test, ai, and ed

[bitterdregs]

I've been playing with my Aromatase inhibitor (AI) dosage and trying to dial it in a little better. here's the deal and I'd be very interested in some experienced input.

A few days after my very first dose of test from my endo I had erections like superman- I never had an issue before, but I didn't realize how much 'softer' and less full I may have become.

Started a more aggressive test regime (endo was 200mg/3weeks, now at 300mg/week) and added 2x 0.5mg anastrazole for Aromatase inhibitor (AI) (high bf%). Libido is all over the place. One day I'm hitting it 3x and still ready to go, another day I'm flat and can lose erection if there's any distraction or too much effort involved.

I thought maybe my estrogen had crept higher, so I bumped to 1.5mg/wk Aromatase inhibitor (AI) for a couple weeks. Started to notice I was achy and libido went even lower.

Then my next pin of test BOOM! superman was back for a few days. So I dropped the third 0.5mg Aromatase inhibitor (AI) from then on. But I still find there's a lot of up and down (pun intended) in my physical libido. Mentally I can go anytime... it's the erection variability that's of interest. I've never NOT been able to perform, but I sure would like to stay at superman and not be clark kent as often.

Any thoughts?

forgot to mention I also take 500units Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 2x weekly

 

[ScottyB28]

So you're taking 300mg of test c a week and what exactly is your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) dose?

 

[Megatron28]

Do you have lab results? Otherwise you are just guessing. And just curious, how high is your TT at your current dose? 300mg a week is a lot for TRT.

Have you considered splitting your weekly 300mg dose into two 150mg doses every 84 hours? That might help even you out. You could keep taking your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) twice a week too.

 

[bitterdregs]

@b2b: correct, 300 split into 2 injections (sunday, thursday) and 500units Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) pinned tuesday, friday

I take 0.5mg anastrazole on test days, so 1mg/week total. I bumbed to 0.5mg m,w,f 1.5mg total) when I noticed being achy so I cut back to the previous schedule of 1.0mg/week.

that help paint the picture?

@megatron: you're right, doing a 12week bump in test to help me get bf% and lean muscle on track before returning to a more trt-like dose.

 

[ScottyB28]

Inject on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Try lowering your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) dose to .25mg mwf

 

[bitterdregs]

Thanks Scotty... you're thinking my Aromatase inhibitor (AI) is still too high? If it's relevant, my bf was at 37% at my last bodpod (down from 41%). I won't get another for a month or two, but Im proly at 34%now and I'm targeting 25% at next reading
(proly march1)

out of curiosity, why sun-wed instead of sun-thurs? that's basically 2 off, 3 off days whereas I had 3 off, 2 off days. Are you wanting more test during weekdays instead of weekend?

 

[ScottyB28]

No, lol, I edited to Sunday morning and Wednesday night, that's split pretty even. Yeah your Aromatase inhibitor (AI) could still be a little high, try .25 mwf and see what that does.

 

[bitterdregs]

ha, your edit answered my test question, thanks. Any value in going to 3x a week injection? other than to keep the needle company in business and poke more holes in me?

 

[ScottyB28]

No, 2 times a week is all you need.

 

[bitterdregs]

awesome, thanks

I guess at my bf% it's a struggle watching the scale. between spinning, swimming, and lifting I'm in the gym, pool, or in transit all the time. So for a while my weight was dropping and it's stayed the same or gone up now for the last month. I'm sure it's the exchange of bf for muscle, but I'd sure like to get the number down more.

I guess when I see a little bloat and the numbers creep up I want to blame estrogen (instead of salt or carbs or something). It doesn't help that I just started some peptides, which also have a reputation for water retention.

So to put this to bed, should I change the symptom I'm looking for estrogen from bloat to something else like nipple soreness? What do you think is the best indicator(s) for high estrogen? especially in someone famine resistent llike me?

 

[ScottyB28]

Yeah that would be a better indicator then every time you get a little bloat. Or even better, get blood work done after a few weeks of doing this dose.

 

[bitterdregs]

This week I go to a new dr at a wellness center that takes insurance. My endo is good for medical issues, but old school for wellness. He sees no value in testing estrogen even though he does a shit load of blood, liver, kidney, and thyroid tests. So he's not on board with the higher test dose, let alone using an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). if this place isn't different I guess I'll use the private medical labs mentioned here.

I should mention Todd at imt has been great. But I'm always on the prowl for a local medical resource should I have a problem or at least understand what I need done at the lab. As easily as doctors write prescriptions these days, I don't understand the hesitation to run labs.