Sort of New To TRT

Hi,

I apologise in advance if my question seems a bit too newbie. I am virtually new to the TRT universe, so I don’t really know the basics. Anyway, basically I was on TRT around the age of 16 because I was too late to puberty and it gave me a kick start. I was diagnosed at the time with Hypogondadism because of extremely low T(about 3.2 at the time) so I was prescribed monthly injections of T. Anyway, after about a year of taking it and when puberty kicked in, I decided to voluntarily stop taking it and just proceed into my adolescent life.

Recently, I decided to start taking it again because I felt my symptoms all indicate low T: low energy, low sex drive, low muscle mass, difficulty getting erections, low drive. I did two tests and they came back as 10.2 and 9.2. The doctor me told this was normal range(8.2.-40) and I complained that it was hardly normal for a 35 year old male. After a lot complaining, he finally agreed to refer to me an endocrinologist. He has confirmed to my doctor that I am borderline and a level above 12 would be normal for me. He has suggested Testogel(50mg) daily initially, and later perhaps an option for a 3-monthly injection.

Now, for my actual question. I have been taking the Testogel for a week now(applied exactly as it says on the tin) and I have noticed absolutely no(positive) change in any of my low T symptoms. In fact, I have noticed the opposite(negative) my low T symptoms seem to have increased. Before I would get a morning boner for instance, and I haven’t had one this past week. I feel more tired than usual and I got easily fatigued at the gym.

So onto the questions: Could it be that the Testogel has replaced my own natural T production, and has replaced it with an even lesser level than it was at before? Isn’t it suppose to just supplement my existing level?

At 50mg a day, am I getting 350mg a week? Should it be higher?

How long do I continue taking the Testogel before getting more tests done to determine its effect on me? If I go off it suddenly, will be natural T production restart?

Thank you for reading I await your replies.

No one gets great results in one week.
But what you suggest can and dose happen some times.

Please list your labs in list format with lab ranges.
Not just T, everything.

TT
FT
E2
LH/FSH - from when not on TRT
prolactin
CBC
hematocrit
AST/ALT
TSH
fT3
fT4

AGE=35
height
weight
waist size
location

You may not be absorbing T gel very well, and that is sort of expected if you have thyroid problems - see last paragraph.

Please read the stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category - #2 by KSman

  • advice for new guys - need more info about you
  • things that damage your hormones
  • protocol for injections
  • finding a TRT doc

Evaluate your overall thyroid function by checking oral body temperatures as per the thyroid basics sticky. Thyroid hormone fT3 is what gets the job done and it regulates mitochondrial activity, the source of ATP which is the universal currency of cellular energy. This is part of the body’s temperature control loop. This can get messed up if you are iodine deficient. In many countries, you need to be using iodized salt. Other countries add iodine to dairy or bread.