Hello Friends
I hope this message finds you in great health. I am a newcomer to this forum and this is my first post. I am 32 years old, 1.72m tall, and weigh 91 kg.
My Background and Mental Health Journey:
My story begins about two to three years ago. Before this period, I was someone who procrastinated a lot but was still energetic, cheerful, and motivated to do things despite the procrastination. When I needed to focus on academic work or other tasks, I would use psychostimulants Concerta, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. Because I would procrastinate until the last minute, I would take the medication around 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM and stay awake all night. This became very frequent. During this time, I started gaining weight until I reached my current weight.
About 3 to 4 months ago, I became a father, which has meant many sleepless nights without rest. Consequently, about 7 months ago, I had to interrupt my studies because my Master’s dissertation results were terrible; I had no focus or energy. My advisors saw that something wasn't right this was my second attempt to resume after a previous break. I opened up to them and explained that I suffer from depression. I’ve undergone various treatments with Venlafaxine and Sertraline, which seemed to show improvement for about 8 months alongside therapy, but I never achieved satisfactory results.
The Health System in Portugal:
I am currently in Lisbon, Portugal, and the healthcare system here is in a dire state due to overcrowding and system overload. They simply cannot keep up with the demand. My family doctor requested a follow-up at the reference hospital for psychiatry not for ADHD, but for depression, as I wanted to try Ketamine treatment. However, the request was denied without any justification.
Current Daily Struggle:
Time passes, and here at home, I generally go to bed between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM and used to wake up around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM. This month, I’ve managed a slight improvement, waking up around 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, or 4:00 PM. It’s small, but it’s progress. I know I should sleep earlier, around 10:00 PM, and if I have to wake up for the baby, I could be up from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM and then sleep until 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM.
But my life is upside down. I’m doing nothing; financially, I am broken, and I no longer feel any zest for life, energy, or motivation. I feel tired, aimless, and unfocused. I have ideas, like producing specific digital content that I enjoy, but I lack the energy, strength, and consistency. I just stay home, leaving only for obligations like the hospital. It is frustrating for a young man who should be living life to the fullest. My diet has changed significantly I eat a bit of everything, which affects and destroys me at the same time. I need help.
Testosterone Findings:
In my research, I came across the possibility of having low testosterone. I never gave it much thought before because I couldn't afford private exams and wouldn't get treatment at the public hospital. However, I had the grace to get a test on February 20th, which revealed:
- Total Testosterone: 2.79 (µg/L} (Ref: 2.49–8.36)
- Free Testosterone: 14.1 (pg/mL) (Ref: 12.3–46.6)
On March 6th, I contacted an online clinic in Europe called Balance My Hormones. They gave me a list of exams I should do. My family doctor was kind enough to prescribe them so I could do them through the public system. I am attaching those results.
I did this second round of exams around March 20th, along with an ECG. Because of Lent (I am a Catholic Christian), I was fasting, which might have contributed to a relatively increased testosterone value in this second test. However, this does not reflect the reality of how I feel. I am truly lost, without vital energy, not going to the gym, just staying home, caring for the baby, eating, and sleeping. I feel I am not the same person I was before.
ECG is normal.
P.S: The attached bloodwork is in Portuguese. Most markers will be easily recognizable due to their scientific names, but if any specific values or terms are unclear, please let me know. I wasn't able to translate the entire document myself, but I’m happy to clarify any specific marker for you.
Proposed Protocol & Strategy:
I am considering starting a protocol with Retatrutide (Reta), HCG (to preserve fertility), and Testosterone as follows:
- Testosterone Cypionate: 70mg per week 10mg daily, subcutaneous microdoses.
- HCG: 1100 IU or 1200 IU maximum per week to preserve fertility. I want to do microdoses.
P.S: My goal is not only to maintain testicular volume but also to sustain spermatogenesis throughout the TRT process, ensuring that I remain fertile and capable of conceiving at any time without having to "restart" or "wake up" the testes later on.
--> Option A (1100 IU): 150 IU Mon-Fri, and 175 IU Sat-Sun.
--> Option B (1200 IU): 180 IU Mon-Fri, and 150 IU Sat-Sun.
. Retatrutide (Reta): 0.5mg on Monday and 0.5 mg on Thursday for the first 4 weeks. From week 5 onwards, 1 mg on Monday and 1 mg on Thursday.
Questions regarding Sources and Quality:
What is the community’s thought on my protocol and situation? I truly cannot live like this anymore; I need to get my life back.
Being in Europe and inexperienced, I’ve seen some sites but don't know if they are reputable for HCG and Testosterone:
deus-medical.eu
- Is this site legitimate? How is the quality of their products? Are there better, more reputable options for someone in Europe?
Regarding Retatrutide, I saw resellers on platforms like the GLP-1 forum, but I cannot access the platform or join Discord/Telegram groups. I am totally lost. One supplier suggested $168 USD for a 20 (mg) vial plus $50 USD for shipping, which is extremely expensive for me.
In my research, I found:
qingdaosigmachemical.com
This supplier claims to be the actual manufacturer in China, not a distributor. They offer 10 vials (10mg each) for $145 USD. Their quality test claims 98.14%, but since they are the manufacturers, they could put any value there. Has anyone had experience with them? The cost-benefit seems excellent, but I don't know if I can trust it.
I sincerely ask for your help, a
s I am a man lost in this world.
I hope this message finds you in great health. I am a newcomer to this forum and this is my first post. I am 32 years old, 1.72m tall, and weigh 91 kg.
My Background and Mental Health Journey:
My story begins about two to three years ago. Before this period, I was someone who procrastinated a lot but was still energetic, cheerful, and motivated to do things despite the procrastination. When I needed to focus on academic work or other tasks, I would use psychostimulants Concerta, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. Because I would procrastinate until the last minute, I would take the medication around 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM and stay awake all night. This became very frequent. During this time, I started gaining weight until I reached my current weight.
About 3 to 4 months ago, I became a father, which has meant many sleepless nights without rest. Consequently, about 7 months ago, I had to interrupt my studies because my Master’s dissertation results were terrible; I had no focus or energy. My advisors saw that something wasn't right this was my second attempt to resume after a previous break. I opened up to them and explained that I suffer from depression. I’ve undergone various treatments with Venlafaxine and Sertraline, which seemed to show improvement for about 8 months alongside therapy, but I never achieved satisfactory results.
The Health System in Portugal:
I am currently in Lisbon, Portugal, and the healthcare system here is in a dire state due to overcrowding and system overload. They simply cannot keep up with the demand. My family doctor requested a follow-up at the reference hospital for psychiatry not for ADHD, but for depression, as I wanted to try Ketamine treatment. However, the request was denied without any justification.
Current Daily Struggle:
Time passes, and here at home, I generally go to bed between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM and used to wake up around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM. This month, I’ve managed a slight improvement, waking up around 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, or 4:00 PM. It’s small, but it’s progress. I know I should sleep earlier, around 10:00 PM, and if I have to wake up for the baby, I could be up from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM and then sleep until 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM.
But my life is upside down. I’m doing nothing; financially, I am broken, and I no longer feel any zest for life, energy, or motivation. I feel tired, aimless, and unfocused. I have ideas, like producing specific digital content that I enjoy, but I lack the energy, strength, and consistency. I just stay home, leaving only for obligations like the hospital. It is frustrating for a young man who should be living life to the fullest. My diet has changed significantly I eat a bit of everything, which affects and destroys me at the same time. I need help.
Testosterone Findings:
In my research, I came across the possibility of having low testosterone. I never gave it much thought before because I couldn't afford private exams and wouldn't get treatment at the public hospital. However, I had the grace to get a test on February 20th, which revealed:
- Total Testosterone: 2.79 (µg/L} (Ref: 2.49–8.36)
- Free Testosterone: 14.1 (pg/mL) (Ref: 12.3–46.6)
On March 6th, I contacted an online clinic in Europe called Balance My Hormones. They gave me a list of exams I should do. My family doctor was kind enough to prescribe them so I could do them through the public system. I am attaching those results.
I did this second round of exams around March 20th, along with an ECG. Because of Lent (I am a Catholic Christian), I was fasting, which might have contributed to a relatively increased testosterone value in this second test. However, this does not reflect the reality of how I feel. I am truly lost, without vital energy, not going to the gym, just staying home, caring for the baby, eating, and sleeping. I feel I am not the same person I was before.
ECG is normal.
P.S: The attached bloodwork is in Portuguese. Most markers will be easily recognizable due to their scientific names, but if any specific values or terms are unclear, please let me know. I wasn't able to translate the entire document myself, but I’m happy to clarify any specific marker for you.
Proposed Protocol & Strategy:
I am considering starting a protocol with Retatrutide (Reta), HCG (to preserve fertility), and Testosterone as follows:
- Testosterone Cypionate: 70mg per week 10mg daily, subcutaneous microdoses.
- HCG: 1100 IU or 1200 IU maximum per week to preserve fertility. I want to do microdoses.
P.S: My goal is not only to maintain testicular volume but also to sustain spermatogenesis throughout the TRT process, ensuring that I remain fertile and capable of conceiving at any time without having to "restart" or "wake up" the testes later on.
--> Option A (1100 IU): 150 IU Mon-Fri, and 175 IU Sat-Sun.
--> Option B (1200 IU): 180 IU Mon-Fri, and 150 IU Sat-Sun.
. Retatrutide (Reta): 0.5mg on Monday and 0.5 mg on Thursday for the first 4 weeks. From week 5 onwards, 1 mg on Monday and 1 mg on Thursday.
Questions regarding Sources and Quality:
What is the community’s thought on my protocol and situation? I truly cannot live like this anymore; I need to get my life back.
Being in Europe and inexperienced, I’ve seen some sites but don't know if they are reputable for HCG and Testosterone:
deus-medical.eu
- Is this site legitimate? How is the quality of their products? Are there better, more reputable options for someone in Europe?
Regarding Retatrutide, I saw resellers on platforms like the GLP-1 forum, but I cannot access the platform or join Discord/Telegram groups. I am totally lost. One supplier suggested $168 USD for a 20 (mg) vial plus $50 USD for shipping, which is extremely expensive for me.
In my research, I found:
qingdaosigmachemical.com
This supplier claims to be the actual manufacturer in China, not a distributor. They offer 10 vials (10mg each) for $145 USD. Their quality test claims 98.14%, but since they are the manufacturers, they could put any value there. Has anyone had experience with them? The cost-benefit seems excellent, but I don't know if I can trust it.
I sincerely ask for your help, a
s I am a man lost in this world.
