HRT stopped working , tried and weight gain

[ridgeback001]

Gents ,

My situation is this I'm 49 years of age , 5`9, 195 lbs and 17 % body fat with a clean diet always been very active , rugby player and have been constantly weightlifting for well over 25 years easy to put size on . Due to my age and for these reasons , low energy level , abdominal body fat increase , muscle hardness loss , tried lack of get up and go . I felt that my best option was to use Test Cyp at Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) doses for long term usage. My dose was 100 split in half weekly. No I did not get blood work as this was strictly to feel good , so self medicating and to get better energy and some muscle definition

First signs , Great feeling of wellness , energy levels increased , endurance improvement , multiple workout , fast recovery , weight increase of 8 lbs , immediate increase of libido , fat loss , definition on abs and arms , shoulder mass increase , high cardio , crossfit and weights . I felt freaking great like a new man

Then the crash around week 12 , sudden uncomfortable weight gain of 12 lbs the feeling of being thick in mid section (no diet change ) , low energy levels , very tried and sleepy , decrease in definition , abdominal fat increase . I thought maybe it was due to body requiring more Test , so increased to 150 per week no change got off it .

I truly loved the feeling and I would like to start again however need to eliminate the increase in weight and tiredness . Please could you explain why the sudden change of weight and being so tried and why a lot of people claim to lose weight ? Did I need to add something else with the Test Cyp as that was all I was taking ?

Thanks for your help

 

[My_Pitch27]

Gents ,

My situation is this I'm 49 years of age , 5`9, 195 lbs and 17 % body fat with a clean diet always been very active , rugby player and have been constantly weightlifting for well over 25 years easy to put size on . Due to my age and for these reasons , low energy level , abdominal body fat increase , muscle hardness loss , tried lack of get up and go . I felt that my best option was to use Test Cyp at Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) doses for long term usage. My dose was 100 split in half weekly. No I did not get blood work as this was strictly to feel good , so self medicating and to get better energy and some muscle definition

First signs , Great feeling of wellness , energy levels increased , endurance improvement , multiple workout , fast recovery , weight increase of 8 lbs , immediate increase of libido , fat loss , definition on abs and arms , shoulder mass increase , high cardio , crossfit and weights . I felt freaking great like a new man

Then the crash around week 12 , sudden uncomfortable weight gain of 12 lbs the feeling of being thick in mid section (no diet change ) , low energy levels , very tried and sleepy , decrease in definition , abdominal fat increase . I thought maybe it was due to body requiring more Test , so increased to 150 per week no change got off it .

I truly loved the feeling and I would like to start again however need to eliminate the increase in weight and tiredness . Please could you explain why the sudden change of weight and being so tried and why a lot of people claim to lose weight ? Did I need to add something else with the Test Cyp as that was all I was taking ?

Thanks for your help

I'm by far not an expert at all, but I would have to estimate that this may have something to do with your estrogen levels.
Have you had your e2 tested? Could be estrogen related sides...

Are you taking an AI?

I'll let the other testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) rockstars chime in and I would say, most definitely, listen to their advice!

 

[ridgeback001]

No use of A1 and not been tested , I know I know

 

[Megatron28]

No use of A1 and not been tested , I know I know

Listen to Pitch and get your estradiol tested. That is what does most guys in when taking Test. Are you familiar with aromitisation and AI's?

 

[ridgeback001]

No Unfortunately not , While doing my researched I read a lot on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) , the dosage, benefits and risk however there is not much mention of aromitisation and A1 . Could you recommend a particular reference material , I will be searching myself as well . Thanks

 

[Megatron28]

You can learn a lot just reading the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) section of this forum. Start with the stickies and then keep reading. Read until you can't read anymore.

Basically, Test can "convert" (aromatise) into estrogen. This is done via the aromatase enzyme. An Aromatase inhibitor (AI) (aromatisation inhibitor) stops that enzyme from converting test into estrogen. The more test you have floating around the more that will likely get aromatised into estrogen.

There are different forms of estrogen. The most harmful kind is called estradiol (E2). That is the one you want to check to make sure you are keeping it under control.

 

[halfwit]

I'm by far not an expert at all, but I would have to estimate that this may have something to do with your estrogen levels.
Have you had your e2 tested? Could be estrogen related sides...

Are you taking an AI?

I'll let the other testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) rockstars chime in and I would say, most definitely, listen to their advice!

That would be my guess as well.

OP: You need to talk to your doc and ask that a hormone panel be run to check your Estradiol (E2). It's optimal if he can request it be the sensitive panel, but I have a feeling based on what you're saying that a normal serum test will show you to be at elevated levels. Getting swelling in the feet and face as well?

 

[ridgeback001]

Gents , thank you very much for your help and advice . I have been reading up on this forum both comment from Halfwit and Megatron28 are right on the mark and Yes Halfwit
the Fat Face Look is what got me scared . So the course of action would be get tested for E2 would assume that this should be done prior to re-using of test and run a blocker at the same time , is there an over the counter Estrogen blocker you would suggest or recommend . Once again Gents cant wait to get that great feeling again and that pump feeling.

 

[Megatron28]

Gents , thank you very much for your help and advice . I have been reading up on this forum both comment from Halfwit and Megatron28 are right on the mark and Yes Halfwit
the Fat Face Look is what got me scared . So the course of action would be get tested for E2 would assume that this should be done prior to re-using of test and run a blocker at the same time , is there an over the counter Estrogen blocker you would suggest or recommend . Once again Gents cant wait to get that great feeling again and that pump feeling.

Where are you located? The mentioning of rugby makes me thin you may not be in the US.

How quickly can you get labs? If it is going to take a while you may want to consider cutting back your dose a bit.

Zinc is supposed to help lower estrogen. But it likely may not be strong enough to get you to where you need to be. And I have heard there are some issues with taking zinc for a prolonged time. But it might help a bit until you can get an AI.

In general, the key to gettig your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol dialed in is having frequent blod work done.

 

[halfwit]

Gents , thank you very much for your help and advice . I have been reading up on this forum both comment from Halfwit and Megatron28 are right on the mark and Yes Halfwit
the Fat Face Look is what got me scared . So the course of action would be get tested for E2 would assume that this should be done prior to re-using of test and run a blocker at the same time , is there an over the counter Estrogen blocker you would suggest or recommend . Once again Gents cant wait to get that great feeling again and that pump feeling.

Sorry man, but there really isn't an over the counter way to fix this. I could recommend DIM or Zinc and broccoli, but honestly those won't scratch what's going on as you need a real solution to your real issue here. You need an aromatase inhibitor which is prescribed and can be picked up from your local pharmacy. If your doc doesn't see eye to eye on this with you (it needs to be handled ASAP), please create a thread in the AAS section where I can suggest alternatives that cannot be mentioned in this particular forum out of respect for the sponsor.

 

[ridgeback001]

Alberta Canada , due to the fact that I never went the medical way first and decided to self med, I have no blood work to rely on , however will see my family doc and get lab work done . As a temp fix I have EstroBalance DIM supplement 120mg 2 per day

 

[totalburnout]

You can find ways to get help.

Without having blood work to confirm you're hypogonadal, predicting how a doctors visit will go after self medicating is difficult but you may already know this.

You've shot yourself in the foot because the doctor won't have accurate bloodwork to represent your situation from a baseline perspective. If you're going to do this the right way, you need to get off the sauce, run PCT and then monitor how you feel and where you fall based on bloodwork.