In my early 30’s I noticed I started putting on weight easily, tired more often, lack of sex drive, hard time recovering and concentration issues.
After some blood work and trying anti-depressants I figured it was due to hormones.
I have chronically high normal estrogen.
My blood test last week had the following results:
LH 4.9 IU/L
FSH 1.8 IU/L (this is almost out of range low)
Estradiol 174 pmol/L (should be less then 180)
Progesterone 2 nmol/L
Testosterone 21.8 nmol/L
Prolactin 13 ug/L (should be less then 15)
Free test 76 (top is 94)
SHBG 31nmol/L
I used arimidex for 1 month, 0.5mg EOD and it solved alot of my issues but when I stopped it came back. I’ve been having some heart issues so I stopped taking it until my chest pain is figured out.
I’m considering Proviron or Enclomiphene to help me feel normal again.
But has anyone been through this and have any recommendations?
Makes one wonder what “natty” really means these days.
Are you still taking any of these things? You’ve been messing around with your hormones for a little while now; wouldn’t be surprised if your hormones started messing with you back.
Again… what are your lab ranges for TT and FT. You listed your results without ranges. Your results don’t appear low T to me. You appear to be another guy insisting hormones are at fault when they are not.
your total test isn’t bad for your age. but that doesn’t matter because it’s you compared to you. did you notice a drop on paper or did you just feel symptoms.
There’s tons of medical conditions where one has the signs and symptoms of low T. Unspecific symptoms in the absence of low T indicate that testosterone is not your problem.
Never used 3AD.
Ostarine / BPC157 was used to heal my torn shouler for approximately 2-3 months. PCT just in case.
Progesterone I considered natty because it was OTC.
I’ve never done heavy oral steroids or injectibles. I want my T to E ratio in check first.
So here are the symptoms. They all came on really fast too that my girlfriend and friends noticed an issue.
low energy - struggle to get out of bed and after 5pm I was useless. No energy or drive.
low libido - this crashed. My ex and I sued to have sex daily and it got to the point I had no interest and my boners were weak if I could even get one.
constantly sore after training, had a harder time recovering.
strength decreased
diet and training didn’t change at all but I started to get fatter primarily in the stomach area (love handles mostly but some below the belly button and man boobs)
lack to enjoyment of life. Not that I was depressed, it just felt like I was moving through life but not enjoying anything.
bruising easily. I was doing some fight training with friends and I bruised like a peach. Bruises everywhere. Everyone thought it was weird. It’s what prompted me to see a doctor.
But I’m in Canada. Healthcare is free. They do not address these issues. I literally went to an endocrinologist. told them how I feel the symptoms of low T but I think its high E.
Then told the endo how I used arimidex for a month and everything got better. Increased strength and muscle, decrease in fat, better mood, etc… and she said in Canada they do not treat this they only monitor it. If it gets worse then they just check you for tumors. But there is no medicinal intervention…
This does not sound like low T to me. Yes these are the symptoms but these are also the symptoms of overtraining or depression. The most likely in my opinion is overtraining, then depression (then maybe an immune health condition) and only then I’d check for low T, which you don’t have. So again, I’d bet money on you not having these symptoms because of your male sex hormone.
Placebo in depression has a 60% success rate. You took an AI and got better quickly, I see resemblance.
Another question: what is your steroid/SARM history on a timeline until your symptoms started?
Meh, not the ones you’ve presented, although e2 is a little high. TT is fine. Could try some natural supps to help with the e2, or a low-dose AI like you used before. You mentioned heart issues, like what exactly? What was the prog for that?
You don’t need Proviron and I doubt a SERM would have any lasting effects
I dont think everyone is understanding my situation.
I believe I have symptoms of low T but its really due to elevated estrogen. My T levels aren’t that relevant if they are being overpowered by estrogen.
So i got the symptoms in 2016 february. Didnt try sarms/peptides until 2019. AI was in early 2021. NEVER USED 3AD.
When I took the AI, within a week I felt better. Younger, better concentration. And by the end of the month I was noticeably leaner, stronger and way harder erections.
My estrogen was at around 90. Once I got off of it, Estrogen shot up to 230, where the ideal range is under 180. My TT at that time shot up to 28, when it is usually low 20’s.
I pay attention to parabens and soy. I use all low paraben cleaning products, detergents, soaps, etc.
I was put on welbutrin as an anti-depressant for 1 month and then fluoxitine. No changes to any of my issues. In fact, I had zero sex drive while on them.
I believe I aromitize testosterone to estrogen too easily. I’m looking for any suggestions on how to fix this. I fear that if I inject T, its just going to convert to E and i’ll be even worse off.
In that case you would not suffer from low T, but only high estrogen which as you said, would require an AI.
Then enclomiphene would actually be a very bad choice and proviron is also not fitting since you don’t have low T.
Your sexual problems fit well to high estrogens, the other symptoms don’t.
If you’ve felt that much better on the AI and all symptoms where gone + you had too high E2 in labs and they were in range on the AI, why don’t you just continue that AI protocol? After the discussion, it looks like this may just be your solution. After all, E2 was highish in your last labs.