Starting TRT Journey in Cali

[ekognos]

Hi all!

Happy to have found this forum as I work towards hopefully finding the missing piece of my overall health, chronic low testosterone with a wealth of symptoms (chronic fatigue, brain fog, ED, depression/anxiety, reduced libido, weight issues, insomnia, focus issues/ADD). I'm 42M 5'10" 220lb, though been dealing with symptoms for past 20 years or so. Around 10 years ago, total was 240, free 50; my PCP at that time had talked about possibly TRT but decided I wasn't ready at the time. Fast forward to now, with a decade of trying anything/everything to feel better, in the same boat. Got retested, total 250, free 55. Lost a bit of weight in the interim so wondering if that's why the numbers didn't decrease further.

My current PCP thought I was "just fine" and took some prodding to get an Endo referral. Endo diagnosed me with hypogonadism, but they want to put me on Clomid (no offer of enclo) and if I fail after 6 months, then maybe consider actual test. It seems my health system is wholly against the idea of ever approving TRT. Going to meet with Endo one more time this week to discuss treatment (they made me do MRI to rule out pituitary issues), but if they are still hellbent on Clomid only, will be going a different route. I already have an appointment setup with Defy Medical in case my Endo won't budge. I've read enough about Clomid to know that's the last thing I want (don't need anything that's going to contribute to brain fog, anxiety when I have enough; as well as potential vision damage).

For reference, current labs:
Total: 250 ng/dL
Free: 55 pg/mL
LH: 2 mIU/mL
FSH 2.5 mIU/mL
Prolactin: 8 ng/mL
DHEA: 192 ugliest/dL
PSA: 1.2 ng/mL
Estradiol: 19 pg/mL
SHBG: 20 nmol/L
IGF-1: 184 ng/mL

Desperate to finally feel better, semi-normal would be nice! Happy for any advice or pointers as I start this new journey to finally feeling whole.

 

[AlexDavis43]

Hi all!

Happy to have found this forum as I work towards hopefully finding the missing piece of my overall health, chronic low testosterone with a wealth of symptoms (chronic fatigue, brain fog, ED, depression/anxiety, reduced libido, weight issues, insomnia, focus issues/ADD). I'm 42M 5'10" 220lb, though been dealing with symptoms for past 20 years or so. Around 10 years ago, total was 240, free 50; my PCP at that time had talked about possibly TRT but decided I wasn't ready at the time. Fast forward to now, with a decade of trying anything/everything to feel better, in the same boat. Got retested, total 250, free 55. Lost a bit of weight in the interim so wondering if that's why the numbers didn't decrease further.

My current PCP thought I was "just fine" and took some prodding to get an Endo referral. Endo diagnosed me with hypogonadism, but they want to put me on Clomid (no offer of enclo) and if I fail after 6 months, then maybe consider actual test. It seems my health system is wholly against the idea of ever approving TRT. Going to meet with Endo one more time this week to discuss treatment (they made me do MRI to rule out pituitary issues), but if they are still hellbent on Clomid only, will be going a different route. I already have an appointment setup with Defy Medical in case my Endo won't budge. I've read enough about Clomid to know that's the last thing I want (don't need anything that's going to contribute to brain fog, anxiety when I have enough; as well as potential vision damage).

For reference, current labs:
Total: 250 ng/dL
Free: 55 pg/mL
LH: 2 mIU/mL
FSH 2.5 mIU/mL
Prolactin: 8 ng/mL
DHEA: 192 ugliest/dL
PSA: 1.2 ng/mL
Estradiol: 19 pg/mL
SHBG: 20 nmol/L
IGF-1: 184 ng/mL

Desperate to finally feel better, semi-normal would be nice! Happy for any advice or pointers as I start this new journey to finally feeling whole.

I'd try seeing another doctor (or better yet, endo) before resorting to a TRT clinic. Could just be a few phone calls away.

 

[ekognos]

I'd try seeing another doctor (or better yet, endo) before resorting to a TRT clinic. Could just be a few phone calls away.

I’m in the Kaiser system, which is notoriously horrible for TRT. There’s not really much option to find a different doctor in network that will do much different.

 

[newguy2]

I'd personally reach out to a clinic, but that's just me. That's what I did. You know what you're looking for. I'm my case like you I was eager to feel better like you.

Once I got the scrip they were still weeks out so I went with a UGL to get things rolling and started dosing at the prescribed dose.

 

[craigdt]

I'd just order a vial of test from some of the domestic UG sources.

I had similar test levels, 150-200 mg per week got me sorted right out, life changing

 

[ekognos]

I'd personally reach out to a clinic, but that's just me. That's what I did. You know what you're looking for. I'm my case like you I was eager to feel better like you.

Once I got the scrip they were still weeks out so I went with a UGL to get things rolling and started dosing at the prescribed dose.

Yeah, just giving Endo one last chance as obviously will be nice to save a few dollars if I can convince them to prescribe. That's a great idea about getting UGL just to kickstart, I know it can be a minute from clinic rx to getting in hands via shipping.

I'd just order a vial of test from some of the domestic UG sources.

I had similar test levels, 150-200 mg per week got me sorted right out, life changing

I'm planning to go through clinic at least for a bit to just get dialed in, trying to be cautious about ensuring I don't get hormones out of whack. And then switch to just UGL down the road.