YOUR TESTOSTERONE THERAPY: IF YOU COULD TURN BACK TIME?

[Dansk]

I am in the process of embarking on my own TRT journey. I have received some great advice here and am grateful for this site and the people on it, certainly helps this process become understandable and hopefully easier.

So my question to anyone who cares to answer.

Going back to YOUR day 1, and beginning TRT therapy, and knowing what you know now, all the knowledge you have gained since day 1, what would your protocol starting protocol look like?? compared to what it was when you began.

Not looking for regrets, I have read many threads here and there have been some who have mentioned if I could start all over again I would do........????

Thanks

 

[Airborne Warrior]

I would have started on injections straight away at 60mg E3.5D with 350IU of HCG thrown in twice weekly to boot.

Testogel turned my blood into treacle.

 

[Systemlord]

I would have joined Defy Medical and would have eventually found an (20-22mg) EOD protocol to be best for me do to lower SHBG in the low 20's. I would also find I tolerate aromasin better than anastrozole and take it infrequently or as needed until I dropped excess weight.

 

[Nashtide]

I would have started low and titrated up based on labs and how I felt.

 

[Vince]

The only thing different I would do. Even though I'm primary, I would try a low-dose clomid. I also would get my thyroid levels in a good range. After that, then I will consider trt.

 

[Dansk]

The only thing different I would do. Even though I'm primary, I would try a low-dose clomid. I also would get my thyroid levels in a good range. After that, then I will consider trt.

Don’t know enough about Clomid, but are you saying just mono clomid therapy at the start to see how it would have gone??

 

[Vince]

Yes I am saying I wish I would have tried Clomid before starting testosterone replacement therapy. I should have also work on my thyroid levels. If I needed trt after that I then would have started.

Are guys that do well on low dose clomid unicorns...or do they really exist?

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I would have used smaller injections with shallow IM dosing (we did not know any better in the early 90's). I would have also used HCG right away. I would not have tried finasteride either.

 

[Deleted member 16042]

I would have started on frequent injections at about 80mg/week first rather than transdermal, and worked up to optimal if needed, then assessed need for HCG and AI over the next 3-6 months.

I had one really botched transdermal protocol, plus the next which was just inadequate, then was dosed too high when switching to injections, meaning going through Hell with dosage reductions to deal with High hematocrit, tanked ferritin. This also resulted in an E2 roller coaster.

 

[BigBamBoo]

Wish I would have started with just T at a more frequent, lower dosing protocol and then added HCG.

That being said...EVERYONE of us if different and "dialing in" your protocol is an individual thing.

Good luck to you.

 

[DragonBits]

If I could turn back time to 2010 ??

I would have bought this lotto number.

12/31/2010 Mega Millions 10-12-13-35-56[09], Megaplier: X4

I wish I had started TRT earlier, but it wasn't on my radar, I am happy with the way I started.

 

[James]

I would have started with a lower dose and worked my way up, if needed based on feel and labs. I did the opposite, starting with 160 mg (1 shot weekky). Currently at 50 mg (2 shots weekly)...and feel much better.

 

[LTChris]

When my provider at the time suggested Pellets, I would have ran out the door. I would have taken it much more seriously and educated myself better before embarking on this journey.
Ultimately, I would have gotten with Dr. Saya and the Defy team and avoided a lot of heartache. But I echo above; I would have maybe tried T alone, then added HCG later. (start low and go slow),

 

[Sean Mosher]

I would have started with twice a week injections minimum and hCG (for fertility only).
No AI.
But I started with an AI and have slowly over this last year gotten off it completely.
I would have had a full work-up done as well initially, including thryoid, pregnenolone, top to bottom hormonal workout.
I think Nelson calls it his executive male panel on discounted labs.
The key to early success though is definitely highly dependent upon who your doc is too.

 

[Ardoc2]

#1 TEST YOUR SHBG. I would have gotten more bloodwork including Thyroid tests (complete hormonal panel) rather than only focused on sex hormones. Would have tried some lifestyle interventions that I understand much better now then when i started and possibly have tried Clomid. Mainly, once I was confident that I needed TRT i would have started 100mg x once per week and only added HCG or an AI once the Test was dialled in and only if necessary. Others are saying more frequent injections (I now do daily because of low SHBG) which I agree with but if you have mid-range+ SHBG its worth trying weekly as it works for some and is less intrusive in your routine. But if lower SHBG then it makes sense to split the dose to at least twice weekly and go from there. Good luck!!

 

[DragonBits]

#1 TEST YOUR SHBG. I would have gotten more bloodwork including Thyroid tests (complete hormonal panel) rather than only focused on sex hormones. Would have tried some lifestyle interventions that I understand much better now then when i started and possibly have tried Clomid. Mainly, once I was confident that I needed TRT i would have started 100mg x once per week and only added HCG or an AI once the Test was dialled in and only if necessary. Others are saying more frequent injections (I now do daily because of low SHBG) which I agree with but if you have mid-range+ SHBG its worth trying weekly as it works for some and is less intrusive in your routine. But if lower SHBG then it makes sense to split the dose to at least twice weekly and go from there. Good luck!!

How does one know HCG is necessary? The only obvious necessity is if you want children.

 

[Ardoc2]

Agreed... that is more of an individual assessment, I didn't try to establish what necessitates HCG since it is more about goals and how you feel

 

[JimBob]

It is also about maintaining optimal human physiology, if possible. Is it optimal to shut down LH receptors throughout the body?

 

[Vince]

I have heard about men, that only inject testosterone for many years and lose their sex drive. I am told when that happens, you need to add in HCG. I believe that it may eventually be necessary for every man on testosterone to include HCG.

 

[DragonBits]

It is also about maintaining optimal human physiology, if possible. Is it optimal to shut down LH receptors throughout the body?

I don't know, LH receptors are involved with ED and prostate growth, with high LH causing those problems.

Has anyone tried looking into what those other LH receptors are doing?

In aging men, LH typically increases, has that been a good thing?