Bloating with low dosage

[Analogies]

Hey guys,

Yes this is my first post and I appreciate any constructive advice you can give.
Some background history: A little over a year after my vasectomy I started experiencing a loss of sex drive along with night sweats, hair loss and short term memory loss. Eventually, my libido came to a halt altogether. This was almost four years ago. I am now 26 and still searching for my mojo. My blood tests always come back normal:
Total test: 497 (250-1100 ng/dl)
Free test: 92.4 (35.0-115.0 pg/ml)
TSH, 3rd Generation: 3.5 (0.4-4.50 miu/l)
T4 (thyroxine) total: 1.2 (0.8-1.8 ng/dl)
T3 total: 2.9 (2.3-4.2 pg/ml)
Hydroxyprogesterone, LC/MS/MS: 126 (32-307 NG/DL)
Feritin: 67 (20-345 NG/ML)
ACTH, PLASMA: 21 (6-50 PG/ML)
Cortisol Total: 8.8 (4.0-22.0 MCG/DL)
DHEA Sulfate: 257 (110-510 mcg/dl)
FSH: 3.3 (1.6-8.0 miu/ml)
LH: 4.6 (1.5-9.3 miu/ml)
Prolactin 12.0 (2.0-18.0 ng/ml)

After reading Nelson Vergels book "Testosterone a man's guide" I figured that maybe my T may not appear low from a medical perspective but to my body it is. Shortly after I found a doctor to prescribe me tests from hearing my story. I'm now on 200mg of cypionate every 7 days for the past 3 weeks. Prior to that it was 250mg every two weeks for 1 month. I have seen a dramatic increase in memory, sleep and reduced brain fog. My libido seems to be gradually improving but it's too soon to tell. Unfortunately I've recently noticed I'm retaining water. However I don't want to reduce the dosage and this isn't something that I will be cycling. I plan on being on T for a very long time. Like the rest of you, I too love working out and gaining muscle. It's been 8 years straight now and I've had a clean diet for the past 4 years. I would like to reap as much of the benefits I can but I don't want to walk around feeling and looking like a blimp. Is there a safe long term solution to keeping the current dosage I'm on while eliminating the water retention?

 

[Analogies]

So I'm now starting to notice I'm breaking out on my head.

I've been reading how acne is caused by high free testestrone that gets converted into DHT and estrogen. DHT and estro cause the seb glands to over produce oil.

My bloating and breakouts all point to the need to regulate E2 levels.
Can anyone steer me to where I can get my hands on some Arimidex? (SFV)

 

[Matt0071]

cut the sodium out of your diet and if u were prescribed T for low Test, then i dont know why your doc didnt give u some sort of AI
run adex at .5 ed
also to limit bloat drink lots of water and like i said limit the sodium bro
Bloat arises alot of issues, not only looking like a balloon but raises your blood pressure as well and high bp will cause massive headaches
have u checked your bp recently?

 

[halfwit]

So I'm now starting to notice I'm breaking out on my head.

I've been reading how acne is caused by high free testestrone that gets converted into DHT and estrogen. DHT and estro cause the seb glands to over produce oil.

My bloating and breakouts all point to the need to regulate E2 levels.
Can anyone steer me to where I can get my hands on some Arimidex? (SFV)

I agree with your assessment regarding elevated E2 levels, which is oddly the only test value you didn't post. Did your doctor not request for an E2 test? Rui (board sponsor) has liquid arimidex available, just remember to start it off low and taper up if needed. Alternatively, you could talk to your doctor and see if they can run an E2 test and get you on prescribed AI's.

Good luck!

 

[bitterdregs]

also to limit bloat drink lots of water and like i said limit the sodium bro
Bloat arises alot of issues, not only looking like a balloon but raises your blood pressure as well and high bp will cause massive headaches
have u checked your bp recently?

I totally agree with this. You should be checking your bp anyway, but drink more water. There's a threshold your body is looking for where the water you're drinking drives the osmotic pressure such that you begin driving out the salt (sodium) that's keeping the water. for me personally, I drink and drink and then suddenly the dam breaks and for 2 days I'll pee way mroe than I was drinking and I'll suddenly not feel like a stuffed sausage. So watch for the hidden sodium in your diet and start drinking more water. That's practical to do anyway while wating for the medical stuff to make sense. And if that doesn't work, at least you lowered your sodium and stayed hydrated.

 

[Analogies]

Thanks guys for all your help and the reference. I'm going to reach out to my Dr and see about a test and getting on an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). It's hard to say about my BP because I've always had prehypertension. Although lately I've been taking CoQ10 to combat the BP and I'm seeing good results.