Lab results are in - Need a little help

[Methylred]

Alright guys, I need some help here. I got my labs back today and some results raised an eyebrow.

I started TRT on 24 Jan 2014 and my doc is a dope. I was prescribed 300 mg test cyp every three weeks. I knew that was stupid so I went with 100 mg per week. No mention from the doc about AI or HCG. After about six weeks into to treatment, I started noticing symptoms of high E2; slightly swollen ankles, ED, low libido, and crying while watching American Idol.

So I added anastrozole at 0.25 mg EOD. Things got better for a while, but then I began to have more problems than before starting treatment. Libido is non-existent, though I can still achieve and maintain an erection (no REM or morning wood though). I have terrible brain fog and am tired all the time. So, I took it upon myself to have some blood work done, as doc won't check anything except CMP, CBC, TT, and PSA.

33 years old
5' 8"
207 lbs
BF 15-18 %
weights and cardio 4 days/week

Blood was drawn 5 days after my last pin
TT: 1053 (348-1197)
FT: 58.97 (5.00-21.00) LabCorp ran a duplicate to confirm
% FT: 5.60 (1.50-4.20)
E2: <3 (3-70) Well, that explains some things
TSH: 1.370 (0.450-4.500)
T4: 7.0 (4.5-12.0)
T3 uptake: 33 (24-39)
Free T4 index: 2.3 (1.2-4.9)
IGF-1: 180 (88-246)
PSA: 0.6 (0.0-4.0)

Okay, so I know I've crashed my E2. I'll be stopping the Adex for a couple of weeks then re-testing. What's more concerning to me is the FT. I didn't have SHBG measured. However I think that, based on %FT, it must be extremely low. I will be getting it tested, along with DHEA and progesterone when I re-test E2. Does this sound like a good plan of action based on the information in hand? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[3J]

you went from one extreme to another.. high e2 to low e2 due to taking way too much adex for your situation..

dont stop the adex.. take it to .25mg twice a week.. keep it there for 3 weeks and retest.. you should be fine..

 

[Jimstigator]

Good advice from 3J. You need to lower the adex dose immediately.

As an expert estrogen crasher - I would handle the fix a little different. From recent experience, I know that it took my estrogen over a month to rebound from <3 to 15 after I stopped taking adex completely.

If I had the blood work you just did, I would stop all adex for a few (2-3) weeks, then maybe get back on at a much lower dose. Hold that new dose, whatever you choose, for a few weeks, then re-test. .25 twice a week might be that for you, but maybe not. Truth be told, I actually stopped it and never started again, which is another route. Keep testing every few weeks and you might find you don't need it. I take 100mg of test a week, split over a few more shots than you, and .25mg adex twice a week easily crashes me.

Maybe switching to 50mg test every 3.5 days will keep your E2 under control without an AI.

Definitely varies from person to person.

-Jim

 

[Mprtz]

I agree with stopping the adex for several weeks. I'd dose AI at 0.25mg per week (day after shot) then test again after 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[3J]

like said earlier.. stopping adex for several weeks is a bad idea.. just lower it and ride it out..

 

[Virginian]

like said earlier.. stopping adex for several weeks is a bad idea.. just lower it and ride it out..

What's the reason that it's a bad idea?

 

[3J]

Estrogen rebound

 

[Methylred]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I think I'll knock the Adex down to 0.10 mg EOD and hold there for a month or so. I'm also contemplating going the slin pin route and injecting 30 mg EOD. I was thinking this might help if SHBG is low. But maybe I should get the E2 issues sorted out first... I don't want to change more than one variable at a time. Also, what's the general opinion of the LabCorp E2 sensitive test? I know at one time there were some issues but I heard that has since been resolved.

 

[Mprtz]

Estrogen rebound

Seems to me that if E2 is crashed below range a rebound is just what you're looking for. Can you elaborate on what you think will happen?

 

[3J]

You go from Having too low to too high.. Again one extreme to another... Reducing the adex will slowly bring the estrogen back up to where it belongs without going too high

 

[Mprtz]

While the timing of starting AI back up is debatable, continuing to take AI at any dose when E2 is crashed is going to delay recovery.

 

[3J]

While the timing of starting AI back up is debatable, continuing to take AI at any dose when E2 is crashed is going to delay recovery.

we'll have to agree to disagree.. lol..

i think he'll be fine if he switches over.. aromatization happens fairly quickly..

 

[jozifp103]

^^^agreed. once test levels have built up, aromatization happens fairly quick. hell this week i missed 2 adex doses in a row and i swear i started growing a vagina.

in all seriousness, i've crashed me e2 to 11 once before and stopped adex for 2 weeks and i was back up to 70. i am a fanatic about bloodwork, i get it anytime i feel a little off. but it has helped me see how quick levels can fluctuate when making changes to my protocol.