Help For someone with TRT with Kidney issues.

[RoyGBiv]

Hello please forgive my typing skills too many years working for myself I guess.
Can I ask a question that I've had for some time about TRT here.
I'm not sure where to directly ask questions as I can't talk to people it seems directly.
Well here it goes, I read somewhere on reddit I think that oral Testosterone doesn't have the same side effects as injection specifically hair loss and making testiest shrink.
I'm more worried about the hair loss. I'm in the very low 100's for T and feel like I'm at my wits end the past year.
I'm very obese about 150 lbs. over weight and 6' tall just fyi, and I've honestly been trying to get healthy just really hard with my life I know everyone says the same thing.
I was born with a horseshoe kidney and I have to be careful what pills I take also with injections. So yeah I'm very worried and when i try and talk to my doc its instantly get the stomach surgery. However I can not be out of work for a day let alone a week or two. My kids and life depend on me ever day at my business. I want do do GLP's but every day its like I'm doing it and then no I cant trust it what if this what if that i have my 3 boys to worry about. But then i say to myself fuck if i don't do something they are gonna have to worry about me.
So I'm first seeing if its Testosterone as I've tried before but had almost immediate side affects hair loss and my testies shrunk only one month in. However i did feel great but that may have been all in my head in retro.
I guess I'm just looking for guidance if anyone has been where I'm at any insight would be wonderful.

 

[yrrdead]

You seem to be a little all over the place but ;

TRT - Not quite the wheelhouse of this forum but there are a few people that have experience and may chime in. If you want to get good info and also get absolutely shit on, check out MesoRX. Talk to your Dr. about TRT not reddit. While some esters/modalities can have slightly different timings due to half life's, thinking that you are going to have less side effects is misguided at best. Lastly being heavily overweight and taking testosterone is generally a bad idea, really need to dial in lab work and aromatization is a real issue at higher body fat.

GLP's - In your situation I would be looking to get a handle on your weight first. This will have a huge second order effect on everything else, especially your hormones. In regards to safety I don't understand thinking that exogenous hormones are the "safe start". That is a wild take.

TLDR- Talk to your Dr. about GLP-1 specifically (imo) Tirzepazide. If you can't afford/can't get a prescription then circle back lots of great information here, gray.guide and other forums about getting started DIY style.

 

[Such1943]

The guys on Meso seems to like these for kidney/liver support.

TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid), NAC (N-Acetylcysteine), CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), Omega-3, Fish Oil (high EPA/DHA), Citrus Bergamot and P5P (Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, active B6).

Also blood labs of Cystatin C and eGFR would give you a good idea on kidney stress.

I fought my doc for 3 years to get on TRT. Got fed up and signed up for TRT telehealth, submitted blood work, had vials of test in hand the next week. Just like peptides, went down the rabbit hole. Canceled telehealth got on UGL and never looked back. Was that a little reckless?, it was...

I would not bother with creams or pills. Get some Test C and inject M/W/F, keeps levels stable and less E2 side effects. I would get on a glp1 and drop some weight before starting TRT, higher body fat the more E2 you aromatize. I've seen it happen in my blood work. Then again, if test gets you off your butt to work off the weight, go for it.

 

[Airborne Daddy]

With super low test comes higher blood sugar, likelihood of diabetes 2 if you dont already have it. Problem is its gonna aromitize being obese so youd be on an aramatose inhibitor (pill). Sides will be the same. Injecting would be less stress on kidney/liver initially. If youre under 100 id just take it honestly. Glp1 is already in ur body and i would absolutely do it.... whats the ultimatum? Diabetes and insulin, heart disease, high bp, glucose, inflammation, a1c, lipids, etc.... ask doc IF UR A CANDIDATE and assuming you would be and insurance is no help, go grey. Learn everything before you stick a needle in it. Glp1s were created for this, weightloss is a convenient side effect. Test helps glucose uptake into muscles and increases insulin sensitivity which helps balance your blood sugar.

 

[lessthanhalf]

In general oral testosterone is absorbed and goes through the liver, so the liver is exposed to high levels of testosterone which causes more side effects and worse metabolic consequences compared with natural testosterone, or topical testosterone or injected testosterone. Doctors basically do not use it for that reason.
Systemic male hormone type side effects like hair thinning are mostly related to the dose, I don't think it makes much difference how you take it, but given your weight taking it orally is likely a bad idea. If you want to make decisions about self treating , you need to get information from reliable scientific and medical sources, not reddit, otherwise perhaps you could get a referral to an endocrinologist for TRT. I know in Australia you will not get prescribed TRT if you are obese and there is no other problem, As the recommended solution is weight loss. Don't know about US medical attitudes. If you want to self treat without doctors you need to fully understand what you are doing , risks benefits and side effects, so you need to do a lot of research.
Are you on GLP's? , There is almost no reason I can think of why you should not be at 150kg, unless you want surgery and even then it is still probably a good idea, they will make massively more difference than TRT and might even fix the low testosterone level via weight loss. Again if you doctor is not keen to prescribe them an endocrinologist is what you need if you can afford them , or there is the grey option, but again you need to do a lot of research first, a lot more.

 

[RetCurious]

Some really good advise from yrrdead, Airborne Daddy and lessthanhalf.
This is why I'm here, thanks y'all.

 

[RoyGBiv]

You seem to be a little all over the place but ;

TRT - Not quite the wheelhouse of this forum but there are a few people that have experience and may chime in. If you want to get good info and also get absolutely shit on, check out MesoRX. Talk to your Dr. about TRT not reddit. While some esters/modalities can have slightly different timings due to half life's, thinking that you are going to have less side effects is misguided at best. Lastly being heavily overweight and taking testosterone is generally a bad idea, really need to dial in lab work and aromatization is a real issue at higher body fat.

GLP's - In your situation I would be looking to get a handle on your weight first. This will have a huge second order effect on everything else, especially your hormones. In regards to safety I don't understand thinking that exogenous hormones are the "safe start". That is a wild take.

TLDR- Talk to your Dr. about GLP-1 specifically (imo) Tirzepazide. If you can't afford/can't get a prescription then circle back lots of great information here, gray.guide and other forums about getting started DIY style.

Hi Yrrdead,

Thank you for the response and your time. I know I'm all over the place sorry for that. Im overloaded in my mind most times.
I'm not good at putting my brain into words. My mind as of about a year and a half ago have been complete shit to say the least. If i had an hour to type it all out I pretty much guarantee you will say man just end it... put your self out of the miserly, ha just messing of course i have 3 boys that need me around that's why I'm trying to find help.

As mentioned was on the path for Doc route when they decided to cancel my health care for no reason back in August. Since then its gotten worse. I have not even had moment to get in front of this pc since i last posted. I struggle to find the time to even read here. Wish there was like an
ELI5 section.

Anywhooo, Thank you for your time, I will look into gray.guide hopefully. I want to find out more about Reta but don't know where to start and really need guidance. From what I read hundreds of stories how amazing it is and life changing it is. I want that so bad I want to be able to do things with my boys more then anything. My Youngest loves Dirt biking and wants me to come with him but I physically cant anymore. And so much more. I'm trying to find the time to do my research but wish there was like a definitive guide on does and don'ts. I guess I will find it eventually just feel like I have no time to waste. Thing is i have no time. I read how they cracking down closing sellers down and that by the time i make it to trust a source or finally get it.

Again Thank you for your help truly.

 

[RoyGBiv]

The guys on Meso seems to like these for kidney/liver support.

TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid), NAC (N-Acetylcysteine), CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), Omega-3, Fish Oil (high EPA/DHA), Citrus Bergamot and P5P (Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, active B6).

Also blood labs of Cystatin C and eGFR would give you a good idea on kidney stress.

I fought my doc for 3 years to get on TRT. Got fed up and signed up for TRT telehealth, submitted blood work, had vials of test in hand the next week. Just like peptides, went down the rabbit hole. Canceled telehealth got on UGL and never looked back. Was that a little reckless?, it was...

I would not bother with creams or pills. Get some Test C and inject M/W/F, keeps levels stable and less E2 side effects. I would get on a glp1 and drop some weight before starting TRT, higher body fat the more E2 you aromatize. I've seen it happen in my blood work. Then again, if test gets you off your butt to work off the weight, go for it.

Thank you Such1943 for your time and response,

May i ask what UGL is?

I have come to realize I need to loose tons of weight first before i go back on test. I'm trying to navigate my mind to trust getting on Reta. I say F it I'm gonna find a supplier and get on reta and figure it out. Then I'm like ehh ill weight till It becomes main steam so I fell more secure with all my health issues and how much I'm depended on with my family and my workers families I cant risk getting hospitalized or sick. I don't even try to look into vendors until I can really ask people the ins and outs of it. I'm a very skeptical person by nature I guess but I know I need help and i cant do it on my own anymore.

I take most of the supplimetnts you mentioned except CoQ makes me feel strange. Ive recently started using Saljit and its improved my inflation and clarity. I thing the antiox of it is good too.
Thanks for the suggestions and guidance. I will try TUDCA never was told that before.

Thanks for your help really,

 

[Chopper]

Thank you Such1943 for your time and response,

May i ask what UGL is?

I have come to realize I need to loose tons of weight first before i go back on test. I'm trying to navigate my mind to trust getting on Reta. I say F it I'm gonna find a supplier and get on reta and figure it out. Then I'm like ehh ill weight till It becomes main steam so I fell more secure with all my health issues and how much I'm depended on with my family and my workers families I cant risk getting hospitalized or sick. I don't even try to look into vendors until I can really ask people the ins and outs of it. I'm a very skeptical person by nature I guess but I know I need help and i cant do it on my own anymore.

I take most of the supplimetnts you mentioned except CoQ makes me feel strange. Ive recently started using Saljit and its improved my inflation and clarity. I thing the antiox of it is good too.
Thanks for the suggestions and guidance. I will try TUDCA never was told that before.

Thanks for your help really,

Ugl= underground labs

 

[lessthanhalf]

I forgot to mention this in my earlier response, but you said you had kidney issues. Is it early or not early renal failure or some other kidney problem? It is hard to work out when people in the US sometimes seem to lack very basic medical care, due to its extreme cost there. Do not know if this is an issue for you or not, but it sounds like it might be, so just in case. Hopefully I am just wasting my time here and all of this is sorted out already.
Assuming it is some degree of kidney failure are you on medication to prevent it getting worse?
And usually you would also need to be on cardiovascular prevention drugs as even very mild kidney failure causes much higher cardiovascular risk.
So blood pressure needs to be kept in the normal range if high, urine protein, lipids and diabetes at least tested for and taking ace inhibitors or ace blockers, statins , low dose aspirin, slgt2i therapy ( and glp therapy if overweight. ) The older GLP's have been proven to significantly reduce progression of kidney failure, probably applies to reta but not proven yet. All the others are proven to prevent kidney failure from getting worse, and are usually all or most used even with very early mild kidney failure.
Even if insurance is not available you will need to see a doctor unless all this is already sorted out. I am sure other people in the US can advise on options that might be available to access lower cost health care there. The initial question and the fact you said health care had been cancelled for no reason, suggests to me that this has not yet been properly sorted out and you do not have access to ongoing medical care.
If all this is not sorted out yet you might be better on tirzepatide than reta, just because you can tell the doctors about it without them freaking out so much.
If kidney function is normal and no proteinuria and it is a different type of kidney issue this may not apply.
But Reta ot Tirz is still a very good idea, and will help more than the others in improving quality of life through weight loss, but tests and possible treatment if they have not already been done, might be needed to prevent kidney failure and heart disease. Good luck going the grey route with reta or tirz, do lots of reading.

 

[RoyGBiv]

Thank you for your time LTH I really appreciate you very much.
I am not in kidney failure yet as I've looked after my one that i have my whole life. I was born with a horseshoe kidney. basically one stuck to the other and the other is dormant and doesn't work. Glandular issues and weight most my life. I do not take nsaid's or any meds like ibuprofen as it can mess with the kidney. I have always been healthy but big that is until covid and just that since I hit 45 its been like a nightmare scenario for real. Everything going down hill fast especially my C'est la Vie! its affecting my family not just me now. My marriage as i never have energy and my kids i cant do the things i used to do. IE fishing, camping dirt biking ... ect..
I was going to go on Triz but my health care got ripped out from under me and now im in limbo with the goverment. I cant apply for new until the old is cleared up and that will not happen as there is no one to work on it. And with the goverment shut downs witch is as crazy as it sounds but there is nothing i can do. Also for triz i heard a lot of side effect nightmares. I have not heard those with reta. Ive read hundreds of stories so far. I just need some guidance on how i should do it and if i should get it from a know supplier or wait till it comes out of grey. I have a ton more questions as well.
Its been very hard for me to choose to want to go on reta its like a tug of war in my head. I want to be normal again and not think about food every 5 minutes and that its the only thing that brings me pleasure anymore.
I am on the road to learning i guess.
Thank you for all your concern and advice. I do not take it lightly.
Thank you again LTH hopefully one day i am less then half as well.. Cheers!

 

[FilterOrDeath]

I am not an expert in any of these areas but I found this guide that might be helpful for you. If you start a GLP1 it looks like electrolytes and hydration will be even more critical for you than most. I'm not recommending the company in anyway, it is just a potentially useful article.

Mounjaro with One Kidney: Safety and Monitoring Guidance – Bolt Pharmacy

Can you use Mounjaro with one kidney? Discover the safety, monitoring requirements, and prescribing considerations for tirzepatide in patients with a single functioning kidney, based on UK clinical guidance.

www.boltpharmacy.co.uk

 

[lessthanhalf]

The post above sounds like something you need to read, glad to hear it is not early renal failure.
In terms of side effects the science is not crystal clear. Tirzepatide definitely has less side effects than semaglutide, that bit is certain now. There is not enough research on reta yet to form a clear picture of its side effects versus tirz, the early research said semaglutide and tirz were about the same, which turned out to be wrong. Mainly from reading this forum , tirzepatide is similar to reta in terms of side effects but probably a little bit better, slightly less gastrointestinal upsets , nausea is the most common problem by far for any of the GLP's, less heart rate increase, and less skin sensory symptoms, but reta can cause more weight loss, an extra 5% compared to tirz, which given your starting weight is probably a good enough reason to choose it, despite the marginally worse side effects.

 

[RoadRash]

You seem to be a little all over the place but ;

TRT - Not quite the wheelhouse of this forum but there are a few people that have experience and may chime in. If you want to get good info and also get absolutely shit on, check out MesoRX. Talk to your Dr. about TRT not reddit. While some esters/modalities can have slightly different timings due to half life's, thinking that you are going to have less side effects is misguided at best. Lastly being heavily overweight and taking testosterone is generally a bad idea, really need to dial in lab work and aromatization is a real issue at higher body fat.

GLP's - In your situation I would be looking to get a handle on your weight first. This will have a huge second order effect on everything else, especially your hormones. In regards to safety I don't understand thinking that exogenous hormones are the "safe start". That is a wild take.

TLDR- Talk to your Dr. about GLP-1 specifically (imo) Tirzepazide. If you can't afford/can't get a prescription then circle back lots of great information here, gray.guide and other forums about getting started DIY style.

Get on a glp1 first and get down to closer to your desired weight. Talk to your doc about your low test, if tests confirm its low he will prescribe for you.