+ 7 TRT - A Badge of Honor – EVERYONE NEEDS ONE
DEFINITELY NOT
I’ve been reading a lot of these posts lately, and not just on this website, and I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. A lot of the younger folks and some of the older uninitiated folks really disregard a lot of the seriousness associated with damaging your HPTA permanently.
A lot of these folks think it’s not a big deal and that they will just hop on TRT and do the cruise and blast thing. Some even have the approach that TRT is some sort of badge of honor. It’s really not, and for a young individual it’s more the equivalent of a bad marriage in Vegas after a night of drinking and poor decision-making with no hope for a divorce (congratulations you are now married to the needle for the next 50 years because you didn’t understand what you were doing).
TRT is a much more complex subject then AAS usage that I wonder how many of these individuals can successfully manage their own TRT should they need it if they can’t even understand the basic concepts of AAS usage, not to mention the fact that most healthcare professionals don’t even understand the subject themselves.
TRT requires a complex dialing in process as well as an understanding of the disruptive process to the other hormones of the endocrine system and how to manage those disruptions. It’s not just 150 mg of testosterone a week for everyone and you’re done. There is so much more to it. It’s a very individualistic approach coupled with a very sophisticated knowledge base and understanding of the endocrine system.
I wrote this as a general warning to the younger and uninitiated as well as I was wondering what the community’s thoughts on this are.
- Bookmark
- 7
- 0
Insert clapping here (or the clap, idk, I get confused)
I was discussing steroids and trt with my 22 year old. Never did he think "how do I travel abroad with testosterone" how do I tell my future wife that if I go to the EU for an extended period of time, im going to crash out (and explain what that means), or having to math out shooting over a gram or two or more on the day you travel so you can get through the trip. Just so you can "feel better" in your 20s.
And the conversation around the real world impact of having kids (or not) never really set in. It was "I'll be fine, I'll PCT" because of tictok science and not the real thing.
Then we got to the need to spend $2000 a year on bloodwork.
TRT has been better for me than any SSRI ever has. But for someone younger, idk, in my opinion every other option should be explored first.
Thank you for the write up.
Being a 40+ guy on DR. prescribed TRT for a couple of years I can tell you that it's the best thing that happened to me. For all the reasons associated with low T, these annoying injections changed my life for the positive.
Living with low T is no joke.
Having said that, it's definitely a journey and a learning experience. I've learned that even though there are a lot of well intentioned folk with opinions, a lot of the info tends to be bro science.
Thank you for the acknowledgment.
I wish you success with your TRT. If you have any questions feel free to ask I'll be more than happy to share what I know.
bigwillyThis is me standing applauding this post. Top notch.
Thank You.
Great post.
I think this every time I take my shot.
Every time I take my shot I think: "I would rather get this pain in the ass than live with low another day" That's how much my life sucked
Thank you. I think if more people would tell their stories maybe just maybe a few of the younger crowd will get it. So even if it helps one it's worth it. That's how I look at it.
Good post brother. +2
Thank you. I have read some of your posts. Hope you are feeling better nowadays and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Thank bud.
Great post. In all honesty I'm one of these guys that chose to go TRT on my own. Since my opiate abuse I have struggled with depression, energy and Libido. After years of working out, free from opiates and plateus I decided to try aas. It was like a switch was flipped. I was a completely different person. It got to the point I truly didn't need antidepressants anymore. So i dropped my dose by over half. I felt amazing. Then came pct. I was an absolute mess. I had to up my doses again. After a few months I had my testosterone checked and I was low 400 at 37 years old. Normal according to doctors but that was just a number.. How do they know what my body needs to function properly after the besting I gave it with opiate abuse.
So i thought long and hard... And then some and decided I wanted to try it. To be honest I don't regret my decision.. YET. I do want one more child so I hope I didn't screw myself. I use Hcg and when it's time to try for a kid I will switch to clomid /Hcg to help.
Ultimately my goal is to get under a physicians care which I will work on once my current cycle is over. When I was running TRT levels I felt amazing at 150mg per week.
Younger folks and even people my age should stay natty as long as possible. It's a personal decision. For me It became a quality of life decision. Quality of life is not based on how much of my gains I can keep after a cycle. It was about feeling good, happy and alive. My marriage has improved. My work has improved and even being a father has improved because I have more energy and am not so down and negative all the time.
Thank you for the acknowledgment. By the way did you know that opiates can damage your HPTA? Also you are still young enough to try for a restart and see if you can get your body function normal. 37 Is Way too young to be on TRT. I would recommend you try restart if you fit the criteria before committing full-time to TRT.
"I use Hcg and when it's time to try for a kid I will switch to clomid /Hcg to help."
It's awesome that you use hCG. I would also incorporate HMG from time to time. But the best advice I can give you in terms of having children is to check your sperm count now and if it's acceptable put into storage. As time goes on it will be more and more difficult for you to conceive.
"When I was running TRT levels I felt amazing at 150mg per week."
If you are dialed in correctly at that dosage then you will feel amazing even more so than running a cycle. And guys that utilize higher dosages for TRT "cruise" will actually feel like crap after while.
Good post brother. Its crazy how kids brag about going on trt and coaches tell them its ok. There's this supposed guru going around telling juice heads to never come off and he's got a whole forum following him. From what I understand and heard, from some trt's, is that staying naddy is better than trt. Some never get that natural drive back ever. Plus they don't understand that there is a added benefit to coming off and giving the body rest from gear and clean up those receptors up and so you can shock the body back into growth next cycle. Sometimes I look forward to coming off. This pinpusher gets tired of pinpushing sometimes lol
Once you go TRT you can never go back!
Thank you for the acknowledgment.
"From what I understand and heard, from some trt's, is that staying naddy is better than trt."
That should be gospel. No matter how knowledgeable and skilled you are with TRT NOBODY can do it better than a healthy and fully functioning body. TRT doesn't even come close.
this is a great post. Im in my early 50's and just started using aas. I would be great to post a list of things on what to do while your on TRT. Ive been using somewhere between 300/400mg test e - per week.. the 150 wasn't really doing anything for me. Its been 4 months (almost) what would be the next thing I should do?
I have hcg. but the "boys" are the same size as when I started. My next cycle, is going to be a long one-
Test/EQ - maybe 6 months. then back to a lower amount of test - 200mg or so per week for two months
( suggestions would be great. -) no smart replies please.. I have a really good person for advice too..(mentor)..
Thank you for the acknowledgment.
Well for starters I think a six-month long cycle is too long at any age.
300 to 400 mg of test is way too high for TRT. What's your blood work like on it? what are your numbers and please post ranges. Without that I can't help you.
HCG is important not just for the size of your testicles but for the overall well-being of your body. 150 IU three times a week is more than enough.
If enough people want me to and the MODs are okay with it I will write a basic how-to for TRT as a guide for the community.
I think a TRT guide would be really helpful. There are alot of guys here that are in need of TRT but for some reason or another they can't afford to do it through a doctor or TRT clinic so they go about it on their own. They hear this and that about TRT but they are obviously doing it wrong which is not good for their long-term health.
On the other hand, I would be real concerned about putting a guide out there because these kids will see it and think it is OK to do it now because they are doing it according to a guide. Any type of guide should be heavily premised by the negatives of going the TRT route when it is not necessary.
You make a lot of valid points that I agree with and that is the reason why I won't do one unless the MOD's approve it in advance and the community chimes in requesting one.
have not done blood work -yet... been doing it by what I feel and what my body is telling me.. but- then again I have only been on TRT for about 4 months. I know I was low on the test.. but not sure how much.
I really dont think that 300/400 is to much.. from not feeling anything to just a bit of a bump.
As for the 6 months.. If I was younger.. maybe this would be closer to what I should be doing.. but I dont have kids and i'm in my early 50's. I have never used any aas at all .. been completely natural up to this point. (used all the crap in the cans , protien powder, creatine and so on.). Not sure on the hcg just yet..
But I do have it. ( 5 vials) thats about years worth or more..
What you are describing is not a TRT protocol. Get some blood work done. It's very important, you can't just go by feel when it comes to TRT. And if by some strange reason your testosterone comes in normal range then you have under dosed gear.
The fact that you are in your 50s means your body is a lot less resilient. A six-month cycle is going to put a lot of undue stress on your body that you simply don't need and you are not going to get any bigger gains from it than a 16 week cycle.
My recommendation for somebody in your situation would be to run short-acting compounds for 12 weeks at a time no more than twice a year. Focus on your diet and other more important things and you will go a lot further and stay a lot healthier.
I know the gear is good.. because I know the source well.(very) so that is not going to be a problem. Since Im not going to be coming of aas .. there is no reason to stop and start cycles. I do hear your point..but I cant see a reason for it. I would rather use low amounts and keep at it.. then drop and start and go in that direction.Im going to be going heavy in the gym again come spring.. and would like to see some large gains this year..
I wont be jacking the amounts up if anything. I want to stay on and run them for extend periods and do it that way. Low or medium size amounts.. and work on the rest. Ive been at this a long time. Diet ?.. not so worried about that. I eat very well. I am going to get some blood work done.. just not sure when.
Based on your response there is not much I can do. Let us know how your blood work comes out.
You need to remember that those doses will likely put you beyond natural levels. Staying on for a long time can impact your Lipids, your cbc and overall well being. At your age I would be concerned with high hematocrit/rbc and potential clotting issues. No matter how well you eat, your Lipids will be impacted and again at your age that would be a concern if it were me.
In my opinion you should listen to whynot and get some blood work done. At minimum, the Female hormone panel, lipid panel and maybe even prostate.
I agree with you on the above normal levels.. ( no debate there). but thats something that Im expecting.
With the RBC... thats possible. My BP was 120/70 and my Cholesterol was almost no existent .. This was take about a year or so ago. Im not your typical "50" year old. Getting the blood work done- yes -.. absolutely ..
but I think using low to moderate levels of aas wont be as big an impact. Prostate ?.. Had that checked the last time I was there. Some people look at aas's and have problems. I dont think I'm going to wind up in that camp - unless - i go really heavy on the amounts.
Reality here. You are nowhere near normal levels. 300mg a week is a cycle. That's not anywhere near a low dose. You are way over baseline. Even with bloodwork that seems good, at those levels, you need your heart scanned every year. It's a muscle, too, and it's gonna keep growing. You are rasing your hematocrit and you hope at some point it platueus. Remember that heart growing thing, that's not a good combo.
So if you think you're gonna stay healthy, you need to drop down to 100mg a week for 8 weeks or so and get a full blood panel as a baseline. Then go back up and start bloodwork at a minimum of every 6 months.
If you have people that rely on you, or you care about , you're kind of doing them a disservice.
Excellent post. I don't get the badge of honor thing with the cruise mentality. I think young guys use it as an excuse to be on juice all the time. TRT is a complex issue and has many facets to get it right. Thanks for this information.
Thank you for the acknowledgment. I think most kids don't realize that they could probably get their dream body primarily from proper nutrition and 45 minutes in the weight room.
I was on HRT from a doc but my insurance wasnt paying enough so now i do it on my own. I went to and endo tried some things. i even tried androgel, nolva,clomid, hcg, etc.
For a while almost thought I had it. increased healthy fats and added 5k iu vitamin d most days of the week and got my test into the mid 400s but it soon came back.
after my next cycle I am going to try a kick start and a LONG pct one more time see if someone in there 40s can "fix" it.
I do my own bloods btw. mostly the female panel from PMD but once per year i spend $300 of of pocket and get a pretty detailed male panel.
I do agree. to many younger people just jumping on the HRT/TRT bandwagon with out really knowing the deal.
If you have any questions feel free to ask me.
BigRed904I was "diagnosed" with low test levels at the age of 18, now 24, from a well known doc in Florida. He said he could always put me on TRT then help me out when I eventually wanted to have kids. I took the other route and took the alternative of HCG prescriptions. The last thing I want is to be dependent on Test Cyp injections until the day I die.
Did they try doing a restart? You are definitely young enough.
what's your hCG protocol? And where do you end up in terms of your levels (please include the range)?
Your post is so true. +1
Thank You. I just find it disheartening watching people go down a very difficult path that they really don't have to go down.
RustyhookerIm near 43 and still posting good blood tests as far as trt goes. BUT.....I'm definitly still not lax on cycles and recovery. I do not want to pin because i HAVE to. I pin to keep up at ideal weight.
Make sure your cycle, doses and pct jive. Last pct for me was sketchy for a minute. Don't skimp on recovery.
Boom! I'll plus. 2 that all day long.
Rusty I am confused are you on TRT?
I've read a lot of your posts you are definitely on target with a lot of things, especially food being number one.
RustyhookerNo sir. Not on trt. I keep trying to recover fully and give time off.
That's awesome dude. +1
This is related and is one of my all-time favorite posts.
http://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/to-all-you-newbs...ther...
I see the trend too and for the younger guys.... It's unfortunate.
It's a good post but unfortunately with some of these individuals PCT won't even work they go so far and beyond.