Hey everyone, it’s been a while since I posted, but I’ve still been around in the background. Let me dive straight into it.
I’ve been living in Australia for almost a year now and recently reached out to a private clinic to start TRT. I’ve been experiencing symptoms of low testosterone for a couple of years, and blood tests confirmed my levels are on the lower side, though surprisingly a bit higher than I expected. My TRT doctor is still happy to move forward, and I’ve received all my medication, but I haven’t started treatment yet.
Recently, I had an ultrasound for an unrelated issue, and my GP referred me to a specialist after they found a 3x3x5mm "hypoechoic lesion" inside (good) my right testicle (not a lump growing on the testicle). After some tests and a cancer scare, I saw a urologist who specializes in testicular and prostate cancer. He’s confident it’s not cancerous and pointed out several factors in my favor. He’s a well-respected professional in Australia and really put my mind at ease. He recommended waiting 3 months for another ultrasound to monitor any potential growth, but said that an orchiectomy (testicle removal) is an extreme option and not necessary right now and that he's doubtful that it's anything to worry about.
For those unfamiliar with the healthcare system in Australia, TRT is not widely accepted or understood and is basically a taboo. Most doctors here aren’t familiar with testosterone replacement or hormone therapy and they may prescribe it to a eunuch if it could prove that it was shooting blanks. One GP I saw even told me, "We don’t test for that," meaning they don’t do hormone tests or prescribe testosterone. I didn’t mention TRT to the urologist today after discussing the ultrasound and lesion, but I did bring up my past low testosterone levels. He essentially shrugged it off, saying it's just a part of aging and that 'it's ok' (what the actual fuck, I feel like an un-oiled robocop). There are clinics here that prescribe TRT based on symptoms rather than blood levels, which is a bit of a gray area but still legal.
So here’s the situation: I have preloaded syringes of testosterone sitting on my kitchen counter, but I’m unsure of what to do next. The decision to pursue TRT is driven by how awful my symptoms have been lately. I wouldn’t consider it otherwise. I’ve always trained consistently and eaten well without resorting to much PED use over the years, but lately, I just can’t keep up. I struggle to recover from weight training, my joints ache (my knees feel like lead), my sleep quality is terrible, and I have zero motivation. As an introvert, a father and a teacher, I’m already drained. I essentially feel like a blunt knife—I used to be sharp, but now there’s just no edge. I’ve tried changing my diet three times this year with no real improvement. I’ve also adjusted my training volume and intensity, but nothing seems to make a difference. Training has become boring and mentally exhausting (when in fact it's my favourite thing in the world...), and the only time I feel less worn out is when I just don’t train. In the past 3 weeks, I’ve only managed 5 or 6 sessions just because I'm tired of feeling tired and old. I had hoped to train for an ultramarathon for my birthday in March next year (turning 36), but physically, I just couldn’t handle it. Brain fog is a constant issue, and I don’t recover like I used to. In fact it feels like I basically just break my body down and I can't move forward. Only a carnivore diet seems to help in losing fat, as well, which cling to me unrelentingly.
My question is: should I wait another 3 months before starting TRT and get another ultrasound first? Honestly, I don’t want to wait, which is why I’m posting. My job is going to be more demanding next year as I’m taking on a leadership position at school, and I was hoping to start TRT before the 2025 academic year. The December holidays would've been great to ease back into a training routine while my hormones find their feet.
Any advice would be really appreciated. I don’t take TRT lightly, nor do I take the cancer scare lightly. While my doctor has reassured me, there’s still no certainty. I honestly just want to feel better again and know what it feels like to have a decent quality of life.
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