Anti AI crowd

[Joseywales95]

This thread is dead on and I can confirm the anecdotes mentioned.

Primo crashes my E2 every single time and it takes a really long time for the symptoms to go away. Jacks up my lipids horribly. Masteron doesn't seem to touch my E2 but I can definitely feel and see the hardening effects. It feels different than primo. Primo I'm like dead inside. Masteron it still feels like I have plenty of E2 working on my brain but physically I look different. In my experience primo works like an AI and masteron like a serm.

I also can't deal with the low dose TRT. When I am older I will revisit the low dose protocols but for now I'm trying to feel like a million bucks.

I also feel like the mismatched half lives of esterfied test and anastrozole causes problems. Why wouldn't it? Seems obvious.

I've been experimenting with a healthy dose of Test cyp 200-250 a week along with anastrozole ED at .125 and I am honestly feeling really good so far. Feels natural but good. Such a low ai dose a day, while substantial over the week doesn't seem to crash my estrogen. Much better than primo or masteron. I opted for anastrozole over exemastane because I wanted something non-steroidal. I didn't want any interference at the androgen receptor. No bloodwork yet but everything is going well.

How's your erection quality?

 

[jmbb]

Where do you get it is an endocrine hormone that enters tissue and actually does something?

If you injected estradiol, would it not have an effect?

 

[Charliebizz]

And serotonin and this is where the so-called estrogen symptoms could be coming from, estrogen affecting the balance of other hormones.

Too much serotonin will cause ED, just ask anyone on an SSRI!

I’m on ssri and have zero I mean zero erection issues.

 

[Seagal]

I’m on ssri and have zero I mean zero erection issues.

So 'funny' here. By this logic, low estrogen will cause premature ejaculation....

 

[Gman86]

I’m on ssri and have zero I mean zero erection issues.

How’s libido?

 

[Charliebizz]

How’s libido?

No bullshit it’s fantastic. Have sex with the wife every night (if she allows it ) lol.

 

[Charliebizz]

So 'funny' here. By this logic, low estrogen will cause premature ejaculation....

Maybe it does lol. I last much longer now on trt vs when I had low t. And when I had low t ,I had low e !

 

[FunkOdyssey]

If you injected estradiol, would it not have an effect?

In sufficient doses, combined with androgen blocking medication, it will literally transform you into a transgender female.

 

[Seagal]

In sufficient doses, combined with androgen blocking medication, it will literally transform you into a transgender female.

Makes one wonder how they do keep it functioning....

 

[Mastodont]

Makes one wonder how they do keep it functioning....

"functioning"...on the occasion i was exposed to shemale porn, seems like they are commonly very soft, there could be some variance but i bet most that stay hard are using pde5. Also my understanding is they dont block out testosterone completely, not even close, but the huge amounts of estradiol will affect function, and atrophy balls. On that note, i have noticed on larger bolus doses of testosterone testicles seem to withdraw more, EQ is okay but certainly the data on estradiols shrinking effect down there seems valid. The funny thing is, general well being on testosterone mono seems to be on either a bolus of lets say 200mg or a very small and frequent dose, on the latter testicles dont withdraw but estradiol symptoms usually creep up eventually.

 

[DixieWrecked]

I’m on ssri and have zero I mean zero erection issues.

Which ssri are you on?

 

[Charliebizz]

Which ssri are you on?

Lexapro. I’m on very low dose though. 2.5-5mg daily. I feel like most drs start patients way too high on ssri.

 

[Seagal]

Lexapro. I’m on very low dose though. 2.5-5mg daily. I feel like most drs start patients way too high on ssri.

Most physicians would say that 2.5-5mg has no effect

 

[Charliebizz]

Most physicians would say that 2.5-5mg has no effect

That’s the problem lol. I can tell you this. I was on 5 mg for around 4 years. Back in 2020 I came off of it. The withdrawl was very real. Brain zaps were insane.

For me the low dose just takes the edge off my depression and anxiety. I can’t say for sure. But since starting trt it seems like it exacerbates my low grade depression and anxiety. So low dose lexapro and compounded cream has been the best combo for me in this journey. I tried for 3 years using trt alone and I was just getting more and more depressed. I tried pregnenolone and all the other upstream hormones and such. The low dose Lex the only thing that takes the edge off.

 

[Seagal]

That’s the problem lol.

I know...

I can tell you this. I was on 5 mg for around 4 years. Back in 2020 I came off of it. The withdrawl was very real. Brain zaps were insane.

That's 'abnormal', maybe you are a hyper responder.

For me the low dose just takes the edge off my depression and anxiety. I can’t say for sure. But since starting trt it seems like it exacerbates my low grade depression and anxiety. So low dose lexapro and compounded cream has been the best combo for me in this journey. I tried for 3 years using trt alone and I was just getting more and more depressed. I tried pregnenolone and all the other upstream hormones and such.

The low dose Lex the only thing that takes the edge off.

I think it shouldn't be classified as antidepressant... It doesn't fix the (cause of) depression, whatever that is but it can take the edge off. It has a calming effect on me. I'm also still using the 'ineffective' dose of 5mg. Just thought of naming it nootropic but once you mention depression some folks don't take you seriously anymore. (/rant)

 

[Charliebizz]

I know...

That's 'abnormal', maybe you are a hyper responder.



I think it shouldn't be classified as antidepressant... It doesn't fix the (cause of) depression, whatever that is but it can take the edge off. It has a calming effect on me. I'm also still using the 'ineffective' dose of 5mg. Just thought of naming it nootropic but once you mention depression some folks don't take you seriously anymore. (/rant)

Yeah i think for some if it helps with anxiety, it can indirectly help with depression. I know when my anxiety was at its worst, i was super depressed. Back in my early 20s i had legit panic attacks that controlled my life. I was put on the highest dose paxil. I’m not sure what happened. But it at least gave me the belief that I could get over them. After 2 years of being on the highest dose and gaining ton of weight, I quit cold turkey. I actually had no withdrawl symptoms and honestly no more panic attacks. However I think that is what wrecked my metabolism and maybe me less resistant to stress. At around 26 years old I went on extreme low cal diet and was working out like a mad man and that’s when my hormones went to shit. And was never able to recover naturally. I still to this day wonder if I would have took the lowest effective dose of Paxil would I have been able to alleviate the panic attacks without the sides. And maybe I would have bounced back from my extreme diet and work outs.

 

[Seagal]

Yeah i think for some if it helps with anxiety, it can indirectly help with depression. I know when my anxiety was at its worst, i was super depressed. Back in my early 20s i had legit panic attacks that controlled my life. I was put on the highest dose paxil. I’m not sure what happened. But it at least gave me the belief that I could get over them. After 2 years of being on the highest dose and gaining ton of weight, I quit cold turkey. I actually had no withdrawl symptoms and honestly no more panic attacks. However I think that is what wrecked my metabolism and maybe me less resistant to stress. At around 26 years old I went on extreme low cal diet and was working out like a mad man and that’s when my hormones went to shit. And was never able to recover naturally. I still to this day wonder if I would have took the lowest effective dose of Paxil would I have been able to alleviate the panic attacks without the sides. And maybe I would have bounced back from my extreme diet and work outs.

So much we don't know especially about men's mental health regarding hormones, neurotransmitters, polymorphisms, environmental factors.
Hopefully there will be in future a lot of attention on clinical and fundamental research on the cause of hypogonadism (neuro endocrinology).

 

[Charliebizz]

So much we don't know especially about men's mental health regarding hormones, neurotransmitters, polymorphisms, environmental factors.
Hopefully there will be in future a lot of attention on clinical and fundamental research on the cause of hypogonadism (neuro endocrinology).

I agree. But thankfully I found a decent work around for now. I was hoping trt alone was the answer. But the low dose ssri works well with no noticeable side effects. But I do seem dependent on it now.

 

[Seagal]

I agree. But thankfully I found a decent work around for now. I was hoping trt alone was the answer. But the low dose ssri works well with no noticeable side effects. But I do seem dependent on it now.

Thank you for your comment on one of my posts a few months ago, hinting me towards larger T dosage. And thank you for your openness in your other posts regarding the use of an antidepressant along with TRT.
For now, this combination is working very well for me too.

 

[Charliebizz]

Thank you for your comment on one of my posts a few months ago, hinting me towards larger T dosage. And thank you for your openness in your other posts regarding the use of an antidepressant along with TRT.
For now, this combination is working very well for me too.

No problem that’s what we are all here for. I’ve been at this along time and while I wouldn’t be where I am without these forums at groups. The fear mongering on some topics have also hindered my progress. But also rightfully so. These drugs and hormones are very powerful. And honestly the best docs will tell you it’s all trial and error. When I first started trt I had the worst experience ever. And I was with the top doc in the field at the time. But a post in this forum lead me to figuring out I couldn’t tolerate test cyp at all. Then a ******** group and a few members in here put me on to the cream. Dr Mariano’s work back in the day on the old musclechatroom forum put me on to the low dose ssri. So I have many people to thank myself. But also self awareness and coming to the terms we are never going to be perfect. And learning to except that is where I made my biggest improvement. Once you fuck yourself up and trying to get back to “normal” you start to forget what normal is. Then you strive for perfection. And that’s why it really can take so damn long to get better.