AI advice for rising E. DIM reports?

Pharma
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I have been using various ways to keep T levels up over the last several years, including clomiphene for several years and then HCG injections for the last 4 - 5 years. I have taken various AIs to keep E in its correct range (otherwise I tend to get really high E). The aim of these treatments was to make sure I could make babies after a vasectomy reversal*. It worked. One reason I went off clomiphene (which did raise my T very nicely) was it also gave me ever increasing E levels and required ever increasing AI to stay ahead. I was taking arimedex at the time and felt so utterly shitty by the end I decided never again for that drug. I determined that I do not tolerate AI well at all, and had lots of joint pain, crankiness low libido and such which went away when I went off it, like magic.

Switch to HCG which again worked really great, but gave me rising E. Started 1/4 of 2.5 mg letrozole nightly and that worked well enough. I slowly quit responding to HCG and have started actual T replacement. For one thing, we are done with kids and it can act like birth control. For another, I had other health issues (needed hip replacement, thyroid cancer, all better now) that cause huge weight gain, so I have to get that off. My training the last few years in particular has been crap, and I was feeling terrible for other reasons than AI.

First 2 months on T was same AI dose and 200 mg TC weekly, resulting in T levels of 1400+ and barely measurable E. I respond outrageously well to AIs. Went off the AI and reduced the shot to 160 mg. Most recent labs (after 6 weeks on this) were T is 1000, E was 71. Before E levels had risen too high, I felt fabulous! I have been hitting the gym seriously again and losing weight (down 25 pounds). High E means I feel bloaty and low libido, though don’t have a lot of the other symptoms guys get.

So with T:E = 13.5 (anything outside of 50 < T:E < 35 makes me feel bad), I went back on the AI. After a week, even at this minimal dose, I am not feeling good at all. Back to achy joints which makes me not want to train. Without AI, I’d hit it hard and feel mostly recovered the next day. Now I get feedback that I have not recovered, which I think is wrong, but I also don’t want to over do it.

Here are my questions:

  1. Is anyone else really sensitive to AIs? What do you do?
  2. Should I stick with an AI again? Will these issues just abate if I stick with it? (Not sure how it works with T vs. HCG)
  3. My doctor told me that DIM might be an option. Does that work?
  4. If DIM works, how long does it take? I.e. when should I get tested next?

At this point, I am just trying to get normal levels of everything since this is the first time I’ve done T.

Thanks!

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  • Note from my (excellent) male endocrine doc is that a large number of his patients are males that are 10+ years post V and for some reason, their T levels just tank. He suspects this is a widespread issue. I was 12 years and was astonished my T levels were < 200 when I did the pre-op run up.
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Have you tried aromasin instead of arimidex? It’s very mild and blocks conversion instead of attacking estrogen. Might be worth a try.

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Aromasin was a game changer for me. I need 2.25 pills per week but have not side effects from it. Armidex ruined my joints

1 Like
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Everyone is different for example Aromasin almost killed me, i had no issues with letrozole.

Aromasin is a tricky one cuz it is not an E2 suppressor or killer, it kills the enzyme which is making the estrogen in your bloodstream.

I do have a post named “my crashed E2 story” i think thats the name, you should check that one out. More estrogen is better than ZERO! It is way too big of a risk, and the side effects can last up to months…

If you are concerned about the nipple/ gyno issues, i would just use nolvadex and thats it.
You should aim for a 20:1 test - estrogen ratio. For me I feel good only in the 80-100 range. Anything lower gives me panick attacks, insomnia, heart issues.