TRT

[Shraggs]

70, last blood work was 901 total t. All natural. I was 68 then.

You doing those bull ball deep fried cook outs?

 

[timekiller13]

Shooting up is NEVER the answer.
Listening to the dealer that sells the junk isn't the answer either.
They make their living selling the junk.
Correct diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management ARE the answer.
Sounds like it's time for 4 new tires.

You can say that and I used to believe that fixed everything. But the reality is that it doesn’t.

I’ve trained for marathons, ultras and Ironmans for the last several years. At roughly 38, I was at peak performance. Felt great, looked great, sharp as a tack, dedicated and motivated.

And then, things started changing. Motivation falling off, mental focus declining, noticeably harder to achieve gains in my training. I wrote it off as over training and poor diet. Dialed my training in, got my diet about as perfect as you could get. No processed stuff, no alcohol, 80% of what I ate either killed, caught it or grew it.

9 months of this and still declining. Struggling to sleep, but feeling exhausted everyday at 2pm. I got a sleep apnea test. I was fine. My normal blood work (liver, cholesterol, kidneys, thyroid) were “perfect” according to my doctor. Got my T checked. 304. Doc says “That’s normal.”

Kept up the diet and training. Added more strength training. Left my stressful job and found one that was much less stressful. Still struggling. Recheck T 6 months later. It was 290.

So I went on TRT. Game changer. Wish I would have done it 2 years ago. I’m better in every aspect of my life. Husband, father, job, training, races, im better at all of it.

 

[Bannedinshortorder!]

Glad it's working for you.

 

[johnnycake]

You can say that and I used to believe that fixed everything. But the reality is that it doesn’t.

I’ve trained for marathons, ultras and Ironmans for the last several years. At roughly 38, I was at peak performance. Felt great, looked great, sharp as a tack, dedicated and motivated.

And then, things started changing. Motivation falling off, mental focus declining, noticeably harder to achieve gains in my training. I wrote it off as over training and poor diet. Dialed my training in, got my diet about as perfect as you could get. No processed stuff, no alcohol, 80% of what I ate either killed, caught it or grew it.

9 months of this and still declining. Struggling to sleep, but feeling exhausted everyday at 2pm. I got a sleep apnea test. I was fine. My normal blood work (liver, cholesterol, kidneys, thyroid) were “perfect” according to my doctor. Got my T checked. 304. Doc says “That’s normal.”

Kept up the diet and training. Added more strength training. Left my stressful job and found one that was much less stressful. Still struggling. Recheck T 6 months later. It was 290.

So I went on TRT. Game changer. Wish I would have done it 2 years ago. I’m better in every aspect of my life. Husband, father, job, training, races, im better at all of it.

Not quite as physically fit as you, but from my late 20s into my early 30s I was active and in good shape, sleeping 7-9hrs/night, etc. and yet constantly I was exhausted even upon waking up, unable to recover physically from strenuous activity for at least a week.

I had three different GPs over a 6 year stretch that I had check my testosterone in the mornings while fasting with follow up tests a month apart. My initial set of tests were total T at 290/285 and free T just under 5 on both; doctor #1 said low end of normal is still normal (it also took me about 18 months of asking before he even agreed to order the initial test). Two years later those numbers were 260s/250s and low 4s; doctor #2 wasn't that concerned, but admitted he wasn't really familiar with hypogonadism. 18 months ago at 35 on Dr. #3 my month apart tests were 217/210 and low 3s. Dr. #3 immediately prescribed T-cyp and at 100mg IM/week and it's been life changing. My levels are consistently in the 700-900s.

I still can't believe I put up with Drs 1&2 for as long as I did. I now have energy again for my family, even after a long day at work. I wake up before my alarm clock and feel rested with 6-8 hrs of sleep. I'm a little sore for a day or two after physically strenuous activities, but nothing to stop me from doing whatever I want and I'm back to normal by day 3 at the latest. My thinking is clearer again, and my work performance shows it.

No, T replacement isn't for everybody, and I agree that there are tons of guys using it that really have no need. Those guys should be far more concerned with what potential long term effects it might have on them. But for guys like me, it is completely life saving and gave me back a will to truly live that I had not fully realized I had lost.

 

[OMF]

A little humor… Reading through this thread, from some posters it sounds like a Frank Thomas/Doug Flutie Neugenix commercial.

 

[omicron1792]

A little humor… Reading through this thread, from some posters it sounds like a Frank Thomas/Doug Flutie Neugenix commercial.

“And she will like it too….”

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Just got my labs back and had my tele consult today. If anyone GAF my labs/findings:

I am 54.6 yo. I used topical cream T. Daily application. Per my Dr I am one of his lowest dosages out of a few thousand clients. Last year or two I generally hover around 750.

My labs returned and we discussed. I am at 1260 Test with 41 Free.

I would consider these 'extreme'. He does not. States my Estrogen is fine and Test/Estrogen/Free Test is all a ratio. I do not FEEL or act any different. It is embarrassing to admit, as I always thought depression was for pussies and weak people, but I do not function well in the winter. I do feels SADs is a Thing. And winters are hard for me. I had no "mid winter goals", meaning Mrs and I generally bust out to Mexico or a hot spot and sun for a week Jan/Feb and it gives me a gym goal to focus and improve health and fitness. I did not have that this year.

I did travel to DC this past Dec for work. I did return on a flight surrounded by "3rd World children". I caught a Bug. It semi kicked my ass. I assumed it was simply a Cold. But lasted over a month. I visibly lost muscle mass and size. Something was wrong. I have since recovered well, but it didn't really get back to normal until mid February. I am back to "normal size". Hit 245 on bench press for 18 reps and 275 for 13. Those are great numbers for me and close to All Time...even at 54.

 

[*zap*]

Awesome ^

That 'cold' has been going around here for a while. Takes weeks to recover and a few people have had a 2nd bout.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

On only a semi related topic, but may be of interest to the group. Cholesterol, Statins and Ratios. My Dr is extremely thorough. And I mentioned my Mrs is a board cert Physician's Assistant. We have a relationship w my HRT Dr...she uses him too. So we have great convo's and debates, as I attend her bi-annual sit downs too.

He is very Andrew Huberman esque. He dives into many peer reviewed studies OUTSIDE the US.

In November 2023 I suffered a Stroke. But it was environmental not...well....physical. I was packing out a whole deer I shot in one trip. Slipped on some loamy ground that was frozen on the way in...yet greasy and thawed on the way out. I partially dissected the artery in my C1 going into my brain. 2 days later a clot broke and logged = stroke. You don't operate on this one. And now scar tissue has reduced the flow through that artery. Shitty one, but here I am.

I've always worried about my Cholesterol. It's high. Think 272ish. My primary begged to put me on a Statin. Post stroke I was on a statin 3 or so months. Kinda like teflon in your blood. Anticoagulant was partially the goal. I quit.

The Cholesterol and Blood Lipid piece is for sure debatable. Mrs says cholesterol was not considered High 1950’s until above 300. Then in ‘70s High was 250. Now high is 200. What changed? The books? Or the Meds? Or both. HRT Dr says brain runs on Cholesterol. Statins kill it. Adds that mental issues like Althz, Dementia etc were not nearly the issue in 60s and 70s they are today. Different topic tho

But I am concerned or was…about clots. Plaque. Artery health etc. due to high lipid panels.

Had thoracic calcium scan. Lights up the plaque in torso arteries. 0-100 is very low risk. 100-200 isn’t quite Moderate. Over 400 is concern. My score was…..11. Pretty much zero plaque and zero concern.

Had my carotid arteries in neck ultrasound. Zero plaque.

So my cholesterol score is shit. I’ll look at my new panel. But triglycerides are shit. My particle size is great. But almost all my
Lipid numbers are terrible. But terrible to who? Current standards ?

Had my heart checked 7 ways to Sunday during stroke. Valves close strong. Veins very elastic. My BP is high. Sometimes crazy high.

Only offering for conversation or thoughts on Men’s Health. I for sure am not Superman. I think I’m probably close to a 1% for strength for my age. I enjoy that. And work at that.

Just sharing my blood panel. My age. And my Dr’s thoughts and concepts

He ended today saying “75% of men who suffer Heart Attack have within spec Cholesterol. So what’s the real cause “?

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I got sidetracked w meeting and calls…my whole point in my first rant above…re: 1260 levels.

My dosage didn’t change. But I’ve really been consistent on free weights and not missing days and I’ve gone back to more 10-15 reps vs 20s and light weights.

He says my body still produces natural testosterone on top of my supplement.

I was always led to believe if you used synthetic…your natural production stops. He says completely untrue

FWIW

 

[TheDoublR]

So a note for anyone getting an oil change. I had been doing the power double red donations every 4 months. Last week I did one right before going turkey hunting. Let me tell you do no do one of these right before you go hunting. I was in the field 24 hours at altitude hiking mountains (7.5K) and have never felt so drained. It took me about three days to get back to having normal energy. Just wanted to make sure people learned from my mistake.

 

[RobertLosekamp]

So a note for anyone getting an oil change. I had been doing the power double red donations every 4 months. Last week I did one right before going turkey hunting. Let me tell you do no do one of these right before you go hunting. I was in the field 24 hours at altitude hiking mountains (7.5K) and have never felt so drained. It took me about three days to get back to having normal energy. Just wanted to make sure people learned from my mistake.

Man that sounds ROUGH. My clinic had me switch back to doing singles more frequently rather than the doubles to keep rbc levels more even on average.

 

[huntnful]

I’m coming up on 6 weeks on the sauce. And holy shit, what a difference. Just did blood work (after 1 month) and my total test is 1157 and free test is 320.

That’s on 160mg/week. Putting in 80mg on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Better sleep, more energy, better workouts insane sex drive (my poor wife lol).

I’ve put on 10lbs of what I can tell is mostly just muscle. Same physique as far as fat dispersion, just much more dense everywhere. My wife said I “look strong” .

Anyways, no regrets at all after 6 weeks. I’ll probably give my body some time to settle into the new baseline, and then start tinkering with peptides.

 

[nubraskan]

My wife said I “look strong” .

I remember when my wife first mentioned it to me when I started lifting weights for the first time. I'm still riding that high 5 years later

 

[huntnful]

I remember when my wife first mentioned it to me when I started lifting weights for the first time. I'm still riding that high 5 years later

Hahaha hell yeah brother

 

[gostovp]

Just got my first round of bloodwork back
Total T 974, free T 262 pg/ml. 120mg /week at 60mg twice per week.
Shgb, Hemocrit and Estradiaol were normal.

 

[omicron1792]

Just got my first round of bloodwork back
Total T 974, free T 262 pg/ml. 120mg /week at 60mg twice per week.
Shgb, Hemocrit and Estradiaol were normal.

Looking good!

 

[Travis_Will_Hunt]

I started TRT back in January. Wooow made a huge difference! The reason for starting was I was constantly tired and not super motivated and running pretty much off mental toughness and not allowing myself to make excuses. Busy work schedule, growing family and constantly on the go I never felt rested. I’ve always been active and in fairly good shape but it was getting harder and harder to find that drive. Got tested and my test levels we so low they were almost non existent lol

TRT instantly gave me that fire back! Sleep, recovery, and sex drive are at an all time high! (Poor wife ) Honestly makes me feel 25 again! Last few months I’ve really locked in dialed my diet back in and have been grinding in the gym! I’m in the best shape of my life at 35. The strongest I’ve ever been and also the leanest!

I’ve also integrated a peptide protocol which that in itself has completely transformed my physic! Healed injuries I had from wrestling for years and completely re-wired my metabolic system. I do monthly blood work to make sure my levels are good and everything is excellent! From getting blood work monthly I have been able to monitor my levels and have actually dosed down to a fairly small dose of TRT and have kept my testosterone levels high. Some of that I think is lifestyle changes, activity now that I have the energy and honestly peptides. If you do your research and use them properly they are life changing!

 

[BuckWild41]

I started TRT back in January. Wooow made a huge difference! The reason for starting was I was constantly tired and not super motivated and running pretty much off mental toughness and not allowing myself to make excuses. Busy work schedule, growing family and constantly on the go I never felt rested. I’ve always been active and in fairly good shape but it was getting harder and harder to find that drive. Got tested and my test levels we so low they were almost non existent lol

TRT instantly gave me that fire back! Sleep, recovery, and sex drive are at an all time high! (Poor wife ) Honestly makes me feel 25 again! Last few months I’ve really locked in dialed my diet back in and have been grinding in the gym! I’m in the best shape of my life at 35. The strongest I’ve ever been and also the leanest!

I’ve also integrated a peptide protocol which that in itself has completely transformed my physic! Healed injuries I had from wrestling for years and completely re-wired my metabolic system. I do monthly blood work to make sure my levels are good and everything is excellent! From getting blood work monthly I have been able to monitor my levels and have actually dosed down to a fairly small dose of TRT and have kept my testosterone levels high. Some of that I think is lifestyle changes, activity now that I have the energy and honestly peptides. If you do your research and use them properly they are life changing!

If you don't mind me asking, what's your peptide protocol?

 

[Trimbandit]

Shooting up is NEVER the answer.
Listening to the dealer that sells the junk isn't the answer either.
They make their living selling the junk.
Correct diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management ARE the answer.
Sounds like it's time for 4 new tires.

Hey Banned, I agree with you to an extent. I do think there are some folks that are truly hypogonadal and TRT really helps them. The unfortunate reality is there are a ton of guys out there that simply use testosterone as a shortcut but don't make life changes. I have considered testosterone in the past couple years but have not personally found the pros to outweigh the cons.