[quote]KSman wrote:
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Thanks KSMAN – I theorized IBD as well, then had a scope and tissue samples taken and so far they haven’t been able to prove that, so the diagnosis is still IBS until they nail it one of these days…
Update: Starting to see some improvement already. Think the IBS flare was definitely the cause of my crash this time.
Something completely separate that I wanted to log was that I hadn’t tried any Cialis 5MG for several months after experiencing right ear hearing loss + ringing. My ENT recommended I stay off of it, and use shorter acting stuff - so I had been using some Stendra without issue instead.
For some reason I decided to try a couple of Cialis 5MG this weekend to kick start my recovery, and while the erectile results were excellent – I experienced an increased ringing in my right ear which still hasn’t gone away. I’m definitely going to stay away from Cialis in the future, as it seems I’ve got a pretty bad issue with it and tinnitus. A real shame, since it’s such an amazing drug and has helped with so many aspects of my treatment in the past.
Man, I could have written this entire log myself. It’s like looking at my personal story, seriously.
I’m in the “just crashed again/IBS/no balls even with HCG” period at this moment. Adex is my #1 enemy…if I could punch it in the throat and then drag it behind my truck for several miles I would lol.
Getting an AI dialed in is the worst part of TRT.
This guy is going to try the every 10 day route for a few months… I’m either always too low or too high…
Our dosage schedule is damned near identical at this point, except I run 200 IU’s of HCG EOD and 50 MG of DHEA at night. Off Adex for three weeks right now, crashed again after three months on .25 a week.
I’ll let you know how it turns out…off to the bathroom again… I SOOOOO wish I wasn’t serious.
[quote]TheGoodSGT wrote:
Man, I could have written this entire log myself. It’s like looking at my personal story, seriously.
I’m in the “just crashed again/IBS/no balls even with HCG” period at this moment. Adex is my #1 enemy…if I could punch it in the throat and then drag it behind my truck for several miles I would lol.
Getting an AI dialed in is the worst part of TRT.
This guy is going to try the every 10 day route for a few months… I’m either always too low or too high…
Our dosage schedule is damned near identical at this point, except I run 200 IU’s of HCG EOD and 50 MG of DHEA at night. Off Adex for three weeks right now, crashed again after three months on .25 a week.
I’ll let you know how it turns out…off to the bathroom again… I SOOOOO wish I wasn’t serious.[/quote]
Always happy to hear from another TRT/IBS warrior! 
I got tired of IBS, and normal doctors trying to put me on Antibiotics thinking it might be Diverticulitis, etc etc… finally saw a Chinese/eastern doc who practiced acupuncture and some other things. After 3-4 acupuncture sessions without a ton of improvement, she suggested I started eating raw Sauerkraut of all things. A couple fork fulls, 2-3 times per day. I noticed improvement almost immediately. Within a week, my IBS outbreak was all but done. She said it’s not just the probiotics in there, but cabbage has a chemical in it that is great for the digestion. You might give it a try
Same effect as whole cider vinegar?
I know I’m danged sick of it…
On top of it all I get horrible bouts of chest and throat pain…like I’m in a constant anxiety attack while being force fed a softball.
It always comes on when I crash.
I’m in one of those crashed states again now, hopefully a blood dump and labs next week will help.
TheGoodSGT: create your own thread please 
Update: I seem to be crashing again. No real MW in a couple weeks, sex drive is lower, sleep quality is poor, and body is “weak” when I go to exercise, etc… My gut seems OK… so I think my E2 is out of wack, so I’m doing some experimentation trying to get that back where it needs to be. I’ve noticed that adjustments to ADEX don’t ever give immediate results, so whatever you do – you’ve got to give yourself a good 10-14 days to respond before you adjust again. It’s like trying to drive a car on Mars with a 10 minute delay every time you make a turn – you’ve got to plan way out… I’ll let you know when I get it figured out.
[quote]TheGoodSGT wrote:
On top of it all I get horrible bouts of chest and throat pain…like I’m in a constant anxiety attack while being force fed a softball.
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These are typical symptoms of reflux or perhaps even a stomach ulcer, including the feeling of anxiety. Your brain can interpret the reflux spasm as anxiety. You may well find that Gaviscon or Omeprazole reduces these symptoms including the feeling of anxiety.
[quote]seekonk wrote:
[quote]TheGoodSGT wrote:
On top of it all I get horrible bouts of chest and throat pain…like I’m in a constant anxiety attack while being force fed a softball.
[/quote]
These are typical symptoms of reflux or perhaps even a stomach ulcer, including the feeling of anxiety. Your brain can interpret the reflux spasm as anxiety. You may well find that Gaviscon or Omeprazole reduces these symptoms including the feeling of anxiety. [/quote]
I have reflux and can agree that this is true. Nasty condition that isn’t easy to spot as weird as it may sound. Gastroscopy will tell you for certain.
UPDATE: I was dialed in again great for some time, finding that my AI needed to be adjusted to regain 100% sexual function. Still wasn’t getting great MW – but everything else was fine.
Then my doctor left the state, and my prescriptions expired while I was waiting to travel out of town to see him. I’m back on my meds now, but full function still hasn’t returned. I also experienced one of the worst IBS type attacks I’ve had during this period – possibly influenced by stress, but I’ve been reading that wide hormone swings have been shown to modulate IBS (cause attacks) – so guessing this was all tied together with my T crashing. When I finally got in to see the doc and get back on meds, my T was at 53.
Hopefully better updates coming soon…
Before my meds expired, I was experimenting with using Androgel 1.62% at the end of my injection cycle to help balance out the highs + lows, and I think it was working well. My TRT doc agrees that this can be a great treatment, so I’m hoping to post some more results from that treatment once I get back to a good baseline.
One quick update: Although I was on only .35ML every 5 days + 1/2 Adex tab every 10 days for a long time successfully, I already noticed that this isn’t working for me after coming completely off everything and restarting. I’m thinking it’s because it takes a while for the T injections and AI doses to build up in my system (T lasts up to 14 days once injected I believe, so my 5 day injection cycle overlaps somewhat to keep the baseline pretty stable?). Still getting some nipple tingling, so I went ahead with a full tab of Adex today, thinking you need to take more AI when you’re starting up than when you’re stable and base-lining for long periods of time. I’ll post those results down the road.
9 days later – still not back to 100%… Feeling about 50%… Still thinking the E2 is high, and that there is a trick to starting up Anastrazole that I am missing. I’ve been using more than normal, but only catching MW towards the end of a 5 day cycle, so I could be wrong and E2 could be too low. Still working on this…
What symptoms are you experiencing?
I’m thinking take less Test and less AI. If you have less TT to convert, your E2 should go down naturally. As you already know AI dosing can harm erection quality, especially if you are taking higher doses on a regular basis. I wouldn’t take it too often. I would aim at 450-500 TT, and as little AI as possible. This is closer to a normal mans levels, and hopefully your E2 conversion will come in check, so your E2 would be 20-30 range. More than likely your ED symptoms would go away, and hopefully your high E2 symptoms as well.
Hi Hakrjak. You need to understand that taking 0.5mg anastrotsole every 10 days is NOT the way to go. When you’ve been on low T, it’s normal for your nipples to tingle when you start trt injections. It will go away in time. Anastrotzole half time is about 48 hours. It’s type 2 inhibitor, not type 1, it will NOT permanently deactivate aromatase enzyme. Hence you’re really not doing yourself any favors by using it in such a manner. . Moderation and time is the key, definitely not 0.5mg e10d or 1mg. I’m currently doing 0.25mg e3d and things are improving, it will build in your system and it’s potent drug so better to start it more cautiously than just rushing in. I kinda missed if you did recent labs, but you need to go to check your levels to know where you stand you cannot think “my e2 is too low, or maybe i’m wrong it’s too high”. If i’d have to guess considering what i’ve read, i’d say your E2 is too high if you get morning wood 5 days after injecting 0.35 what ever it is you’re using. 
Know it’s been some time. But wondering how it’s going?
Great thread! Thanks!
Sorry I haven’t updated this thread in a while. TRT is definitely a journey, not a destination.
Over the past 2 years, have gotten back to 100% for the majority of the time as my body returned to “normal” after I continued my regimen of a .3ish injection every 5 days + 1/2 of an Adex tab every 10 days or so. Labs have confirmed each time that when I test (even toward the end of a 10 day cycle) that my E2 is usually in the teens or low twenties, which seems to confirm my theory on just how little Adex is required for some people to keep their levels low, even though it’s half-life is low – it takes my body a while to ramp up E2 levels after just a small dose.
IBS has been under control better than in the past. Complicated regimen there that included sauerkraut when things were really bad, and discovered Heather’s tummy tamer mint tea + the “digest zen” essential oil from Doterra which seems to really head off a flare up when it happens. Have still noticed that belly problems can coincide with a crash in overall well-being and sexual performance though, and disrupt sleep – which could really be the culprit in my case.
Some new considerations and observations I have over the past 2 years are:
- I definitely feel better at lower altitude. (I am a somewhat frequent flyer, and have noticed for sure that when I’m at my home at 6500 ft. vs. at sea level, I notice a big difference in sexual performance, which has got to be thickness of blood caused by the high altitude. After only a few days at sea-level, I generally improve quite a bit.)
- Long term use of IM needles appears to be building up scar tissue on my glutes. I’ve been on TRT for probably about 8 years at this point, and it’s starting to take it’s toll in that injections can sometimes feel like sticking the needle through a wine cork in certain parts of my body. Not sure if I can relate those injections to times when I feel less than great – but it’s a possibility. This has me strongly considering moving to SC injections in the belly utilizing insulin needles in the near future.
- If I fell better towards the end of a 5 day T cycle, it’s probably because my E2 was knocked down too low and it’s springing back up towards the end. Confirmed this with my doctor who has the same theory + blood tests. He says that some guys just don’t feel 100% unless their E2 is in a very specific range. Some guys feel great with it in the single digits though.
- When sleep is good, I feel much better. Went on vacation recently by the ocean (sea level) and slept like a baby with no stomach issues for 9 days. Felt like $1M bucks.
Wishing everyone continued health and performance…