Testosterone.

Gr33dyOctopus

Gr33dyOctopus

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I've had levels twice this year in the 200's and my dr. said that is perfectly normal. However isn't still seems really low to me.

So imagine you all will be EXTREMELY SURPRISED to find out I just ordered it from a vendor on the gray market to give it a try. It should be here in a couple days.

Sooooo. I am needle phobic ( or I was ) and a half inch long wide bore needles scares me. Ive been reading subq stuff, but it looks like IM is the best route. Whats the smallest gage needle I can get for this.

See people rolling 3x a week subq, that works?

Dont want to screw up my natural test, especially with 30 pounds to lose, as an experiment for a short time this isnt going to ruin me, is it?

I see reta gh and test as a holy trinity that can potentially make you feel oh so good. I never feel oh so good, maybe thats why Im an asshole and Zippity has his finger on the trigger to shut me up. Maybe this would cure my assholism and finally get me on track to being a church going contributing member of society?

I dont fucking know. But I want to try all three of those things. Talk me into it or out of it?
 
I do three times a week subq. I store test c in a cabinet at room temp. I draw with a 27g needle and change to a 30g 5/16 needle to inject into my abdomen. I rarely feel anything at all much less pain. When I do IM I use a 27g needle for both, longer yet for the injection as the small needle is tough to squeeze IM and it jiggles around in the muscle and actually hurts more later. Subq is .3ml each injection which is 60mg per dose as I use a 200mg per ml solution. My levels were just under 300 when I began. Changed my life. I don’t know what is side effects of medicine and side effects of getting into shape are anymore but I just know I feel great now relative to how I felt. Same thing happened with Chantix when I quit smoking,mit was hard to say what was side effects of the pill or side effect of nicotine withdrawal but it worked. 50+ male. Good luck
 
Gr33dyOctopus said:
I've had levels twice this year in the 200's and my dr. said that is perfectly normal. However isn't still seems really low to me.

So imagine you all will be EXTREMELY SURPRISED to find out I just ordered it from a vendor on the gray market to give it a try. It should be here in a couple days.

Sooooo. I am needle phobic ( or I was ) and a half inch long wide bore needles scares me. Ive been reading subq stuff, but it looks like IM is the best route. Whats the smallest gage needle I can get for this.

See people rolling 3x a week subq, that works?

Dont want to screw up my natural test, especially with 30 pounds to lose, as an experiment for a short time this isnt going to ruin me, is it?

I see reta gh and test as a holy trinity that can potentially make you feel oh so good. I never feel oh so good, maybe thats why Im an asshole and Zippity has his finger on the trigger to shut me up. Maybe this would cure my assholism and finally get me on track to being a church going contributing member of society?

I dont fucking know. But I want to try all three of those things. Talk me into it or out of it?
Click to expand...

200-300ng/dl probably sucks

You can IM with whatever reaches the muscle, 1/2" 29g can work. That's what I also use for SQ.

I do SQ 3x week, I don't see a reason to deviate. IM typically makes the muscle sore as hell in my experience, to the point I stopped doing TRT back in the day because I didn't know about SQ.

Exogenous test will crush your own test. You're in the 200s, there's not that much to ruin. You could use HCG to keep your huevos working and from atrophying, if you're into that.
 
You need minimum 1" needle to inject IM. I use a 21g to draw and a 25g 1" to inject. I inject in the upper-outer quadrant of the glutes (right or left). Painless as there are almost no nerves back there. And letting a little oil coat the needle helps smooth the insertion.
 
Full Bloodwork before you start including IGF-1, thyroid, SHGB, estradiol, test ( you already have). Work on optimizing TRT before you add Reta or HGH. Easier to differentiate one variable at a time to make necessary adjustments. I am struggling with HGH as my IGF-1 was high for such a low dose.. Off HGH now to optimize TRT and will hop back on HGH sometime soon after I stabilize my hematocrit on TRT.
 
Ive been on TRT for months even before starting peptides.

When I started I did 25g to pull and 27g to inject 1x a week.

Now I use 30g to both pull and inject, takes longer since I use cyp but still works a less painful. And I moved from 1x a week to 2x a week. My test went from Low 200s to 900-1000 but I also lost about 30 lbs which helped in my testosterone.

No issues with my mood or SD so I think I found my perfect spot. I just started reta about 1.5 months ago and honestly its more of a limiter/maintenance for me so that I dont gain the weight back and it has helped with my body composition. Im about to dabble on HGH soon too.
 
Been on trt for 14 years. Was using an endo for a while but they like numbers in the acceptable range, not necessarily optimal range. With TRT Nation now and semi self-managing. Echo what people are saying about labs. make sure you get a full lab work up so you know your baseline and test about 8-10 weeks in.

I currently run 70mg/3 days, IM (usually in delts. Used to do quad, but hit a nerve one time and found delts are preferred for me). Draw with a 20g and inject with a 1.5" 25g. Found longer needles are better for me. Get's it deeper in the muscle and results in less soreness (though I haven't had injection soreness in years).
 
Also, if you are still losing weight, keep an eye on your E2 and your total and free test as you continue to drop body weight. You may end up having to drop your dose in the future as your body fat declines. That is perfectly fine and normal.

Everyone reacts differently, so manage your dose based on YOUR levels and symptoms not anyone else.
 
For me, TRT Nation is empowering, happy to answer questions, and happy with me making adjustments before talking to them... it's been a positive experience compared to going to a local provider.

I didn't think to add:

I started TRT a bit over a month into the GLP fueled weight loss. I started at 40mg 3x week, everything was good but DHT was low. I increased my dose 50% (60mg 3x) which raised DHT 80% (got it in range) but hematocrit got too high (56%). Dropped to 50mg 3x, donated (52%), and I'll take my 3 week post donation labs this week or next to check hematocrit and see how hematocrit is rebounding.

I get TRT specific labs 8 weeks after a dose adjustment, so my third round of that will be next month.
 
Gr33dyOctopus said:
So imagine you all will be EXTREMELY SURPRISED to find out I just ordered it from a vendor on the gray market to give it a try. It should be here in a couple days.
Click to expand...
You know its not really smart to just "try" without understanding what that means?

Once you start you will shutdown your natural production completely. If you dont have a post cycle protocol ready (enclo, hcg...) once you stop will feel even worse than at 200 until your boys decide to start producing naturally again...

Also if you dont have an Aromatase Inhibitor on hand and your estrogen spikes out of control you might grow man boobs if not addressed....

Not trying to scare you , Im on test and love it, but you need to be prepared and understand whats involved , before "trying"...
 
woundcarping said:
Or just go telemed, TRT Nation was easy for me and having a legal Rx for a controlled substance was of interest.
Click to expand...

Dear heavens Octopus - you’re part of the 49% that can do this easily using the normal path… GO! My husband had his in hand within a week! It took me two years of finding a provider and finally getting the visit. Take your damned privilege and use it (with my positive wishes)!

I find 29-31 gauge to work fine. It’s a long minute to draw, so leuer lock has a following: one gauge to draw another to inject. I’ll just stick the vials in my bra for 5 minutes to warm the oil slightly. I tried pens but those are much nicer with “water” based.
 
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