But I’m 33 and literally never had sexual disfunction ever before. It’s a scary thing.

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