First cycle

[SampsonandDelilah]

Gym has just been shut down due to COVID-19 pandemic. I decided against stacking anything with the test as it's my first cycle - I'm looking at it like TRT given my low natural production. All the research I've done has included the important of an AI yet you are recommending dropping it. Why?

Yes I'm definitely fat but confident in the training and nutrition regime I will be following during cycle.

Any pointers or things that I need to be aware of / look out for when I get going? All will be much appreciated.

M

They’re often over prescribed and the data around them is somewhat antiquated, especially the dosing. Quester makes some great recommendations. Estrogen is essential for growth, mood, libido and erections. Crushing it with too much of an AI can do much more harm than good. It’s better to see where you are naturally with labs and to monitor it along the way. Unfortunately we all metabolize so differently so with something like estrogen blockage, it’s hard to come up with a standardized formula. I’m of the opinion that less is more, you can always up your dosage if necessary. Take bloods along the way.

Hormone levels decrease with age which can make recovery more difficult. With exogenous hormones your body halts it’s natural production. Jump starting it again can get trickier...like all things when you get older. It’s why many men choose the TRT route and move into a blasting phase after they’ve normalized on a routine on hormone replacement. Blasting too soon can skew your results in terms of appropriate levels and reducing symptoms associated with low T

[MikeyMoo]

They’re often over prescribed and the data around them is somewhat antiquated, especially the dosing. Quester makes some great recommendations. Estrogen is essential for growth, mood, libido and erections. Crushing it with too much of an AI can do much more harm than good. It’s better to see where you are naturally with labs and to monitor it along the way. Unfortunately we all metabolize so differently so with something like estrogen blockage, it’s hard to come up with a standardized formula. I’m of the opinion that less is more, you can always up your dosage if necessary. Take bloods along the way.

Hormone levels decrease with age which can make recovery more difficult. With exogenous hormones your body halts it’s natural production. Jump starting it again can get trickier...like all things when you get older. It’s why many men choose the TRT route and move into a blasting phase after they’ve normalized on a routine on hormone replacement. Blasting too soon can skew your results in terms of appropriate levels and reducing symptoms associated with low T

Okay that makes sense to me. Leave the adex initially, get a feel for how I'm reacting and dose if needed?

Yeah I hear you with the TRT. I did look into it and was sure I was a candidate - the consultant Haematologist who looked after my chemo regime even introduced me to the Endocrinologist. However we had differing opinions. Private clinics were way to expensive so this just seemed to be a natural choice. I appreciate it's not ideal but I'm willing to try.

[SampsonandDelilah]

Yes, keep some nolvadex in hand as well in case you get a flare up....but I would follow Questers advice and look into Aromasin. Can alter from there if necessary. Your BF% could potentially drive estrogen sides which is why guys say to lower it before you start. Any gyno as a kid? Just have to be vigilant of you don’t get lab work.
You should consider finding another doctor. In the US, they’re a dime a dozen. I would focus on symptoms...lethargy, libido, mood. The range is just a range.

[MikeyMoo]

Yes, keep some nolvadex in hand as well in case you get a flare up....but I would follow Questers advice and look into Aromasin. Can alter from there if necessary. Your BF% could potentially drive estrogen sides which is why guys say to lower it before you start. Any gyno as a kid? Just have to be vigilant of you don’t get lab work.
You should consider finding another doctor. In the US, they’re a dime a dozen. I would focus on symptoms...lethargy, libido, mood. The range is just a range.

No gyno that I can remember? Most recent bloods were done 2 months ago:

White blood cell (WBC) count 5.6 x10^9/L 4.0-11.0
Haemoglobin (Hb) 150 g/L 130-180
Platelet (PLT) count 204 x10^9/L 150-400
Red blood cell (RBC) count 4.67 x10^12/L 4.50-6.00
Haematocrit (Hct) 0.44 L/L 0.40-0.52
Mean cell volume (MCV) 94 fL 80-100
Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) 32.1 pg 27.0-33.0
Red cell distribution width (RDW) 13.5 % 11.0-14.8
Neutrophil count 3.2 x10^9/L 1.7-7.5
Lymphocyte count 1.9 x10^9/L 1.0-4.5
Monocyte count 0.3 x10^9/L 0.2-0.8
Eosinophil count 0.1 x10^9/L 0.0-0.4
Basophil count 0.0 x10^9/L 0.0-0.1
Nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count 0.0 x10^9/L

Test Requested : Testosterone ( by MS) (B3728)

Test Undertaken : Testosterone ( by MS) (B3728) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: Denise Jones - 05.02.2020 11:52]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Testosterone (by MS) 12.5 nmol/L 8.0-30.0


Test Undertaken : FSH (B3045) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: Sarah Tennant - 03.02.2020 11:33]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FSH 22.7 IU/L * 1.0-12.0


Test Undertaken : LH (B3058) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: 4BVAMS2 AMS Results - 31.01.2020 18:10]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LH 4.7 IU/L 1.0-12.0


Test Undertaken : Prolactin (B3072) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: 4BVAMS2 AMS Results - 31.01.2020 18:10]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prolactin 228 mU/L 73-407


Test Undertaken : Electrolyte Profile (B5373) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: 4BVAMS2 AMS Results - 31.01.2020 11:56]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sodium 138 mmol/L 133-146
Potassium 4.8 mmol/L 3.5-5.3
Creatinine 118 umol/L * 58-110
Estimated GFR 60 ml/min/1.73m2


Test Undertaken : Liver function test (B3062) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: 4BVAMS2 AMS Results - 31.01.2020 11:56]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bilirubin 21 umol/L * <21
Protein 69 g/L 60-80
Albumin 46 g/L 35-50
Globulin 23 g/L 22-43
Alkaline phosphatase 57 U/L 30-150
Alanine transaminase 13 U/L <59


Test Undertaken : Bone profile (B3022) Sample Type: SER-GEL [CAV: 4BVAMS2 AMS Results - 31.01.2020 11:56]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calcium 2.51 mmol/L
Calcium (adjusted) 2.40 mmol/L 2.20-2.60
Protein 69 g/L 60-80
Albumin 46 g/L 35-50
Globulin 23 g/L 22-43
Phosphate 0.73 mmol/L * 0.80-1.50
Alkaline phosphatase 57 U/L 30-150