All transdermals will create more E2 than injections. 1% gels are worse than 10-20% creams as more skin area and aromatase is exposed to high local T levels.
You already have strong indications for hypothyroidism and there is a high probability of low absorption. Sometimes guys absorb then that stops. That might be thyroid related, but I have not seen any specific data.
Are the thyroid issues been ignored? What are your waking body temp?
The Endo doesn’t think I have any Thyroid issues.
Re: Absorption - Something must be getting thru because I feel alot better.
Body Temp - going to buy a mercury thermometer tonight and test in the AM.
KSman - PM sent.
[quote]t-fit wrote:
Endo’s recommendation was 5mg Testim per day. When I asked about injecting, adding an AI and hCG I got shut down and told … There are a lot of misleading information on the internet.
[/quote]
Misleading information on the internet? How about misleading information from drug reps?
KSman,
Sorry, I couldn’t call the other night but left a vmail this week.
What protocol would you recommend to address the hypothyroid issues you see in my labs? As mentioned the endo I went to doesn’t think I have any Thyroid issues and wasn’t open to hcg or arimidex - so not a very forward thinker and I will be moving on.
BTW - I started tracking my waking temp and its a consistent 97.1 - later in the day I get to 98.3
Thanks in advance,
T
You will be looking at a trial of low dose. This could be T4 or a desiccated thyroid product. You will determine if you feel any benefit. Waking body temps are often used to guide dosing.
fT3 would be better than T3 uptake as that is the result of T4 levels and the amount if thyroid binding globulin.
KSMan,
Thanks for the phone coaching.
I just received my Liquidex in the mail and wanted to get some advice on dosing.
I’m taking T-Cyp 100 per week in divided doses, injecting on Saturday and Wednesday.
To get the proper ration of Liquidex to the T-Cyp I think I need to take .4cc of the liquid every other day.
Two questions:
My baseline E2 before TRT was 39 on the Qwest labs.
Thanks
T
which specific estrodial test did you have from quest?
ultra sensitive is junk
rapid is a waste
sensitive estrodial 4021x is the one that you want
Before using AI I would go 5 weeks because it just may be your body getting used to higher t levels stimualting estrogen receptors. I have seen many patients get edgy and jumping to an AI with out proper labs testing. Also people with high e2 have also been shown to drop e2 when starting TRT. The body is an unpredictable thing.
I had my first post TRT blood panel done about 10 days ago and still waiting for the T results. My E2 has dropped down to 17 and I’ll be adjusting my AI to try and dial in at 22.
All low T symptoms seem to be under control, however my ankles have been very swollen. I did a search on this board but didn’t see anything related to swollen ankles and TRT.
I am running, working out, etc as normal.
Anyone ever see a relationship between TRT and swollen ankles/feet?
I would look next at the thyroid as once TRT is corrected this can cause increase in metabolism resulting increase in TSH.
Water retention is a sign of low thyroid and adrenal function.
Might need to increase salt or potassium to compensate for this imbalance.
How is digestion? Your SHBG is definitely high and that is a problem.
[quote]t-fit wrote:
Anyone ever see a relationship between TRT and swollen ankles/feet?[/quote]
Yes. I had the same thing. With low E2 readings as well. I couldn’t figure it out until I stumbled onto some information about Aldosterone. Aldosterone controls your sodium/electrolyte balance. If it is ‘off’ then you can have water retention, excessive sweating, excessive urination, absorbing water in the skin during showers etc then exuding it afterwards, higher blood pressure, higher heart rate (or palpitations), etc.
You may need to increase your sea salt intake to 1-3 teaspoons daily. Not with food, just water.
You can test Aldosterone in a blood test or you can try a couple of easy tests to see if you are out of balance:
just toss 1/2 teaspoon of coarse (coarse = less taste) sea salt to the back of the throat followed by a full glass of water. wait 30 minutes and see if you notice any difference in mood, energy, etc.
the pupil test per stopthethyroidmadness: This is called the Pupil test and primarily tests your levels of aldosterone, another adrenal hormone. You need to be in a darkened room with a mirror. From the side (not the front), shine a bright light like a flashlight or penlight towards your pupils and hold it for about a minute. Carefully observe the pupil. With healthy adrenals (and specifically, healthy levels of aldosterone), your pupils will constrict, and will stay small the entire time you shine the light from the side. In adrenal fatigue, the pupil will get small, but within 30 seconds, it will soon enlarge again or obviously flutter in itâ??s attempt to stay constricted. Why does this occur? Because adrenal insufficiency can also result in low aldosterone, which causes a lack of proper amounts of sodium and an abundance of potassium. This imbalance causes the sphincter muscles of your eye to be weak and to dilate in response to light.
Or check out these sites for more sodium references:
thyroid-rt3.com - This website is for sale! - thyroid rt3 Resources and Information.
thyroid-rt3.com
thyroid-rt3.com
Purechance, what’s the fix for low Aldosterone levels? Adding in the 1-3 teaspoons of sea-salt (w/o food)?
Aldosterone, LC-MS-MS 1ng/dL
Just took 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt to test this - I have increased my iodized sea salt over the last few months
there is a drug florinef that treats it, but I am just trying to supplement with coarse sea salt for now.
I take 2-3 teaspoons sea salt a day. I may test and see what happens on 5 teaspoons. No idea if I am underdosing or overdosing.
Changes so far on 2-3 teaspoons =
my left knee no longer hurts.
mood and energy levels improved.
my ankles don’t swell nearly as much (maybe 10% what they were doing).
I don’t exude sweat when it is slightly warm, when I start working out, or when my wife and I are intimate.
for a short time, I had multiple bowel movements a day, but that has subsided now.
This sea salt thing was a major break through for me, and made me realize just how much pharmaceutical junk
we put into our bodies. After this revelation and all of my past experiences, I started wondering how much disruption was being caused by all of these medications I was on.
I mean for heaven’s sake… it’s freaking sea salt - besides H2O, can you get any more basic/elemental?
[quote]cjackson25 wrote:
How is digestion? Your SHBG is definitely high and that is a problem. [/quote]
I think my digestion is fine. No upset stomach, seem to be “regular”.
What’s your thoughts on my SHBG level?
I really do not see the point in testing SHBG if one also has TT, FT and E2.
SHBG levels are mostly driven by E2 levels and when E2 is elevate, SHBG will be increased and FT levels reduced. You can’t do anything to directly change SHBG. To reduce SHBG, correct E2 levels and wait. Just follow existing guidance re E2 management.
My E2 is 17 now and I’m actually decreasing the amount of AI I’m taking to try and dial it in at 22. The SHBG was prior to starting TRT.
I just got my T results in and here they are:
Quest Diags
Total T 1148 range 250-1100
Free T % 3.09 range 1.50-2.2
Free T 354.7 range 35.0-155.0
Estradiol is down to 17
Feeling very good, plenty of energy,etc. Only downside I have right now is swollen ankles and hands plus retaining about 10 lbs of water.
I’ve been on TRT for about 6+ weeks doing shots 2 x week, taking an AI E3D but no HCG. I am going to try and switching from IM injections to SC as per the FAQ.
check out this thread - especially the part about swollen ankles, salt, and aldosterone
[quote]PureChance wrote:
check out this thread - especially the part about swollen ankles, salt, and aldosterone
That link just brings me back to this thread. When I search for swollen ankles I don’t get any results.
freaking lol
yeah… I did a search… and it lead me back to this thread.
that is hilarious. Man, I have to be a little more careful going forward.
sorry about that.
did you read any of those links that I posted four days ago, or try out any of the Aldosterone/Salt tests?