Ex-AAS user on TRT at 46

[eryximachus]

At your age I'd be cautious with starting dose to ensure your protocol doesn't come with all the sides of supraphysiologic dosing (Hct, water retention due to RAAS activation, blood pressure, prostate). You can always add more later if you decide to transition from TRT to borderline AAS abuse or full blown AAS abuse. TRT is a wonderful gateway drug for some.

Best wishes on your journey.

Very strange. Why would a seemingly legitimate medical clinic want to start me on such a high dose?

All over the internet everyone hates on anything non-injection. Since I only have experience with injectable AAS, I can't say either way. The nasal spray does sound interesting though. I wonder if it is expensive.

 

[readalot]

Why would a seemingly legitimate medical clinic want to start me on such a high dose?

Very common among the "TRT" clinics. They want the guys to get that big "boost" out of the gate, and, of course, "if some is good then more must be better"; but as AlexDavis43 mentions...where does that leave you in 6 or 12 months? You can always titrate up if needed/wanted.

Yeah without insurance the Natesto can be pricey.

Anyway, this has been argued to death online but the graph above gives you an idea where most fall on 180 mg/week of test ester. To give some perspective, I argued with Danny Bossa about this for years and he ended up dropping his recommended starting dose for "clients" down to 150 mg/week for so called TOT. Buyer beware.

If you want to cruise/blast help yourself, but just don't want you to think this is a legitimate starting dose for replacement therapy.

Some previous "discussions" if interested. Unfortunately behind a email firewall now...

What is TRT and What is NOT TRT

What is TRT For the curious minds or folks seeking a better understanding, TRT stands for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. The R stands for replacement, not enhancement, or elevation. Sometimes there seems to be some confusion between the TRT and pharma section. Note, after discussion with...

t-nation.com

TRT: Most Probable Weekly Dose Range for Treating Male Hypogonadism

Unburied this from another thread in case guys were curious about TRT dosing in the world of hypogonadism. Google xyosted, a vastly overpriced** testosterone enanthate (TE) sub-Q delivery system designed for mass in-network medical provider use to treat hypogonadism. Then look at the three...

t-nation.com

24 Hour TT Profiles in Young, Healthy Functional Men [1973-1983]

TLDR (great suggestion by @kazuya_mishima1): Danny and the TOT folks are mistaken to put it politely with respect to pharmacokinetics and dose response of injectable exogeneous testosterone. They act like it’s some mystery how you will respond to injectable testosterone. It really isn’t and...

t-nation.com

 

[eryximachus]

Natesto potentially isn't out of the question. I admit I have my own business with a $20K deductible plan, but I max out the HSA and have no other health issues. My only concern was using it 3x per day.

I guess the only benefit of the high dose in this case is maybe it can kick start my workout regiment, though I was always under the impression that supraphysiological test has basically the same side effects in the short term from a low dose (say 250mg) to the old tried and true starting cycle of 500mg.

Ah whatever. I will shop for another clinic.

 

[readalot]

Natesto potentially isn't out of the question. I admit I have my own business with a $20K deductible plan, but I max out the HSA and have no other health issues. My only concern was using it 3x per day.

I guess the only benefit of the high dose in this case is maybe it can kick start my workout regiment, though I was always under the impression that supraphysiological test has basically the same side effects in the short term from a low dose (say 250mg) to the old tried and true starting cycle of 500mg.

Ah whatever. I will shop for another clinic.

Not necessarily trying to steer you to another clinic. If you think you know your drug tolerance then maybe this is a great clinic long term if you want a legal Rx to abuse Test for BB. I have to exercise caution when speaking to someone on the internet.

Regardless, unless they are doing the injections (then I would steer clear), you control how much you administer. Anyway, don't trust me, get a 2nd opinion if you think that is something you are interested in. Hard to say what your drug tolerance is over the internet. Just food for thought.

 

[eryximachus]

Not necessarily trying to steer you to another clinic. If you think you know your drug tolerance then maybe this is a great clinic long term if you want a legal Rx to abuse Test for BB. I have to exercise caution when speaking to someone on the internet.

Regardless, unless they are doing the injections (then I would steer clear), you control how much you administer. Anyway, don't trust me, get a 2nd opinion if you think that is something you are interested in. Hard to say what your drug tolerance is over the internet. Just food for thought.

Thanks man

 

[readalot]

Is this the place?

https://gamedaymenshealth.com/mens-t-clinic/

How much they charging per month?

What if you need 300 mg/week? I am curious how high they will go?

I finally got my PCP to write for 200 mg/week. Many T clinics will write up to 250 or 300. Not sure how they keep their medical/DEA license but it's great to have options with the wild west today.

Just curious.

 

[Grey Spartan]

Very strange. Why would a seemingly legitimate medical clinic want to start me on such a high dose?

I had this same question when my wife was researching TRT for herself and the starting dose was 20mg/week.

 

[readalot]

I had this same question when my wife was researching TRT for herself and the starting dose was 20mg/week.

Holy F. "Generous".

 

[Grey Spartan]

What if you need 300 mg/week? I am curious how high they will go?

I think it is dependent on your state. My buddy can have levels through the roof while in my state 1300ng/dl is as high as your allowed to be. I could be wrong though.

 

[malfeasance]

Honestly, I am terrified of hitting the gym and seeing how poorly I perform or how difficult progress will be. At this stage, I think I am going to shoot for high rep/low weight daily routines with a personal trainer.

So you are worn out by squatting with one 45 pound plate on each side. Work your way up to 20 reps, and then one day put the tens on each side, so, instead of 135, you are squatting with 155. Before the month is out, you are squatting with the 45s and the 25s, which is 185. By the next month or the month after that, you are cranking out 20 reps, squatting deep, with two 45s on each side, 225 pounds.

But you can't do that until you start with the light weight.

Who cares if on day one some woman is in the next squat rack over doing the same weight?

Get to it.

Start light.

Do higher reps than when you were younger.

And start progressing and making changes.

 

[eryximachus]

So you are worn out by squatting with one 45 pound plate on each side. Work your way up to 20 reps, and then one day put the tens on each side, so, instead of 135, you are squatting with 155. Before the month is out, you are squatting with the 45s and the 25s, which is 185. By the next month or the month after that, you are cranking out 20 reps, squatting deep, with two 45s on each side, 225 pounds.

But you can't do that until you start with the light weight.

Who cares if on day one some woman is in the next squat rack over doing the same weight?

Get to it.

Start light.

Do higher reps than when you were younger.

And start progressing and making changes.

I get it. Just to clarify I don't give a f about the slots. It's more how I spent YEARS working on my body, and while I still look good for 46, I know what I lost.

So far as squats, my goal is solely to get up to 225. Probably the same for benching. It's a functional target - if I can do 5x 20 reps of 225 squats, then at least I can be confident I can carry most anyone. Also will have less chance of messing up my back.

 

[malfeasance]

if I can do 5 x 20 reps of 225 squats

Then you will be kicking ass.

Very, very few guys in any gym who can do 20 full depth repetitions of squats with 225 pounds over five complete sets. If you get there, then there would be a very good chance that you are the only one in your gym who can.

 

[Grey Spartan]

if I can do 5x 20 reps of 225 squats,

Great goal.

Very, very few guys in any gym who can do 20 full depth repetitions of squats with 225 pounds over five complete sets

I know I cant.

 

[jung]

Hey everyone. I used to be active on this forum back in the day and the advice was always tremendously valuable. I pretty much stopped cycling and lifting during COVID, but recently had a physical done and my test levels were 105. Went to the first TRT clinic that would take me (gameday) and they started me on 180mg of test e with weekly injections.

My questions are: 1) is 180mg per week sustainable for the long-term? I have been feeling much more anxious than I remember test ever making me in the past, which I am hypothesizing is due to my not lifting at all. and 2) has anyone else gotten back into the game of lifting in their late 40s and thrived?

Honestly, I am terrified of hitting the gym and seeing how poorly I perform or how difficult progress will be. At this stage, I think I am going to shoot for high rep/low weight daily routines with a personal trainer.

It's really amazing. I was 41 when covid hit NYC and I was still in god shape and had been for nearly 20 years. I'll never get back to that point, but hopefully I'll make some progress.

I would opt for daily injections at 25-26mg per day. The reports I have seen lately is that the lower the administration of test per dosing, the more E2 levels are controlled and less spiky. But to @readalot's point, ramping up slowly is the right move. I still would recommend daily injections, but maybe start off with 10mg/day for a while and then go to 12.5mg/day, etc...

I myself take 25mg every day and am loving it. Way better than the old 2-week protocol.