TRT - calibrating expectations

[chronological]

Went for another blood draw this morning, 72 hours after my most recent 200mg pinning. Turns out the nurse (male) is on TRT too and has been for a year. I asked how it was going for him and he said "Amazing". He then leaned over, conspiratorially, and said, "I mean, absolutely fucking amazing". He said it took about 2.5 months though before he felt the effects.

But that "Amazing" got me wondering about what are realistic expectations when on TRT. I've never expected "amazing". I've never thought of it as any kind of silver bullet, where I'd suddenly become my 21 year old self but with my 47 year old level of life experience and, for want of a better word, wisdom. So what do I expect, and is it reasonable?

Let's assume that we finally settle on a TRT schedule, along with any other requirements, that takes me from my pre-TRT average of 400-ish T, to 700-ish (albeit with a higher variance than the pre-TRT situation).

Currently what I do expect is something along the lines of:

1. Some reduction in the amount of time I find myself sitting peering at my computer screen, part dazed by the amount of work, part bored senseless, part tired and lethargic, and 100% simply can't seem to raise the tiniest amount of energy
2. Some increase in my ability to focus in on one thing at a time, and not continually be pulled away to shiny objects around me
3. Some increase in my resolve to do stuff -- in particular, to go to the gym and to stick with a diet
4. Some increase in the effectiveness of gym workouts if I actually do them

Overall, I guess it's best explained like this. I have well-defined and very obvious periods of intense motivation, focus and energy. When I was in my twenties that was my dominant state. Now, nearing fifty, they happen perhaps only a couple of times a year. Energy/motivation/focus are like erections in that sense. They just don't happen as often. My expectation is that TRT will go *some way* towards either reversing that decline, or at least stopping or slowing it from going further?

Are those reasonable expectations?
What are yours?

Finally, given prior threads, I need to point the following out. I'm aware that because my pre-TRT levels while low (380 and 420) were still within the "normal" range, several people here feel that I simply should not be on TRT. That's their opinion and they are entitled to it. But I know at least one qualified physician who disagrees with them. That doesn't mean he's right and they're wrong, but it suggests at very least that reasonable minds may differ on the subject. So in this email I'm asking about reasonable expectations *given* that someone is embarking on TRT. I am not asking for opinions on whether I or anyone else *should* be on TRT. To be honest, that -- or more generally what *are* valid criteria for going on TRT? -- would actually be a very useful thread. But it's not the purpose with which I'm opening *this* thread. So I respectfully ask that if you are one of those folk that you please not dilute this particular thread with comments on the topic of overall justification or otherwise of TRT. Thanks.

[BBC3]

Valid criterea IS the physical examination of YOU and relative to YOUR actual syptoms. The nurse you refer to is either selling steroids or hitting on you for a nice sack to hang on his chin for a while. No trt is going to provide that kind a feedback. And there should be no covertness to an open and legal subject. I would recommend wearing our underarmour if you plan to visit him off premises for further explanation... LOL But it is a SWEET story...

Originally Posted by chronological

Went for another blood draw this morning, 72 hours after my most recent 200mg pinning. Turns out the nurse (male) is on TRT too and has been for a year. I asked how it was going for him and he said "Amazing". He then leaned over, conspiratorially, and said, "I mean, absolutely fucking amazing". He said it took about 2.5 months though before he felt the effects.

But that "Amazing" got me wondering about what are realistic expectations when on TRT. I've never expected "amazing". I've never thought of it as any kind of silver bullet, where I'd suddenly become my 21 year old self but with my 47 year old level of life experience and, for want of a better word, wisdom. So what do I expect, and is it reasonable?

Let's assume that we finally settle on a TRT schedule, along with any other requirements, that takes me from my pre-TRT average of 400-ish T, to 700-ish (albeit with a higher variance than the pre-TRT situation).

Currently what I do expect is something along the lines of:

1. Some reduction in the amount of time I find myself sitting peering at my computer screen, part dazed by the amount of work, part bored senseless, part tired and lethargic, and 100% simply can't seem to raise the tiniest amount of energy
2. Some increase in my ability to focus in on one thing at a time, and not continually be pulled away to shiny objects around me
3. Some increase in my resolve to do stuff -- in particular, to go to the gym and to stick with a diet
4. Some increase in the effectiveness of gym workouts if I actually do them

Overall, I guess it's best explained like this. I have well-defined and very obvious periods of intense motivation, focus and energy. When I was in my twenties that was my dominant state. Now, nearing fifty, they happen perhaps only a couple of times a year. Energy/motivation/focus are like erections in that sense. They just don't happen as often. My expectation is that TRT will go *some way* towards either reversing that decline, or at least stopping or slowing it from going further?

Are those reasonable expectations?
What are yours?

Finally, given prior threads, I need to point the following out. I'm aware that because my pre-TRT levels while low (380 and 420) were still within the "normal" range, several people here feel that I simply should not be on TRT. That's their opinion and they are entitled to it. But I know at least one qualified physician who disagrees with them. That doesn't mean he's right and they're wrong, but it suggests at very least that reasonable minds may differ on the subject. So in this email I'm asking about reasonable expectations *given* that someone is embarking on TRT. I am not asking for opinions on whether I or anyone else *should* be on TRT. To be honest, that -- or more generally what *are* valid criteria for going on TRT? -- would actually be a very useful thread. But it's not the purpose with which I'm opening *this* thread. So I respectfully ask that if you are one of those folk that you please not dilute this particular thread with comments on the topic of overall justification or otherwise of TRT. Thanks.

[chronological]

Originally Posted by BBC3

... there should be no covertness to an open and legal subject. ...

:-) I think you've picked me up wrong. The covertness was simply in preparation for his unprofessional use of the word "fucking" in the presence of a patient. His gamble paid off with me, but I could have been a sensitive religious type and reported him to his boss for cussing :-D

[keriheat]

Originally Posted by chronological

:-) I think you've picked me up wrong. The covertness was simply in preparation for his unprofessional use of the word "fucking" in the presence of a patient. His gamble paid off with me, but I could have been a sensitive religious type and reported him to his boss for cussing :-D

I'm a sensitive, religious type and I would not report him to his boss for cussing.

[chronological]

Originally Posted by keriheat

I'm a sensitive, religious type and I would not report him to his boss for cussing.

That'll be cuz your testosterone is so high that you're sensitive but bad-ass at the same time :-)

[BBC3]

Yea... Know I did not get you wrong. SYNTAX, launguage, use of words is one thing. What he was conveying to you is another. In some folks minds, the word "fucker" is a sin of all sins, in anothers it may be a "term of endearment".. the fact that he used the language is nothing. If you compare it reltively speaking to todays terms commonly used, he was at the top of the heiarchy still, which implied excitement depicted to you, His lean in infers COVERTNESS and an offer for you to COVERTLY ask back what to do to get some. Whether it be and FYI to the doc, an informal offer for illegal sales on his part, or he might just be fucking crazy considering the political and legal aspects of the situation...

The only thing that you can be certain of is that he wont last long at that position. he is a liability to more than himslef- Much more. A sore in dire need of lancing, or removal...... To speak figuratively. But he would quicly be escorted to the door I assure... LOL And to think I was once called a LOOSE CANNON... That makes me look like my safety is rusted locked on.... LOL