After 5 years on TRT

[jdthoosier]

I used to post my blood test results here but have not done so in a long while. Just over 5 years ago, due to what was diagnosed as Celiac Disease being triggered for some reason, I lost nearly 30 pounds in only 2 months and was unable to absorb nutrients. The result was that my total T plunged to around 130 ng/dl and I was a physical and mental wreck and life was a complete hell. It took 5 months to get a diagnosis and another month before the PCP on his own initiative started me on a gel.
I was also placed on a gluten-free diet. I got only marginally better, and later that year dumped the PCP, went with a TRT Doc for a while before moving to Defy and changing from the gel to injections. Once I started injections and my GF diet started to kick in my stomach began to heal. It still took 2 years before I felt "normal".

Between TRT and the GF diet my lipid panel has improved dramatically. My HDL used to be in the low 20s and my PCP tried multiple times to put me on niacin therapy but I had bad side effects. I'm now 64, and the nurses invariably ask if I'm on a statin when they see these results. As part of the GF diet, I eat "clean" - no fast foods, no sodas, no processed foods, minimal sugar and salt. I eat a lot of good fat - sardines/salmon/avocados/nuts/olive oil and veggies/fruits/whole grains/beans, and lean meats such as bison. I originally tried vegan but that sure did not work.

For my T panel:

Total T - 885 ng/dl
Estradiol Sensitive - 15.8 pg/mL.
SHBG - 48.7 - nmol/L
Free T - 11.9 - pg/mL

I'm doing injections 2x a week, for a total of 72mg of cypionate per week. I feel great, and have a good libido. Hopefully I stay dialed in for a long time yet.

 

[Golfboy307]

Congrats on your impressive results and turnaround. Diet can make such a huge difference for so many folks.

 

[Vince]

Also, congratulations from me. I'm so happy to see your improvements. It's great that you're doing so good at the age of 64.

 

[jdthoosier]

Thanks for the replies. One other thing. For the longest time I had dirt-low ferritin about 14. I had started out on a vegan diet as per a Celiac nutritionist specialist but it was obvious that it was not working for me. Once I switched to a more Mediterranean/higher fat diet + doing all the cooking on cast iron skillets, my ferritin is now in the 70's.

 

[sammmy]

No dairy like cheese or yogurt in your diet? They are high in fat calories.

 

[jdthoosier]

No dairy like cheese or yogurt in your diet? They are high in fat calories.

Goat cheese and goat yogurt every day.

 

[Willyt]

Love seeing success stories on here! You've had a long journey by the sounds of it.

Injecting SUBQ or IM?
Was your most recent T test done at peak or trough? Either way, its impressive to see what 72mg weekly (approx 10mg daily) can do!

 

[jdthoosier]

@Willyt --- I do IM and it was my trough in the morning before my next injection. Usually I'm in the 700's in my testing, so this number was a bit higher than normal.

 

[Willyt]

I do IM and it was my trough in the morning before my next injection. Usually I'm in the 700's in my testing, so this number was a bit higher than normal.

You're presumably hitting around 1000 TT peak. More people should read success stories like yours to understand what can be achieved on such a relatively "low" dose.

How is your sleep? Any sides like water retention?

 

[jdthoosier]

You're presumably hitting around 1000 TT peak. More people should read success stories like yours to understand what can be achieved on such a relatively "low" dose.

How is your sleep? Any sides like water retention?

I generally get about 6 to 6.5 hours of solid sleep, often being awakened about 5am due to morning erections. No water retention - once I got some weight back after that initial big drop, it's been within a narrow 5-pound window for about 5 years now. I do exercise religiously and consistently - 30 minutes first thing in the morning, a lot of short walks during the day, then another 30 minute session late afternoon. I walk about 40 miles a week. I cut this down from 50 miles because at 50 miles at week I would start losing weight again.

 

[Willyt]

Anything else worth mentioning in your protocol? Supplements, vitamins, etc.?

Sorry for all the questions. I always like to pick the brains of someone who seems in tune with their health.

 

[jdthoosier]

Anything else worth mentioning in your protocol? Supplements, vitamins, etc.?

Sorry for all the questions. I always like to pick the brains of someone who seems in tune with their health.

Due my age + my Dad having had major prostate issues my PCP put me on tadalifil 2.5mg and pays close attention to the PSA/digital exams. My PSA is still good but it's slowly ticking up. That said, I don't have any urinary issues, don't need to get up a night, etc.

Living in a northern climate I take Vitamin D but not a high dosage. Due to research presented here by mostly Nelson, I take a small amount of magnesium and CO-Q10 daily, and Jarrow Zinc Balance 3 days a week. I view supplements more as a tactical than a strategic mechanism.

I'm sensitive to medication/supplements so typically a smaller dosage for me works pretty well.