I have been on trt for a little over four weeks. I take 80mgs Test, 500ius HCG, and 0.125mg of arimidex twice per week. Weekly totals of 160gm test, 1000uis HcG, 0.25 mg of arimidex.
I experience brain fog, poor memory, lethargy, and bloat/water retension exclusively in my belly. I go to the gym infrequently and have major trouble working out. I get fatigued easily and I am not able to push myself anywhere near the limit.
I know many people complain about the water retension issue, especially with regard to HCG use. I am not comfortable with testicular atrophy, which is the main reason I want to be on it.
Has anyone had any success getting rid of water retension? Has anyone tried HMG - human menopausal gonadatropin? Does anyone recommend any supplements or drugs to reduce water retension?
I am not due to get blood work for about another month but I may try to have the labs moved up. I feel like intermittent fasting may help a little but not enough, and it does not help at all with my lethargy. Appetite is fine.
Through searching I have found that HcG will raise estrogen in a way that cannot be lowered by an AI. Also, lower, more frequent doses of HCG seems to raise e2 less.
I plan to follow daily, low doses of hcg of 100-150uis per day. After I finish my bottle I plan to discontinue use for a few weeks to see if it helps. I am with defy and so far I am unimpressed with the way they handled the trt. I am open to all advice.
If HCG us a must consider smaller more frequent dosing. I would give the same advice for TRT dosing where estrogen is proving to be difficult to control.
If you can get away with a low enough dose to where your testicles are not atrophied, that’s a win-win.
You could even consider splitting T dose M/W/F which may lower estrogen further.
Sonewhere else you mentioned that e2 levels out of range can cause penis damage. Can you tell me more about it? Is it high or low e2 that causes the damage?
It’s confusing why clinics prescribe the 3 together at the start. It should be Testosterone only for the first 5-6 weeks then evaluate through bloods. Once a baseline has been established then add the hcg. It would make dialling in a lot smoother/ easier. I think they throw the 3 out there for financial gains from the offset. Money is the priority, then your health.
Yes, sounds right. I have heard great things about Defy but so far I am unimpressed.
I keep searching for ways to deal with reducing water retension and I cannot find much except Vergel, who tried a few different drugs and had success with metformin. I will see if Defy will prescribe it to me.
The bigger issue is my brain fog, lack of energy, poor memory and cognitive issues. I havent seen many guys have these complaintsx which worries me.
I think I am on too high of a dose (but oddly no muscle gains). I think Defy’s reasoningi is my high SHBG (around 50) eats up most of the test. Plus, I feel like I aromatize quite a lot. I dont think 0.125mg of adex is enough.
Drop the hcg. A lot of guys cannot stand the side effects long term. Down side without hcg is tests atrophy. If suggest looking into a serm if defy will provide like Clomid or nolvadex.
I read conflicting information. Some reccommend doing 100ius every day. Others like you recommend a twice per week protocol. Defy wants me to do 500ius twice per week. How much do you think it matters how much I do and how frequently I inject?
Is that lack of energy in general or during working out? My energy is mostly fine now except when I work out. I had to struggle through another workout at the gym today. Other high e2 symptoms are mostly gone though (assuming this is still a high e2 issue).
Thank you. Have you had experience with the symptoms I mention, specifically, lethargy and water retention? I feel like my energy is impoving but it’s still not where it needs to be, and I wont know whether or not it’s an e2 issue until I get my next set of labs.
Someone on tnation told me the water retension should go away as my body adapts to the hormonal changes. Does that sound right?