I’m impressed with your story.
Nate, if you don’t mind me asking, where in California are you and what is the doctors name?
[quote]MassiveNate wrote:
After a particularly difficult Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I have doubts about whether I’m on the right path.
Two or three family members approached me and told me I was behaving erratically, being rude and irritable.
They all suggested that I “get some help”, which is hard to hear.
My wife keeps telling me I’m “talking crazy” and that’s just frightening.
I have been feeling a little jittery, and to be honest, irritable, and annoyed by other people.
Libido is dropping, and erections are seldom.
[/quote]
Hang in there buddy. I went back and forth back and forth more times than I care to remember. Every time you make a change there will be backlash until you find balance. I was hyper aware of how I was acting and I had many moments where I questioned whether this was worth it. At the time, my T was high and my E2 was raging. T got higher and so did E2. I was all over the place emotionally. I just kept thinking back to before TRT when I was exhausted all the time, and my once toned body had turned to mush. I forced myself to work out and, while I could become larger, I could not become leaner. My body before and after starting TRT is night and day. I put a pic in my post if you want to see.
I was moving around a lot, and it took me 9 months until I decided I had had enough and started to be extremely proactive with changing how I feel. You’ve reached that in less than three months. That’s fantastic!
I’m happy for you that you’re starting to feel better and get everything dialed in. Some guys see a great improvement in well-being when they “get their balls back”, so hopefully you will too.
“Honey, what the fuck?”–GREAT SIDE EFFECT!!
Acne, its actually a good sign, your metabolism is more like when you were young, pimples and all.
35mg/2=17.5, close enough to 15mg DHEA
If you are an over responder, as labs and symptoms suggest, you should try 0.25mg/week in divided doses.
Lab numbers from 11/27:
Testosterone, Total (ng/dL) 765 range: 348-1197
Testosterone, Free (pg.mL) 23 range: 8.7-25.1
Pregnenolone, MS (ng/dL) 45 range: <151
DHEA-Sulfate (ug/dL) 619 range: 88.9-427.0
Estradiol (pg/mL) <6.0 range: 7.6-42.6
I’m also need of a good doc in California, I don’t know where you are located. I have been to a few who have no clue what they are doing. If you could let me know where to find your doc that would be of great help.
EDIT -“before” photo should say 145 pounds.
I’m posting a progress photo -
Please know that TRT is not the only thing I’ve changed.
I have changed the way I eat.
I’m not eating ANY “white” carbs (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes)
I’m eating a ton of meat that is high in fat. Instead of protein shakes, I’m eating more meat.
I have changed the way I work out.
I used to lift heavy weights, low reps, for an hour,2 or 3 times a week.
I’m now lifting light weights to failure, for up to 90 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week.
There is not a huge visible difference in these two photos.
It’s shot from the front, in flattering lighting.
Where you’ll see the most difference is in my shoulders, traps and chest.
These small changes in 2 months are more than I’ve ever been able to able to accomplish in 10 years.
Echoing the previous posters…can you post or PM your Dr’s name?
To answer many people’s questions: I am in Santa Monica, CA.
I’m happy to PM you some doc info.
Thanks.
PM me when you get a chance.
Thanks again.
PM’s work?
[quote]KSman wrote:
PM’s work?[/quote]
Not sure either.
Sent you a test PM
Nothing. PM’s stopped in September.
Thanks KSman- so I guess there’s no PM.
Hi guys, a brief update.
PREGNENOLONE/DHEA
My Pregnenolone and DHEA are combined into ONE pill at the compounding pharmacy, and I pay just the $10 Rx co-pay - half what I would pay if I had two separate prescriptions.
When my doctor reduced my DHEA dosage, I had to wait about a week, to get new pills made and delivered to me.
During that time I did not take the Preg/DHEA and I felt great. I’m talking about mentally. Clear-headed, happy, positive.
I got the new prescription and started taking the pills, and I felt the irritability and negativity creeping in.
I stopped taking the Preg/DHEA and feel much better,
I know I said earlier I couldn’t feel any effects from the Preg/DHEA - but taking a week off made me realize there absolutely was a downside for me. And I’ve had great results without it, so… it’s toast.
PHYSICAL RESULTS
I keep looking at that before/after pic I posted and I can’t see much difference.
That’s weird about photos - in person you can see a huge difference. My shoulders are 2 inches broader.
I inject my HCG into my belly fat, and there’s hardly any left to pinch.
I’ve gone down a pant size and up a shirt size! To me it’s pretty significant.
I went out and bought a suit, and it fits great. I’m thrilled with the physical results I’m seeing.
TESTICULAR ATROPHY
I’ve been on the higher dose frequency of the HCG for a few weeks now, and a week ago, I would have told you that my balls were back to normal… and they were. I felt that gravity again, the sensation of something… being there.
For some reason that’s gone and my nuts feel light again, and to me they look smaller.
I’m not sure why, but maybe this will ebb and flow.
Hopefully my balls will gradually return to their fuller, heavier selves.
If you’re still reading, thanks to each of you for following my progress.
I’m now hitting the gym 5 to 6 times a week.
I stopped seeing muscle growth about a month ago, and I’m starting to see my bodyfat return.
In my mind I’m calling this a ‘plateau’ and not a complete reversal of progress.
My testicles feel normal again.
My mental clarity, focus and attitude are great.
I saw my doctor today and have new lab results - so let’s see where we are.
LAB RESULTS
Testosterone
Total: 642 ng/dL (Range 348-1197)
Free: 14 pg/mL (Range 8.7-25.1)
This is down from 765 and 23 in November. I had been having some anger, irritability, and I reduced my Testosterone at that time from 9mg/day (0.05mL) to 7.2 mg/day (0.04 mL).
Since I’ve narrowed the anger/irritability to the Preg/DHEA, which I’ve stopped - and since my bodyfat has visibly increased and muscle growth seems stagnant - I’m upping my Testosterone back to 9 mg/day.
DHEA-Sulfate
157.3 ug/dL (Range 88.9-427.0)
This is down from 619.9 in November. That reading was too high, as you can see from the reference range.
It was in response to that high reading that my doctor decreased my DHEA, and that’s how I noticed the DHEA was a problem for me.
Estradiol
25.0 pg/mL (Range 7.6 - 42.6)
The big one. This is way up from the <6.0 that I had in November and October.
Some of you commented that you felt best in the 20 range, and I’m inclined to agree.
I feel fantastic right now. Libido isn’t high by any means, but I’m sure I can summon it if the need arises.
Mood is great. I feel alive and healthy.
You may recall I stopped taking my AI completely. As I increase my Testosterone back to 9 mg/day, my doc recommends that I take the Anastrozole at least once a week. She actually suggested 3 times a week, but I think I’m too sensitive for that.
It has been a good month for me, mentally. I’m determined and focused in the gym, despite my lack of recent progress.
I don’t get angry or upset when my son won’t stop crying - I just try harder to soothe him.
I do get tired, but that’s part of having a 3 month-old son.
Overall I’m happy with my lab numbers today.
I probably won’t be happy with my bodyfat results, which I’ll get on the 26th.
I’m going to cut my carb intake slightly, eat less dairy and work a little harder in the gym.
Thanks again for sticking with me throughout this process.
Nate
Good to hear from you again.
Keep posting your progress.
Hi everyone I’m new here and have cruised the forums before. I have a question about TRT. I have recently been put on TRT by my Dr. I’m personally not sure if she knows what she is doing or not. Well first off she started me out on Watson Cypionate 200mg/1ml. The Dr. Put me on a dose of 1ml every 14 days. Well I took it every 10 days based on how I felt. By about 8 or so day I can tell its low anyway I went in for my 3 month blood work etc. My testosterone before TRT was 221 and after being on for 3 months it came back at a level of 324. My question is why isn’t it any higher???
During my follow up it was very unorganized didn’t see my normal Dr and I can explain why if needed. I just want to know should I up my dose or ask my Dr to. I personally do not see the point of being on if it isn’t increasing my levels. My co worker uses the same Dr and he is on the same dose but his levels are in the 800 range. Any feedback would greatly be appreciated. Also sorry if I changed the subject on this post. I’m new to the forums.
9 MONTH UPDATE
After making literally NO progress from January to April, I’m happy to report some great results.
I had another body fat test on Wednesday and I am now 13.5% body fat.
Last year while my wife was pregnant, I jokingly posed for a photo exposing my “pregnant” belly.
Here’s that photo, next to a photo of me from this week.
From August to January, I put on 9 pounds of muscle and lost about 3 pounds of fat.
From January to April, I made no progress at all - same weight, same body fat.
From April to now, I’ve lost 8 pounds of fat and gained 1 more pound of muscle.
So, I’m at my starting weight, and in a year I’ve dropped from 20.5% to 13.5% body fat.
I accidentally did a real bulk-and-cut, something I’ve never been able to do because I couldn’t gain muscle.
I’m thrilled with what I have accomplished, and I feel great.
My daily T dose is 5 units, at 180mg/mL, about 7-8mg.
I’m taking HCG 3 times a week, 12 units, about 240 IU.
I am not on any AI at all, and my E levels are not a problem as of now.
I have noticed:
If I skip a T dose, I get irritable. VERY VERY CRABBY.
Other than that, very happy.
My office is having a pool party tomorrow and I’ll gladly take my shirt off.
I’ve decided to try another bulk this fall/winter and cut down again for next summer.
I’m excited to see how much muscle I can gain in another year.
Thanks to those of you who have ready my posts - it’s been 9 months of learning but I believe I’ve figured out what works for me.
N
