Starting TRT - Tips , Advice , Experience

[fifty]

You should be able to lift fine on trt.
Left arm pain is a little odd. Maybe a strained muscle? @Gman86

 

[MarcoFL]

Oh yeah I felt like garbage for about the first 8 weeks, started at 100mg, then they upped me to 160mg and I started to feel better. Felt really good once I dropped my AI and went to EOD injections

what do your labs look like at 160mg per week?

 

[TucsonJJ]

You should be able to lift fine on trt.
Left arm pain is a little odd. Maybe a strained muscle? @Gman86

I agree... sure should be able to hold a 7lb trimmer up on and off for 30 minutes! Jeeze! Just read a interesting post about a guy feeling lightheaded to the point of almost fainting... thinks his blood sugar crashed on TRT, 3 weeks into it... this might be my problem... I have a glucometer from my late brother (RIP) and will check it in the AM... I am due to pin again tomorrow, so will not likely see any low readings until Tues AM... already ate today... but I am hopeful this is my problem... I think I can deal with low blood sugar... with the help of Ben and Jerry...!! Or maybe just a glass of OJ... I hope IF I continue TRT... this will moderate... I have been trying to eat nothing or a small snack instead of dinner... that may have made it worse...
Left arm weakness at nearly 64? Dang, that did nothing for my occasional anxiety!!

 

[Gman86]

You should be able to lift fine on trt.
Left arm pain is a little odd. Maybe a strained muscle? @Gman86

Sounds like pinching of nerves to me. If it were heart related it would be more pain than weakness, and he’d be out of breath at the same time, and most likely lightheaded. Sounds more to me like nerves are getting pinched. @TucsonJJ have u gained any weight since starting TRT?

 

[TucsonJJ]

Sounds like pinching of nerves to me. If it were heart related it would be more pain than weakness, and he’d be out of breath at the same time, and most likely lightheaded. Sounds more to me like nerves are getting pinched. @TucsonJJ have u gained any weight since starting TRT?

thanks for the feedback... I was VERY lightheaded, but I think I have it now... low blood sugar! I will check mine in the AM (already ate today and feel better)... and especially AM Tues after pinning again tomorrow... but I think this may well be it... great news... I can deal with low blood sugar!

 

[swoops36]

what do your labs look like at 160mg per week?

~800ng 7 days after shot

 

[swoops36]

Did you lift weights during that first 8 weeks? I am still concerned about having noticable muscle weakness after holding up a dang hedge trimmer for 20-30 minutes... left arm still feels weak this morning... I couldn't be in THAT bad of shape after missing the gym for a few months! Lifted regularly for many years before this COVID stuff...

I didn’t lift much. I got a cold during the first week (always happens when I start Test), but after about the 5-6 week mark is when I had the motivation back to go to the gym again

 

[swoops36]

I didn’t lift much. I got a cold during the first week (always happens when I start Test), but after about the 5-6 week mark is when I had the motivation back to go to the gym again

I should add the hedge clipper thing sounds like maybe a separate issue?

 

[TucsonJJ]

I should add the hedge clipper thing sounds like maybe a separate issue?

Thx, I think it is all related to low blood sugar... I was so frustrated as to why the heck I was feeling crappy and most do not... I eat very little sugar and not many carbs... skip dinner often... I read that testosterone can lower blood sugar... and being in a hypoglycemic condition can cause muscle weakness... sure seems to fit... will start testing my glucose levels, probably Tues morning after I pin again tomorrow...
BTW: Ate a protein bar (Clif Builders Protein Choco-mint, yummy) and felt much better... maybe all in the head, but doubt it...

 

[Gman86]

thanks for the feedback... I was VERY lightheaded, but I think I have it now... low blood sugar! I will check mine in the AM (already ate today and feel better)... and especially AM Tues after pinning again tomorrow... but I think this may well be it... great news... I can deal with low blood sugar!

Ya keep us posted. Curious if it ends up being blood sugar fluctuations that were the cause

 

[TucsonJJ]

Awful how?

Hey, rabbit... would you mind describing just how you felt? I've been having problems the last few weeks (week 3 and 4)... very shaky... light headed, fast heart beat at times... some palpitations... stomach off... headaches here and there... I am thinking it might be low blood sugar... but not sure... I am thinking of stopping, but would like to see it out... thx!

 

[rayrock1]

same symptoms here with fast heart rate, headache, stomach issues, week 6 on trt.

 

[TucsonJJ]

Jeeze.... still hurting after 6 weeks? I guess TRT effects guys differently... but you would think that your symptoms would have improved by now... are you working with a competent Doc? Mine is just a PA in Urology... great guy, but not an expert at all in TRT... just made an appt with a Endocrine Doc... sure hope he can help... IF I continue with TRT, it will be with him. Don't see him for a week... think I'll stop for now.
MY main symptoms are a head that feels like it is full of cotton, sort of like an allergy attack... but different... and shakiness/weakness... and some underlying anxiety, probably in response to the other two symptoms... BP is normal... I feel better in the afternoons, feel worst in the mornings... Hope you feel better soon... any benefits noticed at all? Me? Nope.

 

[Rabbit91476]

I only felt off once. that was the honey moon phase. Super horny bursts of anxious but didn’t last long. Then as my body adjust to any dose increase. I sleep like shit for week 2-3 ., chills cold sweats. Last increase was during the carona outbreak and was sent home to get tested lol.

 

[TucsonJJ]

I am now thinking it might be an interaction with the small amount of ganja I smoked daily for many years... stopped for a few days (the injections too) and now feel MUCH better.
I'll discuss with my new EndoDoc next week... I sure would like to get my Free T up a LOT... but not at a cost of feeling so ill... I'll try some alternatives like Pregnenalone and DHEA first... maybe short term Clomid.

 

[deletedacct]

Hey guys, I'm not going to lie I have been having some ups and downs! After getting my initial labs, my numbers really aren't the worse. Since then I have been torn between starting or not starting. Could anyone help breakdown my labs and give some advice? Thanks in advance

 

[deletedacct]

Change Docs... seriously... they love to push SSRI's... which, IMO, are bad news. What is your FREE T? TT is pretty much meaningless in comparison.

They are seriously no good. I tried the SSRI for about two weeks and dropped them cold. I was not able to move out my bed the whole time! Seriously drowsy. I posted a lab with my FT, I'm not sure if its good or bad. If you could give some input. That would be great!!

 

[swoops36]

Hey guys, I'm not going to lie I have been having some ups and downs! After getting my initial labs, my numbers really aren't the worse. Since then I have been torn between starting or not starting. Could anyone help breakdown my labs and give some advice? Thanks in advance

Why is your e2 so low on 600ng TT? FT looks low but I don’t see SHBG tested

 

[TucsonJJ]

Well, Nick, I am no expert, I just do a ton of reading and the guys here are great... IMO, your Free T is too low... yes, your lab says it is within range, but again, IMO, their range is absurd... LabCorp range for Free T is 6.6 to 18.1... but your total T is decent... did they test for SHBG? I would bet it is too high... as is your Albumin... both tie up testosterone, reducing Free T. I think personally, I would first try to raise the Free T naturally... some guys with more experience here could help, Boron? Zinc Picolinate? magnesium? but IMO, you need to seek another doctor... or if you have the bucks, maybe try Defy. I got my nose out of joint with their charges for the meds... I pay around $15 for my monthly test-cypionate, they say $250-300/month for Test, AI and HCG... the last two I'm not sure everyone needs... maybe seek a good endocrinologist near you...
I have tried several SSRI's... they all have different effects... I was on Celexa for a few years... it worked, but turned me into a zero-libido zombie. Lexapro is similar... Prozac has helped many... but your low Free T may be responsible for any depression and/or anxiety you have, low libido/motivation... etc... so avoid SSRIs unless REALLY needed...

 

[deletedacct]

Why is your e2 so low on 600ng TT? FT looks low but I don’t see SHBG tested

I have no idea why e2 is low. I’m new to all of this, what should my e2 and FT be?

I didn’t get SHBG tested Unfortunately