First week on TRT questions

[Test newb]

Hey guys

Im 44, Felt sluggish and depressed for a few years now. I always suspected I had low T. Went to the local clinic and got tested 200 total on the first test 230 on the second. My results were sent off to lab core after the second test so I’ll be able to get a full report tomorrow.

The dr started me off with a shot of 200 mg(?) and said the next time will probably be in the 140mg(?) range. (Weekly)

This week was a roller coaster...on day 4 a had a major dopamine or testosterone rush, I felt like Amazing! Woke up the next day and was so tired I could barely get out of bed. Major crash or something.

This continued the next day. I’m assumimg it was the e2. The clinic is a once a week clinic they don’t do home injections...but my insurance pays. What questions should I ask my dr? My appointment is tmr. I can’t live a roller coaster life like this. I loved the day 4 feeling...but 5-7 is not worth it.
Does it get better? Should I get an AI ?

Thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Alldayeveryday]

I'm currently in my 10th week of treatment. I know how you feel. My doc gave me a 100 mg shot in her office for my first shot. I experienced the "crash" feeling that you are talking about. I know for me the day after my injection I would feel sluggish. Then the day before my next shot I felt sluggish and had to take naps ECT. It took about three weeks before I leveled out. Understand that there are chemical half lives involved and it takes 6 weeks to reach "steady state" with Cypionate. Hang in there and enjoy the good days and bear with the not so good days. It may even take a little tweaking before it's all said and done but you will get there.

 

[busgalloway]

OP you will need to wait 6 to 8 weeks for it to be more normal. If your doctor doesn't start you on an AI that's probably good, it's probably better to reassess with your next bloodwork I'm assuming once you reach steady state and he will decide if that protocol is right for you.

I'm far from dialed in myself, but even over 32 weeks into this I still have days where I feel great and then others where i feel just normal. Hopefully the bad days will go away for you and your protocol will be fin; it took a few months for me to stop experiencing those.

Also yes it gets better, but to make the most of it you need to make healthier habits and be more physically active. That's where you see masculinity really come back. Otherwise your body composition changes, behavior and libido is what changes. My body comp change even before I hit the gym again was enough to get multiple comments out of the blue from people saying i looked more masculine than before.

I think of TRT more as an opportunity to help you in your own self-improvement efforts, it's not a magic bullet. I know there's a lot of people that quit TRT because they get bad results, but I see a lot of promise just with the effort I've put it.

 

[Vince]

It does take time to get dialed in. When I start a new protocol, it usually takes me about 12 weeks to feel the full effect of my new protocol.

 

[Systemlord]

Some of these clinics don't allow self injection because then their unable to charge your insurance company money for administer the injection, at the end of the day it's a business. They could care less about inconveniencing you.

 

[Matt Leiser]

To answer your questions, for a lot of people yes it does get better. Some no. As far as an AI, I believe most would agree to hold off until you have been on a steady dose and frequency for a minimum of 6 weeks, then assess if an AI or a change in dose or frequency is warranted. You are getting 200 mg dose but then getting 140 in the next week. Already there your frequency is the same, but the dose has now changed in week 2? Is there a reason for this?

Please post your baseline labs as soon as you can. That will give the pros here a chance to review and suggest.

My best advice for you at this moment is to be patient and when it comes time to change anything about your protocol, change one variable at a time.

 

[CoastWatcher]

To answer your questions, for a lot of people yes it does get better. Some no. As far as an AI, I believe most would agree to hold off until you have been on a steady dose and frequency for a minimum of 6 weeks, then assess if an AI or a change in dose or frequency is warranted. You are getting 200 mg dose but then getting 140 in the next week. Already there your frequency is the same, but the dose has now changed in week 2? Is there a reason for this?

Please post your baseline labs as soon as you can. That will give the pros here a chance to review and suggest.

My best advice for you at this moment is to be patient and when it comes time to change anything about your protocol, change one variable at a time.

A nice summation of how to approach what is, after all, a marathon and not a sprint. No changes, not one, for six weeks and then one at a time...for another six weeks. Patient attention will pay off.