Hi Jay, I’m 35 years old and from Vancouver, Canada who’s been suffering from low Testosterone symptoms for a few years (brain fog, low energy, loss of interest in life, low sex drive, trouble concentrating, and problems getting hard and staying hard). I should mention that I have struggled with depression on and off for 10 years.
After stumbling upon your content on Rich Cooper’s channel a few years back I got my Male Hormone panel checked and sure enough, I had low Testosterone. Here are my original stats:
Testosterone 13.2 nmol/L & Estradiol 118 pmol/L
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) 1.5 IU/L
Luteinizing Hormone 4.7 IU/L
Prolactin 17.1 ug/L
Thyroid Function TSH 2.46 mU/L
I started a TRT Protocol shortly after getting the results under the supervision of an anti-aging regenerative doctor. Started off with Taro Testosterone Cypionate injected 1ML per week intramuscularly in the side of my glute. After about a month of being on TRT, I felt absolutely amazing, all my symptoms were gone, I felt energized and like I had a new lease on life, my sex drive was back, and had morning wood like I was 18 years old again, I had way more strength in the gym and a lot faster recovery. Fast forward almost 2 years later and my results have dwindled, I haven’t felt great, the brain fog has come back, feel tired a lot, and my motivation has struggled. My blood lab results have had a number of peaks and valleys in Testosterone & Estradiol.
On this journey, while being on TRT, my testosterone has been as low as 16.8 nmol/L and as high as 24.3 nmol/L. Estradiol has been as low as 55 pmol/L and as high as 156 pmol/L. I should also mention when getting blood work done in Vancouver, the lab shows only testosterone, it doesn’t show free testosterone in the body.
4 months ago the doctor that I was seeing for TRT was no longer working at my usual clinic and I have yet to find another doctor. After running out of refills for Testosterone Cypionate and not being able to find a new doctor to work with my old symptoms have come back: I feel worst than before I started taking TRT, my system has completely crashed, I feel no strength, can’t sleep properly, no sex drive whatsoever, major brain fog, weight gain in the abdomen area, and no motivation. The last lab was two months ago, I stopped taking TRT then and my testosterone was 2.0 nmol/L and Estradiol <40 pmol/L. Since then I’ve felt progressively worse.
I am currently in Mexico working abroad for the next 4 months and I think I should get back on TRT since I am able to source it. Just not sure if I can find Testosterone Cypionate or if it’s going to be a blend of testosterone enanthate, testosterone cypionate, and testosterone undecanoate and their different concentration levels.
What would you recommend?
Doses? How often and how much? Split-up doses?
Do you recommend Arimidex?
Do you recommend sticking with an intramuscular injection or changing to subcutaneous?
Looking forward to hearing back from you and getting your guidance and recommendations. Thank you so much for all you do for this community!
Cheers,
Anthony