Seeking advice.
I am 37 years old. I've been on this journey for 5-6 years after significant chronic fatigue and anxiety symptoms sought to me start doing the thorough medical work up my family doctor refused to do. Prior to any intervention my Total T levels were usually between 390-530 and free T was in the mid teens.
Prior to clomid I probably always tended towards overtraining in the gym. Heavy lifting, and marathon history also. Shift work has also had me with an abnormal sleep routine and schedule since I was about 24.
I started clomid via Defy in April of 2018 and had a solid response. I took a custom compounded 15mg clomid tablet once every 3rd day and a .08mg tablet of anastrozole once every 4 or 5 days. Within 30 days my Total T was between 750-800 and Free T was around 20. I noticed significant improvement in sleep and anxiety within the first week. I was also able to recover from workouts again like I could when I was early 20's. My lab draws stayed pretty much right there with this regimen and I felt really really solid for a couple years. In 2020 I began to cut the clomid frequency to every 4th day and continued to feel good. Anastrozole continued at about every 5th day. My lab values dipped a little bit but felt solid through 2021. 2021 was extremely stressful for various reasons but I weathered it well. In early 2022 I began having sudden and severe anxiety, insomnia and wild mood swings. I had labs drawn and my T levels were almost down to pre clomid levels. I cut clomid to every 5th day wondering if maybe I was finally experiencing the zuclomiphene isomer mood side effects. I saw slight improvement and my total T values returned to mid 600's. I cut anastrozole to every 6th day and suspected during this time that perhaps anastrozole and estrogen levels were more the problem than anything. Anxiety continued to increase until august when I experienced panic attack type episodes for the first time and had to cut clomid entirely. I have been off clomid for 90 days and have seen some improvement in the anxiety. Panic attacks stopped within 2 weeks of stopping clomid. Anxiety is still present but not as intense and I've been working on the many stressful lifestyle components as well.
Thoughts: I think estrogen and anastrozole played as much of a role as anything when it actually came to mood and anxiety. Whenever I had labs drawn any my estradiol sensitive was near 30 or slightly above, I felt great. Anything 20 or below and I usually felt not so good. This year it was usually lower and I probably should've tried stopping only the anastrozole.
Family DOC- thinks clomid was a major contributing factor and should stay off of it and not do anything to address hormones and just take an SSRI (I think this is a bad plan).
Defy thinks clomid might've become an issue and I should switch to full TRT for the T levels and symptom relief I had initially with clomid
I did consult a psychiatrist who thinks that I might have a tendency towards anxiety but thinks this highly due to circumstances and its ok to resume clomid in moderation if I felt very good for nearly 4 years on it.
I am tempted to go back to clomid 12.5 mg or 15 mg every 3rd day like I was doing for the first 2 years when I felt the best. Long term, I do have concerns about ongoing estrogen receptor manipulation with clomid, but at 37 Im hesitant go full TRT when my total T can range 400-550 unassisted. I just don't feel great there and estradiol tends low.
All other labs drawn during my clomid experienced were in healthy ranges, always. LH was nearly always mid range- consistent with secondary hypogonadism.
Any adivce? Anyone here on enclomiphene or know where I can get it perscribed? Defy states they no longer do it. I don't know why, but I am reluctant to go full TRT/HCG protocol.
I am 37 years old. I've been on this journey for 5-6 years after significant chronic fatigue and anxiety symptoms sought to me start doing the thorough medical work up my family doctor refused to do. Prior to any intervention my Total T levels were usually between 390-530 and free T was in the mid teens.
Prior to clomid I probably always tended towards overtraining in the gym. Heavy lifting, and marathon history also. Shift work has also had me with an abnormal sleep routine and schedule since I was about 24.
I started clomid via Defy in April of 2018 and had a solid response. I took a custom compounded 15mg clomid tablet once every 3rd day and a .08mg tablet of anastrozole once every 4 or 5 days. Within 30 days my Total T was between 750-800 and Free T was around 20. I noticed significant improvement in sleep and anxiety within the first week. I was also able to recover from workouts again like I could when I was early 20's. My lab draws stayed pretty much right there with this regimen and I felt really really solid for a couple years. In 2020 I began to cut the clomid frequency to every 4th day and continued to feel good. Anastrozole continued at about every 5th day. My lab values dipped a little bit but felt solid through 2021. 2021 was extremely stressful for various reasons but I weathered it well. In early 2022 I began having sudden and severe anxiety, insomnia and wild mood swings. I had labs drawn and my T levels were almost down to pre clomid levels. I cut clomid to every 5th day wondering if maybe I was finally experiencing the zuclomiphene isomer mood side effects. I saw slight improvement and my total T values returned to mid 600's. I cut anastrozole to every 6th day and suspected during this time that perhaps anastrozole and estrogen levels were more the problem than anything. Anxiety continued to increase until august when I experienced panic attack type episodes for the first time and had to cut clomid entirely. I have been off clomid for 90 days and have seen some improvement in the anxiety. Panic attacks stopped within 2 weeks of stopping clomid. Anxiety is still present but not as intense and I've been working on the many stressful lifestyle components as well.
Thoughts: I think estrogen and anastrozole played as much of a role as anything when it actually came to mood and anxiety. Whenever I had labs drawn any my estradiol sensitive was near 30 or slightly above, I felt great. Anything 20 or below and I usually felt not so good. This year it was usually lower and I probably should've tried stopping only the anastrozole.
Family DOC- thinks clomid was a major contributing factor and should stay off of it and not do anything to address hormones and just take an SSRI (I think this is a bad plan).
Defy thinks clomid might've become an issue and I should switch to full TRT for the T levels and symptom relief I had initially with clomid
I did consult a psychiatrist who thinks that I might have a tendency towards anxiety but thinks this highly due to circumstances and its ok to resume clomid in moderation if I felt very good for nearly 4 years on it.
I am tempted to go back to clomid 12.5 mg or 15 mg every 3rd day like I was doing for the first 2 years when I felt the best. Long term, I do have concerns about ongoing estrogen receptor manipulation with clomid, but at 37 Im hesitant go full TRT when my total T can range 400-550 unassisted. I just don't feel great there and estradiol tends low.
All other labs drawn during my clomid experienced were in healthy ranges, always. LH was nearly always mid range- consistent with secondary hypogonadism.
Any adivce? Anyone here on enclomiphene or know where I can get it perscribed? Defy states they no longer do it. I don't know why, but I am reluctant to go full TRT/HCG protocol.