My thinking (which may be wrong) is that AI effects are pretty quick and that taking an AI I could very quickly see how I do with lower E2 basically understand which symptoms are related to higher E2.
Secondly I’m hoping it’ll help me drop some of this extra weight I’m carrying.
I don’t know how an AI affects me which is why I am here asking questions.
I am aware of the dangers of crashing E2 so my plan would be to try and start on a low dose.
You are suggesting daily injections before an AI? Are you doing daily IM or sub q?
What’s the down side of the AI sort term besides crashing E2?
I’ve done daily sub-q and daily IM. Both feel the same. I’m doing daily IM currently but would recommend daily sub-q to start as it seems to keep levels more stable because it releases slower. The problems I had were from hormone levels fluctuating. With daily sub-q they aren’t fluctuating to the same extent and I went from having lots of issues and never feeling how I thought I should to having no issues and feeling better than I could have hoped.
It’s extremely hard to find the right dose with the AI. I’ve been there. I had the exact same thought process as you are right now and was told exactly what I’m telling you at this moment and still tried the AI. I think we both know you will do the same. Just keep this in the back of your head if and when you are ready to try something else out. Daily solved my issues. I tried every other possible option before going to daily because it just didn’t sound like something that would make a difference and on paper it didn’t even really make sense. Good luck my friend and keep updating on how it goes.
If you do use arimidex don’t use more than .25mg every 3ish days. Keep in mind that after the second dose the total levels of the drug in your body will be higher than the first few days.
A lot of guys struggle on AI’s never really dialing in the dosage, they are always trying to find the perfect dosage and end up hurting joint health in the process which can take months to heal. You don’t want to be lifting heavy weights when your joints are compromised, you will cause more damage in the long run.
I’m speaking from experience, I went the AI route and was weak wanting to take the shortcut and my knees paid the price which took months to heal. Daily injections is guaranteed to work as long as your levels are not in excess.
This has been me for most of my life (before TRT too) and is still today. No matter how much I work out, they never seem to look “normal” like a man’s nipples should.
@bcostigan41
I had surgery to remove mine. That was 15 years ago though before TRT. I took Paxil when I was younger and it fucked my hormones up badly. Mine was much worse than yours and truthfully judging by the pic I wouldn’t even have noticed it if you hadn’t said anything. As far as gyno goes consider yourself lucky.
What’s free t why can’t I see it? Total is low. Again wait till 6-8 weeks take the test day before next shot or jsut do daily so your levels stay consistent.
Today’s lab ranges are shit low. 10 years ago or more there rre 1500/1200 and they keep dropping. Don’t get stuck thinking these lab ranges represent healthy men. Go find discounted labs and their document on “estrogen benefits for men” it has an old ref of max total t range that shows it was 1500.
Currently weighing up my options to change injection frequency from 2x p.w. to ED or try an AI.
My understanding with an AI is the effects are pretty quick. Can I go on an AI for a few weeks? 2 or 3? or do I need to give it 6 to 8 weeks like when i change my testosterone dosage.
What is the effect of AI on RBC\HGB\HTC as my numbers are all on the high side. Should this be a concern?
Before an AI, I would change dosing to EOD or ED. If that doesn’t work then lower dosage with one of those protocols. I don’t believe an AI will help with your RBC/HGB/HTC but do believe it will affect your lipids in a negative way. Changing your protocol as I suggested may help with those markers.
Might want to test thyroid a little more with the higher TSH.
Hard to say really. I feel much better then I did before TRT. Overall I feel fine, but I do sometimes still get tired. My issue is more the water weight and high blood pressure and that I am struggling to lose weight. I am up around 15 pounds since starting TRT despite fixing my diet and exercising more. I have never struggled to loose weight like this before. If I tried (diet and exercise) I lost weight. Granted the weight gain may be mostly muscle with some water. I did an inbody scan before starting TRT and will do it again next week on my follow up with the Doctor.
Thyroid was fine before starting TRT TSH 2.0, Free T3 3.59, Free T4 0.762 are there any know reasons why TRT would increase TSH?
My experience with an AI, if you take it and feel good a few hours later, you’ve taken too much and will crash later in the week if you continue to take any. If you take say .25mg every 3 days and in a week or 10 days start to feel better, you’re prolly at the right dose. Just my experience
I don’t know if there is anything proven but I have seen it stated that TRT could stress the thyroid if there was an underlying condition that wasn’t fully visible before. My TSH was 2.5 before TRT with bottom of range free T4. Do not know what free T3 was as doctor didn’t test it. After about 8-10 months of TRT I decided to run labs again as I didn’t feel I was feeling the best I could. New labs showed me above 5 TSH, bottom range free T4 and mid high T3 so got on levothyroxine. So it does seem to validate that theory IMO.
I’m currently feeling a little better but still again feel I can be better but not sure where labs are at with my current protocol. Imagine I can up thyroid and feel better after I see labs.
Bro you need to get that thyroid fixed ASAP. I had some horrid fatigue and Trt didn’t work for shit when I was at 4.0 tsh. You want to be around 1 for a healthy thyroid.
You need a new doc if your doc isn’t giving you thyroid meds from this obvious indicator
On the last lab.
You don’t need an ai man. You need to get that thyroid fixed.
I have a follow up with my TRT Doc (Urologist) next week and will chat to them but my last blood work was from my GP and after the results they said I should chat with my TRT Doc due to the results. So it’s really on me for not making the appointment until yesterday.
@coolhandpmb
I gained 15lbs the first 6 weeks of TRT all water weight. At around 4 months it went away along with the high blood pressure and other issues. It just takes time. Most people don’t give themselves enough time. If you feel good ride it out and see. If you change doses you’re going to have to wait another 2 months anyway. The AI takes a lot of experimenting to get “right” so it’s not a quick fix either.
Okay fine, after my check up next week I’ll switch to ED protocol and hold off on the AI unless my Doc has any serious concerns with the matter (they are usually pretty open to what I want to do).
Why? Honestly that was what I expected to be told when I first saw the number but everybody else seemed to think it was fine and shouldn’t be an issue. I think generally because my total T is still lower.
Also my doc increased my dose when Free T was at the high side of the range.
I’ve added a bit more explanation in my original post which should help.
Total T is basically irrelevant, all that matters is the free T. Your doctor should know this.
Be careful with some advice on this forum, they will tell you certain things are fine to justify their own misuse.
Its your choice at the end of the day, but if this is a lifetime commitment I believe you should be looking to be getting your values within the normal range for a male. Exceeding this range will result in other problems such as elevated E2 and thickening of the blood as you appear to be experiencing.
TRT has placed a greater demand of your thyroid and its showing that its having a harder time keeping up. TSH increase because the thyroid hormones making it into tissues is subpar. No rT3 testing, a good portion of fT3 could be pooling/blocked at the receptor.
The liver secretes estrogen optimally when thyroid is working well (TSH <1.5), stuff like bilirubin and estrogen get backed up in the bloodstream when thyroid is not optimal.
