Testosterone Therapy

[bambamm89 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bambamm89]

So first, let me start by saying I'm not sure if this is the proper sub-forum for this topic, but I figured this topic doesn't necessarily fit into the other groups either. I've seen a lot of posts about testosterone on this site, but not many about the actual experiences of going through Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).

After months of jumping through hoops with different doctors and just waiting for my insurance to finally get their stuff in order, I've been approved for TRT. I've made a few different posts about my issues with low T before and it has been a steady and depressing decline for me (over 5 years tracked). After trying a lot of natural remedies to help improve things, it was time to admit that I needed help. I talked with my doctor and they immediately agreed and told me some what to expects and realistically how it could help me in day to day life. Knowing some of the risks, I was okay with the majority of the side effects. However, I've still been struggling with the thought of infertility being a hindrance in my future relationships. That being said, I decided to push forward with treatment and have been patiently waiting to get my first injection.

The other day I had to speak with the pharmacist about my actual prescription (AVEED). They went through the normal questions and explained to me how it could interact with my other medications. But when she got to the side effects list, I couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed about the entire process again. I know that practically every medication out there has some long list of side effects that most people don't actually suffer from. But the list that she gave me seemed to be four times the amount the doctor expressed to me. I've still decided to push forward with treatment.

So I'm wondering, for those of you here who have gone through TRT whether short term or long term, how was your experience? Did you feel a major difference in day to day life? In what ways do you think it effected you? Did you experience any side effects, and if so, how did you deal with them? I'm hoping to make this sort of a support thread for those who may currently undergoing TRT or are considering doing so in the future.

TIA

[BreakfastSausage Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BreakfastSausage]

Hey there, I don't have any experience with this, but I do follow a YouTuber who specializes in this type of information. His channel is called MorePlatesMoreDates. Even though it is somewhat of a bodybuilding channel, he talks about pretty much every topic relating to testosterone therapy, side effects, etc. I think he is part owner of a TRT clinic too. Anyway, I watch his videos on 1.25 or 1.5 speed and they are extremely informative specifically about the topic you are interested in.

[Alex1988 Senior Member Member of the Month Aug 2021PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Alex1988]

MorePlatesMoreDates is a very honest/knowledgeable guy. He goes into detail of most of the stuff he used on himself.

Another intersting youtuber is Greg Doucette. He had used a lot of different peds in his past but nowdays he is only on a low trt dose. He has a great cooking book and a ton of knowledge about working out/eating right/peds. His videos especially the "natty or not" videos are funny.

Sadly like 90% of the other bodybuilding youtubers are on gear but they will never admit it.

[Party Senior Member Member of the Month August 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close Party]

Hi BamBamm, Flinstones?

Ive been on TRT for about 6 years now. The biggest side effect for me was weight loss, fat, I was 230 pounds and dropped to 165, also regained some muscle mass that I had lost. Some of the weight loss was due to stress, just wasn’t interested, loss of appetite. I’m back up to 180, got a bit of my fat pad back unfortunately. I think I feel more energetic but I’m 59 years old too. How old are you? And yes, btw, getting TRT by on insurance company is like pulling teeth. I’m on Androgel topical daily. Before replacement therapy my level was 130, now, runs around 550-650. My increase did not help my ED but kinda increased my sex drive. And yes my balls have shrunk to the size of Lima beans. Kinda depressing as they were pretty big and hung nice and low. Oh well. Good luck.

[bambamm89 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bambamm89]

Hi BamBamm, Flinstones?

Ive been on TRT for about 6 years now. The biggest side effect for me was weight loss, fat, I was 230 pounds and dropped to 165, also regained some muscle mass that I had lost. Some of the weight loss was due to stress, just wasn’t interested, loss of appetite. I’m back up to 180, got a bit of my fat pad back unfortunately. I think I feel more energetic but I’m 59 years old too. How old are you? And yes, btw, getting TRT by on insurance company is like pulling teeth. I’m on Androgel topical daily. Before replacement therapy my level was 130, now, runs around 550-650. My increase did not help my ED but kinda increased my sex drive. And yes my balls have shrunk to the size of Lima beans. Kinda depressing as they were pretty big and hung nice and low. Oh well. Good luck.

You got the name reference!
I'm in my early 30's so I'm hoping that this could just be a short term plan for me. If it isn't, I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it. I'm hoping that it will help me with weight loss. I went to the gym for a while but couldn't really make it doing basic cardio. I just didn't have the energy necessary to truly push myself. And although my diet hasn't changed, my weight fluctuates a lot. So I'm just trying to get things stable. What made you decide to go with the gel instead of the injections? And how long before you noticed your boys shrinking?

[Party Senior Member Member of the Month August 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close Party]

You got the name reference!
I'm in my early 30's so I'm hoping that this could just be a short term plan for me. If it isn't, I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it. I'm hoping that it will help me with weight loss. I went to the gym for a while but couldn't really make it doing basic cardio. I just didn't have the energy necessary to truly push myself. And although my diet hasn't changed, my weight fluctuates a lot. So I'm just trying to get things stable. What made you decide to go with the gel instead of the injections? And how long before you noticed your boys shrinking?

Well you should talk to your Doc about injections or Gel. And talk to him about long term use. From what I’ve been told, once you start down the TRT Path forever will it dominate your future. There’s no going back, I’ve never heard or read anything about TRT jumpstarting your nutz. Also, it hasn’t help my dick to get bigger, although I believe it has helped keep my gains. At my age, reduced Test. Levels can result in loss of size. And no doubt the same would occur for any guy, at any age, and probably accounts for micro penis and TRT has been proven to increase length in pre pubescent boys with a small penis. Those are some really thoughtful and loving parents to investigate that.

So, has there been any explanation for your low T levels at your age? A good friend of mine started TRT and had a small penis because of an abusive father with a belt. Unfortunately he lost size because he was not seen by a doctor till many years later.

Good luck. PM me if you have any more “Delicate” questions, I’ll be happy to try and help.

And....BamBamm actually married Pepples Flinstone in a later cartoon series. He had a HUGE club.

And CLUB size MATTERS

[BreakfastSausage Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BreakfastSausage]

You got the name reference!
I'm in my early 30's so I'm hoping that this could just be a short term plan for me. If it isn't, I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it. I'm hoping that it will help me with weight loss. I went to the gym for a while but couldn't really make it doing basic cardio. I just didn't have the energy necessary to truly push myself.

TRT is not a short term option. There are YouTubers around the same age as you are who going on TRT because they apparently tested low and wanted to get more gains. There is a lot of pressure on those guys since they have so many followers.

Merijn
"I am no longer natural"
MorePlatesMoreDates response video (it's better than the original video by Merijn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SCf...latesMoreDates

HowToBeast
"1 Year on Testosterone! (Side effects, gains regrets)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYaU...nel=HowtoBeast

Anyway, I highly recommend to avoid TRT at your age. I'm close in age to you as well. Basically, once you go on, it's pretty much for life. I mean you can get off it, but it won't feel good.

Good news is that there is hope of boosting and jumpstarting your natural production again and a lot of it has to do with nutrition.

Also, make sure not to waste your time on long, boring, steady state cardio. You need HIIT 20-30 minute sessions max. Full body resistance training that trains all major human movement patterns through various planes of motion (upper body push, upper body pull, squat, hinge, rotation, and loaded carries).

Having, "energy," and, "testosterone," are directly related to lifestyle and nutrition. If you have had poor lifestyle for years, it will take more effort to get to where you want to be. But once you get there, maintaining is way easier.

I started fitness/nutrition 15 years ago and I have thought about performance enhancing drugs and/or testosterone many times over the years. From what I understand, the side effects are too severe for me. I still want to have kids. I also want longevity and to set a good example for those around me, that it can be done naturally and that preparing your own food at home 90% of the time is high status because it shows skill, dedication, and willpower (not to mention fitness / disease prevention benefits).

Honestly, does it surprise you that the vast majority of people have nutritional imbalances that have real consequences?

[bambamm89 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bambamm89]

Well you should talk to your Doc about injections or Gel. And talk to him about long term use. From what I’ve been told, once you start down the TRT Path forever will it dominate your future. There’s no going back, I’ve never heard or read anything about TRT jumpstarting your nutz. Also, it hasn’t help my dick to get bigger, although I believe it has helped keep my gains. At my age, reduced Test. Levels can result in loss of size. And no doubt the same would occur for any guy, at any age, and probably accounts for micro penis and TRT has been proven to increase length in pre pubescent boys with a small penis. Those are some really thoughtful and loving parents to investigate that.

So, has there been any explanation for your low T levels at your age? A good friend of mine started TRT and had a small penis because of an abusive father with a belt. Unfortunately he lost size because he was not seen by a doctor till many years later.

Good luck. PM me if you have any more “Delicate” questions, I’ll be happy to try and help.

And....BamBamm actually married Pepples Flinstone in a later cartoon series. He had a HUGE club.

And CLUB size MATTERS

I'm going more for medical reasons outside of sexual health. The benefits of weight loss, lowered blood sugar, better sleep, etc. I decided on injections because I wanted something convenient and stable. The Aveed is supposed to be a more long term injection. With the gel, I figured it wouldn't get a great choice. I work in a trade and sometimes have to shower twice a day. Just seems like it would be somewhat of a waste. The "hope" my doctor gave was that if I get on the TRT and do it for maybe a year to a year and a half and get my other health issues under control, I could "possibly" see a return in my natural T levels since I'm still relatively young. I've never really considered TRT as a way to help with increasing size. I read some articles long ago that said it doesn't help with increasing, so I never really expected that to be a possible side effect. If it is though, I will not complain one bit.

[bambamm89 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bambamm89]

TRT is not a short term option. There are YouTubers around the same age as you are who going on TRT because they apparently tested low and wanted to get more gains. There is a lot of pressure on those guys since they have so many followers.

Merijn
"I am no longer natural"
MorePlatesMoreDates response video (it's better than the original video by Merijn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SCf...latesMoreDates

HowToBeast
"1 Year on Testosterone! (Side effects, gains regrets)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYaU...nel=HowtoBeast

Anyway, I highly recommend to avoid TRT at your age. I'm close in age to you as well. Basically, once you go on, it's pretty much for life. I mean you can get off it, but it won't feel good.

Good news is that there is hope of boosting and jumpstarting your natural production again and a lot of it has to do with nutrition.

Also, make sure not to waste your time on long, boring, steady state cardio. You need HIIT 20-30 minute sessions max. Full body resistance training that trains all major human movement patterns through various planes of motion (upper body push, upper body pull, squat, hinge, rotation, and loaded carries).

Having, "energy," and, "testosterone," are directly related to lifestyle and nutrition. If you have had poor lifestyle for years, it will take more effort to get to where you want to be. But once you get there, maintaining is way easier.

I started fitness/nutrition 15 years ago and I have thought about performance enhancing drugs and/or testosterone many times over the years. From what I understand, the side effects are too severe for me. I still want to have kids. I also want longevity and to set a good example for those around me, that it can be done naturally and that preparing your own food at home 90% of the time is high status because it shows skill, dedication, and willpower (not to mention fitness / disease prevention benefits).

Honestly, does it surprise you that the vast majority of people have nutritional imbalances that have real consequences?

This is why I avoided putting this thread under nutrition or the fitness section of the site. Most of the time when people talk about TRT everyone immediately jumps to working out or performance enhancing. But the reality is, there are some of us who simply need it so that we can improve our overall health. I went through dieting, supplements, workouts, lifestyle changes, etc. And at the end of that, my T still continued to drop steadily. I've done the occupational therapy, the stress relief, the talking with a therapist, at the end of the day my levels are not naturally improving and my health is declining. It took over 5 years before I came to the decision to seek the assistance of prescription drugs. While I do appreciate hearing from everyone that responds and has experience with these things, I think it's important to note that I am in no way looking for a performance boost. I have no interest in getting a six-pack or looking ripped. I work in a trade, and I am constantly exhausted. Walking up 4 flights of steps on a day-to-day basis literally makes me feel like I've just ran a marathon. I eat healthy, try to get extra sleep, and make plenty of time for rest. Still I find myself almost falling asleep while doing the simplest of tasks, including driving. Not to mention, I've been a type 1 diabetic for 21 years now. When my T levels started to drop, my doctors saw a noticable change in how my body responded to insulin. T effects metabolism, metabolism effects organ function. I'm sure without drawing out the entire map you understand how important it is to have healthy organ function in order to live a good life.

While I get it, the majority of times that T is discussed, it's an enhancement conversation. For me, this is about getting through the day-to-day tasks of everyday life and improving my overall health. So I'd prefer if we don't steer to conversation towards "workout talk"

[Pegasus AdministratorPE Gym EditorPEGym Hero ☺ Admin of the Month Mar 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close Pegasus]

Diabetic that explains a lot ,it seems to be a common cause of low T.

[bambamm89 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bambamm89]

Diabetic that explains a lot ,it seems to be a common cause of low T.

Yeah, I was starting to see that after I ran into this issue. The strange thing was that my T levels were never a major concern before. Everything was perfectly normal for so long. But once the T level dropped, everything else started failing me too.

[BreakfastSausage Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BreakfastSausage]

But the reality is, there are some of us who simply need it so that we can improve our overall health.

Okay, that is 100% fair and I appreciate you for taking the time to explain that to me. I am with you on this because that is my goal as well, even though I have not experienced what you are. I can see that you have put a lot of meaningful thought and effort into this.

I'll agree to not steer the conversation towards something irrelevant for this thread. I suppose what I didn't understand is you were working with type 1 diabetes so I apologize for that.

I'm all for supporting the body on a cellular level. I realize it is even more important for you because of the 5 years you've put into it and the 21 years since diagnosis.

I will only ask this. Have you ever thought about using or have used medicinal mushrooms like reishi as an alternative adjuvant treatment of diabetes mellitus type 1?

Whatever you do decide, I'll be interested to follow your journey and help if I can. Maybe scientists will be able to produce technology to reverse it in the future.

https://www.drwf.org.uk/news-and-eve...ethod-creating

[Party Senior Member Member of the Month August 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close Party]

Yeah, I was starting to see that after I ran into this issue. The strange thing was that my T levels were never a major concern before. Everything was perfectly normal for so long. But once the T level dropped, everything else started failing me too.

Im not sure why you didn’t share this In your first post. I just lost a very good friend at 46 to type 2 diabetes. She wasonly 46 with a 13 year old daughter. I miss her very much. You do exactly what you need to do to keep your whole system working right.

I miss you Stacy.

[bambamm89 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bambamm89]

I will only ask this. Have you ever thought about using or have used medicinal mushrooms like reishi as an alternative adjuvant treatment of diabetes mellitus type 1?

I've never heard of mushrooms being a reliable treatment option before. But I'll look into it and check it out. At this point, I'm being steered towards an organ transplant, so I'm not even sure if I'll need insulin injections if that process works out.

I didn't want to turn this thread into a personal thread about my own health issues, so I apologize for not making things a bit more clear from the first post. But I know there are a lot of people who actually do turn to TRT (regardless of their reasoning) and I noticed that there wasn't really a place to discuss the pro/cons and general experience of going through that. It's hard to find a place where men can open up about issues like these and have their concerns taken seriously while also connecting with other people who may be in the same boat. With that being said, I'm hoping that this thread can be a way of changing that and getting the conversation going with more people who have had first hand experience or are curious about TRT. As long is it this doesn't turn into a conversation focused around how TRT has helped you in the gym or in the bed, I'm open to hearing all feedback. The things I'd personally love to know are

How long did it take before you noticed a difference?

Do you think the difference was drastic enough to justify the side effects?

What are your biggest regrets about undergoing TRT?

What was something you noticed that was different from what you expected when you first started?

Edit: I did want to clarify one last thing because this comment has been made on a few different occasions. I understand that TRT is not a short term treatment plan. The idea that my doctor has is to get me on it for 6 months, make close observations and see if it is worth continuing as a long term treatment plan. While 6 months isn't enough to do a complete turn around with my health, it will give us enough time to gauge whether are not I am heading in the right direction.