Hi Everyone,
I am newly on TRT. 7 weeks in. Height: 5 9", Weight 145lbs (130lbs before starting TRT)
First took Free T / Total T test on 04/05/2016 11:18am : results :
Total T
Free T
Doctor who ordered this test said levels were normal and to not worry. After doing research I found out of course this was very low level for a male my age. I asked for the Doctor to refer me to a Endocrinologist. She agreed but the Endocrinologist was booked up and made my appoint for two months later (June 3rd, today).
I did not realize it before starting TRT but I had symptoms of Low T since high school/early college. I have always had feelings of low energy, lack of motivation, anxiety, very hard to manage stress, depression, hard to put on weight/muscle, low appetite, hard to concentrate/mental fog. Just generally feeling very poorly and unconfident.
Since I didn't want to wait the two months I decided to go to a Men's health clinic that specialized in Low T. They tested my Total T once again and Estrodial. I don't have the labs in front of me but it came back even lower. 278 ng/dl. Estrodial came back 27 (don't know the measurement, assuming it's the standard because they said those levels were in range, but were high for my Total T level)
I was put on TRT right away. 150mg/week of cyp with HCG(don't know the exact measurements, and .25mg of arimidex at the time of injection)
I felt great for the first 4 weeks, no anxiety ,lots of energy, improved libido(never was bad but improved after TRT) and starting gaining weight fast(gained over 10-15lbs in total since starting TRT, which is also because appetite improved and started lifting weight 4 times a week.)
I was tested again at week 4.
Total T was 680ng/DL and Estrodial came back at 8.
They decided to up my dose to 160mg of cyp/prop blend (since at the end of the week i was feeling a dip in my energy levels)
After week 4, I started to feel not as good as the first few weeks. Energy levels ok , but mentally I have been feeling anxious and stressed. When I wake up in the morning I have a general feeling of anxiety.
Today is the middle of my 7th week on TRT and I just had my appointment with the Endocronologist. Right away when I told the doctor I was on TRT, he said I should get off of it and that my first lab test levels were normal. (red flag #1). He also said that HCG could make me grow breast (red Flag #2), is this an actual side effect of HCG? I have not heard of that before.
I explained to him the way I have been feeling all these years , I did not want to get off of it and that TRT was making me feel better. After hearing that he was less reluctant but said he wanted to find out what exactly is going on so he asked for me to get off TRT for 4 weeks so I can take bloodwork. Blood work he is having me take is: TSH, T4, T3, Prolactin, FSH, ESR, Vit D, Test Total & Free, LH, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Ferritin, Vit B12, CBC With Automated Differential.
So I am at a difficult situation - The TRT is making me feel better and I do not want to get off of it,. I know this topic has been touched on before in this forum but i wanted to get some opinions on my situation specifically. Should I stop for 4 weeks so my Endo can get baseline bloodwork and possibly figure out if something else is going on? Or just stay on TRT? I know monitoring my bloodwork while on TRT is important so I will be taking these test regardless. My main concern is to get off or stay on TRT for this bloodwork. I know his concern is that I am very young and that there definitely can be something going on that will be hard to find if I am on TRT.
Here is the interesting part. I have a twin brother. We spend a lot of time together and grew up very close so we have a very similar environments, lifestyles and eating habits. He has also gone through exactly the same thing I have gone through as far as symptoms since highschool/early college years (lots of anxiety, lack of appetite, hard to put on muscle/weight, low energy, lack of motivation, etc). After I told him about my lab results and that I was going to start TRT, he then decided to get his testosterone levels tested as well at the Men's Health Clinic. It came back 380ng/DL for Total T & Estrodial came back 40. They did not test his Free T or anything else . He started at the same time I did and they also put him on 150ML/week of cyp, hcg but put him at .50armidex at the time of injection since his Estrodial was so high. Within two weeks his whole mood/personality changed and he felt great, better then me actually. He started going to the gym with me and funny thing is gained just as much of weight as i have 10-15pounds. He has always been 8-10lbs lighter then me so he is at 138lbs at the moment. They restested his total T & estradiol at week 4 as well and it came back at 1050ng/DL, and Estrodial was at 10. The Doctor at the clinic said she usually does not see testosterone jump so high right away like this. They ended up lowering his dose to 135ml of cyp/week with hcg, and took him off arimidex.
I wanted to reach out and post on this forum because I thought my situation would be interesting for you guys since I have a twin brother.
To summarize my questions:
Do you guys have any opinions on my situation? I am very concerned about having such low T levels at 27 and that my twin brother has the same thing(genetics possibly?)
Endo first wanted me to stop going to Men's Health Clinic and stop taking T. Then said to just stop for 4 weeks so he can take bloodwork. What do you guys think I should do here?
What do you guys think of our protocol? is there anything we should add, or do you have any suggestions or questions for us?
I just want to finally feel better and figure out what is going on. This endocrinologist has really made me more anxious and confused about this whole situation. Your guy's opinion would help tremendously. Thank you in advance.
I am newly on TRT. 7 weeks in. Height: 5 9", Weight 145lbs (130lbs before starting TRT)
First took Free T / Total T test on 04/05/2016 11:18am : results :
Total T
348 | 250-1100 | ng/dL |
Free T
54.6 | 35.0-155.0 | pg/mL |
Doctor who ordered this test said levels were normal and to not worry. After doing research I found out of course this was very low level for a male my age. I asked for the Doctor to refer me to a Endocrinologist. She agreed but the Endocrinologist was booked up and made my appoint for two months later (June 3rd, today).
I did not realize it before starting TRT but I had symptoms of Low T since high school/early college. I have always had feelings of low energy, lack of motivation, anxiety, very hard to manage stress, depression, hard to put on weight/muscle, low appetite, hard to concentrate/mental fog. Just generally feeling very poorly and unconfident.
Since I didn't want to wait the two months I decided to go to a Men's health clinic that specialized in Low T. They tested my Total T once again and Estrodial. I don't have the labs in front of me but it came back even lower. 278 ng/dl. Estrodial came back 27 (don't know the measurement, assuming it's the standard because they said those levels were in range, but were high for my Total T level)
I was put on TRT right away. 150mg/week of cyp with HCG(don't know the exact measurements, and .25mg of arimidex at the time of injection)
I felt great for the first 4 weeks, no anxiety ,lots of energy, improved libido(never was bad but improved after TRT) and starting gaining weight fast(gained over 10-15lbs in total since starting TRT, which is also because appetite improved and started lifting weight 4 times a week.)
I was tested again at week 4.
Total T was 680ng/DL and Estrodial came back at 8.
They decided to up my dose to 160mg of cyp/prop blend (since at the end of the week i was feeling a dip in my energy levels)
After week 4, I started to feel not as good as the first few weeks. Energy levels ok , but mentally I have been feeling anxious and stressed. When I wake up in the morning I have a general feeling of anxiety.
Today is the middle of my 7th week on TRT and I just had my appointment with the Endocronologist. Right away when I told the doctor I was on TRT, he said I should get off of it and that my first lab test levels were normal. (red flag #1). He also said that HCG could make me grow breast (red Flag #2), is this an actual side effect of HCG? I have not heard of that before.
I explained to him the way I have been feeling all these years , I did not want to get off of it and that TRT was making me feel better. After hearing that he was less reluctant but said he wanted to find out what exactly is going on so he asked for me to get off TRT for 4 weeks so I can take bloodwork. Blood work he is having me take is: TSH, T4, T3, Prolactin, FSH, ESR, Vit D, Test Total & Free, LH, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Ferritin, Vit B12, CBC With Automated Differential.
So I am at a difficult situation - The TRT is making me feel better and I do not want to get off of it,. I know this topic has been touched on before in this forum but i wanted to get some opinions on my situation specifically. Should I stop for 4 weeks so my Endo can get baseline bloodwork and possibly figure out if something else is going on? Or just stay on TRT? I know monitoring my bloodwork while on TRT is important so I will be taking these test regardless. My main concern is to get off or stay on TRT for this bloodwork. I know his concern is that I am very young and that there definitely can be something going on that will be hard to find if I am on TRT.
Here is the interesting part. I have a twin brother. We spend a lot of time together and grew up very close so we have a very similar environments, lifestyles and eating habits. He has also gone through exactly the same thing I have gone through as far as symptoms since highschool/early college years (lots of anxiety, lack of appetite, hard to put on muscle/weight, low energy, lack of motivation, etc). After I told him about my lab results and that I was going to start TRT, he then decided to get his testosterone levels tested as well at the Men's Health Clinic. It came back 380ng/DL for Total T & Estrodial came back 40. They did not test his Free T or anything else . He started at the same time I did and they also put him on 150ML/week of cyp, hcg but put him at .50armidex at the time of injection since his Estrodial was so high. Within two weeks his whole mood/personality changed and he felt great, better then me actually. He started going to the gym with me and funny thing is gained just as much of weight as i have 10-15pounds. He has always been 8-10lbs lighter then me so he is at 138lbs at the moment. They restested his total T & estradiol at week 4 as well and it came back at 1050ng/DL, and Estrodial was at 10. The Doctor at the clinic said she usually does not see testosterone jump so high right away like this. They ended up lowering his dose to 135ml of cyp/week with hcg, and took him off arimidex.
I wanted to reach out and post on this forum because I thought my situation would be interesting for you guys since I have a twin brother.
To summarize my questions:
Do you guys have any opinions on my situation? I am very concerned about having such low T levels at 27 and that my twin brother has the same thing(genetics possibly?)
Endo first wanted me to stop going to Men's Health Clinic and stop taking T. Then said to just stop for 4 weeks so he can take bloodwork. What do you guys think I should do here?
What do you guys think of our protocol? is there anything we should add, or do you have any suggestions or questions for us?
I just want to finally feel better and figure out what is going on. This endocrinologist has really made me more anxious and confused about this whole situation. Your guy's opinion would help tremendously. Thank you in advance.
