+ 3 Have low test..... Self medication
Hi I've just got back from the doctors
I'm 35 years old, been suffering from anxiety/ depression l, lethargy, night sweats etc erc for a number of years now. Doctor finally tested my testosterone last week and my results have came back as follows...
Serum testosterone: 1.8 nmol /L
Binding glob: 7 nmol/L
Free testosterone: 74pmol/L
LH level: 1.4 IU/L
FSH level: 2.5 IU/L
So my doctor has passed me onto an endocrinologist, the problem being that she thinks this could take months to be seen in the first place.
I can't wait months feeling like this.
I don't know what to do though. Part of me is thinking the best thing to do would be to try and get some test from somewhere and start that then stop it before I go to the endocrinologist.
Thinking about 150mg of test a week to get some relief, then stopping a month before the endo appointment, that way it should be out of my system.
At this point I don't care about messing with my own levels, have no interest in having any more children etc.
The only thing I'm concerned with is not getting the proper treatment on the NHS when the time comes if I still have testosterone in my system from self medicating
Anybody else been in this situation?
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UPDATE!!!
Blood results came back from the endo and my testosterone was sky high..... 56 I think it was and I'm sure the top end of normal is around 30.
They've told me I need to stop all testosterone fore at least a month now, go back for another blood test to see where my blood levels are before starting trt. It may take longer but I don't know yet
NOTE TO ADD:
I have just got back from seeing the endo who was very good. I explained everything, all my symptoms over the years. She went over my blood results and then u told her how I have been treating myself when being told I was on a waiting list for a waiting list to be seen. The endo was very sympathetic and believed due to how low my levels were, my only option was trt. She has agreed to put me on Nebido @ 3 monthly intervals starting from next week. This will be administered at my docs along with bloods taken before each injection to see if I need the dose sooner.
I actualy feel bloody good about this, I was terrified they wouldn't help me because I'd already started treating myself. Just pleased I went in there open and honest.
@Musclepants, THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Having a doc that is on your side is a huge piece of mind. That is really great news.
Be honest with yourself as you undergo treatment. If you're not feeling any better, your problem may be thyroid related. (For me, I felt better within a few weeks, and it was REALLY noticeable by two months. You'll know if low T is the reason for your quality of life symptoms.)
Please keep us posted. Other men can learn from your successes and failures.
I've been giving myself injections weekly for almost 3 months now and it has completely changed my life. Even so soon now it's hard to imagine just how bad I actualy felt for all those years. I feel fantastic now..... Not in a I feel better than ever kind of way, just that's it's fantastic to feel like a Normal human being when I didn't used to think it was possible for me.
Thanks for your encouraging words
This is brilliant! Test is medicine. If used properly, it can really enhance our lives, especially those of us who truly "suffer" from the shitty quality of life that low T creates.
Watch your red blood cell (RBC) count. If your blood pressure goes up, you'll know that it's time to give blood. Also, it's easier to gain a lot of weight when your body gets used to the testosterone, so your heart is having to pump blood through tissue that's holding more water. It's even more important to pay attention to diet & rest once you're on a cruise or TRT.
However, yes, feeling "normal" is incredible. I'm still tired when I work hard, and I'm sore as shit when I hit the gym hard (as I'm licking my wounds currently from yesterday's deadlifts) but the difference is, I RECOVER. In a day or two, I'll wake up and be ready to crush that shit again. It's awesome.
If you sit around while on TRT, you'll simply get fat and have a fucked up endocrine system. Testosterone heals you. Make sure you're getting your exercise in, preferably smart (intense, controlled) lifting sessions, three or four per week. If you don't have any workout programs, PM me and I'll e-mail you a few.
Oh, and welcome back to the human race. Use your new found quality of life to kick total ass for the people you love. +1 for a positive attitude.
Bottom line.. no matter where you live: Take responsibility to fix things yourself as much as possible because in the end, you're the only one you can really count on. When my insurance stopped covering my Testim, I went to the internet and got my own remedy---injectable T. Life has never been the same since.
@Musclepants1, I am in the States, and y'all do things differently on that side of the pond. One thing is the same: Having low testosterone sucks.
My story is similar to yours. I spent over two thousand bucks to get blood tests, get referred to my endocrinologist, and in the end, they denied my request to try TRT.
I had never used testosterone or any steroid at that point. I was 38 years old, lethargic and depressed. (For people who've never had depression, they think that depression has something to do with happiness. Nope! I'm happy, always have been. It's a chemical state of being where motivation is flat out gone. I had no internal fire to do anything, including chasing my wife, get projects done around the house, and I was tired and falling asleep daily in my reclining chair as soon as I'd get home from my day.)
I found eroids, spent six months researching, and decided to pull the trigger on my own "cruise." (It's only TRT if it's doctor prescribed, and I have no prescription. So it's really just a "cruise," even though I don't cycle.)
WIthin a month, I felt a lot better.
Within two months, I was healed of all of my chronic nagging injuries.
Here I am, a year later, and it's been great. But not because, "it's great!!! Unicorns and rainbows great!" but rather, it's just great that I'm healed. I still am tired if I don't get a good night's sleep, I'm still sore as piss from a hard workout, but it's great because my body heals if I eat right and get good sleep.
I get blood tests every two months, cuz here in the States, we can use online labs to order blood draws from local labs at 10% of the cost of my normal doctor's fee. I donate blood every ten weeks to keep my rbc's down, and I pin 100mg test cyp once a week. This is my new normal.
I'm not advocating this life to anyone. But if you truly have low T, then a "cruise" might help, but exhaust every last natty avenue you can.
If you do indeed go with TRT through your doc, it's for life. It has it's benefits and drawbacks. I share all of this simply so you don't go in thinking, "testosterone is a magic pill that will cure me!" It's not. It's medicine. It'll heal you if properly used, and it'll fuck you up if abused. Proceed wisely, ask questions, read all you can on eroids, and keep us posted. Rooting for you, mate. Cheers! -ZeusM
Hi mate.
I live in the UK too. I had low testosterone symptoms for years starting since I was like 26. Never used steroids prior to that.
When I was 29 after researching online and realising I tick all the boxes for low testosterone I had to argue with my GP just to get bloods done.
Results came at 156 ng/dl . GP kept on being arogant. Could not have a erection to do stuff to my missus. Was a depressed fat shit despite dieting like crazy.
They done few more bloods and lied to me I will be referred to a endo. Which only happened after I got really loud threathening to complain to the NHS Quality Care Comission.
Later I found out with such low levels GP should have put me on the bloody Testosterone Gel at least for a trial.
I walked in the shoes of the God damn idiot who never went Dr for a pimple on my butt cheek unlike retards who clog the NHS. Always paid taxes and worked and got screwed.
I started to self medicate in september 2015.
200 mg of test cyp a week and 1 mg of Arimidex split in 2 every 3.5 days.
After "only" 8 months of waiting I saw the endo who was acting like he is the All Knowing big man.
He claimed I will kill myself by self medicating.
Refused to work with me or prescribe anything.
Been self medicating since then.
GP refuses to offer me any bloods to check my health.
Hope you get sorted out.
Please be careful on your self medicating dosage. 100mg keeps me where the doctor is happy. I certainly feel better at 200mg. Self medicated TRT certainly led me to think more is better and I abused other chemicals and screwed myself up. Took me a year to get myself in line. Right now I blast at 250mg for 3 months and cruise at 100mg or 3 months before the doc takes blood work.
+1 for adding the very real sentiment, MORE IS NOT BETTER.
THE CORRECT DOSE IS BETTER.
As always, use the least amount of chemical possible to get the desired result. The allure of the "magic pill" effect of testosterone is too easy to abuse. @Big JO, I hope men read your words and heed your advice, brother.
That is very true brother.
Also Sex Binding Globulin Hormone can make testosterone replacement theraphy less effective. Proviron can help tremendously with that.
Personally I have found that I feel excellent on 200 mg of testosterone enanthate a week split in 100 mg every 3.5 days. Using also HCG 500 IU every 3.5 days. Cycling Proviron on and off for its benefits.
I also use TUDCA for liver support at 400 mg a day.
+1 for an honest share.
I hope other men out there will read your post and consider your words if they're in the same boat. It's not all magic, and sometimes your doctors won't agree with you. The best advice to all of us is, "don't be reckless." Thanks for the share, @htbio1.
Hi bro.
Thank you also.
Thumbs up for coming here first and asking questions prior to starting...get the money, swallow your pride, then you can come back here and feel good about telling us what you did the right way. C'mon you can do this, bro!!:)
Yeah I'm not going to do anything myself. I needed to hear what I've been told on here. Thankyou very much for taking the time to reply and tell me the the truth, I know it's for the better seeing the endo first.
I'll be hanging around here now and I'll keep people informed as I go.
Thanks again
You're welcome!! FR sent. PM me anytime. If I can't help, or don't know the answer, we will figure it out. Stay strong, bro...you got this!!
StatsAge: 36Height: 5,7Weight: 80kgBF:
You ever done any steroids before?
I done 6 weeks on test only about 11 year ago. Nothing other than that
If you self medicate, your values will change. The endo doc may not help you, then. In addition, 6 months is a long time to wait, especially with test at your fingertips. How much research do you have under your belt?
I've been reading around for about 4-5 months now. I understand what I want my blood work to look like. I understand the need for an AI but not necessarily at the dose I'm hoping will get me to a normal range
These symptoms you reported can point to more than just low T. Correcting low T, could precipitate these symptoms into something more progressive. That's why you need further bloodwork, prior to injecting Testosterone. Endocrinology and the docs behind it, know whether, or not, you're a candidate for this intervention. Borrow the money needed to see a specialist, like Yourdad advised, and you will be so much more happier, bro!!
One wrong move and you would have wished you followed the advice you received on here. God bless you, brother.
Although you have touched the surface, there is still a range of complexity surrounding that first pin...
Thanks for being honest, much appreciated. What do you want to do?
I'm pretty sure I've already made my decision to start a low dose of test. I will have that available either tomorrow or the day after. I think I'm hoping for others advice as to how long to stop before getting blood work done later in the year. Also I'm probably just wanting to hear others say they've done the same and they've never looked back, lol
I started self medicating before seeing an endo and it was the worst thing I have ever done. I should have just waited and got the proper answers. Instead I went to an endo a year later and my levels were sky high and it took over a year for the endo to regulate me and prescribe the test legally. I should have just waited to do it right the first time.
Why did you self medicate in the first place if you don't mind me asking? Did you carry on injecting right up until your endo appointment?
Short answer, impatience with my general doc and the whole process. I didnt have the knowledge to self medicate that I do now. I was dosing too high. I felt great but I was on a high dose and I got swept up in how good I felt, so I stayed on that high dose too long. When I finally scheduled my endo I was taking 500mg test E/per week and I stayed on it up to the appointment. Numbers came back super high. I was 110% honest with my endo and we worked a plan to get me to a much lower dose of 100mg per week. Went back, retested and endo was happy and gave me a legal script for test E. Now I know where my maintenance dose should be and I can blast for a few months if I want.
Thanks for answering. Did the endo make you come off all together before putting u back on trt or work with lowering the dose of test?
She did not take me off completely. We scheduled an appointment 6 months out and she told me she wanted me on 100mg test E for 3 months prior to the appointment. I did what I was told and everything worked out well. I did not feel as good on 100mg but way better than I had. So I now blast for 3 months and cruise at 100mg for 3 months before my endo visit.
You are so lucky brother your endo is a doc abd not a quack and so understanding. Wish we lived in the same city.
At the same time, if you had to wait to see the endo and had never self prescribed how would you have felt?
Around 16-20 weeks on exogenous testosterone, at any dose, your hpta shuts down. Self medicating with TRT bypasses any other existing pathological anomalies that could be underlying, which could be the reason why your test level is low.
Jumping into it without seeing an endo doc is cutting yourself short, and setting yourself up for a potential fatal outcome. You don't want that, bro!!
What type of test are you getting? Hopefully, it's Cypionate, or Enanthate. Is it in your plan to stay on top of bloodwork?
Yes it's cypionate 300. Planning on 150mg per week to start.
Blood work will be checked every 3 months
Female endo doc has only done an evaluation and history at this time?
It's not the endo it's my GP and she won't do anything or even comment on my results. Which is why I have to wait to see the specialist next which I've been advised may be up to 6 months away for initial consultation
YourdadBro you kidding me....If you live in the UK and your Gp referred you to a endocrinologist and telling you bullshit to wait....just ignore him.
Call the BMI hospital and pay to see the endogrinologist!!! without money there is no treatment. Your other option is to wait...Dont do anything by your self
I know that's the sensible thing to do but I can't afford to pay private right now and just wanting to feel a bit better. Do you think it would mess things up too much if I self medicate for a while and the endo never became aware of this?
It sounds like by the time the test level stabilizes from you doing it yourself, you could have waited, paid a little bit more money to see a professional, and have continued treatment for free and been a little smarter in the process.
Yeah i think you're both right. When I take myself out of it and look at the bigger picture, I need to sit tight and no do anything. I didn't think about there being other underlying causes that an endo would help to try and find. Thanks for everyone's advice, it's been really helpful
YourdadBro again....Don't do anything by your self...you need to see a specialist....if you cant afford it.....push your gp to fix your case as soon as possible. The referrals can last to 6 months but in 1-2 months you will receive the letter...Don't worry. Just be patience
So OP can get help quicker than 6 months in UK?
YourdadOP can get help the same day...if it has the money to pay of course. For private consultations the fees are from 130 British pounds to 200 pounds the visit......he can tell you what to do and then follow the treatment in Queens elizabeth hospital which is free ;)
I'm going to look into this. Thankyou for the advice. its hard not to jump in when u don't feel like your getting anywhere fast.
I'm going to wait it out.
Yourdadyou can buy a testosterone booster for temporary relieve...better from nothing. Just go to the doctor
Thank you for the info, bro. The amount of money OP will spend on test could go toward seeing an endo.
YourdadBefore calling BMI hospital...there is a website that list all the doctors,their experience and where are specialize,degrees etc.....I suggest a little research and then call ask for the doctor you want
The website is this http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/doctors-and-health-professionals/endocrin...
Amazing professional doctors!!! They worth every pound m8
Do you know all the blood tests your doc did on you?
Okay. I see. 6 months is a long time to wait, geez.