Hey there! I've lurked here for a while. I feel pretty knowledgable on HRT because I've been on it for so long, and like a lot of people here done my own research throughout. I work in medicine, so I have the benefit of choosing who I know to be a a good endo who's pretty up to date on research and open to trying things if I suggest them.
Background: 33 Years old, I've been on HRT since about 19, had a Traumatic Brain Injury and for whatever reason my body never really snapped back with some HPTA stuff, specifically LH--HcG monotherapy was a no go for me, high dose HCG my body just doesn't respond well to, tons of sides and not especially effective. So I've been on T for about 14 years.
5'11" 190. <15% body fat. Exercise 5-6 days a week. Mostly weightlifting.
I feel decent, but could be better on the front of libido and I do feel like I have a wider variation in water fluctuations than other men. I definitely notice specific periods where I feel on top of the world, gym is good, pumps are good and also minimal/no bloat--contrasted by periods where I'm facially/abdominally bloated, less pump and vascularity, and less energy at the gym, etc. I've monitored my sensitive E2 a ton over the last year trying to pinpoint it with that and adjusting Adex doses, but no huge breakthroughs. I've gotten bloodwork done in periods where I don't feel as hot, and had E2 be on the lower end, but other times when I've felt off and had it done and be on the higher end too
Current Protocol:
Test Cypionate: 80mg q3.5d
Anastrazole: 0.25mg every other day (I've tried both less and more of this and haven't noticed much of a difference in whether it changes or not. Mostly when I'm doing a lower dose of it and do notice moodiness / bloating creeping up ill add another 0.25 and it does help with bloat and mood I feel like)
Cabergoline: 0.625mg same day as the Testosterone (initially after my TBI I had high prolactin and started Caber with my hormone replacement--I've had pituitary scans etc. no tumor it's just assumed to be from the injury--My prolactin had been <2 undetectable for several years on the standard dose of 0.25 every 3 days, and I'd seen studies that low prolactin could cause low libido so my doc and I gradually have tapered it down and my body has tolerated that well. So now I do 1/8 of a tab every 3 days, which has my current Prolactin at 7.1 (2.1-17 scale).
Hcg: 250iu q3d. Although with the new laws getting rid of compounded HcG I may be forced into getting rid of this one? I know lots of people are mixed on liking/disliking HcG anyways.
Otherwise some basic vitamins, Vitamin D, Zinc before bed, I take a 2.5mg Cialis a day which keeps my blood pressure good <130/80, without it sometimes my BP read higher
Labs:
Testosterone 800 ng/dL (241 - 827 ng/dL)
Free Testosterone MALE 190 pg/mL (47 - 293 pg/mL)
% Free Testosterone MALE 2.4 %
1.6 - 3.3 %
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin 30.9 nmol/L (15.0 - 94.0 nmol/L)
Estradiol, Sensitive LC/MS = 34 (Quest diagnostics, their scale says <29) ---I should note on the identical regimen at quest diagnostics I've had a 10 before, a 18 before, and another above 30 before all from the same Quest Diagnostics LC-MS test. So This leaves me a little unsure of what to do as far as E2 management and the adex.
Prolactin 7.1 (2.1 - 17.7 ng/mL)
TSH 1.322 mU/L (0.400 - 4.000 mU/L)
Free T4 0.98 ng/dL (0.84 - 1.51 ng/dL)
CBC/CMP were all 100% good, not posting just to avoid a wall of text.
I guess I'm looking for adjustments on what YOU would do with this to optimize this. I feel like there's something 'off' during some periods for sure, where my mood/skin/bloat/temperature sensitivity/reduced vascularity/back acne/libido and erection quality are all reacting at the same time but I have varying/conflicting thoughts on what to do. But I've gotten bloodwork done during those periods and had E2 read anywhere from 10-35. And some of the periods where I've felt awesome and wanted to see where the E2 is, it's variably low or high also.
Right now I'm debating moving the Test to a 60 mg M/W/F dosing regimen instead of the 80mg q3.5d, and seeing if It'd be possible to cut down the adex even more (or eliminate it?), but I also feel a little hesitant about that because my sensitive E2 is already above the recommended level and I feel like a lot of guys prefer it in the 20's.
I feel okay a lot of the time, but I know it could be better.
(Side note: What are most of you doing now that HcG/Biologics aren't allowed to be compounded? Just ordering online? I've heard some people talk about doing Clomid? )
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Originally Posted by Youthful55guy
