Hi guys.
I started TRT in November with T levels at 350. I’m a 36 year old male who weight trains and tries to eat healthy. The main reasons I started were due to fatigue, irritability, constant brain fog that had been present for many years. Also incredibly hard to build muscle mass. Erections were never an issue and always solid (although morning wood was non-existent) and libido was average.
Due to the fact that the NHS would consider my T too high for treatment, added to the fact that I couldn’t afford treatment at a private clinic, I went down the self prescribing root.
After starting at 50mg of test E3D, once my natural T had stopped production this dosage barely increased my overall T at all. I then increased to 75mg E3D which bought my T to 750 but my E2 started to creep up to the mid 40’s. Fatigue and weaker erections set in so I started a low dose of 1/4 Arimidex E3D. I felt clear headed and confident initially but anxiety and ED set in big time. I managed to crash my E2 to 6 in a little over a week.
I stopped the AI but I can’t seem to get to a place where my erections are decent even when masturbating…which is causing major anxiety. It seems that I’m very sensitive to AI’s and can’t break them up into smaller pieces than quarters.
I’m at a stage where I’m considering quitting TRT if my ED doesn’t go away. What’s even more frustrating is that my libido has been sky high but my damn junk won’t work as well as usual. If I do manage to get an erection it’s softer and inevitably lose it in a short space of time. Never had these issues before.
My SHBG is within range but lowish at 23.9. My thyroid checks came back fine. Due to my low SHBG my free T is 21.8 which was flagged as high.
I’ve heard people state that people with lowish SHBG tend to do better at lower doses so this may be an option as I can’t seem to hit the sweet spot with an AI…it tanks my E2 with even small doses. It is genuine Arimidex btw.
I’ve already tried having higher doses of 200mg plus which didn’t help and I really don’t want to have to pin more frequently.
In order to improve the situation I can only see 3 options:
-
decreasing my dose to 60mg E3D which should put me at around 550 total T and hopefully lower my E2 levels closer to the sweet spot. I’m slightly reluctant to do this as pinning E3D for the slight increase from 350 to 550 leaves me feeling disheartened.
-
Try 1/4 Arimidex E6D. A quarter every 3 days tanked my E2 but this may be closer to the sweet spot. The issue is of course the half life of the AI and whether my levels will remain stable.
-
Quitting with a Clomid PCT. My erections will return to normal but obviously this isn’t a desirable option unless there is no other option to improve the issue.
It may just be that higher doses of Test don’t suit me due to my low SHBG but I’m confused, depressed and close to the end of my tether. I really don’t know what to do for the best and really don’t want to come off TRT but if I can’t improve the ED situation I will need to for my own sanity!
Any advice would me amazing as this is no fun.