I have been fortunate that I have been able to have total T levels at about 900 and free T mid range at about 15 without an AI. My E2 levels have been a little high at 30 but I was trying to hold off on taking an AI to have one less moving variable to manage. I am now going to add a low dose of AI and manage E2 to 22.
Keeping my T dose the same, any guess of how that may impact Total and Free T levels? I expect them to go up as less estrogen will tie up the sites but not sure by how much (I take 22mg Cyp and 100mg HCG EOD). Also any thoughts on how Adex impacts HDL cholesterol numbers?
I think the boost could be pretty significant. A study of elderly men testing the effects of AI alone bumped total T levels from the mid 300s to the mid 500s ng/dl. Bioavailable T jumped up too. They were taking a lot of anastrozole (one group taking 1mg every day, another group taking 1mg twice per week), so their E2 dropped to the teens, but it still illustrates the effect. http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2003-031467
Yes - 77mg a week. I wound up at this dose after almost two years of trial and error moving Cyp and HCG doses taking good notes and getting labs every month or so. I use a 30 G, 1/3 cc, 5/16 inch needle and always did SC to the top of the thigh. I actually started with a higher dose of 120mg Cyp and 700mg HCG a week but just had too many sides. So my dose is lower than most.
Unfortunately a protocol is like a custom suit. May fit one person great but totally not work for someone else. My suggestion is start low, take really good notes in Excel on how you feel with dosage info and get frequent blood work until you get the right dose. See if you can get to a good place without an AI (it seems most people can not) and add an AI as needed. Problem with three variables is it is more to manage and harder to nail down the best dose.
I felt really great on that dose then my DR. suggested adding DHEA. That had the impact of increasing my E2, increasing my SBHG, lower free T and lower HDL. So obviously not a good move for me. Since stoping the DHEA I am back in action and now may not mess with the AI - still deciding.
I would be interested to know what your side effects were with the higher dose of T. I have just started at 100 mg per week injecting twice a week. No HCG and no AI. Just took my second shot in my first week.