Trying to get back natural production and curious blood results...

[meathead320]

Hi All,

I have been making an effort to restore natural production. Was running TRT with IM test with varying dose of 100-200mg EW for about 3 years. Initial results indicated Primary failure, hence a need for TRT 3 years ago. Upon reading how some diets can cause low T I figured if running a PCT and making some dietary changes, and possibly get back to healthy natural levels of testosterone, if that was part of the cause of low T all along.

I had read somewhere how IGF-1 could heal damaged leydig cells in the testes, and figured “why not try?’ So ran a cycle of that, and then did a PCT. Used only Clomid for it, as the Nolva made me feel like crap (opposite of what normally happens). I was wondering if I was down for good, possibly having killed my HPTA for good on the 3 year cruise.

So went off the test cyp, and ran 50mg ED of clomid for 30 days, and 24 days after stopping the clomid took a blood test:

Total T: 723 ref range 225 – 972 (I consider this good)

Free T: 7.9 ref range 8.8 –27 (I consider this ****)

Estradiol (E2): Still waiting for the result, and will post it here as soon as its in. I was sort of pissed the results were not in yet, as the test was taken a whole week ago, but then again it IS the VA.

So my suspicion is that the E2 is higher than it should be, and this is driving up my SHGB, thus driving down the Free T.

Obviously if the total T is in the upper 1/3rd of the range, I am producing enough of it. So I really do NOT think I need TRT. Clearly what needs to happen is just to free up some of the testosterone I am already making.

So why is it all getting bound up and such a small portion free? Anyone got a better idea than aromitase being the culprit causing high E2 and high SHGB?

Last Friday, AFTER the blood was taken (because I did not want to screw up the baseline) I did take 0.25mg or Anastrozole. I had suspected my E2 was slightly high due to symptoms of low T, and sure enough my sex drive shot way up, and for the following 2 nights I woke up twice each night with a ragging hard erection. It was crazy I felt even better than on IM test.

Now 7 days has passed and I feel like I did before the 0.25mg anastrozole.

Assuming my E2 does come back slightly high, is there any harm in Anastrozole mono-therapy, if dosed properly? I have a prescription for it already, and get it very cheap from costco pharmacy. I’m thinking of taking 0.25mg on every 3D or 4D.

Any other suggestions? Should I hold off on that until the E2 results are in, or is it pretty safe to assume that the E2 is going to be slightly high, based on the above info?

[sirupate]

Wow, total-T is pretty good. Wouldn't the culprit have to be high E2 or SHGB, or both? I guess I'd say wait on the E2 test results, but it sure looks like you need some anastrazole periodically. How lean are you? Could excess fat be helping to cause a high E2?

Need to look into IGF-1 and see what that is all about.

[bass]

very interesting thread, its hard to tell without blood work. Clomid is known to boot up you natural testosterone but you have to have health testis if i am not mistaking, were you on hCG as well? when my test was shot due to a cycle i did a PCT with clomid and nolva, my test went way above base line for few weeks then it went back to base line prior to cycle. even if your test goes down to 500-600 is still good, but you have to get your free up other your total means nothing.

[steroid.com 1]

Agreed, need to see E2 panel.

I suspect Albumin and SHBG as the culprits.

Probably a combo of both.

Bio Available assay would be better than Free T.

Post all BW with ranges when you get them.

Any other neg sides of high E2? Nips ok? Get cold easy? Water retention?

[meathead320]

Ok E2 results are in!

30.7 pg/ml on a 0-44 lab range.

On a 19-90 range I would say 30.7 is good, but it looks like I am in the upper 70% of this particular lab, being the upper limit is only 44 on it.


This also explains why I felt so damn good for a few days when I took that 0.25mg anastrozole last friday (after the blood was taken).

So any one opposed to the 0.25mg anastrozole 3D or 4D? It seems like the most logical thing to do. That and increase cardio to drop some bodyfat.

The idea is to improve the Free T ratio.

Wow, total-T is pretty good. Wouldn't the culprit have to be high E2 or SHGB, or both? I guess I'd say wait on the E2 test results, but it sure looks like you need some anastrazole periodically. How lean are you? Could excess fat be helping to cause a high E2?

Need to look into IGF-1 and see what that is all about.

I'm thinking so, I've slacked on the cardio and diet for a while. Wouldn't getting it down a little bit with the anastrozole help with losing the fat too? Once the extra fat is lost I might go off the anastrozole for 30 days and get re-tested.

[meathead320]

very interesting thread, its hard to tell without blood work. Clomid is known to boot up you natural testosterone but you have to have health testis if i am not mistaking, were you on hCG as well? when my test was shot due to a cycle i did a PCT with clomid and nolva, my test went way above base line for few weeks then it went back to base line prior to cycle. even if your test goes down to 500-600 is still good, but you have to get your free up other your total means nothing.

I did not use HCG and I had been off clomid for over 3 weeks before the test. Was tested in morning on empty stomach. Lipids were all very good too.

They will not test for Bio T, just Free and total t and E2, but that can give a decent picture of what is going on (I would hope) Tax dollars after all.

Agreed, need to see E2 panel.

I suspect Albumin and SHBG as the culprits.

Probably a combo of both.

Bio Available assay would be better than Free T.

Post all BW with ranges when you get them.

Any other neg sides of high E2? Nips ok? Get cold easy? Water retention?

Nips are ok, but get cold easy, and holding water like a fish tank.

What about albumin could be causing the issues?

As far as I know E2 directly effects SHGB.

[meathead320]

something else that I just thought of, doesn't fasting have an effect of increasing SHBG?

The particular blood test was done on an empty stomach, it was a fasting test because lipids were being tested too.

So here is my current plan:

Anastrozole, 0.125mg, very hard to get pill chunks that small, sometimes the quarters turn to power when trying this, but then I can eyeball the amount of powder, lick my finger pick it up and lick it off. So it is possible to dose for such a small amount.

Will use the Anastrozole at that low dose E4D. So waiting 3 days inbetween doing this. I'm only looking for a tiny drop in E2, not killing it alltogether. Just a tiny bit, as I found out again yesterday, and my sex drive is really good.

More cardio, and going to lose some bodyfat with traditional BBing dieting.

The combination of the two should reduce bodyfat% pretty quickly, and then I may even go off the anastrozole all together.

The lab range is 0-44 for E2, and I think I would feel better in the low 20's, instead of 30.7.

Given I've let my bodyfat climb up to 19%, yeah I need to lose the fat. I slacked a lot durring PCT, and that is a bad idea as its a great way to gain fat fast, when T is really low.