[quote]PureChance wrote:
aromatase can be a problem that is why most here constantly push for detailed blood tests PRIOR to starting any treatment or starting on AI. Plus even without aromatase problems going a 10 day rollcoaster of levels starting too high then dropping too low (per the injection literature itself) just seems crazy, why would you want to subject anyone’s body to that variation? feel good for 3-4 days, then feel terrible for 3-4 days, then repeat. even if your body can handle the additional stress, how long will it be before that stress takes a toll of your overall health?
Testosterone also interacts with cortisol function. More T drives higher utilization of Cortisol. If your body can’t produce enough cortisol then that can cause additional problems like hypothyroidism and imbalances with Aldosterone. We know that increasing cortisol helps regulate aromatase.
water retention (and inability to absorb transdermal medications) are one potential symptom of hypothyroidism.
low Aldosterone = low salt/bad electrolyte imbalance can also cause water retention. there seems to be a correlation between Low Cortisol and Low Aldosterone. decreasing salt intake or having low aldosterone can lead to water retention, higher BP, and increased heart rate.
I had water retention and swollen ankles + high BP 140/95 and high resting heart rate of 90-100 that I always attributed to high E, but then found out I had low Aldosterone. I started taking 1-2 teaspoon of sea salt daily (coarse salt tossed to the back of the throat and chugged a full glass of water). Then my water weight dropped, my ankles stopped swelling, I stopped sweating when it was slightly warm, my BP dropped to 116/80, resting heart down to 76, etc.) [/quote]
Purechance, how long did you have to take the salt to see an improvement? Thanks!
At the risk of somewhat of a hijack, I’d just like to say to Dr. Big that as a TRT patient myself, if it weren’t for KSman in particular, and several others on this site as well, I would not have been successful with my treatment…and I wholeheartedly suggest you read everything he’s written on the subject. Not only did his advice guide me to the right doctor after a year and a half of suffering through an endocrinologist who just wanted to get me into a range using Androgel, but the extensive work by he and others here gave me enough information to be confident to demand the exact treatment I wanted, and not settle until I got it.
That includes not only AIs, but HCG as well, not to mention insisting on broader testing than just my Total T and E2 levels every 3 months. That insistence has also upped my own doctor’s game and made him think more about the interaction of other elements of the endocrine system in his own TRT therapy recommendations.
I have just started TRT and my Dr. prescribed 300mg/week. I have noticed some water retention and so he has said that he would start me on arimadex after if my next blood work was good. I highly recommend once a week injections because I have no crash. Also I am 37 years old and my test Levels are below the reference range.
I also have water retention and swollen ankles and feet.My question,do you agree with PureChance on this subject,saying he took 1-2 teaspoons of sea salt with water once a day and it helped and that the swelling went away? thanks
I would strongly encourage you to pick a patient and do daily blood work. I have a son with no pituitary (casualty of a brain tumour) and I can tell you the the product monographs of the ‘esterified’ long acting testosterone replacements are all ridiculously overstated. And by the way, in a normal circadian rhythm, testosterone peaks in the am, up to 30% higher than the rest of the day.
Optimal TRT for health can be achieved by daily subcu. Yup, daily subcu works just fine.
Even for the longest acting testosterone replacements, you’re still going to get peaks and valleys and that’s just not healthy physically or emotionally.