Help! Headaches, cause my lowered dose be the cause?

[Kdawg89]

I have been on TrT (Test Cyp) for approx 4-5 months now.

Everything was going great, I was taking 75mg injections every 3.5 days for a total of (150 mg/7 days). Bloods looked stable.. (In Canada the reference range is done in nmol/L, and reference range of my lab is 10-28.8)

Anyways so I was stable at around 27-28 nmol/L for about 4 months. [779 ng/dl - 822 ng/dl]. All of a sudden my Test levels shot up after 4 months of being stable to about 36 nmol/L [1038 ng/dl] for no aparent reason with no dosage adjustment. I started getting sore nipples and raise in blood pressure. Everything was going so smooth, my doctor is against treating meds with meds, so he wanted to get me back to a good level where I don't require any sort of AI.

So he dropped my level from 75mg injections every 3.5 days for a total of (150 mg/7 days), to 50 mg injections every 5 days for a total of (100mg/10 days). He wrote me another blood lab told me to go get it done after being on the new dosage for 3 weeks and come back to him. About 12 days ago (Have been marking it on calendar) I got a headache.. The headache as not freaking gone away, it feels like pressure in the back of my head and right behind the eyes. 12 days straight. So I went for my bloods, at this point it was about 2 weeks after he dropped my dosage and my test levels came back at 13.5 nmol/l [389 ng/dl]. Almost as low as I was previously before starting TrT.


I can't get in to see my Doc for another 4 days and now going on day 12 or 13 with a consistent headache im getting really worried and frustrated with life. Also cant keep an erection anymore (lol)

From my Dr. Google research most medical sites list Testosterone Withdrawl Headache a symptom.. but I can find almost no record of anyone complaining about this online even when coming off large steroid type cycles which you would expect it to me more common.

Anyone? Can this possibly be a symptom of withdraws?


Thanks. Sorry for long back story.

 

[IMT staff]

Sounds like low E. If your on Adex stop it. If not you need to add HCG to stimulate E2. Or up your dose but upping a little and HCG would be best.

Headaches and joint pain are extremely common with low E2.

Hope this helps.

 

[cruiser1019]

Get your blood pressure checked.

 

[Kdawg89]

I have pretty expensive at home blood pressure monitor. I was around 130/80 steady when my test was at the 27-28 range.

Since my test has dropped my bp has been steady 115-120/ 65-75

 

[daleb]

I would be interested to see ur TSH, if done, before the 75mg/3.5 days, on the 75mg/3.5days and now.

 

[halfwit]

Are you getting blood tests done at the same point with respect to your last injection? This makes a rather large difference, as peak is going to be 2 days after an injection, and trough being the day of your next shot - but before you take it.

 

[Kdawg89]

Are you getting blood tests done at the same point with respect to your last injection? This makes a rather large difference, as peak is going to be 2 days after an injection, and trough being the day of your next shot - but before you take it.

Blood work I always make sure I am as close to 48 hour mark since previous injection as possible.

I would be interested to see ur TSH, if done, before the 75mg/3.5 days, on the 75mg/3.5days and now.

So this latest blood work, I actually had my TSH test. I have not had my TSH test other then since prior to starting testosterone. Results as follows:

Most recent blood work, With my doctor lowing my dosage and me at a level of 13.5 nmol/L [ 389 ng/dl ] I scored a TSH level of 0.94 mU/L out of a possible reference range of 0.32-5.04 mU/L.


Blood work done prior to ever starting Testosterone Therapy I scored a Test score of 10.5 nmol/L [ 303 ng/dl] with a TSH level of 1.1 mU/L (Same reference range as above)

I also had addition test done for something completely different (no idea what I can just pull up all past results online) That also included my TSH levels, this was also done prior to starting TrT but does not include any test levels.. I scored a TSH level of 1.1 mU/L
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With Estrogen levels, my doctor for some reason does not test this very often (And again did not test me this time when my Testosterone dropped, to his benefit we didn't know it was dropping or I was going to get this headache) I will just post results of what I do have. The reference range change slightly with my lab between some tests.


So first
1) Prior to TrT Test Score 10.5 nmol/l... Estro Score of " My Result <100 out of a possible <150 pmol/L"
2) On TrT Test Score of 24.5 nmol/l... Estro score of " My Result 51 out of a possible <157 pmol/L"
3 Still on TrT Test Score of 35.3 nmol/L..( getting little high)... Estro score of " My Result 82 out of a possible <157 pmol/L"

Honestly I don't know how to read the estro results very well.

 

[daleb]

Sounds like your thyroid is probably good. You need an estradiol test preferably the lc/ms version to the immunoassay. Sounds like your doc got the total estrogens test which tests estrone. Estradiol is much more potent than estrone.

 

[halfwit]

Unless your headache is chronic, I doubt it's related. Sometimes we over analyze things because we KNOW we're changing hormones. The mind is a very powerful thing.

In all honesty a swing of 200ng/dL isn't unheard of, and your docs approach, while admirable, isn't ideal for most. I wish I didn't require an AI, but it's that and feel good - or have crap test levels and feel shitty. I would press that issue further, ESPECIALLY the testing of estradiol.

Estradiol is the single most important hormone in TRT as it's where the vast majority of side effects come from. It's also responsible for bone density, libido, cancer risks, immune system function, and much more. How a medical doctor can overlook this is truly beyond me, and insisting someone with a broken HPTA is even capable of regulating it on his own is a bit irresponsible in my opinion.

I'd honestly have a conversation with your doctor about these things and decide if perhaps you shouldn't look for a new physician to employ. You're the boss, and have every right to fire an employee that doesn't meet your expectations.

 

[joecoolredbarron]

OP - is there a snowballs chance in hell your headache started while you were lifting? halfwit's post above made me think of when i had a similar issue. Started getting headaches and ran out for blood work the next morning. Thought for sure it was my hormones, turns out it was exertion headaches, and I needed to adjust my breathing during certain lifts (high rep squats, curls, and weighted pull-ups). Not the expert on all the hormone numbers (which is why i come to this site for help) but I try to eliminate the simple things first.

When i had exertion headaches it took a month to get it in check, took off a week from the gym (always had a nagging headache) then went back at it slow and took a few advil before the gym, focused on slow controlled breathing with my lifts. Eventually I was normal again.
Hope you feel better.

 

[gruntwerk]

OP - is there a snowballs chance in hell your headache started while you were lifting? halfwit's post above made me think of when i had a similar issue. Started getting headaches and ran out for blood work the next morning. Thought for sure it was my hormones, turns out it was exertion headaches, and I needed to adjust my breathing during certain lifts (high rep squats, curls, and weighted pull-ups). Not the expert on all the hormone numbers (which is why i come to this site for help) but I try to eliminate the simple things first.

When i had exertion headaches it took a month to get it in check, took off a week from the gym (always had a nagging headache) then went back at it slow and took a few advil before the gym, focused on slow controlled breathing with my lifts. Eventually I was normal again.
Hope you feel better.

I have experienced this as well when I was lifting 7 days a week, it was actually halfwit who informed me of the idea "deload day," which is simply taking one day a week and dramatically dropping your weights on your lifts but keeping the same amount of reps. This way your CNS has a chance to recover, it is amazing the way our bodies respond to stress really.

I don't know enough about the hormones and numbers yet either to chime in about estrogen headaches but I've certainly experienced that exertion headache.

Does IMT extend to Canada ?

 

[joecoolredbarron]

I have experienced this as well when I was lifting 7 days a week, it was actually halfwit who informed me of the idea "deload day," which is simply taking one day a week and dramatically dropping your weights on your lifts but keeping the same amount of reps. This way your CNS has a chance to recover, it is amazing the way our bodies respond to stress really.

I don't know enough about the hormones and numbers yet either to chime in about estrogen headaches but I've certainly experienced that exertion headache.

Does IMT extend to Canada ?

I read some some posts on here and googled it, to your point I was going too hard. Switched to a 4 on lifting day 5 hiit 1or2 day off approach and it worked. Not sure if they're in Canada yet or not (sorry, i'm in the US, i know they didn't used to from reading other posts), I'd bet they'll chime in.

OP - sorry not trying to hijack your thread - sounds to me (non-medical layman's view) that it boils down to about 90% of other member's problems...uneducated doctors, well at least uneducated in the best TRT protocols anyway. It's an uphill battle trying to educated them from all i've seen, most times the advice is to switch doc's or go the clinic route. Provided it's not a exertion (lifting) headache.

 

[gruntwerk]

I read some some posts on here and googled it, to your point I was going too hard. Switched to a 4 on lifting day 5 hiit 1or2 day off approach and it worked. Not sure if they're in Canada yet or not (sorry, i'm in the US, i know they didn't used to from reading other posts), I'd bet they'll chime in.

OP - sorry not trying to hijack your thread - sounds to me (non-medical layman's view) that it boils down to about 90% of other member's problems...uneducated doctors, well at least uneducated in the best TRT protocols anyway. It's an uphill battle trying to educated them from all i've seen, most times the advice is to switch doc's or go the clinic route. Provided it's not a exertion (lifting) headache.

I was asking about IMT and Canada for the OP, I'm in the US as well and also with IMT. Was just curious because that's one avenue of being able to get a doc who is current with TRT. Doc R for NY/NJ sounded like he was speaking directly from the books written by the prominent TRT docs which was comforting.

 

[Kdawg89]

Heres the thing, I have not been lifting. I actually got a vasectomy.. Which I was told I needed to take a week off of lifting, so I was full 7 days off the gym. Headaches began after roughly 6 1/2-7 days after not attending the gym.. And I have not been going since the headaches started.

@Gruntwerk I have no idea what IMT stands for?

 

[joecoolredbarron]

There we go - it's iron withdraw! - Sorry to make light and hope you get it figured out fast.

Gruntwerk was referring to "increase my t" a board sponsor. He and I both use them here in the states and they're fantastic, but I don't think they offer services in Canada.

 

[halfwit]

Heres the thing, I have not been lifting. I actually got a vasectomy.. Which I was told I needed to take a week off of lifting, so I was full 7 days off the gym. Headaches began after roughly 6 1/2-7 days after not attending the gym.. And I have not been going since the headaches started.

@Gruntwerk I have no idea what IMT stands for?

Dude, you had SURGERY and neglected to mention it?! That's kind of a big deal to leave out, and it's something I would have seen a physician regarding as local anesthesia complications can include chronic headaches.

Kind of blew my mind to be honest. I know hormones are a big deal and all, but NO WAY would I ever suspect them over having my body cut open, my nervous system tampered with, my insides cauterized, and being sewn back up. Just sayin'.

This is more of a get to the urgent care, not steroid forums kind of thing at this point FYI.