Why I Don't Believe in Dialing In

[Metalject]

When I say I don't believe in dialing in, what I mean is things do not always stay the same. What I mean by that is what has worked perfectly may not always have everything working perfectly. And the only reason I say that is reading through threads and people being commonly surprised when that happens.

OK, so the story goes - I've been on TRT for about 6yrs or so prior to about 12yrs of heavy steroid use .

TRT began at 200mg per week. There were no issues with E2, it never budged. Body fat was probably higher than it's ever been when I started TRT. Still, E2 did not move.

Dose remained at 200mg per week, nothing else used for three years. Again, no issues.

Dose was eventually dropped to 120mg/wk as levels were starting to get higher than needed and I added HCG . HCG was added in at 500iu 2x/wk

New protocol followed for 2yrs, again no issues, although E2 went up a few points, as in only a few.

About a year ago E2 started to creep up for the first time, 45ish and then into the 50's - body fat was lower than when TRT first started.

HCG was dropped to help combat E2 to 350iu 2x/wk - testosterone kept at 60mg 2x/wk. Goal was to avoid AI if possible as I can't stand AI's.

Forward 4-5mo, E2 now over 100, AI added at 0.5mg 2x/wk
Forward 3mo, E2 has gone up into the high 100's....no changes in anything else, BF has not gone up.
Forward, AI increased to 1mg 2x/wk for a month...zero change in E2
I should note, in all the BW done with high levels of E2 Total test was around 850-1000 and Free test always around 30+

Flash forward to the present - completely dropped HCG, now using zero and have used none for over a month. Have discontinued all AI. Still running 60mg of testosterone 2x/wk.
All blood work normal, including E2.

Ball shrinkage? If so I can't tell. They never fully came back even with HCG other than when I first started using HCG during TRT. I assume the years of steroid use is the cause, but it's not like they're not there or anything, just not as full as they used to be. Personally, I could care less as long as everything works and I've yet to meet a woman who said "my goodness, your balls seem less full than they should be."

Libido: good
ED: No issues - did have some issues this past winter and I'm assuming it was the E2.

So moral of the story - nothing stays the same.

Thanks for listening.

[Joco71]

Thanks for sharing that Metal I like it when people on here telll how things have went in their own journey. Your right that something that works today may not work next month.

[bigdil511]

Thanks for sharing I'm glad your back to normal levels. Did you get the sensitive assay for estrogen?

[lovbyts]

I understand what you are saying and unfortunately it's true, nothing ever stays the same. The best we can do is keep an eye on blood work and listen to our body on how we feel and adjust appropriately.


hahah I had not even read to the end of your post when I said nothing ever stays the same.

[DCI]

Very cool read man. Good to see it from another view with facts to back it up not just hear say

[kelkel]

Ball shrinkage? If so I can't tell. They never fully came back even with HCG other than when I first started using HCG during TRT. I assume the years of steroid use is the cause, but it's not like they're not there or anything, just not as full as they used to be. Personally, I could care less as long as everything works and I've yet to meet a woman who said "my goodness, your balls seem less full than they should be."

If you ever hear that, you better post it up!

And I agree. Ball size means nothing. I know mine never came back to what I thought was normal. Abuse? Slow shut down via pit tumor or a combination of the two, who knows. But as long as things work when needed, that's all that matters. And yes, blood work is just a snapshot in time....

[Chauffeur]

That's incredible that the Arimidex didn't affect your estradiol in any way. I've heard of people under responding to it, but your experience takes the cake.

Any ideas as to why it didn't seem to effect you at all?

[Bliggity]

Were you taking an Rx AI or a UGL AI?

[Metalject]

That's incredible that the Arimidex didn't affect your estradiol in any way. I've heard of people under responding to it, but your experience takes the cake.

Any ideas as to why it didn't seem to effect you at all?

I don't know, all I have is theories and none of them seem that logical, IMO. I would imagine if I had taken more AI, I'm sure there would be a point to where it lowered things but it was obviously going to take a very large amount. It's also interesting that body fat didn't seem to affect any of this.

Were you taking an Rx AI or a UGL AI?

RX AI

[lifterjaydawg]

So how would you sum up the journey this far? A positive one? Far better than before I would assume?

[jimmyinkedup]

Very strange the Ai's overall lack of effect. Keep thinking I must be missing something.

[Metalject]

So how would you sum up the journey this far? A positive one? Far better than before I would assume?

Overall positive, just a hiccup this last little bit, although a bit of a strange one. When I started TRT my total test was in the 60 ng/dl range. This reading was taken after more than a year of no steroid use or any hormone use of any kind. So sure, anything is better than test levels that low, although this bout of high E2 did pretty much shut my tally whacker down.

Very strange the Ai's overall lack of effect. Keep thinking I must be missing something.

You and me both. But even more surprising to me is how it seems the HCG alone was what was having such a profound negative effect. Hard to argue that it wasn't when everything went back to normal seemingly overnight when I discontinued it.