I’m trying to understand my Dr. logic regarding TRT.
I’m 43M 5’9 240lbs
After jumping through the normal hoops with my Dr. trying the supplements/ sleep aids route it didn’t matter what I tried my total T was pegged at 370.
Dr. prescribed 100mg/wk IM cypionate.
at the end of the 7 day period my total T was 407. Estradiol 34.7
24 hours after an injection total T was 987. Est 65.1
because of that high Est number Dr. prescribed 1mg Anastrazol twice per week.
after two weeks of adding in the Anastrazol I tested again, 72 hours after test injection and 48 hours after Azastrazol dose.
Total T: 765
Free T SCHS: 18.1
% Free SCHS: 2.4
SHBG SCHS: 30.9
Estradiol: <10
The estradiol being off the charts low was a huge red flag and so I stopped the Anastrazol immediately… Dr. called me up a few days later to tell me my numbers look great and that she just wanted to see if the test was just converting to estrogen but otherwise said keep taking both…
Should I find a new doctor? Am I wasting time and money with TRT?
So far the only real effects I’ve noticed from the TRT was that I gained about 10lbs of water weight (which makes me look more jacked so not all bad) and my nipples are I guess… puffy? but otherwise no mood swings no change in the morning wood and what not (still happens most days) so I’m really not sure if it’s doing anything beyond increasing the numbers on my blood tests…
It’s real simply, your doctor doesn’t know what she’s doing.
Estrogen is needed for libido, joints and bone health. Estrogen is responsible for bone remodeling. At this rate, you’re looking at osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems with estrogen in the gutter long term.
I don’t know how long you’ve been on TRT, doesn’t sounds like long, but expecting significant improvements this early on is not realistic. It can take 6 months to start to see changes in erections and 12 months to reap 80% of the benefits of TRT.
Most men start to see significant improves at 4-6 months. I know a guy that went on TRT and didn’t feel anything for 5 months, then out of the blue, it’s like a light switch got turned on.
If you’re not going to change your lifestyle, improve your diet, excersise/ lift weights, I’m afraid TRT won’t do much for you.
Most of the side effects at the start of TRT are caused by your poor state of health.
Your doctor should have lowered your dosage and or increase your injection frequency.
This is wrong, no need to test so early, because you’ll always get high hormone values. These lab values are not sustained and are short-lived.
I’ve only been taking TRT for about 10 weeks. And not knowing anyone personally who uses TRT I’m kind of wandering in the dark… a lot of the online resources seem to imply fairly rapid symptom changes… I stopped taking the anastrazol the moment I saw the test results because I was aware of the side effects of low estrogen… I made this post wondering if I should start taking it again at all… and so far everything is pointing toward “hell no!”
I appreciate your input and will start looking for at least a second opinion on how to handle this…
That would depend on many factors, your current state of health, current medical problems, gene CAG repeat number. We all have different types of androgen receptors, sensitivity to androgens as well as the abilities for tissues to respond.
You’ve only had stable blood levels for 4 weeks.
Also, the testosterone metabolites, estrogen and DHT drive a lot of the benefits of TRT, and your estrogen is undetectable, negating much of the benefits.
Glad I could help.
A lot of members use Defy Medical for their TRT and other treatments.
Effects on sexual interest appear after 3 weeks plateauing at 6 weeks, with no further increments expected beyond. Changes in erections/ejaculations may require up to 6 months. Effects on quality of life manifest within 3–4 weeks, but maximum benefits take longer. Effects on depressive mood become detectable after 3–6 weeks with a maximum after 18–30 weeks. Effects on erythropoiesis are evident at 3 months, peaking at 9–12 months.
Prostate-specific antigen and volume rise, marginally, plateauing at 12 months; further increase should be related to aging rather than therapy. Effects on lipids appear after 4 weeks, maximal after 6–12 months. Insulin sensitivity may improve within few days, but effects on glycemic control become evident only after 3–12 months. Changes in fat mass, lean body mass, and muscle strength occur within 12–16 weeks, stabilize at 6–12 months, but can marginally continue over years. Effects on inflammation occur within 3–12 weeks. Effects on bone are detectable already after 6 months while continuing at least for 3 years.
Conclusion
The time-course of the spectrum of effects of testosterone shows considerable variation, probably related to pharmacodynamics of the testosterone preparation. Genomic and non-genomic effects, androgen receptor polymorphism and intracellular steroid metabolismfurther contribute to such diversity.