TRT + HCG + Amputee
Been a lurker for quite some time, and am a little gun-shy to posting. Wouldn't say I'm much of a body builder right now, however I am in good enough shape to focus for 6-12 months to have the body I want. I am currently 30/yrs old, 5'8, 140lbs, at 20% body fat. Important note, I am an amputee(knee down, left leg). Skip to the bottom if TL;DR.
On and off again I get the drive to hit the gym, and work hard for several months. I also in the past considered taking an AAS cycle to take a shortcut: pinning fear held me at bay.
In recent 2-3 years, I've become quite lethargic, low libido. My natural body fat is normally around 10-15%. Doc ran by blood, and I came in at 270.
I was prescribed HCG to naturally increase by T. I've been on a month, while my symptoms have not changed much, I'm starting test injections this week. Luckily, now with a doctor at my side, my pinning fears are gone.
I thought it was weird I was given HCG first, and not test. I'm confident I am getting/going to get what I need though to fix the symptoms.
But regardless, I'm taking .3mL twice a week. I have not been given the test just yet (appointment is thursday), but if memory serves me right... I'm looking at 50mg twice a week.
My question is, is this approach pretty typical?
Also, if I was to apply myself again in the gym/food, how useful will this sort of treatment be? It sounds like I'm basically going on prescribed AAS.
The treatment schedule isn't cheap either. Am I better off learning what I can from the doc, and then acquiring on my own from the sources here? It sure has been nice to be able to be shown how to pin properly in person, and not feel weird about asking a doc to draw my blood to check my levels.
Advise would be great. Meanwhile... back to searching for answers to questions already asked on the forum...
Thanks.
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@HeroHawk, make sure you keep us posted on your injections. Share your "symptoms" (libido, mood, "energy" levels, etc). Also, let us know a few things about your lifestyle (how much sleep you get, how hard you hit the gym, what kind of general diet you follow). Your experiences can help out other men going through similar situations. I'm rooting for you!
Thanks Zeus! Haven't been injecting for too long just yet. When I started(just a little over a week ago), they started me on a weird day(long story). So my second test injection was late, and my HcG injections were late.
Keeping in mind I have been on HcG for a little over a month, and on my second injection of test, a late one...Can't say I've noticed much just yet. I have noticed a better mood, and I'm generally more rested. Additionally, I do wake up at night occasionally with some sweats.... however I'm trying to temper my expectations for another week or two.
Various experiences say to just hang in there with test for a few weeks. 2 weeks is pretty early for noticing effects.
Thanks for the notes guys. I feel a lot more equipped and educated now with your advise, and my research. Appreciated!
Started Test today. 50mg weekly. Probably a little on the conservative side, but I'm happy to follow the docs advice for now as I learn. Will likely remove the doc, and self manage down the line.
You're welcome. Starting with 50mg weekly + HCG is savvy enough. A "conservative" approach is a standard 200mg EOW protocol which I wouldn't recommend to a anyone.
Mpots7I'd say they have you hcg first if you said you were planning on having kids or another scenario he was seeing if it could kick start you let testes to start working harder again. As for trt I was doing 100mg every week. The doctor first said 200mg every two weeks and I said well hey wait a second that's gonna fuck my body up and make me crash until the next injection. Getting pharm grade gear is always best you know it's safe and is the mg per ml listed. Goodrx is good to look up if you have to pay outta pocket. Now for looking for a reliable source that has legit hear that is something I've been attempting as well. Hope this helped a bit
The usefulness will be you'll have a better sense of well being you'll feel stronger. Look better. Possibly sport more wood, just as long as you eat healthy, workout, maybe do some cardio. The benefits you'll gain are great. While the negatives are you'll be on male birth control essentially , and your balls can and will shrink unless you take a test booster, clomid, ai, etc...
Learn from the doc on how to inject properly, stay in contact get your blood levels checked and if you feel comfortable going your own way with things. You have the knowledge and the doctor with the tests to see if the gear is legit. What they prescribe isn't nearly enough for some people though. Everyone's different they just use a baseline approach on dosages unless you go to an endo. Who specializes in hormones.
HCG isn't usually prescribed until fertility is desired. Your doc is thoughtful about it IMHO. I lost half of my balls volume over TRT. HCG might help prevent atrophy once T is introduced.
AAS aren't a "shortcut". In my opinion, this is a faulty mindset, ultimately leading to failure. They require plenty of proper research and planning. That applies to diet and exercise too. Anyway, If you (and your doc) manage to forge a sound TRT protocol, its benefits will apply to the gym too!
Also remember, it is never "weird" to ask docs about your health. Never let them unilaterally decide about your life. Always do your "homework" - research, ask, be hungry for knowledge. Always have a confrontational approach.
Hopefully, TRT will help getting rid of that residual shyness and increase confidence...
Fertility was talked about a lot. He did explain that he was concerned TRT would permanently remove ability to have kids. But that conflicts with a lot of what I read here. After I dug into the Dr a bit, blood tests later, it was HCG first, with this thursday adding test.
Should I expect to cycle like most on the forum here? Or is TRT an always on type of deal?
If I'm always on, is this why the doc says I'll loose fertility? I've read that when your off cycle, you 'get your balls back'. I believe the HCG is supposed to keep that intact while on test.
TRT is usually for life, no point cycling it. HCG cycles on the other hand are a common adjunction for mainatining testicle size and thus fertility. You won't be loosing fertility forever anyway. It's a temporary shutdown, but if it goes on indefinitely (years!), atrophy can be permanent to some extent.
Sorry, forgot to mention my other question. Any thoughts on how being an amputee would affect treatment?
140lbs full body is different I would think when the mass is smaller. Mass vs. weight and all...
Mpots7The dose is going to be the same 200 mgs of test minus the ester weight is what you'll get. And what I would get too. Weight doesn't play a role in the dose. If I'm not mistaken only a tolerance to the drug is the factor.
Thanks for the direct comment on that one. Been a thought I had been concerned with, doctor dismissed this quickly as well. I didn't engage enough to get the full answer.
Mpots7Yea I hear you it's hard to think of all the questions in a short doctors visit I would usually end up emailing my doctor my questions and of course it was never really him responding just one of his understudies. Regardless usually trt is a for life type of deal unless you do in fact try to restart your own natural test. By hcg, clomid, nolva like I said above. If you were on for a long time hcg in high doses is the best option. Then after that. Aromitose inhibitors, anti estrogens. Natural test boosters. Anything to get your body rolling again. But I think after 6 weeks of trt your body is like close to being sterile. I also don't really agree with the concept of hcg while still on test. Why would one take something to start their natural test back up if they were still taking exogenous test that shuts them down. It's like tug of war.. But it won't pull the rope in either direction. Just my thoughts. Everyone has their own minds and ability to experiment. Not every person is the same either
Because it's place in TRT it's not to restart natural test but to avoid testes shrinkage.. big difference.
Also forgot: testicular atrophy might increase risk to develop cancer. My andrologist suggested to have them checked once a year...