How long does it take for hcg to work or for one to notice it's effects?

[anyman]

Curious- After being diagnosed as suffering from secondary hypogonadism, I've been on 500iu 3x/week of hcg now for all of a week and a half and have noticed pretty much nothing.

Intellectually, I realize that it may take quite some time to see or feel any changes, but I was kinda hoping for at least something. Still tired and dragging much of the time and constantly PO'd at the world. Not noticing any changes down below the belt, either. Not fun......

I am interested to hear how others have made out and what their experiences are or were. Perhaps since I've been suffering from Low T for well over a year the Leydig cells, etc need time to regenerate and spool up, so to speak. Maybe hcg's effectiveness takes weeks or months to notice. I just don't know and welcome input and comments.

 

[spinn]

purely a guess but I would say it took about a month for me to notice effects

 

[DAdams91982]

Pretty instant for most. Give it another week. Have yours nutz increased in size at all??

Adams

 

[bioman3131]

I started with 250IU twice a week two months ago and noticed pretty much nothing. dr. John increased my dosage to 350IU twice a week about three weeks ago and now I am finally feeling like it's doing something. My mood at times is greatly improved and my testicle size is gradually comming back to normal. I am sure I was shut down due to my TRT so I imagine it will take some time.

 

[anyman]

No change in size that I can see.....

Pretty instant for most. Give it another week. Have yours nutz increased in size at all??

Adams

Weird- no changes at all, at least not yet. My theory is that if they have in fact not been asked to do much for the last year or more then they may need time to get up to speed. If the Leydig cells have been asleep or loafing for awhile maybe they too need time to get up to speed.

As I have no indicia of being primary (low FSH, low LH and normal sized testes) I am urgently hoping I start to see something in a month or so.

 

[anyman]

Thanks-- How did you make out after you started to notice anything?

purely a guess but I would say it took about a month for me to notice effects

Was hcg enough to get you feeling better? Was it a gradual improvement or a sudden change?

I am at times tired of all the effort expended thus far on a bodily function that should simply work. I just want to feel and be more normal. Gets frustrating at times, especially since many in my social circle are decent athletes. This isn't the kind of affliction that one brings up, unfortunately.

 

[bioman3131]

Once I started the 350IU twice a week it was very sudden. During the second week one day after my second injection I honestly felt better mood wise than I have in forever. That type of feeling has kind of normalized but I do feel a lot better. Are you running any test with the HCG? I am on 150mg/ml per week. If you are only on HCg and relying on it to raise your test levels I honestly don't know how long it will take to feel better. My levels dropped to 123 when the Testim stopped working and it took a good ten weeks on injections of test cyp. for me to feel like I was approaching normal. For me how I felt when my test levels got back to normal and how I felt when started the HCG was different. The HCG jsut seems to give me a improved sense of well being while with the injections I didn't feel exhausted all the time, regained my endurance and libido. It takes time though, in the begining I was all over the place, great one day terrible the next and then good again. You just have to be patient and persistant to get things right again. Just hang in there, it will happen it just takes some time.

 

[JanSz]

Once I started the 350IU twice a week it was very sudden. During the second week one day after my second injection I honestly felt better mood wise than I have in forever. That type of feeling has kind of normalized but I do feel a lot better. Are you running any test with the HCG? I am on 150mg/ml per week. If you are only on HCg and relying on it to raise your test levels I honestly don't know how long it will take to feel better. My levels dropped to 123 when the Testim stopped working and it took a good ten weeks on injections of test cyp. for me to feel like I was approaching normal. For me how I felt when my test levels got back to normal and how I felt when started the HCG was different. The HCG jsut seems to give me a improved sense of well being while with the injections I didn't feel exhausted all the time, regained my endurance and libido. It takes time though, in the begining I was all over the place, great one day terrible the next and then good again. You just have to be patient and persistant to get things right again. Just hang in there, it will happen it just takes some time.

Why Testim stopped working?
Have you developed thyroid problems that you have not had before?

How are you taking your 150mg/week test cyp.
Once a week or more often?

What type of shots are you doing, IM or SubQ

What is your

SHBG
TotalTest

on that dose.

 

[anyman]

All I am taking so far is the hcg. The Dr is trying that first (more)

Once I started the 350IU twice a week it was very sudden. During the second week one day after my second injection I honestly felt better mood wise than I have in forever. That type of feeling has kind of normalized but I do feel a lot better. Are you running any test with the HCG? I am on 150mg/ml per week. If you are only on HCg and relying on it to raise your test levels I honestly don't know how long it will take to feel better.

So far all I'm doing is the hcg, albeit 3x/week and, I think, at 500iu. Intellectually, I know that this may take awhile to generate results, especially since my stated goat is to see how much of the HPTA can be restarted, with TRT as a last resort. Emotionally, however, I remain somewhat illogical and simply want to feel like other normal guys w/o all this BS. I've grown tired of being tired and PO'd 24/7.

 

[JanSz]

So far all I'm doing is the hcg, albeit 3x/week and, I think, at 500iu. Intellectually, I know that this may take awhile to generate results, especially since my stated goat is to see how much of the HPTA can be restarted, with TRT as a last resort. Emotionally, however, I remain somewhat illogical and simply want to feel like other normal guys w/o all this BS. I've grown tired of being tired and PO'd 24/7.

I am67yo and (I think) my testis are not producing T.
I am on E3D schedule and I do my 500iu HCG shots on the same day as my T shots. I can feel difference in consistency/hardness of my testicles on any given day. Most firm on second day. I think E3D schedule is not frequent enough for working testis. It places them on roller-coaster, unnecessary stress that they see often.
That implies my opinion on weekly, E7D, T+hcg schedule where HCG is injected on day 6&7. E3D schedule with HCG on day 2&3 should better.

You are doing 500iu 3x/week, 1500iu/week
with a goal of, possibly, using HCG as a sole TRT.
I suggest you consider changing to daily shots, same total weekly dose.
1500/7=214

Most likey 250iu possibly higher up to may be 500iu/shot would work better.

IIRC, there is a study that shows that 250iu/day induces less than 100% T production (high 90%) that is why I an suggesting dose higher than 250iu.

It would help if you could get some psychological counseling possibly wrom the same doctor that you already respect.
Basically, be happy that there is technology that can help you. Do not give rat's behind that you are forced to use it.
----------------------------------------------------------

My hcg, Novarel comes as 10000iu and on the box it says that after reconstitution is good for 30 days.

10000/30=333

Daily dose of 333iu would use all Novarel within its guaranteed quality period.

 

[anyman]

It would help if you could get some psychological counseling possibly wrom the same doctor that you already respect.
Basically, be happy that there is technology that can help you. Do not give rat's behind that you are forced to use it.
----------------------------------------------------------

My hcg, Novarel comes as 10000iu and on the box it says that after reconstitution is good for 30 days.

10000/30=333

Daily dose of 333iu would use all Novarel within its guaranteed quality period.

Thank you, JanSz, for your comments. As you may recall, I am seeing Dr. Shippen. As much as I might be tempted to try different things, I'll follow his plan and see what he suggests when I speak to him again in early September. He is obviously trying something and I owe it to him to see it through, even if in the interim I remain exceedingly irritated and at times depressed. He has ordered a neurotransmitter work up to discuss during our next visit. It will be interesting to see where that goes. I suspect there is something amiss in these levels as well. I shouldn't wake up ready to kill myself or others for no damned reason. Not fair to my kids or my wife, which is why I am seeking help. I suspect a chemical imbalance as I have no other factors that would explain these feelings. My marriage/kids are good, career fine and by most standards we are doing well economically. In short, there is no logical reason to feel this way that I can see.

I welcome and appreciate comments and suggestions like yours. They help me to see things in a different light, give alternate perspectives and areas to explore both with Dr. Shippen and general research.

 

[JanSz]

Thank you, JanSz, for your comments. As you may recall, I am seeing Dr. Shippen. As much as I might be tempted to try different things, I'll follow his plan and see what he suggests when I speak to him again in early September. He is obviously trying something and I owe it to him to see it through, even if in the interim I remain exceedingly irritated and at times depressed. He has ordered a neurotransmitter work up to discuss during our next visit. It will be interesting to see where that goes. I suspect there is something amiss in these levels as well. I shouldn't wake up ready to kill myself or others for no damned reason. Not fair to my kids or my wife, which is why I am seeking help. I suspect a chemical imbalance as I have no other factors that would explain these feelings. My marriage/kids are good, career fine and by most standards we are doing well economically. In short, there is no logical reason to feel this way that I can see.

I welcome and appreciate comments and suggestions like yours. They help me to see things in a different light, give alternate perspectives and areas to explore both with Dr. Shippen and general research.

Rather similar here.

It took about a year on higher levels of Testosterone to bring back my psychological balance.
With you in this state I would try to get FreeT levels to over 160 but closer to 250 ASAP.

No need to prolong suffering.

And get over with your misgivings about being "for life" on any medication.

Specially if with out it you may try to kill youself.
(BTW, I know exactly what you mean).

 

[anyman]

I can't tell if the "black" feeling is better or worse on the hcg--But-- (m)

Rather similar here.

It took about a year on higher levels of Testosterone to bring back my psychological balance.
With you in this state I would try to get FreeT levels to over 160 but closer to 250 ASAP.

No need to prolong suffering.

And get over with your misgivings about being "for life" on any medication.

Specially if with out it you may try to kill youself.
(BTW, I know exactly what you mean).

I have to give Dr. Shippen's plan time to work. He knows far, far more than I do, so I'll stay on track. After all, it's only been 1 1/2 weeks on hcg! I may well end up on on TRT. If I do then so be it. I hope you can understand my need to see what can be done before going down that road. Once on it, there is no turning back. I next speak to him on 9/5. Gonna be a loooong 5 weeks..... I'm not due for blood work till 8/10 or so and may not see the results till 8/17-20 or so. I am VERY curious as to the results of the neurotransmitter tests I just mailed out. Might explain quite a bit. I am not expert, but out of whack levels of dopamine, serotonin and the like would explain much.

While I feel fatigued and have a semi-permanent black cloud over my head I am not suicidal and abhor the concept. There are days I wouldn't care if I woke up, but cannot even begin to contemplate doing anything. My way of dealing with it for now is to post here and see what others have experienced and how they dealt with it. I doubt I am the only one to walk this path.

 

[bioman3131]

I can most defiantly identify. The last five month for me have been terrible, though now I am finally getting better. Feeling that way and having the symptoms of low Testosterone just plain sucks. It does get better though, a lot better unfortunately it just takes time. To answer JanSz question. I don’t have any idea why the Testim stopped working. I stayed in the upper 300’s on one tube a day and then spiked up to 750 when my endo increased my dosage to a tube and a half. Then two month later the bottom fell out and my levels went to 123. I don’t have a clue what happened. I am under Dr. John’s care now and my last labs were all fine. He is getting me back on track and thanks to him I actually I feel like I am doing better than I ever have with this.

 

[anyman]

It is possible that your crash was caused by your body's cessation of natural prod-

I can most defiantly identify. The last five month for me have been terrible, though now I am finally getting better. Feeling that way and having the symptoms of low Testosterone just plain sucks. It does get better though, a lot better unfortunately it just takes time. To answer JanSz question. I don’t have any idea why the Testim stopped working. I stayed in the upper 300’s on one tube a day and then spiked up to 750 when my endo increased my dosage to a tube and a half. Then two month later the bottom fell out and my levels went to 123. I don’t have a clue what happened. I am under Dr. John’s care now and my last labs were all fine. He is getting me back on track and thanks to him I actually I feel like I am doing better than I ever have with this.

uction. How long were you on Testim before the dose was increased? My guess is that your testes were still functioning until the increase and then WHAM--just shut down. If you were still on Testim, then why it stayed low is a mystery.

The "dark cloud" and now nearly constant extreme irritation/frustration is far and away the worst symptom, although I think blood sugar might play a factor even though my eating has been even more healthy as of late. I can deal with on/off erectile issues, having to work harder at the gym, etc and the like. The desire to close my eyes and sleep away life, however, is far harder and not fair to my kids, who are wonderful, cheerful and happy and just want a Dad. From the outside few would realize what I feel, as I end up faking it pretty much 24/7. I'd really like to feel happy and not fake it.

Intellectually, I know that 1 1/2 wks on hcg isn't much, but my illogical side keeps hoping for a miracle. Maybe in time....

 

[JanSz]

I can most defiantly identify. The last five month for me have been terrible, though now I am finally getting better. Feeling that way and having the symptoms of low Testosterone just plain sucks. It does get better though, a lot better unfortunately it just takes time. To answer JanSz question. I don’t have any idea why the Testim stopped working. I stayed in the upper 300’s on one tube a day and then spiked up to 750 when my endo increased my dosage to a tube and a half. Then two month later the bottom fell out and my levels went to 123. I don’t have a clue what happened. I am under Dr. John’s care now and my last labs were all fine. He is getting me back on track and thanks to him I actually I feel like I am doing better than I ever have with this.

One reason I do shots now.
Really, I do not care for the reason, I want make sure I have my testosterone inside me.

 

[JanSz]

I have to give Dr. Shippen's plan time to work. He knows far, far more than I do, so I'll stay on track. After all, it's only been 1 1/2 weeks on hcg! I may well end up on on TRT. If I do then so be it. I hope you can understand my need to see what can be done before going down that road. Once on it, there is no turning back. I next speak to him on 9/5. Gonna be a loooong 5 weeks..... I'm not due for blood work till 8/10 or so and may not see the results till 8/17-20 or so. I am VERY curious as to the results of the neurotransmitter tests I just mailed out. Might explain quite a bit. I am not expert, but out of whack levels of dopamine, serotonin and the like would explain much.
While I feel fatigued and have a semi-permanent black cloud over my head I am not suicidal and abhor the concept. There are days I wouldn't care if I woke up, but cannot even begin to contemplate doing anything. My way of dealing with it for now is to post here and see what others have experienced and how they dealt with it. I doubt I am the only one to walk this path.

If you have a time describe your experience with neurotransmitters, as it unfolds.

What tested, why, how, when, where, how to read results, how to react to results, etc. The usual precise descriptions that can be helpful to others.