Post: #426

(09-29-2015 01:10 PM)BambiNotForLong Wrote:  So if I took clomid for 2 months I could restart my system? What happens when I stop taking it?

Supposedly it'll keep your LH and FSH high by restarting your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis (HPTA). This will in turn makes your testes produce more test. It doesn't work for a lot of guys, but it's the first step to restore testosterone levels in men.

I've been prescribed Clomid and will be taking it starting in two weeks. I'm not expecting much.

Post: #427

(09-29-2015 09:48 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  The way this works is (this is an oversimplification) your pituitary releases LH and FSH into your bloodstream, and these are pituitary hormones that basically prompt your testicles to produce testosterone and sperm.

If your testosterone levels are high, the high levels of testosterone tells your pituitary to slow down on LH and FSH production, as if the testicles are telling the pituitary gland "we have enough testosterone so scale back on the LH and FSH." When your testosterone levels fall lower, your pituitary gland kicks in by producing more LH and FSH to spur more testosterone production. They balance each other into an equilibrium.

Your pituitary also receives negative feedback from estradiol. Apparently this feedback effect is stronger than testosterone's feedback effect. (I interpret this as: an X percent increase in estradiol will lower LH more than an X percent increase in free T. Maybe a specialist can confirm/correct this interpretation.)

Thus lowering your aromatase activity (through natural or artificial means) increases your testosterone in two ways:
- less free T is converted to estradiol
- the pituitary releases more LH due to reduced negative feedback, which increases your total testosterone production.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15001605

Post: #428

(09-29-2015 11:35 AM)Vice Wrote:  

(09-28-2015 03:02 PM)BambiNotForLong Wrote:  Got my results. My test is up which is weird.

Total Vitamin D = 29 nmol/L

I've been prescribed vitamin D and have been referred to a urologist.

So my test went from 9.5 to 13.9.

Not really sure how to interpret these results.

Well, your Vitamin D is on the low side. Take 10,000 IU of Vit. D daily for 30 days then get another test done.

Mine was similar (25) and I got to 49 by taking 3000 IU per day for 6 months and lots of exercise outside (long bike rides without much sunscreen).

Post: #429

Just wanted to make my first post on the forum be a thanks to everyone who's posted in here.

I tested in the mid 500s recently as a 31 year-old, and have just started a TRT regimen in Peru, which I'll continue when I go to Colombia next week. Obviously haven't noticed any results yet, but will be interested to see how it goes.

Post: #430

(10-01-2015 06:08 PM)jumprift Wrote:  Just wanted to make my first post on the forum be a thanks to everyone who's posted in here.

I tested in the mid 500s recently as a 31 year-old, and have just started a TRT regimen in Peru, which I'll continue when I go to Colombia next week. Obviously haven't noticed any results yet, but will be interested to see how it goes.

I was 592 and I am also 31. What do you plan to boost your t levels up to?

Why did you decide to go on TRT if you are mid 500s? Did you have low t symptoms? Did you check other possible causes like Vitamin D, iron, thyroid, etc?

Keep us updated on what changes you notice. Curious if someone with levels similar to mine will notice much difference from going on TRT.

Post: #431

(10-02-2015 01:14 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I was 592 and I am also 31. What do you plan to boost your t levels up to?

Why did you decide to go on TRT if you are mid 500s? Did you have low t symptoms? Did you check other possible causes like Vitamin D, iron, thyroid, etc?

Keep us updated on what changes you notice. Curious if someone with levels similar to mine will notice much difference from going on TRT.

I plan to go up to around 1000, maybe slightly higher if my estrogen levels stay OK.

To be honest, my main reason for going on is that while 560 isn't horrible, it's also fairly below average for my age group, and a good ways below the range for guys in their early 20s. I can't think of any other area in life in which I would be content to be in the 40th percentile or whatever. It seemed to me that the main reason guys in my range weren't doing TRT was that their doctors wouldn't prescribe it, but I have a quite flexible lifestyle, and can get it OTC pretty easily in South America or SE Asia.

It also doesn't appear that any of the guys who have gone up to 800-1200 are really anxious to go down to 550 anytime soon.

I haven't checked vitamin D or iron; my thyroid markers are in normal ranges on blood tests.

None of my symptoms were particularly bad, I just felt generally somewhat more blah in all areas, particularly compared to the me of 5-10 years ago. I'm willing to take some risks and experiment to see if TRT brings that back.

I'm hedging my bets slightly and treating it as a very light cycle--if I don't get physical and mental benefits within 10 weeks, I'll probably go on PCT and stop. On the other hand, if it works, I'll be able to continue quite easily. The risk/reward profile makes it a pretty easy decision.

I'll keep you posted--it's only been about a week now. I'm shooting 100mg of enanthate every 5 days.

Post: #432

To the guy going on Clomid mono-therapy get ready - you're going to experience what its like to be a chick on the rag. Been there, done that - have the t-shirt to prove it. It bumped me from 225ng/pg to 415 - not great give the sides. Split the dose to e3d helped a little but ended up on TRT. Works.

No way to beat 150-200mg T-Cyp e3d, .25mg adex e2d and maybe 250iu hcg e2d - puts me in the 1100-1200 range with FT 50> e2 in the 20's.

Post: #433

I'll be returning to the U.S. for 2 weeks from Colombia, been on Testoviron for 3 months now, 250mg injected weekly.

Anyone in Colombia know if any pharmacies sell a longer ester testosterone? Don't really want to be 2 weeks in the U.S. without injection, would fuck my hormones up big time.

I researched bringing T in the united states, it's a grey area if it's for personal use, but I can't really risk doing it, hence why I'm looking for a Testosterone that lasts longer than a week to tide me over until I return to Colombia in 2 weeks.

Thanks!

Post: #434

(10-02-2015 10:22 AM)ThrustMaster Wrote:  To the guy going on Clomid mono-therapy get ready - you're going to experience what its like to be a chick on the rag. Been there, done that - have the t-shirt to prove it. It bumped me from 225ng/pg to 415 - not great give the sides. Split the dose to e3d helped a little but ended up on TRT. Works.

No way to beat 150-200mg T-Cyp e3d, .25mg adex e2d and maybe 250iu hcg e2d - puts me in the 1100-1200 range with FT 50> e2 in the 20's.

How necessary is the HCG and arimidex? Been on 250mg week of Testoviron for 3 months, only noticeable sides so far are a little acne and shrunken balls.

Post: #435

I'd say adex and Hcg rank up there. You want to make sure your e2 remains in the 20's and given that exogenous T has the bad habit of aromatizing in e2 (estradiol) I'd say it's a must. Best thing is to get s basic panel and look at your e2 levels. If about 25 or so you need an aromatase inhibitor. The Hcg is to keep your balls up and running it also makes sure you're producing progestin which is important for a feeling of "well being".

Post: #436

(10-02-2015 03:25 PM)KeepMovingForward Wrote:  I'll be returning to the U.S. for 2 weeks from Colombia, been on Testoviron for 3 months now, 250mg injected weekly.

Anyone in Colombia know if any pharmacies sell a longer ester testosterone? Don't really want to be 2 weeks in the U.S. without injection, would fuck my hormones up big time.

I researched bringing T in the united states, it's a grey area if it's for personal use, but I can't really risk doing it, hence why I'm looking for a Testosterone that lasts longer than a week to tide me over until I return to Colombia in 2 weeks.

Thanks!

I brought back a 6 month supply from the USA into Colombia through Miami in my carry on.....not a problem....I have only found the same testoviron you have here in Colombian the one week amp of 250 mg......I can't imagine them giving you shit for it in the USA, I imagine Test is the least of their worries....Hell they sell Test in resort areas in Mexico like Playa del Carmen....OTC....same here in Bogota.....I have a script from a clinic in the USA, but my advice is if your worried about it see a doctor in Colombia and get hooked up....

Post: #437

Wow 250/week is pretty up there, bet your levels are in the 1200's. How's your e2?

Post: #438

Questions for people taking T in Colombia (I'm headed there tomorrow):

1. Do you take any AIs, and if so, which ones are available over the counter?
2. If you've gotten bloodwork done, where did you do it/what kind of place did you search for online?

Post: #439

(10-06-2015 06:53 PM)jumprift Wrote:  Questions for people taking T in Colombia (I'm headed there tomorrow):

1. Do you take any AIs, and if so, which ones are available over the counter?
2. If you've gotten bloodwork done, where did you do it/what kind of place did you search for online?

Second this^, just got some bloodwork done today after 3 months on test, will be returning to Colombia in 2 weeks likely looking to buy some AI.

2. I went through a dad friend of my doctor, waste of time and money though, if you're from the U.S. I'd recommend PrivateMdLabs. I used them today and paid 1/3 the price I paid to have the same tests done in a hospital.

Post: #440

Read my previous post.... Still looking for AI (HCG) OTC here......

blood lab here in Bogota they do house calls results online... http://www.analizarlab.com/

....clinica Marley will be my go to in Chapinero http://www.laboratoriomarly.com/ will update soon my results

Post: #441

Howzit Guys,

This thread prompted me to go get blood tests to check out concerns that I've suspected to be caused by low testosterone.

Hit up my GP, addressed my biggest concern, mild gyno, among others like low libido, energy etc.

I quickly realize the labs reference range is HUGE. Not taking into account age, body type etc., it's tough to get an accurate read on the results.
Naturally, the doc. didn't give much away with his neutral phrasing.

Can some scan over these quckly and drop some thoughts?

22. 1.8m (5'9) tall. Around 90kgs (200lb). No past/present illnesses etc.

T-Testosterone - 9.08 nmol/L. Reference range (ref.) was 9.9 - 48.4 nmol/L.
SHBG - 22.3 nmol/L. Ref. 14.5-48.4 nmol/L
Free Testosterone (calculated) - 217.5 pmol/L . Ref. 174 - 729 pmol/L.

Side test to thyroid:
S-TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) - 4.67 mIU/L Ref. 0.37 - 3.5 mIU/L.

Going to get full blood work done for nutritional insights, which I suspect may be the fault here.

However an independent opinion on the above will help to ground a reference point (based on these specific results at least).

Immensely appreciated guys.

Cheers.

Post: #442

Your testosterone is incredibly low for your age (9.08 nmol/l = 262 ng/dl).
At age 22 you should be above 700 ng/dl.

How is your sleep? Your nutrition? Your stress levels?
Did you ever use steroids?
You are seriously abusing your body or you have a medical condition with those levels at your age.

Did the doctor perform a physical examination of your testicles?

Get the full blood panel done. Cleanslate has an excellent post on which tests should be included.

You are quite heavy for your height. Are you very muscular or are you fat? Also 1.8m should convert to 5'11''.

Post: #443

(10-08-2015 08:41 AM)PhDre Wrote:  Your testosterone is incredibly low for your age (9.08 nmol/l = 262 ng/dl).
At age 22 you should be above 700 ng/dl.

How is your sleep? Your nutrition? Your stress levels?
Did you ever use steroids?
You are seriously abusing your body or you have a medical condition with those levels at your age.

Did the doctor perform a physical examination of your testicles?

Get the full blood panel done. CleanSlate has an excellent post on which tests should be included.

You are quite heavy for your height. Are you very muscular or are you fat? Also 1.8m should convert to 5'11''.

Hey PhDre,

Appreciate the insight.

I don't intend to derail this thread, so I'll be as concise as possible.

Sleep has been minimal growing up, right through university, and even now working, which has been Bed/sleep by 11/12pm, up at 7/8am. I have absolutely no trouble sleeping at all at night. Grogginess in the morning is dependent on what I eat really.

Nutrition has also been slack to be honest. Hit university, moved out, and bachelor life rocked a bit too hard. But in the last year and half, back in with the parents, I've been on the better side, becoming more aware of my health and 'hacking' my lifestyle so to speak. (No crazy supps.). If I were to aggregate the ratio over the period, I'd say carbs/protein/fats in a 50/40/10 ratio, however I've never been one to monitor my fat intake (mono/poly | Omega 6-3 etc.), if at all. I generally eat what gets put on the table with some regard to portion size, Fast Food in some form once a week, almost never eat fruit, never have. Been actively working to get away from the sugar, drinking water exclusively, and tons of it.

My perception, up until now was that I was (relatively) healthy.

Stress is also on the min. I've developed great introspective habits; my form of meditation if you will. Keeps me focused on the things I can control etc. Awesomely supportive traditional family, and I crush it at work. The cash is good. Growing and learning almost everyday.

I've been sick 5/6 times in my life. Majority due to food poisoning. Feels like this just doesn't add up.

As for body comp., I used to be a skinny little shit, bulked quite a bit in uni to about 200 pounds (naively through a shit-ton of protein consumption), came home, and been getting leaner since. Although I'm still sitting around 200lb with fat to lose. Never done roids. Only protein shakes for 1-2 months in 2014.

Been working out at moderate intensities at 50min x 4/5days/week for the last 2 months or so.
http://imgur.com/a/Y1rrj - Pics for ref. No homo.

I know I definitely need to get a full blood panel done as you've recommended above (found the link too for ref. - http://www.trtguide.com/labs/), just to see where the deficiencies lie. I'm on the fence between a dietitian for nutritional specialization, or an endocrinologist for well... hormonal specialization. I'm committed to exhausting all of my options (balancing the diet, excess fat loss etc.) before going artificial - TRT etc.

Feeling rare anxiety as i'm dawning on the realization how huge this has been/is on my life. I want to feel that fire. The drive. This primal desire to ravish gorgeous women . Sure I'm attracted, but libido gives minimal drive.

Edit - Had my testies checked - nothing abnormal.

Comments and insights welcome.

@SA-Cape Town guys: Have either of you had the blood panels referenced above done before, and if so, recommendations?

Once again, really appreciate the insights.

Post: #444

Testosterone has made my penis larger.

A couple of years ago, pre-TRT, I measured my penis at 6". Totally average.

Since being on TRT, a number of girls have commented on how "huge" I am. This always made me chuckle and shake my head, thinking that they had just been with small guys before me.

Last night my girl measured my dick from base to tip, erect before we fucked and it was a legit 7.5"!!!

I never would have thought I'd have an almost 8 inch cock. Erection strength is also way stronger on TRT.

The only things that have shrank are my testicles.

Currently on 160mg test cyp/week. No AI, no HCG.

Post: #445

I know it may seem that way, but it is most likely erection quality, arousal level and loss of visceral fat - all affected by T levels.

Post: #446

(10-11-2015 01:51 PM)Checkmat Wrote:  Testosterone has made my penis larger.

A couple of years ago, pre-TRT, I measured my penis at 6". Totally average.

Since being on TRT, a number of girls have commented on how "huge" I am. This always made me chuckle and shake my head, thinking that they had just been with small guys before me.

Last night my girl measured my dick from base to tip, erect before we fucked and it was a legit 7.5"!!!

I never would have thought I'd have an almost 8 inch cock. Erection strength is also way stronger on TRT.

The only things that have shrank are my testicles.

Currently on 160mg test cyp/week. No AI, no HCG.

Entirely possible.

The penis has receptors for Testosterone.

When you're hungover, sick or any other situation that causes a drop in T, you'll notice your penis isn't as voluminous as usual.

When you're at the top of your game, sleeping well, working out hard, etc., you'll notice your wang is generally more puffed up.

Post: #447

(10-02-2015 10:22 AM)ThrustMaster Wrote:  To the guy going on Clomid mono-therapy get ready - you're going to experience what its like to be a chick on the rag. Been there, done that - have the t-shirt to prove it. It bumped me from 225ng/pg to 415 - not great give the sides. Split the dose to e3d helped a little but ended up on TRT. Works.

No way to beat 150-200mg T-Cyp e3d, .25mg adex e2d and maybe 250iu hcg e2d - puts me in the 1100-1200 range with FT 50> e2 in the 20's.

Great to hear So I'm going to be a raging lunatic with little increase in test? Sweet.

I made a big post which got deleted, but long story short: doc wants to put me on clomid and pellets since my test came in at 319 ng/dL. I'm planning on starting a family within a year, so he thought I should start with clomid first. I'm taking 50 mg eod and just started today. If sides show up, then I'll go to e3d. Visual sides are the only thing I'm really concerned about.

He said that I can take clomid long-term. He's a urologist that has lots of his male patients on clomid perpetually, and he said that he hasn't seen sides in any of his patients. He generally likes to prescribe pellets with clomid as you keep the test in high-normal range, but also have good FSH and LH.

If I don't notice anything positive by the time of my follow-up in November, then I'll probably add in pellets. Everything's covered by insurance.

He scoffed at the idea of doing test cyp and hcg when I can take clomid and have pellets that give me a constant test level. He's young and open to ideas, so if the clomid/pellet route doesn't really work, I think he'd be open to cyp and hcg.

On a side note, I was on vacation the last 10 days, away from my somewhat crappy life in New York. Libido came back, mood was generally pretty good, I was more patient and calm, slept better, wasn't as cold, could think and look forward to the future again. I hit the gym yesterday and felt amazing (usually I feel really tired and have no stamina). Was shocked on how easy it was to do squats. I know my testosterone had to have been up, and it's probably due to no stress.

I'm starting to think that my low test is connected to high stress, i.e., high cortisol. I took a cortisol and DHEA test right before vacation, and I'll be getting the results back this week. If cortisol's out of whack, I will work on getting that back into range.

By the way, this is a great thread to talk to like-minded guys who are all going through the same issues. Thanks for all the help.

Post: #448

Well at least your nuts will get huge. But I doubt you'll
Get past 500ng/pg TT. I'd say the best I've felt
Ever is around 1000ng/pg. You'll certainly be able to knock a chick up.

Post: #449

A bit of an update and I need some advice.

I have had chronic fatigue symptoms for several years now. My doctor had my total t tested which was 592, and I am getting my free t tested soon because I asked for that.

My TSH (thyroid function test I believe) came back at 3.93, with a normal range listed of UIUML .34-5.60.
My doctor wants to put me on medication to increase that, because she says it's on the low side of normal, and that might make me feel better.

Is anyone educated about this? From what I'm seeing other places such as CleanSlate's guide http://www.trtguide.com/labs/ list the range as 0.3-3.0, and a friend gave me some info his Naturopath gave him which has the range listed as 0.5-2.5 mlU/L.

I believe levothyroxine is the medicine she said she would give me.

I'm skeptical at taking this, even though from brief reading on the subject there doesn't appear to me many long term consequences to trying it.

Can anyone give me some advice here? My doctor seems very open about stuff, but she's a nurse practitioner, and I'm not sure how knowledgable she actually is about thyroid function, TRT, etc.

Post: #450

My man, are you paying out of pocket for this advice? If so, consider leaving this doc and go work with Defy medical. Dr Saya and Dr John (my doc) are leading experts in the field of male HRT. You can work with them from anywhere, they do telemedicine. The prices are very affordable. When it comes to male HRT go with the best.

You should also get a complete panel from labcorp too.

I love the RVF but I don't think this is the best venue to be asking for help when it comes to HRT/TRT.

Go make yourself an account at these forums and start asking questions to the vets:

- excelmale.com (Get a complete thyroid and hormone panel and show it to Chris Vetter. He's the thyroid guru there)
- allthingsmale.com
- peaktestosterone.com

The first 2 have doctors that post that work day in and out in the trenches with guys like you. Guys searching for answers. The veteran posters on those sites know far more than us because they've spent years reading the stories, the books and the research. Some, like Nelson Vergel, have written books about HRT and coach guys for a living. These forums are not for guys that are cycling or juicing. They're for guys that have real health problems and need HRT, which you may be part of.

And yes, a 4.0 of TSH is high and could represent an issue. But what was your T3, T4, FT3, FT3, RT3 and antibodies? Don't know? You need to figure that out and work with a doc that knows about this shit. TSH value, along with any other hormone value, do not operate in a vacuum. Some experts find it a somewhat wortheless value: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh...s-useless/

I wouldn't feel comfortable fucking with my hormones without getting a complete thyroid workup and working with a male HRT specialist.

Consider asking for help on those other forums, but the first thing everyone is going to ask you is 'what are your labs'. So if you don't have complete hormone workups it's going to be hard to get help online.