Hi All,
Brief background: 2+ yrs Cancer free now, about to turn 24, 6ft 175 lbs, one testicle left. low T after orchiectomy surgery August '15 (rapid hairloss noticed in the months after surgery, had full head of hear and no balding before this), then chemo Feb '16 other symptoms like ED, mild gynecomastia, low motivation, and depression ensued (didn’t help the hairloss either obviously, but still look like a balding man now 2 years later on top and back of head. hairline hasn’t receded though). Seems like the one ball just wasn’t up to the task?
Was on varying doses of clomid to try and address the low t over the last 2 years, it helped raise my t levels from 7 nmol/L to about 18 nmol/L but also raised e2 very high and didn’t make me feel much different at all and no symptom improvement. However, it did wonders for my sperm count and fertility. Happy to answer any clomid questions people may have.
However, in pursuit of actually feeling better and more like I used to before cancer, I have started TRT. I am currently on 50mg test cyp. E3.5D, plus 500IU hcg E3.5D to hopefully preserve fertility. I take both Monday morning, and then again Thurs night.
It’s been 3 weeks since starting this protocol and here are my early results:
Total Test: 36.7 nmol/L (8-32) HIGH
Estradiol: 198 pmol/L (40-162) HIGH
**This test was taken the Friday morning after injection, in the future I will aim to test thursday’s before the injections later that night.
I understand more tests are required, such as SHBG, LH, FSH, which I will be completing in about 4 more weeks, however as part of my cancer surveillance for tumour markers, I was able to request that the total T and e2 test be added just so I could take advantage of the blood tests and keep track of how I’m responding to TRT.
So given that both these results are high, what would you guys recommend? Dosing down on the test? Or dosing down on the HCG? Or is it simply because it’s was the morning after injection? I have started to notice days here and there where symptoms are better… but still no morning erections, I feel like theres reduced amount of ejaculate, and on the day before my injections, my testicle feels a bit softer than usual. Wondering also if higher e2 could be due to clomid left in my system?
Ps. I have done other tests to try and find the stem of my Low T prior to starting clomid and TRT + HCG, such as Thyroid TSH tests, and all appears normal. So maybe just having one ball after all doesn’t cut it for me. I am also generally quite low SHBG, average around 11 nmol/l on no prescription, which Raised to around 17-19 nmol/l while on clomid. Unfortunately it’s not common practice to take a baseline of T before surgery to remove the cancerous testicle, which I feel is very stupid and I would strongly recommend anyone in the same situation make sure to do. So I dont have a pre-cancer T level. I have a whole slew of blood tests and T levels taken over the last 2 years while initially on no meds, to varying doses of clomid if those are of interest, I’d be happy to share.
Just looking for some advice or suggestions to take to my Urologist when I meet with him to follow up at the end of July, or things I can start doing now like dosing down in efforts to mitigate any harm of e2. Unfortunately isn’t not easy getting a e2 sensitive test in Canada, I’m in Toronto. Getting on T and all the test I have so far required extensive arguing with docs and shopping around to find one willing to treat me despite my cancer history and young age.
I appreciate any help and I’m happy to answer any further questions.
Thanks!!