New Guy Here 35 years old

Hi Everyone!
I would like to share my story with you and try to get some tips and directions from the community.
I was a very active adult in my 20's by playing lots of soccer and practicing martial arts several times a week. I was never a skinny/fit guy but my weight varied between 190 - 210 pounds (My height is 5'9"). In 2008, I tore my left knee ACL during a martial art competition. The injury kept me away from any form of exercise for about 12 months. During the first 18 months post surgery I gained a lot of weight (max weight was 283 pounds). I have tried excising and dieting but nothing has worked for me. Thus, after 6 years of struggling with my weight and other issues such as low energy, depression, decreased sex drive I sought medical help. Initially, I thought it was depression and low energy because I am overweight. I didn't know much about testosterone therapy, I believed that it only affected older guys. My primary doctor tested for several issues and after not finding anything abnormal, other than high cholesterol, he tested my T levels. My T level came back at a low 118. Thus, in February 2015 he started me on testosterone cypionate 200mg every two weeks. I am currently on week 5 of the treatment and although I did not notice a difference in the first 3 weeks I saw a huge improvement on my state of mind on week 4. I am definitely happier and my sex drive is back up. The only issue is that I have gained 10 pounds on 5 weeks (started with 265 and now 275 pounds). I have joined a gym and I will start working out today and hopefully start losing weight. I am concerned about gaining weight and if anybody has had similar results please let me know how to handle this situation.

Thanks

Andre

Andre,
I gained weight when I started TRT. Over the last 15 months I've put on between 10 to 15 lbs of lean mass without having to try that hard. I would recommend a minimum injection frequency of once a week. This will keep your T levels more stable.

Sounds good. I am going to talk to my doctor regarding this issue as well as some water retention.

Weekly injections of 100mg, to start, over an injection of 50mg every 3.5 days should make you feel even better. When is your doctor doing the first set of follow-up tests? Will he test for Estradiol?

Did they determine if you were primary or secondary? How do other labs like free test (or SHBG), E2, DHEA, D3, elctrolytes look, and how about the thyroid?

Thanks for joining!!

What Chris said, any Doctor prescribing every two week injections is a huge red flag that they are not trained well in TRT for men.

Consider that test peaks in serum at about 72 hours after injection and has about a 6 day half life. Do the math, where do you think your serum levels are at two weeks? Your Doctor is seating you on a hormonal roller coaster and that's very unhealthy.

My suggestion is that you read everything in forums you can and learn about TRT for men. The video section is also very good.

I would also suggest that you read either Nelson's book or Dr. John Crisler's book on TRT for men, both can be found on Amazon and is a great starting point to learning.

You don't want to be treated by an untrained Doctor who doesn't know how to monitor your blood, control Estrogen, keeping your Testes alive with HCG and other very important things.

Word to the wise!

Buy Dr. Crisler's book here and learn, we'll help with any questions you may have: http://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-...&keywords=Testosterone:+A+receipt+for+Success

Gene's advise is spot-on as usual!! Administering HRT based on medication active life is the template for any featured ride at Six Flags! Plus, the E2 spikes are just going to be substantially harder to manage.

I am going back to see my doctor in two months. He says that I need a complete lab test including PSA, just to make sure that everything is okay.

Hi Gene, what you have just said makes sense because I feel that I am on a hormonal roller coast. I notice big improvements in the first 7 days after the injection and by day 14 it almost feels like I am out of energy again. The doctor that prescribed the testosterone is my primary care doctor. I guess that I need to eventually seek help of an urologist/ specialist. Thanks for your input and I take a look and the book you have recommended. Thanks

Hi Chris, I take a look at the lab results and I will get back to you. Thanks

andrecan2009 said:

I am going back to see my doctor in two months. He says that I need a complete lab test including PSA, just to make sure that everything is okay.

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Another huge red flag; PSA should have been tested BEFORE you started TRT to rule out any potential for cancer before starting an androgen replacement protocol. Most PCP's are not well trained in TRT for men as you can see.

Be careful your Doctor may end up hurting you more than helping you.

I am really concerned about all these red flags. I am going to seek the help of a specialist because it seems that I am going down the wrong path. My PCP recommended bi-monthly injections for two months and once a month for months 3 and 4.

Once a month injections? If an injection every two weeks leaves you worn out by the time your next injection roles around, how do you think you might feel if you're trying to hang on for an entire month?

andrecan2009 said:

I am really concerned about all these red flags. I am going to seek the help of a specialist because it seems that I am going down the wrong path. My PCP recommended bi-monthly injections for two months and once a month for months 3 and 4.

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His medical license should be revoked! So much for the "Do no harm" oath he swore on. Then what, months 5 and 6 you go 1x every 2 months, then maybe even 1x every 6 months? Yeah, let's just shoot from the hip, it's only hormones!

Thanks guys for the all the comments. I will probably look for a physician that understands Testosterone therapy better than PCP.