re: Need Info on TRT

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I wonder if I tried to boost my free T through other means

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I’ve seen people spend hundreds and thousands of dollars buying supplements eating right killing their selves in gym etc only to raise their testosterone 25 or 50 points after several months. To me, it’s better to just get on trt especially if in the age range you have mentioned. Diet, exercise, proper lifestyle and supplements can only do so much in raising t levels especially if post 40.

I have an appointment on Monday with my urologist to talk about TRT. Since the board here has a lot of knowledge, what questions should I ask? Is there anything I should be firm on? Any other info I should know before I go into it. For the record I’ve read this thread from start to finish a couple times. And I’ve done some research myself. So I think I have a good basis of knowledge. Haven’t had labs done yet, so I know that needs done. Thanks in advance.

Reiterating and building off what Uncle Jack said.

You are going to be hit or miss with a Urologist (primary as well) that is super versed in TRT. My old primary doc pulled my numbers, said I was good to go and my T level was low 300s. My new primary is very much into quality of life, so is pro-T, peptides, GLP, etc.

May have changed, but you need 2 pulls of blood a week apart and below certain levels to qualify for insurance to pay. You can still do it without insurance, just cost more obviously. If you are shooting for insurance to pay, eat like crap (no red meat), be lazy and no sex the few days before the blood pull.

Like Uncle said, you will want to start low and go at least 6 weeks and re-test. Your goal is get around 1000, keep bumping dose 20mg and then down to 10mg when you get close.

If you are doing shots yourself, twice a week is better than once, but once a week is also equally fine. It is up to you how many times you want to stick yourself.

Hematocrit (blood thickness) is a thing to watch, for me personally it is because I can feel it when it gets too high. I feel sluggish and sweat more. Just donate blood every 8-12 weeks and you will be fine. Donating blood is a great thing to do to help others, but it also makes you feel better now. You do not have to give blood that frequently and I went close to a year not doing it while on TRT, and some other long stretches (half years), but just get in that cadence.

E2 (Estradiol) can/will go up and they may want to put you on anastrolzole to lower it. Unless your E2 runs will high and you also get some symptoms, I would ride it out and see if it stabilizes. Those symptoms have been listed here, and you are not going wake up one morning with B cup breasts. If you feel fatigue and your libido is waning again, that is when to maybe look at an aromatase inhibitor. Not permanently either, sometimes you body just fluctuates. All your levels are going to fluctuate over time. You may increase and decrease your T dose through the years. I have been on and off (much more off) anastrolzole.

Lastly, make sure you are ready for it, as it is a life long commitment. Sometimes lifestyle changes can get you where you want to be, without TRT. If you are over 50 though, just go ahead and do it.

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How the heck are you so educated on this?!?!

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This thread and life experience

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Think I’m going to ask for a daily cialis prescription as well.

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This is the way

Went to the urologist and he only ordered total and free testosterone tests. He said if labs come back low then he’ll order all the other tests. He did prescribe 5mg Cialis once daily.

Anyway, got my first set of labs back today. Expect a phone call on Monday to see if I need to retest. Labs are as follows:

Testosterone 01 336 ng/dL (range 264-916)

Free Testosterone(Direct) 02 6.1 Low pg/mL (range7.2-24.0)

I’m a 53 year old male. 6’3” tall and weigh 285 (down 20 pounds over the past 3 months). I strength train but I’m inconsistent. Working on that. I do little cardio. Was doing 30 minute neighbor hood rucks with 20 pounds on my back until I ran into a foot issue (I’m working through it).

I go once every 8 weeks. It's not that bad, plus it's a good thing to do anyway to help people.

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There is so much misinformation out there regarding TRT

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I think there's a ton of misinformation on everything in the medical field. It's hard to trust anything.

just be firm about 2x a week shots, doing shots only and a starting dose total of 140-200mg per week.

easiest is 200, you would do .5ml 2x per week and then you can adjust down or up depending on the test numbers after 12 weeks

also be firm about monitoring estrogen and not prescribing 1 based just off numbers. Symptoms is what you are looking for there

and also be firm he prescribes a vial not amps. amps suck arse. Doesnt matter if its 10ml vial or 1 or 5. just make sure its a vial

also make sure he prescribes 1ml syringes, a 18-20g draw needle and 25-27g 1" needle to inject unless you are really obese and in that case get 1.5"

Yeah I’ve got a couple buddies who do the same and they say it makes them feel way better. I just never wanted to open that can of worms. My hct runs 49-50 on fasted labs so I roll with it.