Update, week 6 at 8mg ED: Shit really fell apart about two days after my last update. Got insanely depressed and anxious with rapid onset. Negative outlook on life and irritable as hell. The no morning wood thing probably should have been a dead giveaway as to problems rising up. Libido is there but there’s little to no arousal. I WAS looking muscular and lean for a while then I began gathering water around my chest and midsection rapidly. Strangely enough my workouts have been good through all of this as compared to when I was feeling mentally better. I’ve noticed a pattern of my protocols going haywire between weeks 5-6.
I requested labs since I was at 6 weeks anyway, results are as follows:
Total Test: 410 Range 229-902
Free T: 11.2 Range 4.4-16.8
E2 Sensitive: 40 Range 0-40
SHBG: 18.6 Range 14.55-94.64
So these numbers are not ideal and the way I feel reflects that. I don’t know what to do anymore. I convert T to E like crazy and I obviously can’t go lower in dose based on these results. Am I damned to taking an AI in the future if I continue injectables? I’m thinking of trying the scrotal cream but honestly higher test levels seem to give me anxiety too. My daughter is due this week so the thought of starting a new protocol is less than exciting, but at least I’ll have time off of work to deal with the fallout.
I have found taking a tiny pinch of aromasin works well without knocking my estrogen low, you might give it a try if the scrotal cream fails. I crush it into a fine powder.
Your Free T is low and the binding force of SHBG is strong for such a low level.
You could or should try the cream but it’s going
To take weeks to clear your system of injections
I’d love to see how it helps you . Only problem is the cream pops levels really high. So you need a super low dose like 50mg am and Pm.
Since the cream absorbs differently into the body I wonder if it would help with your other issues.
Honestly I think it’s worth a try.
Dr. Saya is not a proponent of the cream becusse “DHT”. I have seen his comments on another board and can tell you it’s more of “preference”. So talk to him and let us know what happens.
Another cool aspect is your not stuck at a dose.
If it’s too much you could always take less and notice the change within hours or next day depending on what change.
I did try DIM for a little but I used it in conjunction with lowering my dose so who knows if it did anything. I get concerned about using it as I don’t get tests done too often and it if tanked my E2 that would blow.
There’s something I never thought out. The thought of withdrawing from test and reintroducing it again makes me cringe, been there, not pretty. Did you transition from one to the other or was the cream your first shot at treatment?
I actually spoke to Saya about the scrotal cream and he said he does use it in his practice but only if libido is a problem.
I went from 10 - 12 weeks of injections right into cream. No wait. My levels were high yes but I was fine. You are different though and would need a plan.
You could start a smaller dose when you switch over. Do the math by reviewing the half life and create a dosing plan to keep you level.
Have you been checking E2 at all? I know it’s individually dependent and some can get high with no ill effects, but I can reliably say that when my levels get to 40 my body/brain starts to react negatively.
It IS high though for your test level. If it were me I would start with the warm lemon water, everyday. Then try 1 DIM pill twice a week maybe, guage how you feel.
At this point, I would TRY the natural method, but you might be an exception to our new thought process. I would never say take an AI, but if it get your test higher and you feeling better, you do what you gotta do man. Obviously get under the care of a reliable professional.
Yes check my thread. I had high e2 and only my labido tanked. Most folks would of been freaking out. It just goes to show that everyone’s different and the magic number is just… magic.
It’s also unrealistic for anyone to relate with my journey because I switched to cream immediately and also started thyroid.
My hopes for you are that the cream creates a better response and you don’t have all these tolerance and e2 issues. On paper it sounds like a legit change . Why not . You’ve given the injections a good run.