Eight years ago my glands stopped working. After trying Androderm and Androgel my endocrinologist changed to testosterone cypionate. My free testosterone levels came up to 33.7. Because of my exercise regimine I had to use 200mg every week instead of every two weeks. Life returned to normal.
Recently I’ve begun to feel some of the old symptoms of low T levels return. My primary care doctor had a blood test performed and my free T levels are at 18, yet I still inject 200mg every week. My doctor has increased my dosage to 250mg.
The only change in my supplementation usage, in the last 18 months, is that Ive been using Rez-V.
Is it possible that Rez-V can cause T levels to be used at a faster rate?
I have seen some guys who seem to eat T and need large amounts for some reason, and sometimes a need to increase amounts over time to hold levels.
Injecting every two weeks was a big mistake.
You may feel better injecting twice a week.
When you tested FT=33.7, when was that in your weekly cycle… half way? It should be half way and that should not be changed as that can have its own effect on the results.
What you are feeling can also be from estradiol… what numbers for that? Do you take Arimidex/anastrozole?
Total T [TT] numbers are useful for determining your dose. FT can then vary from the effects of SHBG. SHBG varies with your E2 levels. E2 clearance by the liver is affected by health and drugs, Rx or OTC, plus alcohol, stimulants etc.
What else can you post about your lab results? Do you have copies of your labs from over the years?
Electronics… have you ever tested for heavy metals?
This article is an eye opener for me. I was recently diagnosed with low T (I’m 46 y/o) and they prescribed Androgel therapy and although it seems to have helped I thought I would have noticed more of a difference. Is there and anti-estrogen suppliment that you would recommend? Or is there something else I need to be doing to get the most out of the Andro?
[quote]brucemc wrote:
This article is an eye opener for me. I was recently diagnosed with low T (I’m 46 y/o) and they prescribed Androgel therapy and although it seems to have helped I thought I would have noticed more of a difference. Is there and anti-estrogen suppliment that you would recommend? Or is there something else I need to be doing to get the most out of the Andro?
[/quote]
Do you have TT, FT and E2 lab numbers to post? Open a new thread. This sticky should not become general purpose. You need those lab numbers to take this question forward. That is the short answer. Supplements are, to quote someone else, like taking a knife to a gun fight.
Lots of great information but I just want to remind everyone that ALC needs to be coupled with ALA. The reason is that ALC increases mitochondrial activity, which is good in those of us facing middle age, and therefore free radicals. You need the ALA for protection. See this link for some of the details:
Anyone ever heard of a poor or non-responder to anastrozole? I have been taking between .5-1mg ED and my most recent BT has my E2 at 59pg/ml. Some other numbers from the same test:
Total T 1415 ng/dl
Free T >53.0 pg/dl
SHBG 8 nmol/l
I have been reading this forum for a couple of years now and I know well the posts of KSMan, Happy Dog and others. I do not recall ever hearing anyone say that anastrozole did not work for them. Yet here I am.
Any instructive comments appreciated. BTW hope I am not hijacking. Tihs question seemed appropriate to this thread.
Great thread. I am Just curious, anyone doing AI only, no TRT? I want to try to decrease my Estrogen with some type of AI but I don?t really know where to begin in selection and dosage. If I understand correctly I don?t want to complete eliminate my E-levels. I?ve also, read something else interesting…
[quote]
Aromasin is a type-I inhibitor, meaning that once it has done its job, and deactivated the aromatase enzyme, we don?t need it anymore. Letrozole and Arimidex actually need to remain present to continue their effects. This is possibly why Nolvadex does not alter the pharmacokinetics of Aromasin.[/quote]
Can someone dummy this down for me? Why would the preferred AI be Adex and not Aromasin? Also, What is the script name for Aromasin?
Aromasin (Exemestane)is a suicide aromitase inhibitor, and adex is just an aromitase inhibitor.
What is the difference…? Aromasin (at 25mg’s/day) supposedly removes up to 85% of estrogen production after taking it for a week to reach steady blood levels, and then lingers on for another week or so due to its’ half life. The problem can too easily be too little estrogen too fast, and then two weeks or so with no estrogen at all…
Whereas adex at 1mg/day drops the estrogen level approx. 50% after 24 hours, but it isn’t as aggressive as Exemestane, and if you have taken too much, the effects will start to diminish after 36 to 48 hours, as opposed to one to two weeks.
A little estrogen is good for brain function, bone density, and a few other things so “killing” estrogen is really a bad idea.
Does this answer your question?
[quote]KNB wrote:
Aromasin (Exemestane)is a suicide aromitase inhibitor, and adex is just an aromitase inhibitor.
What is the difference…? Aromasin (at 25mg’s/day) supposedly removes up to 85% of estrogen production after taking it for a week to reach steady blood levels, and then lingers on for another week or so due to its’ half life. The problem can too easily be too little estrogen too fast, and then two weeks or so with no estrogen at all…
Whereas adex at 1mg/day drops the estrogen level approx. 50% after 24 hours, but it isn’t as aggressive as Exemestane, and if you have taken too much, the effects will start to diminish after 36 to 48 hours, as opposed to one to two weeks.
A little estrogen is good for brain function, bone density, and a few other things so “killing” estrogen is really a bad idea.
Does this answer your question?
[/quote]
Yes it does. So With Adex you have to continue taking it correct? And if so, what will happen when you stop? I assume nothing other than reverting to what was the norm beforehand. And Finally, do you or does anyone for that matter recommend taking an AI only?
[quote]KNB wrote:
Aromasin (Exemestane)is a suicide aromitase inhibitor, and adex is just an aromitase inhibitor.
What is the difference…? Aromasin (at 25mg’s/day) supposedly removes up to 85% of estrogen production after taking it for a week to reach steady blood levels, and then lingers on for another week or so due to its’ half life. The problem can too easily be too little estrogen too fast, and then two weeks or so with no estrogen at all…
Whereas adex at 1mg/day drops the estrogen level approx. 50% after 24 hours, but it isn’t as aggressive as Exemestane, and if you have taken too much, the effects will start to diminish after 36 to 48 hours, as opposed to one to two weeks.
A little estrogen is good for brain function, bone density, and a few other things so “killing” estrogen is really a bad idea.
Does this answer your question?
[/quote]
Aromasin is more costly to use. One typically uses 1mg/week of adex.
Adex 1mg/day is for elimination of estrogen, a good thing if you have breast cancer, and makes you feel like crap. That dose should never be used for E control for TRT/HRT. But we see [idiot] docs prescribing that all too often.
Adex is very fast acting and immediately reduces T–>E aromatization. The drop in E levels after starting E2 is from two effects. It takes about 6-7 days to reach a steady state serum level of adex; one can front load to reduce that time delay. The other effect is simply how fast E levels drop after E production levels are reduced. This is controlled by how fast the liver clears estrogens from the blood stream.
“”"
Exemestane is rapidly and extensively absorbed after
oral administration, although animal data suggest that
oral bioavailability might be incomplete due to firstpass
hepatic metabolism. Food enhances absorption,
resulting in plasma levels 40% higher than those
observed under fasting conditions. Exemestane is
extensively metabolised, via oxidation (CYP3A4) and
reduction (aldoketoreductase), to form many secondary
metabolites, all of which are inactive or less active than
the parent compound. It has a terminal elimination halflife
of approximately 24 hours [3].
“”"
I’ve recently been tested for T and came out at 290. My doctor told me this level was normal and that I shouldn’t be worried unless it was in the low 200’s or 100’s. I know that everyone has a different E to T ratio so I’m going to get the E checked soon. Also, I’m 20 yrs. old and realize that regardless of E the T should be much higher, so with this being said should I consider TRT or just deal with relatively low-normal T? Thanks for your replies.
Has anyone used L-Histadine, DIM (DIINDOLYLMETHANE) or TMG (Trimethylglycine) to help lower E2? I’ve found some information around the net but would appreciate and anecdotal experience with any or all of these.
[quote]Tylerdrms wrote:
I’ve recently been tested for T and came out at 290. My doctor told me this level was normal and that I shouldn’t be worried unless it was in the low 200’s or 100’s. I know that everyone has a different E to T ratio so I’m going to get the E checked soon. Also, I’m 20 yrs. old and realize that regardless of E the T should be much higher, so with this being said should I consider TRT or just deal with relatively low-normal T? Thanks for your replies.[/quote]
just my 2 cents…as I was kinda in the same boat,ya normal ?
the ‘normal’ scale is so big…why be on the low end of it…I told my dr.listen…as long as Im in range…and you check my blood…I want the higher end of the scale…he listned…way to many dr’s love to claim ‘normal’ look at thyroid tests,so large of a scale…I told my dr. lets get to the 700’s take it from there…he checks me every 6 months…send me home with 1 yr supply of TEST INJECT…go m ore by how you feel,if he wont let you get it higher…complain,no sex drive…bad recovery…
Well–I haven’t started TRT yet or anything. I’m going to see an endocrinologist to see what’s causing the low count. The doc. who told me that my count was O.K. at 290 was actually a nurse practitioner that I used simply to test me. She didn’t test for Free T or E2, so when I go to the endo that’ll be among the tests, I’m not even sure she checked estrogen at all since she didn’t mention it.
If TT is at 290 FT can’t be much at all I wouldn’t think. So given that hopefully I can convince the doc. to put me on TRT and from there haggle about getting in the higher range. Right now I’m going to focus on figuring out what’s causing it through some blood work from the endo.
If you dont mind me saying…1st mistake I made was going to an ENDO DR. for TRT instead of a UROLGIGIST,but this was my case…you might have better luck,good luck with it…best choice I made…
I know what you’re saying…the reason I’m going to see an endo. is so that we can figure out what’s actually causing the low T. From there I’ll go to a Urologist to actually work with for TRT. If you ask me though it’ll pretty much come down to whoever will prescribe the things I’m looking for. Obviously Test cyp…I’m not a fan of trying androgel or anything topical…HCG to prevent atrophy…and I’ve had experience with prohormones before and know how my body reacts to outside T sources and my E levels do go up with it so I feel like an AI would def. be a must. T HCG and AI pretty much seems to be the equation most like.
However before finding someone to administer it or prescribe it I def. want to know the reason it’s happening. It’d be diff. if it were age related but since it’s not I want to make sure there’s nothing serious happening with the big picture like a growth or anything.
makes sense,now based on my own research,and my story…most endos got no clue about HCG,& Anti’s but that was my dope,so maybe thats why I said it…lol
and as we age,its not real a mystery…years of dieting can do it…yo -yo’ing… crash diets…over excericse…and gentic…but
makes sense,now based on my own research,and my story…most endos got no clue about HCG,& Anti’s but that was my dope,so maybe thats why I said it…lol
and as we age,its not real a mystery…years of dieting can do it…yo -yo’ing… crash diets…over excericse…and gentic…but I see ya point,good luck, let me how it goes…