Self-Prescribed TRT Cycle

[Fenianbasterd]

Thinking of starting either a TRT cycle or giving HCG/Chlomid a shot to kick-start things. I don't know nearly as much about AAS science as you guys though.

Stats/Backstory

22 year old male
5'10
160lb
9%BF
Training for 7 years

Before I began feeling sick I was 210lb right around 15%BF.

Have been feeling sick for a while so I recently got some blood work done through my primary care, revealed some pretty large abnormalities. One of which is my total and free testosterone being below normal levels for middle aged men.

My primary care referred me to an endocrinologist who ran another round of blood work revealing all of the same abnormalities. Since my test levels are only slightly below what would be considered healthy for an 80 year old man my endocrinologist is balking at prescribing me anything to elevate my testosterone.

I know that I still need to see a Dr. to determine whether low T is the cause of my problems or just a byproduct of a larger problem but, while I look for a new Dr. I don't want to continue to feel like shit and am considering self medicating.

What would you guys recommend I take if I go this route. My test levels are a little under half of what is average for men my age and about 1/3 of what they were 2-3 years ago.

ETA: Not looking to get yoked and add bodybuilder type mass, just get to a healthy sustainable T level.

 

[bigorse]

you lost 50lbs from low t? if this is true i would look deeper into the issue as i believe it may be more than a sinple endocrine issue

 

[Fenianbasterd]

Yea, I don't see raising T levels as a means to an end, I think there's a deeper issue. I'd just like to get a T boost to relieve some of the symptoms.

FWIW the entire 50lb wasn't muscle, but definitely more than enough of it was to cause some concern.

 

[bigorse]

Yea, I don't see raising T levels as a means to an end, I think there's a deeper issue. I'd just like to get a T boost to relieve some of the symptoms.

FWIW the entire 50lb wasn't muscle, but definitely more than enough of it was to cause some concern.

gotcha, i hope this is not the case but i advise against trt as testosterone can speed growth of tumours and make other health issues worse, id get your health cleared first

 

[Fenianbasterd]

Ok, thanks for the info. I didn't know that. I will definitely hold off until I have a clearer picture of what the underlying problem is.

Indicators from blood-work so far show poor renal function, so it may well be a kidney thing. I haven't been able to find much on the relationship between T and kidney function though.

 

[bigorse]

all steroids have very bad affects on kidney, probably kidneys are the hardest affected by steroids due to nitrogen retention. however this is more to do with supraphysiological levels not trt. but id Still advise against it untill you know your underlying problem

 

[EZ_E]

all steroids have very bad affects on kidney, probably kidneys are the hardest affected by steroids due to nitrogen retention. however this is more to do with supraphysiological levels not trt. but id Still advise against it untill you know your underlying problem

+1...TRT isn't a cycle; once you start TRT, that's it, you're on it for good.

Don't make any decisions until the docs tell you what's going on. Hopefully there's an easy fix. No need to jump into the abyss yet.

 

[DocToxin8]

Check prostate antigen/PSA and other markers for cancer.
Whether test (in TRT doses) increases growth of tumors apart from androgen dependent prostate cancer is a possibility, but so is low T.
Cancer risk and development increases with inflammation and compromised immune system.

Study on T supplement for renal disease patients on hemodialysis.
http://annals.org/mobile/article.aspx?articleid=684528

Study on renal impairment and its effects on T, and how supplementing T may alleviate several symptoms. It's unclear whether supplementing T will increase the progression of renal disease however.
http://m.ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/17/3/368.full

So TRT will improve quality of life, but may or may not advance progression of severe renal disease.
I would opt for TRT as long as you keep BP normal. (But I am ofcourse biased)

This is a decision you need to think about, and it also depends on several other factors. Like history of cancer, hypertension, etc.

If you do not already have a normal BP, but have hypertension, I would make it a priority to normalize this to help with renal function. If you can avoid beta blockers and rather make do with ACE inhibitors or Angiotensin-2 antagonists or both to normalize BP that would be best, as beta blockers leads to insulin resistance and a myriad of problems.

Again, something you need to do in concert with a doctor. If your doc won't help, then find another.
Good luck!

(Forgot to say, if you self medicate TRT you can end up with bigger problems, as it depends on your supplier. UG gear will have increased levels of benzyl alcohol and/or benzyl benzoate, both compounds known to be nephrotoxic. You need good clean pharma grade T intended for human use, don't settle for anything less.)

 

[Fenianbasterd]

Thanks for the great replies guys.

There's an awful lot that I didn't and I'm sure still don't know. Good reads Doc, def gives me some things to consider that I hadn't before.

I think that you guys are right in the general consensus that figuring out what to do in accordance with a good doc is the way to go before self-prescribing anything.

 

[EZ_E]

Check prostate antigen/PSA and other markers for cancer.
Whether test (in TRT doses) increases growth of tumors apart from androgen dependent prostate cancer is a possibility, but so is low T.
Cancer risk and development increases with inflammation and compromised immune system.

Study on T supplement for renal disease patients on hemodialysis.
Erythropoiesis and Erythropoietin in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure Treated with Hemodialysis and Testosterone | Annals of Internal Medicine

Study on renal impairment and its effects on T, and how supplementing T may alleviate several symptoms. It's unclear whether supplementing T will increase the progression of renal disease however.
http://m.ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/17/3/368.full

So TRT will improve quality of life, but may or may not advance progression of severe renal disease.
I would opt for TRT as long as you keep BP normal. (But I am ofcourse biased)

This is a decision you need to think about, and it also depends on several other factors. Like history of cancer, hypertension, etc.

If you do not already have a normal BP, but have hypertension, I would make it a priority to normalize this to help with renal function. If you can avoid beta blockers and rather make do with ACE inhibitors or Angiotensin-2 antagonists or both to normalize BP that would be best, as beta blockers leads to insulin resistance and a myriad of problems.

Again, something you need to do in concert with a doctor. If your doc won't help, then find another.
Good luck!

(Forgot to say, if you self medicate TRT you can end up with bigger problems, as it depends on your supplier. UG gear will have increased levels of benzyl alcohol and/or benzyl benzoate, both compounds known to be nephrotoxic. You need good clean pharma grade T intended for human use, don't settle for anything less.)

Tremendous post.......very well said.