Originally Posted by suzzer99:
I had no idea you could do that. This stuff seems pretty thick to get through an insulin syringe. What's AI?
You backfill the syringe.
If you try to draw using the slin pin, it will take forever. It pushes out easy enough though the way the syringe is constructed creates a lot of pressure so it comes out easier. A rule of thumb is the larger the syringe barrel the more difficult it is to push out.
AI is Anti Estrogen - usually prescribed Arimidex (anastrozole). [Reply]
Originally Posted by loochy:
Oh yeah, he's very well known and he definitely knows his stuff. But that's EXPENSIVE AS HELL and quite unneccessary.
After starting at a T-mill/men's health type place, I finally found a good general practitioner. I've been on for a while and I'm dialed in, so I just show up twice a year for bloodwork. Insurance pays for the visits 80/20 as a physical (depending on where I'm at with my deductible). The labwork ends up costing me $20 or so after insurance. The actual testosterone costs $40 at Walgreens with a GoodRx coupon (enough to last 10 weeks). I inject at home. The whole thing costs maaybe $400 per year (depending on deductible).
Shop around doctors. Look on message boards for good TRT docs in your area. You are in LA, right? You should be able to find a recommended one that is in network.
Yeah sounds like he's unnecessary for TRT. The one thing I liked was him recommending stuff like magnesium for high BP.
My GP just wants to put me on pills and I'm really resistant because I suspect those things usually get you dependent and hooked for life. I've never had high BP until the last year. I figure it has to be the sust. I've been off a while and my BP is going down, but not as fast as I like.
I gave blood and they did a thing where they take just the red blood cells (which were high) and put the rest back with some kind of Inception-machine. That instantly dropped my systolic by 20 and diastolic by 5. But it seems to be creeping back up a little. [Reply]
Originally Posted by suzzer99:
Yeah sounds like he's unnecessary for TRT. The one thing I liked was him recommending stuff like magnesium for high BP.
My GP just wants to put me on pills and I'm really resistant because I suspect those things usually get you dependent and hooked for life. I've never had high BP until the last year. I figure it has to be the sust. I've been off a while and my BP is going down, but not super fast.
Yeah, high BP is BAD. It really is the silent killer - it wreaks havoc on your kidneys. Don't be afraid to take something for the blood pressure, prescription or not. The sides of that are better than having high BP. It's probably the worst side to have from TRT.
A lot of time the blood pressure is caused by estrogen symptoms (water retention). Is your E2 in check? How much test are you on? 200ish a week? [Reply]
Originally Posted by suzzer99:
Yeah sounds like he's unnecessary for TRT. The one thing I liked was him recommending stuff like magnesium for high BP.
My GP just wants to put me on pills and I'm really resistant because I suspect those things usually get you dependent and hooked for life. I've never had high BP until the last year. I figure it has to be the sust. I've been off a while and my BP is going down, but not as fast as I like.
I gave blood and they did a thing where they take just the red blood cells (which were high) and put the rest back with some kind of Inception-machine. That instantly dropped my systolic by 20 and diastolic by 5. But it seems to be creeping back up a little.
Oh yeah, you did the double reds. That's great for getting your HCT down too (blood thickness can be an issue, but is easy enough to solve). [Reply]
Originally Posted by loochy:
Yeah, high BP is BAD. It really is the silent killer - it wreaks havoc on your kidneys. Don't be afraid to take something for the blood pressure, prescription or not. The sides of that are better than having high BP. It's probably the worst side to have from TRT.
A lot of time the blood pressure is caused by estrogen symptoms like water retention. Is your E2 in check? How much test are you on? 200ish a week?
Test I've been off for a couple months - as soon as I found out I had high BP. I got tested about 6 weeks ago and was at 350. So it's not like I was going crazy. Porn is starting to get real boring.
I have no idea on E2. I have a first appointment with the local endo on Monday. I'll find that stuff out. Assuming I like the Dr. I'll probably stick with her over the flashy Santa Monica guy.
I'm sure I'm retaining lots of water based on the creases in my head. But it's slowly going down. [Reply]
Originally Posted by suzzer99:
Test I've been off for a couple months - as soon as I found out I had high BP. I got tested about 6 weeks ago and was at 350. So it's not like I was going crazy. Porn is starting to get real boring.
I have no idea on E2. I have a first appointment with the local endo on Monday. I'll find that stuff out. Assuming I like the Dr. I'll probably stick with her over the flashy Santa Monica guy.
I'm sure I'm retaining lots of water based on the creases in my head. But it's slowly going down.
Maybe try some OTC diuretics like dandelion root...and watch your sodium intake. Estrogen is actually really good for you and has cardiovascular and neuroprotective properties...it just causes some undesirable sides like water retention. If you can get the extra water off I bet you can drop your BP another 10 points. [Reply]
Originally Posted by loochy:
Maybe try some OTC diuretics like dandelion root...and watch your sodium intake. Estrogen is actually really good for you and has cardiovascular and neuroprotective properties...it just causes some undesirable sides like water retention. If you can get the extra water off I bet you can drop your BP another 10 points.
On the plus side I bought a bench, rack and a bunch of weights and have become completely addicted. I'm pretty much off test but still have about as much muscle mass as I've ever had. My legs have been in great shape from hard mountain hikes every other weekend for a couple years - and now my upper body is getting big. That's not going to cause water retention is it?