Test results - Crashed e2

[piggybank]

Last time i posted I was high in my e2.

I dropped my test cyp dosage to 50mg 2 x week (I had gone as high as 150mg a week) and I began taking Arimidex .25mg eod. After a few months, i could tell my estrogen levels were dropping and I switched to .25 e3d.

Made the mistake of NOT getting e2 tested during this dialing in period - won't ever make that mistake again. Started to get anxiety, dry skin, knee pain.

I was hoping to get advice on if/how I should adjust my Test dosage as my e2 recovers.

Here's my protocol prior to the blood work below:

Test Cyp 50mg E3d
Anastrozole at .25mg E3d
Armour 90mg ED
T4 (compounded time release) 7.5 mcg

Resulting Blood work taken 1 day before Test shot...

Testosterone, Serum 905 348-1197 ng/dL
Testosterone,Free 28.15 5.00-21.00 ng/dL
% Free Testosterone 3.11 1.50-4.20 %
Estradiol, Sensitive 5 3-70 pg/mL
Sex Horm Binding Glob 37.1 16.5-55.9 nmol/L

Thyroid...
TSH 0.989 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
Thyroxine (T4) 6.0 4.5-12.0 ug/dL 01
T3 Uptake 30 24-39 % 01
Free Thyroxine Index 1.8 1.2-4.9 01

Some of my CBC (I can post more if it gives a better pictrue)
RBC 5.76 4.14-5.80 x10E6/uL 01
Hemoglobin HIGH 17.8 12.6-17.7 g/dL 01
Hematocrit 50.6 37.5-51.0 %


So I'm wondering how I should proceed in order to get my e2 in range and optimize my Test levels.

So I obviously need to drop the AI. Do I ultimately want my e2 levels to be close to my shbg levels?

Should I lower my Test dosage to say 80mg week or should I wait until e2 comes up to match shbg? It looks like I'm still high on the optimal range for test levels. Ideally, I'd like to NOT have to take an AI; i'm just not sure how to adjust test levels with regards to free test and shbg.

Also, after I make your recommended adjustment, should I wait 6 weeks to retest?

Thanks guys.

[kelkel]

Simply stop all AI use for a month and re-test your E2. No need to fast.
No, don't correlate your E2 to your shbg level. SHGB rises with age and you don't have much control over it. SHBG only transports Test and Estrogen.
Remember, BW is only a snapshot in time. The quickest way to reduce SHBG is to increase test. That said, closer to injection your SHBG will be lower. Optimizing your D3 level will help with SHBG.
It's time for you to give blood. Whole or DRBC. You'll feel better.

[piggybank]

Simply stop all AI use for a month and re-test your E2. No need to fast.
No, don't correlate your E2 to your shbg level. SHGB rises with age and you don't have much control over it. SHBG only transports Test and Estrogen.
Remember, BW is only a snapshot in time. The quickest way to reduce SHBG is to increase test. That said, closer to injection your SHBG will be lower. Optimizing your D3 level will help with SHBG.
It's time for you to give blood. Whole or DRBC. You'll feel better.

Thanks for the suggestions and explanation.

I'll continue to cease the AI, retest the e2 in four weeks, and go donate as well.

[kelkel]

Thanks for the suggestions and explanation.

I'll continue to cease the AI, retest the e2 in four weeks, and go donate as well.

You'll be fine. Post up how things go on this thread please.

[piggybank]

You'll be fine. Post up how things go on this thread please.

It's been over 4 weeks and I'm going back to retest my e2.

Can't say i feel too much different except that my joints hurt less.

Should I spend the extra $100 and run the "Hormone Panel for Males" again or save my money and just run the sensitive e2 test since I'm just trying to dial in e2. Then retest the e2 again in another 4 weeks.

I haven't changed my Test dosage, just dropped the AI.

Is there any value in getting my Test/free Test values when dialing in e2 after only 4 weeks?

[OingoBoingo]

If it were me, I don't mind getting only me E2 tested if I'm curious about it. But I usually like to know how everything is doing.

Are you experiencing any high E2 symptoms; such as night sweats, flushing, fluid retention?

[piggybank]

If it were me, I don't mind getting only me E2 tested if I'm curious about it. But I usually like to know how everything is doing.

Are you experiencing any high E2 symptoms; such as night sweats, flushing, fluid retention?

I'm a little more bloated, but i don't have the night sweats i was feeling when i had my e2 was elevated pre-arimidex. My back acne has subsided as well.

I'm guessing my e2 has raised only slightly thus far.

[OingoBoingo]

Well, if you experience high E2 symptoms, you might be better off taking Anastrozole as needed instead of putting yourself on a schedule. And keep track of things on a calendar.

When I did just that, I found that it originally took about 8 days to get symptoms. After supplementing with Zinc, the frequency decreased.

Taking Anastrozole as needed greatly reduces the risk of crushing one's E2.

[EquilibriumZ]

Well, if you experience high E2 symptoms, you might be better off taking Anastrozole as needed instead of putting yourself on a schedule. And keep track of things on a calendar. When I did just that, I found that it originally took about 8 days to get symptoms. After supplementing with Zinc, the frequency decreased. Taking Anastrozole as needed greatly reduces the risk of crushing one's E2.

Lol he is on trt (most dont need ai) and suffering from low e2, and you are saying anastrazole reduces the risk of "crushing" e2.. Anastrazole lowers e2 further

[OingoBoingo]

Lol he is on trt (most dont need ai) and suffering from low e2, and you are saying anastrazole reduces the risk of "crushing" e2.. Anastrazole lowers e2 further

Step away from the beer. Step away from the beer...

[Beethoven]

Lol he is on trt (most dont need ai) and suffering from low e2, and you are saying anastrazole reduces the risk of "crushing" e2.. Anastrazole lowers e2 further

Yes he crashed it by taking too much, not that he didn't need it. My Dr originally prescribed too much and the same thing happened. I do need it just not that frequently. Now pass one this way.

[piggybank]

You'll be fine. Post up how things go on this thread please.

Re-tested e2 a few days ago...

Estradiol, Sensitive 18 3-70 pg/mL

So, i went from 5 to 18 in four weeks.

Do you guys think I will feel myself hitting a sweet spot as it continues to rise? When i start feeling better, should I test that day? Retest in 4 weeks regardless?

Thanks.

[Beethoven]

I would run my protocol minus the anastrozol for four weeks and retest, assuming you're going to stay at the lower dosage. You may not need an AI at the lower dose.

[piggybank]

I would run my protocol minus the anastrozol for four weeks and retest, assuming you're going to stay at the lower dosage. You may not need an AI at the lower dose.

Sorry, I'm having a hard time finding it.. Beethoven, what's your current protocol?

I definitely would like to avoid the AI if possible, so I'm open to reducing my dosage.

[OingoBoingo]

Re-tested e2 a few days ago...

Estradiol, Sensitive 18 3-70 pg/mL

So, i went from 5 to 18 in four weeks.

Do you guys think I will feel myself hitting a sweet spot as it continues to rise? When i start feeling better, should I test that day? Retest in 4 weeks regardless?

Thanks.

What I notice is a lack of symptoms.

It's important to understand how E2 works. E2 follows Testosterone. Guys who inject weekly get a big boost of Testosterone 24 or so hours later, which causes a big spike of E2. Guys who inject twice a week or daily are essentially peaking all the time, and that seems to cause much fewer E2 problems.

Although E2 follows Testosterone, there are other things that can contribute to high E2 problems; such as body fat percentage, metabolism and liver function, diet, and how much alcohol one drinks.

When I started TRT, I injected small amounts of Testosterone subcutaneously daily. But it didn't take long to notice some high E2 symptoms; flushing around the upper chest and neck, night sweats, and fluid retention. My doctor suggest taking Anastrozole weekly, but I wanted to experiment. What I found was if I took 0.25mg Anastrozole when I experienced symptoms, it would knock the symptoms down for 8 days.

Over time, the frequency dropped to every 12 days, and lately the symptoms have just stopped and I'm off Anastrozole.

The contributing factors mentioned above are important. If one has a high body fat percentage, chances are they will aromatase more. If your BF% is high, lower it. Metabolism and liver function are important for clearing excess E2 from your system. If you're just starting TRT, that should improve over time. Supplementing your diet with Zinc may help. I take 75mg of Zinc daily, a little with breakfast and lunch, and just before sleep. Alcohol is seen as a toxin by the liver. I'd rather have my liver getting rid of excess E2, so I've reduced the amount I drink.

If you notice a lack of symptoms and are curious about the number, get blood work. But I never thought it was such a big deal.

If you are injecting twice a week or daily, and experience high E2 symptoms, take just 0.25mg Anastrozole, and mark it on a calendar. You may notice some patterns.

[piggybank]

I definitely believe in trying to address estrogen promoters. Avoid soy and using plastic in the microwave, etc. I lowered my body fat to single digits AND was taking arimidex w/o testing and adjusting my arimidex dosage; likely a double whammy to my e2.

I've read of others taking AI to treat their symptoms. What symptoms of high e2 were you experiencing?

[Beethoven]

Sorry, I'm having a hard time finding it.. Beethoven, what's your current protocol?

I definitely would like to avoid the AI if possible, so I'm open to reducing my dosage.

sorry, I didn't mean my personal protocol, I meant yours which ironically is similar to mine.
I was referring to your lowered dose if you feel good at that dosage.

[piggybank]

sorry, I didn't mean my personal protocol, I meant yours which ironically is similar to mine. I was referring to your lowered dose if you feel good at that dosage.

Gotcha! I'm headed to a new trt doc tomorrow to get a second opinion on my situation. My current doc has a preference to salivary testing where i feel the serum testing is better for my e2 issues.

I'm going to mention the ideas of lowering my test dose and taking the arimidex when needed rather than scheduled. I'll let u guys know if I learn anything useful.

[OingoBoingo]

I definitely believe in trying to address estrogen promoters. Avoid soy and using plastic in the microwave, etc. I lowered my body fat to single digits AND was taking arimidex w/o testing and adjusting my arimidex dosage; likely a double whammy to my e2.

I've read of others taking AI to treat their symptoms. What symptoms of high e2 were you experiencing?

I noticed flushing around the upper chest and neck, night sweats, and fluid retention.

If I took Anastrozole at the first sign of flushing, I could save myself from the night sweats and fluid retention.

[piggybank]

I never attributed flushing to elevated E; I definitely showed those symptoms earlier.

I'll be on the lookout for that as an early sign. Thanks.