Test levels even lower after raising dose? + Acne issue. (long w/ bloodwork)

**calisun** · 07-27-2012, 10:33 AM

So I've been on this protocol for about 6 months now:

Sun - 0.25mg arimidex
Mon - 250iu HCG
Tue - 50mg test cyp
Wed - nothing
Thurs - 250iu hcg
Fri - 50mg test cyp
Sat - nothing

For the first few months it worked great, but the past few months I've had periods where I've had red sores appear on my mouth and genitals. This is usually a sign that my E2 is too high (learned this when trying HCG mono last year) and disappears with a quarter tab of adex within 48 hours. However it seems to be very hard to control now...the typical 0.25mg of adex isn't doing the job as consistently and I'm also having erection problems...I can initially get erect but lose the erection or get very soft during intercourse.

This past week I tried 0.40mg arimidex (estimate because the tab cut odd..bigger than a quarter, less than a half) instead of the usual 0.25 and I've still got 2 large red sores on the inside of my thigh, 2 on my testicles, and have had a few pimples around my mouth + the same erection issue (doc even tested my for herpes virus because he didn't know what to do, came up negative). Kind of lost here on what to do and wondering why my usual protocol has suddenly gone haywire with no other changes. I'm the most muscular and strongest I've been in my life right now as well.

Here's the results from my blood work. The first results are from the last time I had blood work done (January 2012) and this week.

I was on 70mg of cyp per week, 500 iu hcg, 0.25mg arimidex per week and 40mcg cytomel with these test results

CHOLESTEROL TOTAL: 123 (L) (125-200 mg/dL)
TRIGLYCERIDES: 60 (<150mg/dL)
LDL CALCULATED: 80 (<130 mg/dL)
CHOLESTEROL, HDL: 31 (L)
LDL/HDL RATIO: 2.58
T3, REVERSE: 21 (11-32 ng/dL)

ESTRADIOL ULTRA SENSITIVE: 36 (H)

TESTOSTERONE TOTAL: 754 (250-1100 ng/dL)
TESTOSTERONE FREE: 91.8 (46.0 224.0 pg/mL)
TESTO, BIOAVAILABLE: 196.6 (110.0-575.0 ng/dL)
SHBG: 40 (10-50 nmol/L)
ALBUMIN, SERUM: 4.7 (3.6-5.1 g/dL)

T3, FREE: 3.9 (2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
T4, FREE: 0.9 (0.8-1.8 ng/dL)

For these test results below, 100mg cyp per week, 500 iu hcg, 0.25mg arimidex and no cytomel (felt no difference on or off it so doc and I agreed to stop it after 2-3 months of use to clear a high rt3).

Also, I had been measured for various vitamins/minerals and found out I had a B3 deficiency, so I was supplementing with up to 500mg of niacin per day to try and raise HDL. I had also started taking a Solgar mens multivitamin and sunflower lecithin.

CHOLESTEROL TOTAL: 116 (L) (125-200 mg/dL)
TRIGLYCERIDES: 59 (<150mg/dL)
LDL CALCULATED: 72 (<130 mg/dL)
CHOLESTEROL, HDL: 32 (L)
LDL/HDL RATIO: 2.25

ESTRADIOL ULTRA SENSITIVE: 8

PSA: 1.4

TESTOSTERONE TOTAL: 559 (250-1100 ng/dL)
TESTOSTERONE FREE: 75.9 (46.0 224.0 pg/mL)
TESTO, BIOAVAILABLE: 162.6 (110.0-575.0 ng/dL)
SHBG: 33 (10-50 nmol/L)
ALBUMIN, SERUM: 4.7 (3.6-5.1 g/dL)

TSH: 1.97 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L)

T3, FREE: 3.3 (2.3-4.2 pg/mL)
T4, FREE: 1.4 (0.8-1.8 ng/dL)

Very confusing and disappointing results for me. I have no idea why my test has gone lower with a higher dose and lower SHBG, and the low estradiol mixed with my acne problems makes no sense to me either..although the ED with low E2 does make sense (although I didnt have consistent erections either with my previous protocol). After addressing some vitamin/mineral issues and upping my cyp dose I was really expecting to see better results, not worse. Not really sure what to do from here. I've never been able to mimic how good I felt with my test levels around 900 on HCG mono again and have felt the same with the same problems on 70mg vs 100mg of cyp.

Any help would be appreciated

**MickeyKnox** · 07-27-2012, 10:40 AM

the first thing that jumps out at me is your ai needs to be increased without a doubt, based on your info. i would try .25eod and monitor. you should see a marked difference with your ed issues as well as the acne. your total test appears to be in good shape however your bio is a bit low. some of the hormone vets will chime in and comment shortly. good luck man..

**calisun** · 07-27-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by MickeyKnox

the first thing that jumps out at me is your ai needs to be increased without a doubt, based on your info. i would try .25eod and monitor. you should see a marked difference with your ed issues as well as the acne. your total test appears to be in good shape however your bio is a bit low. some of the hormone vets will chime in and comment shortly. good luck man..

Thanks for the reply bro, but I dont know if upping my AI would help right now. My estradiol bottomed out @ 8 with a tiny increase (not even a full quarter).

**MickeyKnox** · 07-27-2012, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by calisun

Thanks for the reply bro, but I dont know if upping my AI would help right now. My estradiol bottomed out @ 8 with a tiny increase (not even a full quarter).

that makes no sense to me. i must be missing something. then again this area is not my forte'. perhaps Bass, Vette, HRT Student..ect will take a look at this thread and give a detailed explanation. they're pretty good at what they do. but i would have bet increasing your ai would have positive results. i would have tried that first. anyway im sub'd for info. sorry i couldn't be more help. good luck man..

**calisun** · 07-27-2012, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by MickeyKnox

that makes no sense to me. i must be missing something. then again this area is not my forte'. perhaps Bass, Vette, HRT Student..ect will take a look at this thread and give a detailed explanation. they're pretty good at what they do. but i would have bet increasing your ai would have positive results. i would have tried that first. anyway im sub'd for info. sorry i couldn't be more help. good luck man..

You could be right man, could just be the time of the test or something. I'm not sure either which is why im here, lol. I've typically been an over responder to Adex it seems like, though.

**bass** · 07-27-2012, 11:23 AM

your e2 is fine and perhaps a little low, i am assuming the range is 3-70 for sensitive assay! low e2 can give you the same sides as high e2, maybe your e2 needs to be a little higher kind of like what it was before, it seems you've felt better on higher level. are you using the same vial as before when you did your first blood work, and are you getting your test from a compounding pharmacy?

**calisun** · 07-27-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by bass

your e2 is fine and perhaps a little low, i am assuming the range is 3-70 for sensitive assay! low e2 can give you the same sides as high e2, maybe your e2 needs to be a little higher kind of like what it was before, it seems you've felt better on higher level. are you using the same vial as before when you did your first blood work, and are you getting your test from a compounding pharmacy?

Yes same vial. Made by Watson pharm.