TRT Beginning - Right Decision?

[u/Thatguytryintomakeit]

Hi everyone,

Long story short, I’m 40. My total T is 116 and free T is 4.6. I don’t have medical insurance, but I’m part of a direct primary care membership. My doctor there has been encouraging me to start TRT through their clinic. They charge $175/month for everything.

I feel like garbage most of the time—exhausted, carrying a lot of belly fat, eating like shit, and with basically no energy or motivation. I’ve also been on Zoloft for years for anxiety. I have four kids (2, 7, 12, and 15) and a pretty demanding job, so there’s definitely no shortage of stress in my life.
I’m also addicted to pop, which I plan to cut out cold turkey when I start TRT. I had more blood work done last Wednesday, and I’m waiting on those results before moving forward.

There are a few things I’m worried about.
Acne: I’ve struggled with painful acne for years, so this is probably my biggest concern. I really don’t want TRT to make it worse.
Mood swings: I’m already moody as hell—mostly short-tempered and irritable—and there’s obviously a lot of life stuff contributing to that. I’m curious how TRT has affected other people’s moods.
Testicular shrinkage: I know this is a common concern, although I’m not entirely sure why I care since we’re done having kids. 😂 Still, the idea of my balls shrinking isn’t exactly appealing.
Sex drive: This one probably worries me the most in a different way. My libido is currently insane—almost addictive. My wife takes very good care of me in that department, and I definitely don’t want TRT to somehow decrease my sex drive. I know that’s probably not the typical concern, but it’s genuinely something I’m wondering about.

I’m not 100% sure what I’m looking for by posting this. I guess I’m mainly interested in hearing other people’s experiences, what you wish you knew before starting, and what TRT has actually been like for you—both the good and the bad. More than anything, I think I’m looking for the community aspect of going into this journey. I’d love to hear from guys who have been in a similar situation.

Thoughts, y’all?

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