5th injection of HCG today - side effects kicking-in, so I guess it’s a sing that HCG is working and Estrogen is high.
2.01 - 3.01 - constipation, feeling weird, body adapts (like in 2 first injections of testosterone)
4.01 - 5.01 - feeling more confident, more libido, more emotions like before Anitdepressants
6.01 - metalic taste in mouth, more tired, less clear of thougts.
That’s a good part of story - and I am starting clomid tommorow.
However regarding the effects of HCG therapy - only minor effects - metalic taste in mouth, quite more energy and more focus, maybe more confidence - but nothing fancy and placebo-like. Nothing huge in libido or erection area (on some days maybe this things were better, especially on 6th or 7th day). What You think is the reason? Maybe it’s just because of doubled Estrogen (I don’t want to use Arimidex)? But I am not feeling super Estrogenic either - maybe little more angry, but not emotional or crying. Nothing super fancy. To summarize - I feel the difference with HCG and without - but It’s subtle and delicate.
So I am getting scared that my problem is not hormonal and strictly after SSRI use related and changing hormones will not change the way I feel. However I will continue my experiment and I am happy that HCG worked so well.
Any insights or thoughts please - I will be super thankful.
HCG doesn’t increase SHBG, your SHBG levels aren’t static and do fluctuate in a 24-hour period. Lifting weights can increase SHBG, that’s why you’re not supposed to work out within 24 hours of a blood draw when testing for SHBG.
Obviously, if any symptoms are not manageable, you’ll have to lower it. I think, unless you are actively trying to conceive, I would stop hCG. You can always go back to it when necessary.
You could also try DIM prior to resorting to an AI.
Restart still going on. 11 days on clomid - overall no bad side effects apart on maybe higher anxiety some times and unfortunately super low libido. However today I’ve experienced more side effects than before. Dry mouth, some ache in eggs and also my psychique is going into worse condition. Do you think I should be on clomid full 28 days or it’s not necessary and fo example 14 or 20 is completely enough?
I Finished whole HPTA Restart - yesterday was my last dose of Clomid.
I was 14 days x 350 i.u. HCG and then followed by 28 days x 25mg Clomid.
Here are my Labs from Today.
Total Testosterone - Before restart: 3,21 ng/ml After HCG: 7,57 ng/ml After Clomid: 10,66 ng/ml norm: 2,49 - 8,36
Estradiol Before restart: 36,64 pg/ml After HCG: 75,81 pg/ml After Clomid: 80,50 pg/ml norm: 11,30 - 43,20
SHBG Before restart: 17 nmol/l After HCG: 22,92 nmol/l After Clomid: 29,23 nmol/l
norm: 18,30 - 54,10
So my testosterone raised on above the norm, but unfortunately estradiol is twice above norm.
Two questions - when I should make next labs, to see if effects are stable - after a month?
Also what I can do with Estradiol - introduce arimidex now or just wait?
Regarding the SSRI effects - not huge improvements, however on one day I had a really good libido and had quite good intercourse with a girl. Erection is better and overall feeling sometimes also. But I’m still struggling with sexual dysfunction to some degree.
Regarding fitness I lost around 7 kg (15,5 pounds) and made progress in weight lifting in every workout in the gym. I never skipped on training from the start and I’ve also quit smoking (free for 1.5 months now)