Self-manage HRT / Blast-Cruises?

[MaxxReps]

Hey Friends,

First, sorry for the long post but feel like I want to talk about my issues and get everything out in the open as I can't really do it in real life. Also looking for help and guidance from this awesome community.

Frirst, my stats. I'm 45: currently 200lb 14%bf. Been training hard for 4 years. Started @ 165 15% bf got to 185 7.5%bf which was amazing considering I was diagnosed with very low test last year. I don't have the numbers in front of me but they were well below the low range of normal for my age. Zero libodo, moderate to severe ED (i.e. zero chance of sex w/out Viagra) which didn't matter that much because to be really honest I didn't even care. Not to stroke my own ego but have been called the hardest working dude in the gym on several occasions. I was very proud of what I accomplished in the gym starting so late in life and with low T to boot.

As for the other effects of low-t. I am divorced as of 6 years now. I had a gf for 6 months who was cute, sweet, and crazy about me and we never had sex. I have been cranky, low confidence, not interested in anything - and depressed. Not the type of depression where I want to commit suicide or anything but basically just not interested in anything anymore that I used to be. I didn't feel like doing anything but being by myself.

Fast forward to last year I had a cancer scare which turned out to be false thank goodness but during it I got really depressed. I worked so hard on my health I felt sorry for myself for a bit wondering why I bother, etc. Started smoking weed again diet fell by the wayside gained some weight - got to about 215 @ 19% before shaking out of it and deciding to get serious again. Got back to 185 @ 12% but still hit that wall in the gym. If I got creative I could increase my lifts by 5 lbs every once in a while. I think I am not near my genetic limit but hit my hormonal one.

Anyway, doc is somewhat open to TRT but due to a couple of factors I don't want to do it that way - first of all its very expensive and my insurance won't pay.

I've never taken steroids before and didn't really want to but have met several people my age who after getting to know them and they all say the same thing how it has revitalized them - both in and out of the gym I decided to give it a shot. I'm currently running 500mg/wk of test cyp and am just on my 5th week but oh my god. I have to admit the fun has come back to working out but that is just the icing on the cake. I have morning wood for the first time in YEARS. I am flirting with all the girls around me and my confidence is through the roof. I have to be careful when talking to girls at the gym because of spontaneous erections.

I really don't want to go back.

I am thinking of doing this for 12 weeks, then going back to a lower dose for a while - thinking 200mg/week. I know thats above HRT dosage but its what I am going to try. I am pretty well connected and have no problem getting gear or ancillaries and have given this an awful lot of thought but am planning on staying on. If I completely screw myself up (or my financial/insurance situation changes significantly) I'll go to my doc and admit what I was doing and try to get on HRT - but really want to do it myself.

Am I being stupid? Can a guy manage his own cruising hormonal situation with the occasional blast for fun? With the help of private blood tests, and communities such as this one?

Thanks for listening, all .

 

[northernknight]

First of Welcome to EF, Brother!

Good post, it's great that people take advange of this community in so various ways, here you are always free to speak your mind, and will find responses,and support from other like minded individuals.

Short answer to your question is yes, in my opinion. If you really can get everything you need by yourself, and will do regular blood tests, I really see no problem with it. Some members here know a lot more about endocrinology, then most doctors do anyway. Also if you need help with your blood test results people here can help with them. I'm not smart or experienced enough to read others results (at least not yet,lol!), but moderator stevesmi (really smart guy, we are very lucky to have him here) reads regulary members blood results, and I'm sure he will help you out with them, if you want.

I'm sure others will chime in here too, but this how I see this. I know from pesonal experience what a life saving effect TRT can have, I have been on it for about three yers now, even though I'm relatively yang to be in it. Still I would never quit it now, it really helped me to turn my life around in many different ways. But I have posted about my own TRT experiences already a few times, so I won't go over it again here.

 

[icedemon]

I agree with everything northernknight said. As long as your getting blood tests every now and then to make sure your with in range, watch your estrogen levels, you can do it yourself pretty easily. For me 200mg/weekly is my normal HRT dosage. You'll be able to keep your gains more easily when while your on your cruise to. Also, if you get a full panel blood test, you can check to make sure your good on other things.

I've actually thought about skipping the doctor and just doing it myself. The only reason I'm keeping with my doc is I know for sure I'm getting pharmacy grade testosterone.

 

[MaxxReps]

Thanks for the kind words and good advice. I should have also mentioned that I have children who are a big part of my life and have had a vasectomy so am already shooting blanks.

I'm sure to lean on you guys for help as I get deeper into this and hope I can do the same for someone else.

 

[surfx]

I think the majority of people here do it on their own. seems more convenient this way