Ups and downs of T??

[Dakota27]

Hey there, I've got a question. I've heard that T comes with some serious mood swings, of course I realize that it probably effects everybody differently. Question is this, can some of you fellas tell me a little bit about your experiences taking T? Maybe, how long did it take to start doing anything? What did you notice first off that it was effecting? I also plan to play on google as well as the science part of this site later tonight, but I would really like to hear the stories from the fellas as well, if you would be willing to share 

[wheat thins are delicious]

Hey there, I've got a question. I've heard that T comes with some serious mood swings, of course I realize that it probably effects everybody differently. Question is this, can some of you fellas tell me a little bit about your experiences taking T? Maybe, how long did it take to start doing anything? What did you notice first off that it was effecting? I also plan to play on google as well as the science part of this site later tonight, but I would really like to hear the stories from the fellas as well, if you would be willing to share 

Mood swings is mainly a myth.  Unless you are taking large doses infrequently it should be pretty even amounts.  The main reason you would get a bunch of mood swings is that if you are on injections when you first take your injection your T is at it's highest.  By the end of the shot cycle your T is at it's lowest.  That is going to lead to uneven emotional cycles.  At least in my experience I feel like towards the end of my shot cycle I feel the most emotionally unstable. 

Oh and I should mention I get my shot every two weeks. 

[Elijah3291]

What did you notice first off that it was effecting?

mood wise?

When I got my very first injection I felt very confident, and aggressive, but I am sure that it was all in my head, I don't notice any mood differences depending on my 'cycle' of testosterone, I take testosterone shots every Sunday, so my dosage is more even and less spread out, but no I don't feel any rush, or any different feelings after getting my shots.

Is this what you mean? or did you want to know about the first physical changes?

[Nemo]

The mood swings associated with T are mainly down to how it's administered. Sustanon is given every two weeks, but sends your levels unnaturally high and the drop's quite drastic. Still, I gather it's the only choice for a lot of guys, and some are fine on it, so I won't say anymore about that.

I'm currently using Testogel, which works a bit slower, but has still been working great for me. First thing I noticed was a tightness in the throat, followed by a certain sensitivity below the belt. Mood-wise the T has been like a tonic - I got the mood swings pre-T, but have felt a lot less angry and tense than I used to. Whether I'd still be like that on Sustanon I don't know, but even that would be a lot better than being stuck with E

[coyote]

I haven't found a real correlation between my T levels and my moods. Overall, I do feel a bit happier and more stable, but I think that's purely psychological as opposed to being directly hormonal. I'm no more mood swingy than I was prior to HRT. Like Andy, my injections are administered every fortnight.

[Jeh]

I'm on weekly injections and I haven't noticed a change in my mood at all. It's been very stable - and I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder so I was worried something would happen, but so far, nothing.

[Ryan]

My injections are fortnightly and I tend to feel a little irritable when I'm at the end of my cycle. I was always really irritable pre-T though, so I feel much better overall.
Definitely not serious mood swings by any stretch of the imagination.

My first change was genital growth and I noticed it within the first 48hrs.

[meh]

I used to have mood swings when I got my period, but now that I don't get it anymore I have no more mood swings.

I get my shot every two weeks btw.

[Squirrel698]

I do have an increase in mood swings and it is indirectly T's fault. 

Let me explain.  I had a very difficult childhood and several very intense moments in my life.   I have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) from all that and for years I suppressed.  Now that I am finally beginning to gain some confidence in myself, I am allowing myself to work through those emotions.

This is creating a mental chaos in my head but it's necessary to help myself heal so I can move on.  I wouldn't have been able to get on this path to healing without T.  Now that I feel more whole I can get on the path to healing.

Does that make sense?

[Dakota27]

Wow you guys, thanks so much for all the info!
See, my thing is, I have pretty significant mood swings already, and so when I heard about the possibility of more/worse mood swings, it kinda intimidated me, lol. But it makes sense to me to feel more ' unstable' so to speak, while being in a form that is uncomfortable...
Nemo, you mentioned tightness in the throat, like when you feel like you're gonna cry kinda tightness? Or...?
Also, Shayne brought up another question for me, how does T effect menstruation?
So, I also am a bit curious, yes, about physical changes? I have tried searching google for info as well in the post, but have not been horribly successful. Lol I think I just wind up getting distracted...
Squirrell, that's fantastic that you've found you're able to work through things, it always saddens me to hear that people have had hard childhoods... Good for you now though!

[Lee11]

It all depends on how much you take really and how often, but as your levels of testosterone fall slightly towards your next injection you may find yourself feeling over emotional...which is rectified by your T shot.
Hair growth usually happens fast and genital growth is gradual but noticable.
Libido increases and sexual response heightens.

[Nemo]

Nemo, you mentioned tightness in the throat, like when you feel like you're gonna cry kinda tightness? Or...?

Tightness as in sore, like an onset of a cold, although the only symptom is a sore, rough feeling throat. It eases after about a week - at least it did with me - but it means your vocal chords are thickening, so it's a good sign It tends to go up and down though; there'll be a period where your voice gets pretty fragile, can't talk for too long, and as you go on (if you're anything like me, anyway), it'll be a case of just getting used to how your voice feels, then it changes again XP

One of the not-so-nice things we (may) have to endure, but in the long run it's worth it

Also, Shayne brought up another question for me, how does T effect menstruation?

Depends on the person, but mainly it just stops. Some report they get no more at all since starting T, others (like me) have maybe one or two lighter periods/breakthrough bleeding but no more after that. A few aren't so lucky as they continue to bleed for months after, but usually it means the dosage needs adjusting - someone mentioned one case where they needed to be put on E blockers, but I'm pretty sure that's rare.

[joeybrogue]

I've heard that T comes with some serious mood swings, of course I realize that it probably effects everybody differently.

This depends.  I started out with 1cc twice a month.  For the first year-- this was mood swing HELL, an acne attacks.  It simply is a bad formula for most, in my opinion.  Many endos. now seem to start at a much lower dose and build up-- and guys report little to NO outbursts other than increased libido.  Later, I was altered to .5cc/weekly.  This, has worked magically. I have no mood swings and the acne is severely lessened.  It varies for all of us.  Take into account basic stress, any mental illness, maybe even family history-- so much goes into it.  I wouldn't get too worried.  The first few weeks you are so stressed over adjusting, excitement, and support it can really imitate possible T-effects.

Question is this, can some of you fellas tell me a little bit about your experiences taking T?

See above. =D  Note:  The slow incline version of starting T, .1cc for a while, .2cc for a while left many guys with weird cycles.  They tended to spot here and there, with the .5cc version one day my monthly nightmare just vanished.  Woot!

As for other "negative" things in general:  Acne, everywhere.  Hair on my frickin' ass, weird long hairs on my shoulders... ugh.  Lots of oiliness.  My pee smells kinda weird and I'm pretty sure it's the T!  Also I hated the weight-shift because it went all to my stomach, very fast.  Also, my sweat actually became "body odor," prior I wore deodorant "in case" -- I just never had BO or sweated that much... now, it's a must!  Also my increase of hunger.  It is insane... I'm starving 24-7!  It gets annoying, and expensive if you dine out.  Otherwise, no other changes I dislike... all pretty good, the hairiness isn't bad, just the butt... uh, gross? lol

Maybe, how long did it take to start doing anything? What did you notice first off that it was effecting?

The mood thing for me started around the second month (aka shot 3-4-maybe 5).  Remember, that was on the higher dose.  As far as general effects, the first shot things were changing already-- sadly not the ones I wanted. =P

Hope that helped.

[brandnewman]

I've been injecting weekly for 9 weeks now. I was more impatient and irritable, and had a harder time focusing (with some memory problems) the first couple of weeks. Since then, though, my mood has been the most stable of all my life.

I started my period the day of my first shot, then had another, lighter and shorter one, 3 weeks later, with some spotting in between. It's been almost 6 weeks since my last period (no PMS or cramps, also), so I am hoping that that was the last one.

My junk got bigger pretty fast and my libido along with it. My libido hasn't changed since, but I have learned to manage it better. My orgasms are more intense, but shorter than before and exclusively focused on my junk, as opposed to my whole body like before.

My skin has been oilier and I've had a huge increase in acne for the past 3-4 weeks, mostly on my back, shoulders and chest. The skin on my face feels rougher. The hair on my chin (which I had before T) is growing coarser and faster than before. I shave about twice a week.

My voice is starting to get lower in the evenings sometimes, with some scratchiness also.

My upper arms and biceps are getting bigger, and so is my neck. I started working out a few weeks ago and am building some muscle already.

I have more energy and a much bigger appetite. I'm not sure if this is related to T or not, but I started drinking coffee again

I am much happier and feel much more grounded than pre-T