Need Advice Please!

[LowTDude]

Hello guys. I need some advice again. I have been going to a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) clinic for a few months. On 5/12 I had my labs come back to 136 ng/dL. The clinic put me on 100mg weekly injections of test cyp. At first I started feeling a little better and sleeping better but nothing great. Ive had a few more labs done since then. Here they are:

5/1/2012:

Estradiol: 23.0 pg/mL (Reference Interval 7.6-42.6)
Prostate Specific Ag, Serum: 0.5 ng/mL (Reference Interval 0.0-4.0)
Testosterone, Serum: 136 ng/dL (Reference Interval 348-1197)
Hemoglobin: 15.3 g/dL (Reference Interval 12.5-17.0)
LH: 4.1 mIU/mL (Reference Interval 1.7-8.6)
FSH: 1.5 mIU/mL (Reference Interval 1.5-12.4)
Prolactin: 8.5 ng/mL (Reference Interval 4.0-15.2)

5/23/2012:

Estradoil: 31.0 pg/mL (Reference Interval 7.6-42.6)
Testosterone: 340 ng/dL (Reference Interval 348-1197)
Hemoglobin: 15.5 g/dL (Reference Interval 12.5-17.0)

Was given the Anaztrozole right after this lab came back due to higher Estrogen levels. .5mg twice a week.
Also started Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) twice a week.

8/2/2012:

Prostate Specific Ag, Serum: 0.7 ng/mL (Reference Interval 0.0-4.0)
Testosterone: 445 ng/dL (Reference Interval 348-1197)
Sex Horm Binding Glob, Serum: 12.8 nmol/L (Reference Interval 16.5-55.9)
Estradiol: 17.5 pg/mL (Reference Interval 7.6-42.6)
Hemoglobin: 16.7 g/dL (Reference Interval 12.6-17.7)
Albumium: 4.3 g/dL
Free Testosterone: 14.3 ng/dL = 3.13%
Bioavailable Testosterone: 334 ng/dL = 73.4%

8/15

Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total: 37 ng/mL
Vitamin D, 25-OH, D3: 37 ng/mL
Vitamin D, 25-OH, D2: <4 ng/mL

Total Testosterone: 668 ng/dL
Free Testosterone: 189.7 pg/mL

I am now on 180mg of test cyp a week and .25mg of Anaztrozole twice a week. Since upping my dosage I actually feel worse. More tired and more anxiety as well as problems with sleep. I am wondering if I should tell my clinic to lower me to 100mg-120mg of test cyp a week. Would I feel better? The clinic also had me on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for a few weeks on then off then on again. Would there be any harm on being on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for good or do I need to do cycles of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) like they tell me? I could really use some help because I feel like crap guys. I am about to start a police academy soon and I really need to be feeling better. Thanks for any help.

Some info on me: 28 years old, 5'5", 175 pounds, 21% BF.

My doctor is also sending me to get a brain MRI and also some others labs taken.

 

[Megatron28]

Have you had a sleep study done? I have read that doing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can make sleep apnea problems worse.

 

[LowTDude]

I'm actually getting it done soon. My doctor thinks that I may have sleep apnea. If so, then I really should lower my dosage right?

 

[LowTDude]

Anyone?

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Hello guys. I need some advice again. I have been going to a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) clinic for a few months. On 5/12 I had my labs come back to 136 ng/dL. The clinic put me on 100mg weekly injections of test cyp. At first I started feeling a little better and sleeping better but nothing great. Ive had a few more labs done since then. Here they are:

5/1/2012:

Estradiol: 23.0 pg/mL (Reference Interval 7.6-42.6)
Prostate Specific Ag, Serum: 0.5 ng/mL (Reference Interval 0.0-4.0)
Testosterone, Serum: 136 ng/dL (Reference Interval 348-1197)
Hemoglobin: 15.3 g/dL (Reference Interval 12.5-17.0)
LH: 4.1 mIU/mL (Reference Interval 1.7-8.6)
FSH: 1.5 mIU/mL (Reference Interval 1.5-12.4)
Prolactin: 8.5 ng/mL (Reference Interval 4.0-15.2)

5/23/2012:

Estradoil: 31.0 pg/mL (Reference Interval 7.6-42.6)
Testosterone: 340 ng/dL (Reference Interval 348-1197)
Hemoglobin: 15.5 g/dL (Reference Interval 12.5-17.0)

Was given the Anaztrozole right after this lab came back due to higher Estrogen levels. .5mg twice a week.
Also started Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) twice a week.

8/2/2012:

Prostate Specific Ag, Serum: 0.7 ng/mL (Reference Interval 0.0-4.0)
Testosterone: 445 ng/dL (Reference Interval 348-1197)
Sex Horm Binding Glob, Serum: 12.8 nmol/L (Reference Interval 16.5-55.9)
Estradiol: 17.5 pg/mL (Reference Interval 7.6-42.6)
Hemoglobin: 16.7 g/dL (Reference Interval 12.6-17.7)
Albumium: 4.3 g/dL
Free Testosterone: 14.3 ng/dL = 3.13%
Bioavailable Testosterone: 334 ng/dL = 73.4%

8/15

Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total: 37 ng/mL
Vitamin D, 25-OH, D3: 37 ng/mL
Vitamin D, 25-OH, D2: <4 ng/mL

Total Testosterone: 668 ng/dL
Free Testosterone: 189.7 pg/mL

I am now on 180mg of test cyp a week and .25mg of Anaztrozole twice a week. Since upping my dosage I actually feel worse. More tired and more anxiety as well as problems with sleep. I am wondering if I should tell my clinic to lower me to 100mg-120mg of test cyp a week. Would I feel better? The clinic also had me on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for a few weeks on then off then on again. Would there be any harm on being on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for good or do I need to do cycles of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) like they tell me? I could really use some help because I feel like crap guys. I am about to start a police academy soon and I really need to be feeling better. Thanks for any help.

Some info on me: 28 years old, 5'5", 175 pounds, 21% BF.

My doctor is also sending me to get a brain MRI and also some others labs taken.

Your Vitamin D3 is really low you need to get that up. Also your E is a lil low. Need to also test ferritin and DHEA to see about adrenal fatigue.

Also your free roaming is really high compared to TT, I think the Adex is culprit. This is why you feel worse when you upped your dose.

 

[SamSong]

Why so low in the T? I know I don't feel good mentally until I'm well above the top of the so-called normal range, and my doc is very happy with that. I'd aim for 1,600 or so. Call me crazy, but that's what works for me. (I'm actually higher than that.) It's worth a try. My E is too high, I'm taking the same amount of Adex as you, but split into four doses per week.

 

[rowdybrad]

What was your E2 level on the last test when your TT went up?

I am on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and have sleep apnea as well, I have no problems if I sleep on my side and the cleaner I eat the less noise and issues I have. I dropped a few pounds and it got better quick. I assume you are overweight?

 

[LowTDude]

Your Vitamin D3 is really low you need to get that up. Also your E is a lil low. Need to also test ferritin and DHEA to see about adrenal fatigue.

Also your free roaming is really high compared to TT, I think the Adex is culprit. This is why you feel worse when you upped your dose.

I told the clinic to bring me down to 150mg a week. Should I ask them to go lower? Maybe down to 100mg? I started taking .5mg of Anaztrozole twice a week when I first started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and now I am down to .25mg twice a week. So .5mg total for a week. I have been taking D vitamins too. What do you suggest I do as far as my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) treatment? I recently had some blood work done that the endo sent for me to do, but the dumb ass refused to check my E. I will post the results of that test when I get it. I guess I am going to have to pay out of pocket and get blood work myself. Any suggestions in the mean time that I can tell my clinic to adjust? Thanks for the replies guys I really appreciate the help

 

[LowTDude]

What was your E2 level on the last test when your TT went up?

I am on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and have sleep apnea as well, I have no problems if I sleep on my side and the cleaner I eat the less noise and issues I have. I dropped a few pounds and it got better quick. I assume you are overweight?

Here's the thing, when I was first diagnosed with it, the doctor said the results from the sleep test said I barely had sleep apnea but the numbers came back just high enough to actually be diagnosed with it. I tried using the CPAP machine but I couldnt stand it, went to the doc again and he said to lose weight and that I should be good. So I lost like 40-45 pounds but I still feel like crap. I dont know if its the sleep apnea or something else wrong with me. When I found out I had low T I thought my prayers had been answered and I finally found out what was wrong with me, but thats not the case because I still feel crappy. As I mentioned above, im 5'5'' 175 pounds 20-21% BF. I could stand to lose another 15 or 20.

 

[Mr P]

DET-OAK nails it again

 

[300winmag]

Have you been checked for iron defiency which i beleive has something to with ferritin or thyroid issues. may also get a cortisol test.

 

[SamSong]

DET-OAK nails it again

It's too early to call, Mr P. I think Det has raised more questions than he answered.

Sleep apnea: I have it super-mild, I have a CPAP which took forever to get used to, now I use it a lot. Even travel with it. I wake more refreshed. ( I wish my wife had one but I'm too scared to suggest it.)

I don't think anyone can make the call that T isn't high enough. Unless mine is above the top of the scale I feel like shit - below that I feel that the T is doing nothing positive and plenty negative (higher E, sore nips - but the symptoms of high E aren't reflected in the blood test).

Sure, Vitamin D is an issue, the free T ratio is high compared to total T, but I can't agree with Det on the available evidence that the Adex is too high. 0.5mg per week of Adex isn't that much.

My take: the jury is still out. Actually, we're still hearing evidence.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I told the clinic to bring me down to 150mg a week. Should I ask them to go lower? Maybe down to 100mg? I started taking .5mg of Anaztrozole twice a week when I first started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and now I am down to .25mg twice a week. So .5mg total for a week. I have been taking D vitamins too. What do you suggest I do as far as my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) treatment? I recently had some blood work done that the endo sent for me to do, but the dumb ass refused to check my E. I will post the results of that test when I get it. I guess I am going to have to pay out of pocket and get blood work myself. Any suggestions in the mean time that I can tell my clinic to adjust? Thanks for the replies guys I really appreciate the help

Well I think the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) may be the reason you feel like crap, when e is suppressed so is SHBG, while this is good for some guys to an extent, it seems it is driving yours too low.

I have seen many guys with really low SHBG, even some that have always had it from the beginning and they have no way of raising it. Altering hormone levels is the only way I know of adjusting it. So if you let your E go up a bit so will SHBG.

The other day I saw a thread on a guy and his Dr told him that he thinks since his SHBG is so low, there is not enough to carry the testosterone to its target tissues. Makes sense to me, like I said I have always seen guys low dose or come off Aromatase inhibitor (AI) and raise there SHBG into high normal and they feel better.

This may or may not be the problem, but its an easier fix than adrenal fatigue. Its worth a shot.