Originally Posted by
MTUT
Long time lurker here. I feel really fortunate. I had my first blood test done 9 years ago, and my T was 212. For various reasons I opted not to do anything. I got tested again about four years ago, and was at 222. Again, I opted not to do anything. In January this year I was tested again at 278. My NP (not an MD) encouraged me to consider TRT, and I talked with him about Clomid, aromatase inhibitors, and other stuff. He said he had no problems prescribing me test, had multiple other patients that benefitted from it, and thought I would also. He didn't want to prescribe anything but test, thought it was probably unnecessary, and said if it blood tests showed it wasn't working he would refer me to an endo. In July I finally decided to pull the trigger. The NP wrote the prescription, and said I could come in to learn how to do an injection. Instead, I reviewed a few Youtube videos, and did it myself. One of the reasons (not necessarily the main reason) I delayed so long in getting TRT was the fact that I hate syringes. When I mentioned this to the NP, he brushed aside my concern and told me injections are no big deal. And, he was right. After the first injection it has been no problem for me.
After my first blood test on TRT, my T came back at 872, and I felt great (and put on 10 lbs in two weeks, though some of that may be due to a change in job). When an MD in the same office as the NP reviewed my numbers he said I should go from 200mg every two weeks to every three weeks because my numbers were too high. He even suggested I may not need TRT. Like an idiot, I tried the three week interval for a couple of injections, then talked with the NP again. The NP thought my numbers looked good, and told me to go back to bi-weekly injections. I've felt pretty good with them since, but I am going to move to 2x/week injections, as that just makes sense. And in the near future I will try sub-q injections as well.
In the end, I got lucky with my NP, who is not only not an idiot, but open-minded and full of common sense. What I have seen and learned reinforces what Rip and others say:
1) Don't listen to doctors that give bad advice outside their wheelhouse
2) While test has certainly helped my lifts (my weight, which had stabilized at just under 220 for a very long time is not just under 240), the main benefit to TRT is in how it makes you feel. Gone is the lethargy and constant drowsiness. Now I feel energy to do stuff pretty much all the time. It's absolutely amazing.
3) Don't be afraid of injections; get a 25+ gauge needle and stick it in (the outer quad in my case, with 1" or 1.5" needles)
4) Don't overthink the chemistry. You most likely don't need a stack.
5) If you can find a willing doc (or nurse practitioner, in my case), none of this needs to be expensive. Test is relatively cheap, as are syringes. Even without insurance, It's about $15/month for me. And insurance partially covers the infrequent blood tests.
YMMV, but for me thus far, it's been fantastic.