Panderas785
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
40 year old male. Down 54 lbs since October.
SW: 262
CW: 209
GW:170
Reta 2 mg weekly.
Pending IGF-1 scoring and estradiol.
Thinking of hitting something to up the levels…
345 total test
- Thread starter Panderas785
- Start date
GLP-1 Novice
40 year old male. Down 54 lbs since October.
SW: 262
CW: 209
GW:170
Reta 2 mg weekly.
Pending IGF-1 scoring and estradiol.
Thinking of hitting something to up the levels…
FartfulCodger
GLP-1 Enthusiast
60-year-old male here, down 65 pounds, with a T level similar to yours. FWIW, I started myself on low doses of Enclomiphene and HCG a week ago. I did this because I wasn't sure which would work better. Both should have the same effect--increasing endogenous T production--but I don't want to overdose by taking the normal full dose of both at the same time.
I don't want to mess with TRT at this point because of longer-term side effects. I'll do another blood test in a few months and see where I stand.
I don't want to mess with TRT at this point because of longer-term side effects. I'll do another blood test in a few months and see where I stand.
You won’t get treatment from most doctors with that T level but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have subjective benefits from exogenous T. There are online virtual clinics who would be happy to provide you with clomiphene or T, for a price. I am yet to find a person who stays on enclomiphene long term when I read various online message boards. Although your total T will increase, enclomiphene saturates estrogen receptors in the brain and creates symptoms of high estrogen, even when estrogen levels are in a good range. If you aren’t worried about fertility, T will provide superior results to enclomiphene. Getting body fat as low as possible is critical when you replace testosterone because the body fat increases the conversion of testosterone to estrogen significantly. Obviously you are already working on that. You would probably get the best results from losing as much weight as you can before starting testosterone replacement.
wildweasel
GLP-1 Apprentice
I see your pain. Mine is worse at around 200. It boggles my mind how I haven't got my own tits yet. I keep using those of others. Anyway, Enclo with Anastrazole and Tamoxifen can mitigate the receptor overload issue.
Ah my old friend...crap...I erred.. It's T-nation Search up Charles Poliquin and thank me later, or for you, don't bother thanking at all
Last edited:
wildweasel
GLP-1 Apprentice
tbqh i've never actually dealt with a TRT clininc, i just have heard from reputation that they are very leniant on what they will treat... I have been told that anyone coming to them with sub-400 complaining that they have symptoms of low T will walk out with a 150-200mg weekly rx for Test
woundcarping
GLP-1 Specialist
TRT Nation is my provider for Test, I'm content with their model, especially compared to my initial PCP's offering 5 years ago that I didn't stick with.
5byfive
GLP-1 Enthusiast
I didn't want to start TRT and be stuck on it long term at 52 so I went with Clomid. Bad choice. My testosterone levels increased but no noticeable effects except it totally killed my sex drive. Went ahead and pulled the trigger on TRT and the quality of life improvement was substantial. There really does not seem to be a downside to getting on TRT if your levels are low. They used to think it caused cardiac issues but with more studies and more people that have been on it long term, that doesn't seem to be the case. Currently on 50mg of test-e sub-q twice a week and my levels tend to be in the.mid 800's.
Just a suggestion.... don't do it. I was here 6 months ago when I was dropping weight quickly. My actual doctor WHO PRESCRIBED Zepbound wanted me to start meds for cholesterol and for TRT.
My levels were low and there was an issue with LDL pattern A even though the rest of the cholesterol numbers were great. The doctor wanted to start treatment for both of these right away.
I was speaking with two friends who both went on the same journey and both had seen the same results short term. I went home later and started researching with Perplexity and some other tools only to find out both of these are a natural part of rapid weight loss.
For T the body perceives the weight loss as starvation and goes into survival mode. Food isn't plentiful.... don't reproduce. For cholesterol that pattern was indicative of fat stores being release. Both totally normal. Chasing "ideal" ranges with treatment, while still using Zepbound, would have been a bad move.
I had it help with some questions to go back to my doctor with and fired them off that night. The next morning I received a "let me look into this" note back. Later that day another reply came "Oh this is most likely the cause. Let's give it some time and monitor"
I just had a new set of blood tests early this month. Now that weight loss has slowed, and I'm within 5lbs of goal weight, those numbers are right back in normal ranges.
Your journey is your journey, walk it however you feel is best for you. I'm just cautioning patience and monitoring it rather than chasing it and causing more issues.
Last edited:
Panderas785
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
Yea I have been researching and think I just need to get to goal weight and stabilize. It may fix itself. I don’t think I have any Low T symptoms tbh. Wife was surprised when I told her it’s low normal. 😆
To paraphrase my wife I believe her initial take was a solid "That's clearly wrong. You don't need MORE."
Panderas785
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
More stuff just came in.
woundcarping
GLP-1 Specialist
Which lab?
Panderas785
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
TT of 345 is worthy of TRT but 40 yo is a bit young IMO. I started at 50 yo with TT of 320. Spend some time reading up on TRT at ExcelMale. It's very rare for a PCP to prescribe TRT. I suggest finding a Urologist that you already know is knowledgeable and in favor of TRT. Many guys go the TRT Clinic route and have great success but the common top criticisms of clinics include "cookie cutter" high doses and pushy sales pitches for other add-on peptides/hormones.
woundcarping
GLP-1 Specialist
Being prescribed 200mg/week doesn’t mean you have to use 200mg/week… I much prefer being Rx 200mg/week vs 50mg/week that a pcp prescribed before. I like having a surplus. Admittedly my original trt/pcp experience was not educational, low effort, and that ridiculous dose.
They’re definitely a script mill, but it seems they are purposeful to walk the legal side of the line. My individual experience hasn’t been pushed towards anything additional, although they asked if I had fertility concerns (HCG) or other things.
They know I’m administering less than the prescribed amount and are fine with it. The NP said if I needed anything else or to check in, need a sounding board, whatever to message them they’d set up another appointment for a call.
Overall them “empowering” me with a legal supply and being non threatened by my own learning/decision autonomy while still offering support is exactly what I wanted. The main way it could be better is if I could text the provider directly whenever and didn’t have to have them schedule a phone call. For $25/week, I’m very happy thus far.
sfkid
GLP-1 Enthusiast
Trt nation will prescribe you test even if your levels are in the 2000s. They don't care... 😂
jsc1980
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
45 y/o here, been on TRT for 14 years (had test level of 318 at 31) - No prior gear use causing shutdown, my body just didn't make enough naturally 🙁. I actually had to convince them that 318 @ 31 is actually LOW. I started with my PCP and moved through a variety of endocrinologists over the years. Currently with TRT Nation, because I'm very comfortable managing my own treatment after so long.
I will say that, ime, most doctors outside trt or anti-ageing clinics are looking for "in-range" vs optimal. My endos never liked my numbers getting above 5-600, but personally I feel best closer to 8-900. The clinics will get you to those optimal numbers but less handholding, so you should be comfortable managing your own care to a degree (I'm sure most of us on here are).
In my experience, TRT Nation is more strict than people elude to but they are still WAY more laid back than your PCP/Endo/Urologist, etc. will be.
Good luck, TRT made a significant difference in my overall well-being and hope it does the same for you (should you choose to go that direction).
I will say that, ime, most doctors outside trt or anti-ageing clinics are looking for "in-range" vs optimal. My endos never liked my numbers getting above 5-600, but personally I feel best closer to 8-900. The clinics will get you to those optimal numbers but less handholding, so you should be comfortable managing your own care to a degree (I'm sure most of us on here are).
In my experience, TRT Nation is more strict than people elude to but they are still WAY more laid back than your PCP/Endo/Urologist, etc. will be.
Good luck, TRT made a significant difference in my overall well-being and hope it does the same for you (should you choose to go that direction).
Panderas785
GLP-1 Novice
🚫No Source Discussion🚫
Thank you for the kind words and advice. I am going to hold off until my weight loss/goal weight and then reassess. Appreciate everyone here. Definitely need to take care of ourselves.
woundcarping
GLP-1 Specialist
What's the logic there? Losing fat vs muscle favors a reasonable level of testosterone.... while it's reasonably likely your levels will rebound at the lower weight, keeping the lean mass on the way down is a common goal.
