Off TRT: 10 months later and PCT but still low T, help me figure out my next step

bananas007 · Jul 5, 2023

FuriousAngus said:
Yes brother that's what I'm thinking!

Sure man, hit me up.

I really appreciate your input, brother. I'm leaning towards giving it more time. I'll retest in 3 weeks and then again 4 weeks after. Hoping for the best!

When you text next time, you may consider adding prolactin. Prolactin is like putting the "brakes" on LH/FSH so if high it can sometimes hamper recovery.

Swifto · Jul 5, 2023

Dont smoke, dont drink excessive alcohol (none is better), exercise regularly, eat a diet with a good amount of healthy fats. Get your carbs and protein in to maintain LBM and build muscle.

The gym is your friend, but dont overtrain. You can still chase progressive overload. Its harder but till work to get your Test up.

Get necessary sleep.

Retest in 4 weeks.

FuriousAngus · Jul 5, 2023

Swifto said:
Dont smoke, dont drink excessive alcohol (none is better), exercise regularly, eat a diet with a good amount of healthy fats. Get your carbs and protein in to maintain LBM and build muscle.

The gym is your friend, but dont overtrain. You can still chase progressive overload. Its harder but till work to get your Test up.

Get necessary sleep.

Retest in 4 weeks.

I'll admit I got a bit too depressed and stopped training when I started this journey a year ago, but I'm back at it again now (been a week)! Hopefully I'll have good news very soon. Thanks!

Flex500 · Jul 5, 2023

Swifto said:
Dont smoke, dont drink excessive alcohol (none is better), exercise regularly, eat a diet with a good amount of healthy fats. Get your carbs and protein in to maintain LBM and build muscle.

The gym is your friend, but dont overtrain. You can still chase progressive overload. Its harder but till work to get your Test up.

Get necessary sleep.

Retest in 4 weeks.

I mean this is it 100%. This and time.

bananas007 · Jan 1, 2024

Any updates? @FuriousAngus

st114 · Jan 4, 2024

I was in my late 20s, built at 220lbs and looked like I lifted, maybe 15% bodyfat, benched 405 and deadlifted 725.
Never would have thought I had low T. Felt what I thought was normal

My test came back at 300, and then 250ish. Lifting, good diet, rest, test boosters like Tongkat Ali.
Went on TRT, and then full on cycles, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made

Your natural test might just be around the 200s regardless of what you do. I’m sure there’s a good portion of guys nowadays sitting at those levels with no idea

I’d go back on TRT

marssel · Jan 5, 2024

st114 said:
I was in my late 20s, built at 220lbs and looked like I lifted, maybe 15% bodyfat, benched 405 and deadlifted 725.
Never would have thought I had low T. Felt what I thought was normal

My test came back at 300, and then 250ish. Lifting, good diet, rest, test boosters like Tongkat Ali.
Went on TRT, and then full on cycles, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made

Your natural test might just be around the 200s regardless of what you do. I’m sure there’s a good portion of guys nowadays sitting at those levels with no idea

I’d go back on TRT

200 is shit I have a USMC buddy who was at 210 and his pcp would not prescribe so he finally got on a lil test, he’s 48, and he is a totally new man totally life changing

st114 · Jan 6, 2024

marssel said:
200 is shit I have a USMC buddy who was at 210 and his pcp would not prescribe so he finally got on a lil test, he’s 48, and he is a totally new man totally life changing

I believe it was my 10 years in the Army that put me at low T levels. It’s a big problem amongst vets especially. Stress, lack of sleep, improper nutrition, TBIs, PTSD, it all plays a role
Glad to hear he got on some Test and is doing better

SAVAGEPMHNP · Jan 6, 2024

I think mine was low 200s at the beginning of last year before I started in the gym again! I started on TRT for a couple of months then eventually started with some higher doses. I must say going from low 200s to TRT really was a life changer! More energy, better sex life, stronger, weight loss was easier, better overall mood. I don't think I'll ever NOT stay on TRT when I decide to come down on doses eventually! And it is SO cheap at TRT doses, too!

marssel · Jan 6, 2024

st114 said:
I believe it was my 10 years in the Army that put me at low T levels. It’s a big problem amongst vets especially. Stress, lack of sleep, improper nutrition, TBIs, PTSD, it all plays a role
Glad to hear he got on some Test and is doing better

We had a Veterans group meet last night about 15 guys, I’m in my 40s joined in 97, most all joined 2005-2006-everyone is on trt and or test but non are bodybuilders but me they literally all had shit test levels in their damn 30s.

st114 · Jan 7, 2024

marssel said:
We had a Veterans group meet last night about 15 guys, I’m in my 40s joined in 97, most all joined 2005-2006-everyone is on trt and or test but non are bodybuilders but me they literally all had shit test levels in their damn 30s.

Yep, I was 30 when I tested at 250. I think it's a massive side effect of the GWOT, and maybe military service in general. If only the VA took it seriously. I wonder how many guys are suffering, loaded up on different meds, when really TRT would fix their symptoms? I personally know a few who were in that exact situation. Everyone getting out of the Military, especially those in combat arms, should have their test checked.
I could go on and on about this subject, but don't want to take it too far off topic

Muay Thai · Jan 7, 2024

Keefs said:
I think your natty test is just 260. I also think that your average middle aged guy is living at that level. You just didn’t realize how good trt made you feel until you came off. It may take a while for you to feel normal at your natural levels again. That’s my opinion anyway!

I'm 36 and came off cold turkey recently recently for a bit and lord will you feel it if you've been on a long time and have lasting injuries.

FuriousAngus · Jan 11, 2024

bananas007 said:
Any updates? @FuriousAngus

Hey. Been testing every month except for the last two months: hovering around 275. That said, last two months I have experience an increase in libido and occasional morning wood, so I'm thinking maybe I'm recovering. I will test again in 2 weeks (the end of the month).

I'm also thinking that perhaps I always had low T. The plan is to hit the 2 year mark then maybe hop on if I'm not seeing improvement.

bananas007 · Jan 11, 2024

FuriousAngus said:
Hey. Been testing every month except for the last two months: hovering around 275. That said, last two months I have experience an increase in libido and occasional morning wood, so I'm thinking maybe I'm recovering. I will test again in 2 weeks (the end of the month).

I'm also thinking that perhaps I always had low T. The plan is to hit the 2 year mark then maybe hop on if I'm not seeing improvement.

What are your lh and fsh at? Did you address your depression and making steps to lower body fat. that will be important. Would love to see your monthly labs. please post up with redacted personal information. Post Anabolic steroid recovery is a topic that is not nearly researched enough.

FuriousAngus · Jan 12, 2024

bananas007 said:
What are your lh and fsh at? Did you address your depression and making steps to lower body fat. that will be important. Would love to see your monthly labs. please post up with redacted personal information. Post Anabolic steroid recovery is a topic that is not nearly researched enough.

I will post all my labs in a couple more months. I'm current dieting down (down -7lbs so far, so all is going good -20-25lbs more to go-... most injuries have finally resolved themselves). I have not tested LH and FSH since my last test (5 months ago). I have mostly only been testing total test (with plans to test other things once this marker starts moving). I have struggled with depression since I was 13-14 (I'm 35 now), so no.

FuriousAngus · Jan 31, 2024

Total T came back at 125, lol. Erection quality is actually not bad AT ALL, I can even do multiple rounds in a row, which is surprising. Sex drive has been going up, but I think all of these gains probably have to do with the fact that I have cut out all porn, etc. I'm thinking that perhaps I did have low T all along...I don't know how long it's been so far, but thinking of hopping back on TRT. I'm not hard pressed to do that as I honestly feel just fine, but we'll see.

goback2013 · Jan 31, 2024

Shawn Baker bloods always come back 'clinically low'
His theory is that if you have good AR sensitivity, that the body doesn't need to produce that much test. Or something along those lines. Maybe I misunderstood, but I think I'm somewhat close to understanding his explanation.

FuriousAngus · Jan 31, 2024

goback2013 said:
Shawn Baker bloods always come back 'clinically low'
His theory is that if you have good AR sensitivity, that the body doesn't need to produce that much test. Or something along those lines. Maybe I misunderstood, but I think I'm somewhat close to understanding his explanation.

That's fine, but in all honestly I know for a fact my body isn't the same. I don't recover from workouts nearly as fast, and when I get hurt it takes my body FOREVER to fix itself. I'm constantly feeling fatigued no matter how much I sleep, even though for the entirety of the years I spent on TRT, I never took a nap (but now it feels like I'm fighting sleep every single day). I may not have bad sexual symptoms, but I'm definitely not fine; I even got fat in areas that never seemed to accumulate fat before (like, folds!)....99.9% of the way back on TRT, I've been looking at this unopened vial for a few hours now.

Oldwhitedude · Jan 31, 2024

goback2013 said:
Shawn Baker bloods always come back 'clinically low'
His theory is that if you have good AR sensitivity, that the body doesn't need to produce that much test. Or something along those lines. Maybe I misunderstood, but I think I'm somewhat close to understanding his explanation.

Can we trust him though?

I think it's highly likely Shawn is living the TRT life and hiding that to promote his carnivorous ways.

Not an uncommon trope when money is on the line.