I take 0.5 mL T-cyp per week,
2 mg oral arimidex per week.
My blood pressure really bothers me because it causes major headaches - all the way from inside the ears to the very back of the eyes. My doctor's office clearly does not know how to perform accurate blood pressure readings because they always say it is "good" stating it's always between 122/xx and 135/xx. But at home, I use my new Omron electronic BP machine and the Omron says that it is more like 156/xx - 164/xx. Judging by my symptoms - I must incline to agree with my own Omron machine.
Also, I did 2 blood donations — first in July, second one a week ago.
Surely there’s got to be a way that I can keep my Testosterone levels at healthy levels without suffering these terrible blood pressure side effects?
The arimidex is most likely what’s causing your headaches and blood pressure problems. When I tried arimidex, soon after taking it I had pain behind my eyes and headaches, the pain behind the eyes is the optic nerve which is sensitive to drastic changes in estrogen.
The pain behind the eyes is the first sign of too much arimidex. When estrogen levels drop, your heart and blood vessels become stiff and less elastic. This leads to hypertension.
There is also a rebound effect of arimidex after you stop taking it, something I experienced and it felt like I was having blood pressure spikes from hell.
By the way, that’s a crazy high arimidex dose and you are playing with fire.
There are some men on TRT that will need blood pressure medications.
I was going to say that for me moving from 160mg/week in E3.5D injections to 22mg/day (154mg/week total) got rid of my presumably high E2 induced hypertension, bloating and headaches.
But given you’re only taking 100mg/week of Test C and 2mg/week of Adex, I’m having a hard time believing you could possibly have high E2. Actually I’m having a hard time believing your E2 isn’t completely crashed right now.
It would help if you could post some blood test results. If you don’t have any I suggest you get some done ASAP, and make them comprehensive. Make sure you get the (ultra) sensitive test for E2 as well ideally as the equilibirum dialysis for Free T.
It seems there’s a decent amount of overlap between high and low E2 symptoms, as there is typically some overlap between negative symptoms of too low or too high levels of any hormone, so it’s possible the high blood pressure could be from crashed E2.
But without any blood test results no one is really going to give you better feedback than pretty much pure speculation
Do you take more measurements?
First reading at home, especially if you are afraid to see a large number, can be pretty high. My BP is vastly higher even if i listen to some songs that i like while taking the measurement.
Or my cat has this thing where she always wants to jump on me when i take the measurement and it pisses me off because she doesnt care about me any other time of the day, so when i hear the cat comming my BP skyrockets.
So what i do, i put in earplugs, and turn on some meditation music very loud, so i wont hear anything. I do correct breathing for 1 minute, then take first reading, then 1 minute breathing and 1 more measurement. If they are very different i take the third one and go by the average.
Doing breathing exercises can lower BP from 150 to 120 in a minute or two.
Also, doing at least 150-210 minutes of mixed intensity cardio, seems to help a ton with hearth health and BP.
My clinician in the blood bank did a quick fingerprick test to check my Hemoglobin levels prior to starting the donation. Are you saying a Ferritin test is MORE important than Hemoglobin - OR - that a Hemoglobin test is irrelevant for a blood donor?
Ferritin is Ferritin, Hemoglobin is Hemoglobin. Two different things, not really related to same side effects or problems.
In over simplified way - Hemoglobin is a part of the blood. Ferritin is a thingy that makes you feel good, recover, etc. You can have enough hemoglobin and blood in general to donate, but it doesnt mean you dont have crashed ferritin.
Just do bloodwork for ferritin.
You also ignored my question about cardio which means you would rather stick needles in you than actually become fit and healthy?
I’m sorry, but I honestly did not see your question about cardio in between your frustrations about your cat raising your blood pressure - HONEST! I still don’t see it!
Take less AI if you must, interesting as to what @systemlord posted. To some, we actually experience too much water retention from higher E2 thus the BP and headaches.
So don’t do anything drastic and I’m this case I would say then it can go either way.
The finger prick test is done to make sure your blood hemoglobin levels aren’t too high, because if it is, you can’t donate. The hemoglobin can be normal when ferritin is low. In 2019 I was diagnosed with iron deficiency without anemia, meaning normal hemoglobin levels.
In some cases the testosterone itself together with poor health can cause fluid retention and dropping your estrogen will cause you to pee more, so you are using the AI as a bandaid.
It’s all up in the air, there has to be a fine line for each individual as to when the cardiovascular benefits of E2 get over run by E2 being too high for them.
Edit: open minded to know if some people controlled their high E2 symptoms simply by controlling blood pressure. Especially with HCTZ or furosemide.
Hmmm didn’t know low e2 could cause that only though high e2. I’m on 150 mg test c with 12.5 mg aromasin 2x a week. I’m a high aromatizer. Been getting headaches, achy joints, lower libido and high bp. Got bloods done and test was 800 and e2 was 12. Now debating whether to drop ai entirely or cut dose in half?
Makes sense. Based on my numbers should I cut ai in half or try dropping completely. The only side I really hate is my face will puff up when e2 gets high.