HRT or not. Please help.

[psixcr]

Coming of years of long distance running, seriously over training and under eating, I went to see the doc (had lost a lot of weight the upcoming months and was feeling like shit). I had no muscle and very little BF and my free T3 levels as well as testosterone were very low (test at like 50 ng/l or 1,7 nmol/dl). Both me and my doc suspected this might be due to overtraining and very low BF since my pituitary gland looked fine on MRI. Anyway he still started me on testogel (50mg/d) as well as synthroid (100mg/d now).

This was like 4 months ago and I have since gained about 40 lbs with suprisingly much muscle (smart training and a good diet, also some muscle memory as I have been a lot beefier before I started running). Strength levels are way up, but I am still not feeling at a 100% and the gel is a hassle. My testosterone level had risen to about 450ng/l one month into treatment (morning sample before applying gel) along with lower than normal SHBG and doc thought that was great.

I will see my doc again in about 2 months and my question is what you would do if you were me. I can get injections instead of the gel, but only Nebido (undecanoate ester) which will be given every 12 weeks (does anyone have tried both the gel and undeconate?) So would you:

1) Go with the injections (guess this means for life, and with blood tests every 12w or so, other cycles would probably be out of the question).

2) Try to get HCG or some other PCT either from him or other sources and see if I can get normal testosterone production now that I have stopped running and am eating properly? This way I could do my own cycles later on without having to worry about blood tests. I guess that I could get him to do a LH-stimulation test, but that wouldn't rule out hypopituitarism. However, I have done a TRH stimulation test and the pituitary gland produced TSH as it should.

3) Other suggestions?

My goal is to add a descent amount of muscle (more than the average gym Joe), and I am currently not planning on doing higher dosed steroids for now as I am far from my genetic potential. But I might do them in the future depending on how far I can get naturally. I am very serious with my training and diet and want to make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot this early in my career (I am only 23). Please help me out!

Also, if stopping the testogel... how long before my endogenous production starts? (without PCT and given that my body actually produces testosterone normally)

Thanks.

 

[Nelson Montana]

It's your first post dude. Sounds like you're looking for an in-depth consultation. Can you simplify the question (s)?

 

[psixcr]

Sorry.

Ok, I am currently on testogel (50mg/d), but I might not need it since my low test levels probably was due to being under nourished and over trained (competitive running). I have quitted that shit and am now into bodybuilding.

I think the gel is a hassle, and I can get Nebido (undecanoate ester) instead from my doc. Do you think this is a good idea? (I may want to do real cycles later on which may interfere) or should I stop the testogel before my next appointment and see if I am producing T on my own? Any experiences with Nebido?

Thanks

 

[Kangazoo]

Coming of years of long distance running, seriously over training and under eating, I went to see the doc (had lost a lot of weight the upcoming months and was feeling like shit). I had no muscle and very little BF and my free T3 levels as well as testosterone were very low (test at like 50 ng/l or 1,7 nmol/dl). Both me and my doc suspected this might be due to overtraining and very low BF since my pituitary gland looked fine on MRI. Anyway he still started me on testogel (50mg/d) as well as synthroid (100mg/d now).

This was like 4 months ago and I have since gained about 40 lbs with suprisingly much muscle (smart training and a good diet, also some muscle memory as I have been a lot beefier before I started running). Strength levels are way up, but I am still not feeling at a 100% and the gel is a hassle. My testosterone level had risen to about 450ng/l one month into treatment (morning sample before applying gel) along with lower than normal SHBG and doc thought that was great.

I will see my doc again in about 2 months and my question is what you would do if you were me. I can get injections instead of the gel, but only Nebido (undecanoate ester) which will be given every 12 weeks (does anyone have tried both the gel and undeconate?) So would you:

1) Go with the injections (guess this means for life, and with blood tests every 12w or so, other cycles would probably be out of the question).

2) Try to get HCG or some other PCT either from him or other sources and see if I can get normal testosterone production now that I have stopped running and am eating properly? This way I could do my own cycles later on without having to worry about blood tests. I guess that I could get him to do a LH-stimulation test, but that wouldn't rule out hypopituitarism. However, I have done a TRH stimulation test and the pituitary gland produced TSH as it should.

3) Other suggestions?

My goal is to add a descent amount of muscle (more than the average gym Joe), and I am currently not planning on doing higher dosed steroids for now as I am far from my genetic potential. But I might do them in the future depending on how far I can get naturally. I am very serious with my training and diet and want to make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot this early in my career (I am only 23). Please help me out!

Also, if stopping the testogel... how long before my endogenous production starts? (without PCT and given that my body actually produces testosterone normally)

Thanks.

im in the same boat your in man... IM on androgel now, and the gel works but sucks, id personally rather take the shots. if i have to... as for trying to take HCG and an anti E to raise test levels naturally, i would recommend that first. Im going to my endo next month and hopefully thats what will happen to me, bc if i dont have to be on TRT, im not.

but if you do choose to stay on trt, or if you cant get your natty levels up, im sure you can still do a norm cycle.

 

[psixcr]

Yes I will go with shots if HRT is needed, but I really want to make sure it is before I start.

What would be a proper time to be off the gel to get my hopefully natural production started? I have been om 50mg/d (about 5mg T absorbed I think) for about 4 months now. Will my levels crash bigtime like I had done a cycle of higher testosterone? For what it's worth, nuts seem to be as big or small as before treatment. I an unsure how doctor would react if I mentioned HCG or PCT, I don't think it's such a good idea and I probably would have to do it on my own if I decide to. Recommended? Other suggestions or experiences?

Thanks