Switched to EOD and feeling worst

[Vince Carter]

Youre trying awfully hard to get the answer you want.

 

[carkrazy]

Youre trying awfully hard to get the answer you want.

My apologies for not being as knowledgeable as you are in this regard. I’m asking an honest question based on labs done on a protocol That I already have labs for. I’m not understanding why I need to wait for labs if I already know what the numbers are. You mentioned to wait for my free t to come down to range but it is in range and not high unless I’m not understanding correctly which is why I’m here in the first place... “to learn” I’m not looking for the answer I want because I don’t know what that answer is. Many of us on here Including yourself have gone through trial and error and are trying to learn from you. As you know when your protocol is not right you feel like shit and get desperate so I apologize for sounding that way.Maybe i’m Missing something or not asking the right question but I think my question was pretty straight forward.

 

[MarkM]

I agree with the free estradiol and will Be definitely testing for that on my next blood draw. However, the above listed labs were done after seven weeks on every 3.5 day protocol. Since I already know what my numbers are like on that protocol based on the numbers that are listed would you take anastrozole or not?

An E2 of 28.6 is not what I would consider high E2 but maybe you are more sensitive to E2 than many people. My E2 sits at 35.3, just over the range and I have good with that. SOme think that injection frequency does not impact E2 numbers but I think it does. Large less frequent injections typically mean T spikes which in turn means E2 spikes. Conversely, lower more frequent injections would create less of a spike in T and therefore less of a spike in E2. But, as with everything, I believe that is what normally happens but not every single time. Maybe you are an outlier than is very sensitive to E2???????

IF you are feeling as crappy as you state, then I would not wait. You did well on E3.5D injections so I would go back to that. Keep in mind that it will take time to once again reach a steady state a new E3.5D protocol. As far as adding an AI. I wouldn't but that is me and we are talking about how you feel. If you take an AI, I would be extremely careful and take no more than 0.25 mg a week. With an E2 at 28.6 you could creash it taking a lot more. Just be careful.

i have been on a E3.5D protocol with really good numbers and have felt dialed in for a long time. But, I can not get my Hb and HCT to level out and I am tired of donating blood. So I have changed to an ED protocol to see if that helps control my HCT. I know some say lower the dose, which I have a couple of times to no avail. Plus I feel great other than having high HCT. So if the ED protocol doesn't lower my HCT I will go back to E3.5D.

You have to take the advice given here, which sometimes varies because we all have difference experiences and opinions, and determine what makes you feel the best. It's about how you feel and not numbers. So experiment but I offer one caution......be careful with the AI as too much is much worse than too little.

 

[carkrazy]

An E2 of 28.6 is not what I would consider high E2 but maybe you are more sensitive to E2 than many people. My E2 sits at 35.3, just over the range and I have good with that. SOme think that injection frequency does not impact E2 numbers but I think it does. Large less frequent injections typically mean T spikes which in turn means E2 spikes. Conversely, lower more frequent injections would create less of a spike in T and therefore less of a spike in E2. But, as with everything, I believe that is what normally happens but not every single time. Maybe you are an outlier than is very sensitive to E2???????

IF you are feeling as crappy as you state, then I would not wait. You did well on E3.5D injections so I would go back to that. Keep in mind that it will take time to once again reach a steady state a new E3.5D protocol. As far as adding an AI. I wouldn't but that is me and we are talking about how you feel. If you take an AI, I would be extremely careful and take no more than 0.25 mg a week. With an E2 at 28.6 you could creash it taking a lot more. Just be careful.

i have been on a E3.5D protocol with really good numbers and have felt dialed in for a long time. But, I can not get my Hb and HCT to level out and I am tired of donating blood. So I have changed to an ED protocol to see if that helps control my HCT. I know some say lower the dose, which I have a couple of times to no avail. Plus I feel great other than having high HCT. So if the ED protocol doesn't lower my HCT I will go back to E3.5D.

You have to take the advice given here, which sometimes varies because we all have difference experiences and opinions, and determine what makes you feel the best. It's about how you feel and not numbers. So experiment but I offer one caution......be careful with the AI as too much is much worse than too little.

Thanks MarkM for your response. I’m definitely going back to every 3.5 days. I felt much better there and was able to get off the AI’s. I only brought up e2 because Vince Carter said it may still be too high which is another reason why I tried EOD. I personally hate AI’s. It gives me the worst joint pains ever. I was just wanting some advice on if my e2 number was ok at 28.6 since I’m going back to every 3.5 days is all. Again, thank you for your input. I will not use the AI and see how I feel.
Good luck with your HCT. When I first started I needed to donate every month but it finally stabilized after 6-7 month and cutting down on red meat a bit.

 

[MarkM]

Thanks MarkM for your response. I’m definitely going back to every 3.5 days. I felt much better there and was able to get off the AI’s. I only brought up e2 because Vince Carter said it may still be too high which is another reason why I tried EOD. I personally hate AI’s. It gives me the worst joint pains ever. I was just wanting some advice on if my e2 number was ok at 28.6 since I’m going back to every 3.5 days is all. Again, thank you for your input. I will not use the AI and see how I feel.
Good luck with your HCT. When I first started I needed to donate every month but it finally stabilized after 6-7 month and cutting down on red meat a bit.

I've been on TRT or 13 years and my HCT never stabilized. Hoping the ED protocol will help but I really don't think it is going to make a difference. I was on gels initially for many years and my HCT was just as high. But, at least I'll make the effort.

 

[carkrazy]

I've been on TRT or 13 years and my HCT never stabilized. Hoping the ED protocol will help but I really don't think it is going to make a difference. I was on gels initially for many years and my HCT was just as high. But, at least I'll make the effort.

have you tried changing your diet? Avoid foods that are high in iron since this mineral provides your body with hemoglobin.
Consume grapefruit daily because according to recent studies, eating half a grapefruit per day lowers hematocrit levels because naringin, a flavonoid that facilitates the process of natural elimination of red blood cells. I didn't do the grapefruit but eating less red meat and avoiding foods high in iron helped me get it under control. hope this helps.

 

[MarkM]

Thanks

I eat half to a whole grapefruit each day and take naringen too. My iron and ferritin are low due to donating too often so it's not the iron pushing HCT up due to high iron diet.

 

[carkrazy]

Thanks

I eat half to a whole grapefruit each day and take naringen too. My iron and ferritin are low due to donating too often so it's not the iron pushing HCT up due to high iron diet.

Dam. I’m sorry to hear that dude.

 

[optimizely]

So my question still remains. Based on the my above listed labs would .25 mg of anastrozole every 3.5 days taken with injections be ok?

I might be exaggerating. I switched to daily because I was using an excessive amount of anastrozole on e 3.5 day injections. I was using 1.5mg per week to keep my estrogen in check. I have an SHBG of 10 so I actually feel best when my estrogen is 15 pg/ml if you can believe that.

Per your question below I would absolutely take anastrozole knowing that your estrogen is in the 20’s. .5mg per week wouldn’t hurt with an SHBG that low. Just my opinion. I’m sure others would disagree.

 

[carkrazy]

I might be exaggerating. I switched to daily because I was using an excessive amount of anastrozole on e 3.5 day injections. I was using 1.5mg per week to keep my estrogen in check. I have an SHBG of 10 so I actually feel best when my estrogen is 15 pg/ml if you can believe that.

Per your question below I would absolutely take anastrozole knowing that your estrogen is in the 20’s. .5mg per week wouldn’t hurt with an SHBG that low. Just my opinion. I’m sure others would disagree.

Thanks for your input, It’s much appreciated.