EDIT: See bottom posts (Currently post 81) for more recent information!!!
EDIT: As of February 8th, I am now in week 9 of the new TRT protocol (80mg SubQ injections with 30 gauge, 5/16" insulin syringes twice a week; 160mg weekly along with 0.5mg Arimidex per injection; 1.0mg Arimidex per week).
I still occasionally have issues with getting restful sleep and fatigue during the day, but it is nowhere like it used to be. Phenibut and Tryptophan both seem to help with the sleep issues. I also still have some trouble with anxiety, social anxiety, and feeling irritated, but it is no more than 50% of the time and seems to continue getting better. Also started having flareups of acne on my back (never had this as a teenager), but this is cosmetic and seems to be helped with tea tree oil cleaner twice a day.
I am down to 161 pounds with 16% BF measured via BIA (was 186 pounds with 26% BF measured via Dexa Scan around last blood work; Dec 2018), and will be doing a follow up Dexa Scan next weekend.
Doctor and I will be rerunning blood work in April and will lower dosages if Total and Free testosterone come back high again (he wanted to lower it now, but I want to make sure with follow up blood work). Blood work was run 12 hours AFTER the last scheduled injection was supposed to take place (Fri morning; normally inject Mon AM and Thurs PM).
Current blood tests for the 160mg Test C with 1mg Adex weekly protocol below in post 50.
ORIGINAL FIRST POST BELOW:
My name is Jeff and I am considering going on TRT. Any advice/additional information on the blood test or MRI results? Is there anything else I should check or do? Or is TRT the way to go at this point? I have a follow up appointment on Wednesday (8/15/2018).
Specifically, I am considering starting with a 20% compounded cream/gel (200mg/mL) from a compounding pharmacy. I do not think that I need HCG as I do not plan on having kids (had a vasectomy). After starting TRT I’m thinking of doing 2 blood tests the first month, 1 at two months, 1 at three months, and then twice a year from that point in order to get the levels balanced. I will add 0.25mg of Arimidex (twice weekly) to keep Estradiol balanced if E2 starts to get too high.
I am a 27-year-old Caucasian male, height 5’11", weight 170 pounds, 14% Body Fat, 32-inch waist. I have a full head of hair and can grow a full beard and mustache. I also have hairy legs and lower stomach but have almost no upper body hair. I carry most of my visible fat on my abdomen - it has always been like this.
I feel consistently and excessively fatigued, depressed a fair amount, high stress/anxiety, low sex drive, trouble getting and maintaining erections (occasional), trouble gaining muscle mass (even with proper diet and training), and I also have trouble sleeping. I recently had a night time sleep study completed and no sleep disorders were found. Also have trouble concentrating and thinking at times. I used to get morning wood when I was younger - I have not gotten morning wood in years (don’t remember when it stopped). Testes ache slightly, but it’s very random when it happens.
I do not take any prescription drugs, but I have used a lot of recreational drugs in the past (nothing in the past year, except occasional alcohol). Supplement wise I take creatine and beta-alanine along with a whole food multivitamin. No hair loss or prostate drugs.
I eat a 2500 calorie diet (50% Carbs, 30% Protein, 20% Fat) with approximately 180 Grams of Protein. This is split between 2 meal replacement shakes (Athletes Fuel), 3 protein shakes, and servings of carbs and protein with olive oil (noodles and salmon; mashed potatoes and lunch meat; etc.). Between the 2 servings of Athletes Fuel and multivitamin, I am certain all my vitamin and mineral (micro-nutrients) needs are being met, including iodine and selenium.
Training wise I work out 3 times a week for 30 minutes with a Personal Trainer, alternating between weight lifting and boxing. In the past 4 months of training, I have gained no visible muscle mass (the first 2 months of training I was with a different Personal Trainer, who had me weight lifting for 60 minutes, 3 times a week).
I had a colonoscopy recently (July 2018) and “everything looked normal”. Blood test and Pituitary MRI results are below: