Want to Switch to Safest Testosterone

[jklunder]

Hi Everyone,I am 28 years old and was prescribed testosterone because my TT was 340. (5g Androgel 1%, equivalent to about 5 mg of testosterone a day).However, I worry that this isn't the safest thing to do. (I've heard Anavar, etc. are safer). Can you guys recommend the healthiest way to do non-cycle, long-term therapy. (i.e. 5 mg of Oxandrolone a day).Thanks

 

[AnabolicHolic]

Hi Everyone,I am 28 years old and was prescribed testosterone because my TT was 340. (5g Androgel 1%, equivalent to about 5 mg of testosterone a day).However, I worry that this isn't the safest thing to do. (I've heard Anavar, etc. are safer). Can you guys recommend the healthiest way to do non-cycle, long-term therapy. (i.e. 5 mg of Oxandrolone a day).Thanks

All that stuff will whack your liver and cause various other problems over the years at an effective dose. Topical or injectible test is best and safest for long term use

 

[jklunder]

1. Okay, so Androgel 5g at 1% is okay for this long-term use?2. Do I need to worry about anything, such as aromatization, DHT conversion, etc.?3. Is there anything else I should be doing? (Heart Support, etc.).Thanks

 

[AnabolicHolic]

I take one erase per day and a good saw palmetto extract for estrogen and prostate issues. You are young though...i would exhaust all avenues before starting trt . This advice is for if you decide to move forward . Im on 10g right now...5g seems to only be good enough to get back to your pre trt test level in my experience or a little above.

 

[PaulBlack]

Has your doctor given you any insights as to how long and or if this could be a temporary state?, as you are only 28. Or maybe I should say, do not be afraid to ask him absolutely everything that is on your mind. You are paying him remember, and he is working for you, so you get to ask him anything that concerns you or your health.
I know a young guy mid to late 30's I believe, that only had to be on some maintenance dosages for a bit, but his natural levels began to rebound and he was cleared off them.
There can be options, so don't look at it like a necessarily bad thing.

 

[jklunder]

Thanks guys.

1. So, in summary, my Androgel (5g, 5% solution = 5mg a day) is the safest for me to take for a long period of time?

2. Do you guys have research I can read?

(I love to read the research and know my stuff).

3. I know you said there were other supplements; would it be wise to invest in any of them? (Like heart support, estrogen blockers, etc.).

Thanks

 

[AnabolicHolic]

Thanks guys.

1. So, in summary, my Androgel (5g, 5% solution = 5mg a day) is the safest for me to take for a long period of time?

2. Do you guys have research I can read?

(I love to read the research and know my stuff).

3. I know you said there were other supplements; would it be wise to invest in any of them? (Like heart support, estrogen blockers, etc.).

Thanks

read the androgel literature insert, its a huge double sided foldout that will answer any and all of your questions. Do not believe the numbers on the charts for 5G and 10G and the levels they propose you will attain, yours will most likely be hundred or more less than what they list on the charts, everybody absorbs this stuff different and therefore get different #'s. But those charts exaggerate the test levels big time. Other than that the insert explains where to apply, side effects, etc. Get started first, then assess if you need estrogen control or if your prostate swells etc...then we can advise you what to take to alleviate any sides and/or offer further assistance that the insert did not cover. heart health should be a no brainer though, trt or not!

 

[jklunder]

Okay. So, what should I be doing with my TRT?

1. Eating a low-fat, heart healthy diet?
(i.e. predominantly vegetarian, less red meat and sweets).

2. What should I do about estrogen conversion and shutting down my body's own production?

 

[AnabolicHolic]

Okay. So, what should I be doing with my TRT?

1. Eating a low-fat, heart healthy diet?
(i.e. predominantly vegetarian, less red meat and sweets).

2. What should I do about estrogen conversion and shutting down my body's own production?

I believe we've been over the estrogen question before....numerous times....there is no way to forecast if, why, when etc. your estrogen will spike, IF and WHEN it happens you address it then. There is no "cookie cutter" "cycle with ancillaries" set-up for trt. You just start it, then get blood tests every so often, go by feel and what you see in the mirror, and adjust ancillaries accordingly to alleviate any sides/rises in estrogen. Again you will not be taking anything for anything other than the test gel, and for that matter? you need to get to a level that is where you want it to be (700, 800, whatever) before you even begin to think estrogen control or DHT control or any controls. This will take several months at 5g then 7.5g then 10g (unless your doctor will allow you to skip up to 10g from 5g which mine agreed too.)
as far as shutting down your own testosterone? that is the whole idea here, not sure why you are concerned with that? if that concerns you, then trt is not for you. trt supplies a source of exogenous test into your system, and shuts you down to essentially zero endogenous test production. If you don't want to shut yourself down long term, then do as many in here would suggest and try clomid or troubleshoot all the other possibilities for your low test result.
The diet? I am a macro guy personally....I set my macros up, 250 grams protein, 250 grams of carbs and 90 grams of fat (just random #'s here) and I eat whatever I want in order to get to my macros/calorie amount I am looking for. The higher quality the protein and fats the better your results will be of course...carbs? I think they are just fuel and who cares what kind of carbs you take in. But again, diet is up to you...good fats are more desirable than trans-fats obviously. There is no specific diet that complements trt, same as with cycles. It varies person to person, and varies as to what your goals are (cutting, recomp, bulk, maintenance....). trt is just going to get your test levels to where they should be if your endocrine system was functioning optimally and producing high test #'s (as in not 200 or 300 or 400, but 600's to 1000 range), its not like you are taking in supra physiological amounts of test here that require major alterations in your diet.

 

[jklunder]

Thanks for the info.

My fear of shutting down my endogenous production is that my testicles will atrophy, I will not be able to have children, and that I won't be able to boost it up to my normal level again if I need to. Are these fears well founded? (I just don't want to ruin my health over this stuff)

 

[AnabolicHolic]

Thanks for the info.

My fear of shutting down my endogenous production is that my testicles will atrophy, I will not be able to have children, and that I won't be able to boost it up to my normal level again if I need to. Are these fears well founded? (I just don't want to ruin my health over this stuff)

your age + My fear of shutting down my endogenous production is that my testicles will atrophy, I will not be able to have children, and that I won't be able to boost it up to my normal level again if I need to.+ lack of essential basic knowledge = not a candidate for trt at this time. Don't shut yourself down if you intend on having children and/or a normal natural test level again. Its hard enough to raise your test level when its low for *whatever unknown reason*, nevermind the nightmare after you shut yourself down for a few years and decide to restart. But it won't ruin your health, as I said this is just elevating to normal levels of test....that will not adversely affect your health. It should have the opposite effect of increased fat loss which would be a positive health indicator.

 

[jklunder]

So, then, what do you suggest I do in this situation?

1. Call the doctor who prescribed me and ask if I should stop or not?

2. Get another doctor, such as an endocrinologist or urologist?

3. Do nothing, and keep with the course?

Thanks

 

[AnabolicHolic]

So, then, what do you suggest I do in this situation?

1. Call the doctor who prescribed me and ask if I should stop or not?

2. Get another doctor, such as an endocrinologist or urologist?

3. Do nothing, and keep with the course?

Thanks

So you've already begun? If so, a few days or even weeks is not a huge deal, you can always just stop and it shouldn't have any dramatic affect on your test level. Most likely you would just return to whatever level you were at before starting the gel. Then yes I would get a referral to an endo (or somebody local to you who has experience and good reviews/reputation in dealing with low test levels), and hopefully the endo will explore other avenues to see about getting your endogenous test levels returned to mid-high normal range. You really should exhaust all options before giving up and getting on trt. It is hard to find anybody who knows WTF they are doing in this regard, I always dictate to my GP what I need and why and he usually goes along with my suggestion since I actually am more informed on this stuff than he is...and his office refuses to refer you anywhere for trt since they want to prescribe you the gel/cream/injections and get the office visits so they can charge your insurance. But yes, I'd suggest finding someone local who can assist you and forgo the androgel for now. You can always continue to fill the script while you sort out your situation with the endo, and have it ready to go if you decide to go the trt route. You never did anything to cause this problem? like taking OTC "supplements"/pro-hormones? or doing steroid cycles? or did this just happen randomly?

 

[jklunder]

1. I have done pro-hormones, about 8 years ago. But, I never did them for more than a month at a time. (And did some sporadic afterwrds).

However, I did plenty of 6-oxo, tribulus, or other ways to get things up.

2. I just got out of the military and have no insurance. However, I'm about to move to a job in the Middle East, where I get free insurance.

It sounds like I should talk to a doctor immediately, since I've only been on it for a few days now.

 

[AnabolicHolic]

1. I have done pro-hormones, about 8 years ago. But, I never did them for more than a month at a time. (And did some sporadic afterwrds).

However, I did plenty of 6-oxo, tribulus, or other ways to get things up.

2. I just got out of the military and have no insurance. However, I'm about to move to a job in the Middle East, where I get free insurance.

It sounds like I should talk to a doctor immediately, since I've only been on it for a few days now.

You'd be surprised, some OTC supplements used to have SD in them which will shut you down pretty hard and probably requires a clomid PCT rather than OTC stuff like you mentioned. So some of this OTC stuff will shut you down, might be that...or might be something else like a pre-existing condition, or some sort of deficiency, or God knows what. I would hold off on the androgel for now, just stock up on it if you want (unless you are paying out of pocket for it, in that case throw the Rx in the trash...its like $400-$800 a month depending on dosage), then see a specialist immediately upon getting insurance coverage again. I'd suggest PMing matrix about a doctor in your area, but I'm not sure if he networks over in the middle east! You might have to see several endos before finding one who will help you find the cause of your issue, and the solution for raising your natural test levels to where you want. I hesitated with trt at 40, at 28 I would not even consider it unless I had some sort of hypogonadism issue and my hand was forced.

 

[jklunder]

Thanks.

1. What's the "SD" you're referring to that shuts me down?

2. To me, the 340 just seems too low. I mean that's 2-3rd percentile for my age. That's way to low and probably explains why I've had so much trouble gaining muscle or losing fat for my age.

3. I've been doing the test for about five days now. Can I just stop, without any other stuff, and not have issues?

 

[AnabolicHolic]

Thanks.

1. What's the "SD" you're referring to that shuts me down?

2. To me, the 340 just seems too low. I mean that's 2-3rd percentile for my age. That's way to low and probably explains why I've had so much trouble gaining muscle or losing fat for my age.

3. I've been doing the test for about five days now. Can I just stop, without any other stuff, and not have issues?

I agree, I'd be super pissed if I was at 340 at 28. I was at 300 myself (but 12 years older) and I knew it, because it was a bitch to drop fat or build muscle. Now I'm at ~700 and its like night and day with regards to the fat loss especially. BUT at 28 I'd exhaust all options for a solution before jumping trt. SD is and abbreviation for Superdrol and all its "clones"....its an actual steroid that was marketed as a "PH/Designer" for quite some time. They banned it not long ago, and there was a flurry of people buying the last stock up before it was official. You can do a search on here for SD or methasteron, and methyldrostanolone (M-drol, M-stane etc) and read up on it. 5 days is no problem to just stop, your test is already low to begin with, and a few days of such a minimal amount of test will be inconsequential. But yeah, stop now....get a 2nd (or more) opinion from somebody who specializes in this field before you jump on trt, its essentially a life-long commitment and you will be dependent on the test from here on out.

 

[eericksen]

Simple answer...no joke either....unless your not telling us the whole scope. You have probably the best support anyone can have.....your doctor who can test and react to your levels. I'm assuming your going to a specialized endocrinologist right?

 

[jklunder]

No, I was just going to a military doctor who looked at my TT levels and was on the fence. He thought it might be good for me to get it up, since I was feeling run down.

1. Who else tells me I should stop now, at the five day mark?

2. How long can I do this small amount of androgel, without shutting down my own body's production?
(Scientific research would be appreciated).

3. What natural stuff can I do to raise my level of testostorone, should I stop taking it?

(Alternative medicine doctors from Southern California will propose all sorts of stuff, look at delgadoprotocol to see; but, who knows the real answers).

Thanks

 

[kisaj]

If you have only been on that short of a time, don't even sweat it. I would just stop now and go see a specialist. If they decide you do need to be on something, likely they will try to kick start you on Clomid. That seems to be the standard based on the endos I've visited and talked to.