New(ish) to TRT, not really feeling much improvements. Dark circles under eyes, mild acne, fatigue

[adpower91]

Hello!

I'm a new user just looking for some feed back. I have been on nebido about 5 months now and had been started on test cyp about 2 months before that. The reason I am posting is I'm really not feeling much better from it, possibly even worse. I have always had very clear skin but in the last month started developing mild acne. Also I have dark circles under my eyes, brain fog and I am always very tired and feel miserable. I have very mild gyno or water retenntion going on too (not sure which) also with a few months.

From this I figured my estradiol was too high so I went into the doctor and got them tested. I also got my liver and kidney tested because I drank heavily from 17 to 24 which is what I am now. I completely gave up the booze over 5 weeks ago now to try and feel better. I also workout 4 times a week and my diet is really good. I am on 10 week shots now (was every 12 week up until last one).

My estradiol came back at 60 pg/ml. My test was at 520 ng/dl. I am just wondering if people would recommend an AI. Or perhaps since I have stopped drinking beer there will be less conversion as well as my liver and kidneys being able to handle it better? I'm 6 ft 3 and 180lbs so fairly skinny. I was 165lbs a year ago!

* I am on TRT due to a head injury which caused me to experience very late/ delayed puberty so the symptoms were there before I started hitting the booze. I honestly think I was self medicating with booze because the only time I didn't feel like total crap was when I was drunk.

 

[adpower91]

Also... I got blood tests to make sure my kidneys and liver are OK and they seem to be OK. So I am wondering if I just give it up completely will they be able to handle the e2 down the line rather than going on an AI.

 

[ERO]

Do you know if the E2 test was the regular or the sensitive? If that is the sensitive test then yes, that is getting kind of high for a total T of only 520.

Also, many guys do not really feel good on TRT until they get a total T of around 700. Do you have to do Nebido, or do you have the option of twice weekly Test Cyp injections? Or at the very least get the Nebido more often than 10 or 12 weeks. Say every 8 weeks or thereabouts.

Nelson has a list of follow-up tests as well.

 

[Vince]

adpower91 Hi, if you have a drinking problem, you should get help with that. Along with your low testosterone.
Alcohol increases estrogen.

 

[adpower91]

No, unfortunately it is either that or else a gel. They don't have the othrr types of shots where Im from. I stopped drinking over 5 weeks ago now because i know it isnt helping. Im just out of college so thats why I was partying a fair bit.

 

[CoastWatcher]

If outside the United States, the sensitive estradiol test is very hard to obtain. A simple, frustrating fact.

 

[Vince]

Your testosterone definitely looks too low, if you post where you live maybe someone can help you find a good doctor. It can be very frustrating, I saw three endocrinologist and two clinic before I decided on Defy Medical.

 

[CoastWatcher]

He is a resident of Ireland, so Defy isn't an answer. For those of us living outside the United States it can be a challenge to get TRT right. It is next to impossible to find the sensitive E2 test. Nebido is the treatment of choice in Europe and Australia/New Zealand (whether it works or not), and doctors tend to be very rigid as to when they will initiate treatment.

 

[SoCalSurfer]

If you have just stopped drinking then your body is most likely cleaning itself out of all of the toxins. To help make sure you drink lots of water to help your body flush it out. It will take your body a while to fix the damage done from heavy drinking for a long time.

Are you really 12 weeks between shots? When I started I was on two weeks between shots and the second week felt like shit. If your getting shots that far apart it might be causing you to have really high levels for a while then crash. I tried even once a week but still had the roller coaster going on, so I moved to twice a week lower doses and feel great.

 

[adpower91]

Hi, thanks for the responses. SoCal thats what my GP said. I haven't done serious damage so I'm hoping if I behave myself it will sort itself. Nebido is 1000mg/1ml (in the US it is aveed and is given in smaller doses) and it "recommends" every 10-14 weeks. I had started on every 12 weeks which was horrible. My new doctor put me down to ten and said thats what he has most people at. I'm going to see him the day after tomorrow but I think I will play the long game with him and wait until week 8 of my next shot to be asked to get me on every 8 weeks. I have done a lot of research and there are literally two clinics that prescribe TRT in Ireland. I am just on the nebido but I'm going to ask him what he thinks me starting on hcg too to keep the boys in check.

 

[adpower91]

and Vince, it has been the same for me so far. Literally 6 months of waiting and bullshitting! I started treatment in the US but moved back to Ireland two months after starting it and getting set up here was horrific. I went into one endo that had a 3 month waiting list to be told "young guys don't have that issue". I responded with eh... I have just about every physical symptom and the way I feel too! "the symptoms are non specific". Ahh ok how about the dozen or so blood tests I have had done by 3 different doctors. "There is no guarantee they're accurate. TRT is just a business. Come off it and come back to me in 3 months". I didn't go back. I'm now travelling up the other end of the country to this doctor. I have just met him once and he seems good. A hell of a lot better than the other ones I have dealt with here so far.