Finally figured out why I didn't give a sh.t about anything anymore.....Low T (160 Total, 3 Free).
A relief to know this very well may be the prob. Getting started on TRT.

Would like to hear experiences with TRT if anyone cares to share.

TIA

In my early 30's (I'm 42 now), I was at the tail end of losing 80 pounds before I was due for my annual bloodwork. My T levels were like 200ish. Doc asked if I wanted to be on it. I was lifting, gaining all my strength back from early 20's and thought "why the hell not". Really wasn't seeing any trouble with fatigue or other symptoms.

In the 3 months I was on it, gains galore in the weight room and I started getting tendonitis everywhere (shoulder, pec tendon, left hip, right lower quad tendon, forearms, etc) when I'd never experienced that before. When it got to the point that I could hardly work out my quads at all due to tendonitis in the massive tendon above my knee, I said "eff this" and got off.

I quit lifting again about 2 years later (because laziness) until April this year. I had my annual bloodwork done this year after I'd lost about 15 lbs already, and my T levels were about 250. First time since that I've been below 300. I know it's likely just the consistent caloric deficit and that I'm apparently one of men that doesn't experience too much of the negative effects of having a low normal T level.

I'm consistently being able to up weights on all my lifts even on the caloric deficit (layoff lifting newbie gains), and I don't experience a lot of the classic other low T symptoms.

Part of me considered going back on because it would only help my short-term fitness/physique goals, but the fear of never being able to come off and being honest with myself for the likely reasons for my low levels persuaded me against.

Thanks for sharing. I was kind of like you...tested about 10 years ago at 181 but felt fine so figured maybe get more active and clean up the diet and my own production would go up...but now that I'm 55 and above the weight I should be, I figured the chances of correcting it naturally are prob slim....so decided to give it a shot (pun intended). I feel like at my age with T2D and hypertension the health dangers and quality of life issues of low T are probably greater than the drawbacks of TRT. Seems like I'm seeing a lot of feedback from guys who say they should have done it sooner.

I've been doing it for about 5 months now, in my early 50's and wish I would have done this earlier. Back working out again, have a ton more energy. Good decision for me.

Thanks for the reply. Do you mind if I ask what your dose/frequency is?
They started me at 100mg(0.5ml) every two weeks which seems a little low based on where I'm at and everything I've read. I feel like it should be every week....but I'll go with it for a while and see how I feel.

We had a good discussion in this thread of mine from a couple years back.

https://texags.com/forums/48/topics/3224830

Swarely said:

---

We had a good discussion in this thread of mine from a couple years back.

https://texags.com/forums/48/topics/3224830

---

Thank you.

I was in the same situation you're about a year ago. I felt horrible and so went to my doctor and asked him about the possibility that I had low T. He immediately checked my blood and my T level was about 200. He placed me on TRT (the injection variety) and it helped right away (within a couple of weeks). I also eventually started doing some strength training and that helped raise it even more. I believe it was around 800 at my last appointment. I feel 1000% better, have more energy, and my mood is much better overall.

You'll be doing lots soon if you start TRT, no doubt.

Ag12thman said:

---

I was in the same situation you're about a year ago. I felt horrible and so went to my doctor and asked him about the possibility that I had low T. He immediately checked my blood and my T level was about 200. He placed me on TRT (the injection variety) and it helped right away (within a couple of weeks). I also eventually started doing some strength training and that helped raise it even more. I believe it was around 800 at my last appointment. I feel 1000% better, have more energy, and my mood is much better overall.

You'll be doing lots soon if you start TRT, no doubt.

---

That's great! Thanks for sharing. I never thought I felt all that bad.....but maybe I was just used to it. I'll be happy if I can just be interested in everything again. Last 6 months I didn't even have the motivation to do the things I enjoy the most.

Seems like the usual pattern is… feel lethargic, go to doctor, blood work, start TRT, then start lifting and feeling great. Why not start heavy lifting for a while first and see how you feel?

bam02 said:

---

Seems like the usual pattern is… feel lethargic, go to doctor, blood work, start TRT, then start lifting and feeling great. Why not start heavy lifting for a while first and see how you feel?

---

This would be the preferred option at age 35 or 40. At my level and age I feel like I need a bit of a boost to even get to that point. Maybe when feeling better and in a good workout/lifting routine I will try to gradually ween down and see if my levels maintain.

Ok fair point. I just feel like I see that pattern a lot. I have no experience or knowledge of TRT, but do wonder if some might find most or all of the same benefit from just starting to weight train and eat better.

bam02 said:

---

Seems like the usual pattern is… feel lethargic, go to doctor, blood work, start TRT, then start lifting and feeling great. Why not start heavy lifting for a while first and see how you feel?

---

You are not wrong. I agree with 92Ag95, though. I tried just doing exercise and increasing weight lifting first and it did not work. For whatever reason, at my age, the TRT kicked my testosterone in the rear and then adding the weight training sort of joined forces with it to get mine into the normal range. I'm still taking TRT for now, but my doctor suggested we may try a month off of it, pending the reading of my next lab work. Age is also a factor for me - I'm well over the hill now (LOL).

bam02 said:

---

Ok fair point. I just feel like I see that pattern a lot. I have no experience or knowledge of TRT, but do wonder if some might find most or all of the same benefit from just starting to weight train and eat better.

---

I don't disagree with you. I think it varies. Some may find success doing that and some may not. If it were that simple I think many would choose to go that route given that there are some drawbacks to TRT. I do know that there seem to be a lot of men who are already pretty fit, lift weights, and eat clean and they go to the doc because, in spite of all they're doing, they just don't seem to have any energy and they end up testing low. So how is that possible if they're already doing all these things you mentioned? The answer....just depends on the individual.