Almost 3 weeks into TRT and noticing some anxiety

[Mike9876]

I'm 45 yo and in 2 days, it will be 3 weeks since I started TRT. My protocol is:

Monday afternoon
50mg Test Cyp
300iu HCG

Friday morning
Same as monday

I have Anastrozole on hand but have not been using it as yet.

For the past few days I have been experiencing what I can only describe as mild anxiety. I have never had anxiety in the past baring one or two stressful situations in my business.

I have been doing some reading today and have seen that one of the symptoms of high estrogen is depression. Anxiety however, hasn't been mentioned, just depression. I assume they're quite different things. I would say that I have been experiencing some level of depression, but it's the anxiety which is causing me to feel pretty crappy.

Any advice on what might be causing this?

 

[Vince]

My advice would be, don't get tempted to use an AI until you have labs. You really should know what your true estradiol levels. Make sure you get the right sensitive LC/MS/MS assay E2 measurement for men.

 

[Mike9876]

Thanks for that Vince. I think that here in Australia, we don't have all those options for Estradiol testing. I think there's just 'Estradiol' and that's it.

 

[Harold]

This is a graph of your protocol with 50mg cypionate monday/friday.

As you can see i marked week 3 in blue.

Week 4 to 5 should be better. Rapid change in hormone levels most likely what's causing anxiety, ask any woman with PMS.

Wait it out abit more before considered using AI. I've crashed my estradiol and it's no joke.

Good luck

 

[Mike9876]

Thanks very much Harold. I must admit that I don't quite understand the graph. The mg numbers on the y axis don't seem to make sense to me. Also, I'm not sure what the yellow line is, Test or Estradiol? Also, if the rapid change in hormone levels are what's causing this, wouldn't I have noticed it before now? And, why does the yellow line drop harshly around week 9? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Mike9876]

Quick question. How long would it generally take to crash your estradiol? I'm assuming it would be at least a month or two? So I'm thinking, there probably isn't much harm in incorporating a moderate dose of arimidex, say 0.25mg twice a week, and see how I feel after a couple of weeks. If I'm feeling a lot better, it would be safe to assume my E2 was high. And even if I don't, a couple of weeks isn't long enough on that dose to crash my estradiol. Thoughts?

 

[Nashtide]

Quick question. How long would it generally take to crash your estradiol? I'm assuming it would be at least a month or two? So I'm thinking, there probably isn't much harm in incorporating a moderate dose of arimidex, say 0.25mg twice a week, and see how I feel after a couple of weeks. If I'm feeling a lot better, it would be safe to assume my E2 was high. And even if I don't, a couple of weeks isn't long enough on that dose to crash my estradiol. Thoughts?

You've already received the best advice from veteran guys. It's not a good idea to use an AI without proper labs. High
E2 isn't wonderful, but low E2 sucks.

 

[Vince Carter]

Quick question. How long would it generally take to crash your estradiol? I'm assuming it would be at least a month or two? So I'm thinking, there probably isn't much harm in incorporating a moderate dose of arimidex, say 0.25mg twice a week, and see how I feel after a couple of weeks. If I'm feeling a lot better, it would be safe to assume my E2 was high. And even if I don't, a couple of weeks isn't long enough on that dose to crash my estradiol. Thoughts?

Terrible idea. YOu need to ride it out for a period of time, you've only just begun and a few transient symptoms are par for the course as your body adjusts to a new hormonal landscape. You can't dose an AI because of how you feel from this day to the next...terrible way to go about things, by feel.

Anxiety has little to do with your hormones as we know it

 

[Will Brink]

Quick question. How long would it generally take to crash your estradiol? I'm assuming it would be at least a month or two? So I'm thinking, there probably isn't much harm in incorporating a moderate dose of arimidex, say 0.25mg twice a week, and see how I feel after a couple of weeks. If I'm feeling a lot better, it would be safe to assume my E2 was high. And even if I don't, a couple of weeks isn't long enough on that dose to crash my estradiol. Thoughts?

What part of don't touch an AI without labs did you not get? "...would be safe to assume..." is the mother of all bad ideas.

 

[Vince]

I've been on trt for over two and a half years now and never needed or wanted to use an AI.

 

[Harold]

Mike you're new to HRT so it's hard for you to understand this yet but hormones are not like drugs.

These things affect you alot slower than stuff you are used to from earlier in life. It's like drinking a beer and then geting drunk in two weeks.

That is why it's so important to respect and keep a steady protocol, because hormones not in balance can cause some nasty side effects. INCLUDING ANXIETY.


To improve your well being you need to reach a steady state where your hormones don't fluctuate and stay the same over a longer period of time.

If you by first sign of trouble start taking these arimidex you just prolong the period to reach a stable state.

And you risk ending up in a hormonal roller coaster where you keep changing doses or protocol just to feel better.

I've been there and once you get hooked into finding a quick solution it just never ends.


Let's say you add in some arimidex. In a week all of a sudden your anxiety gets even worse. Now you come back and say, maybe i crashed it? I think i crashed it...

Should i stop taking the arimidex?

And you do, and a week after u say hey, im feeling abit better, and then 3 days later anxiety is back. And you say hmm maybe i rebounded to quickly and im high again, i must start the arimidex again.

And it just goes on and on and on


Week 3, wait you don't know what you are doing listen to what people tell you, wait.

 

[S1W]

Mike you're new to HRT so it's hard for you to understand this yet but hormones are not like drugs.

These things affect you alot slower than stuff you are used to from earlier in life. It's like drinking a beer and then geting drunk in two weeks.

That is why it's so important to respect and keep a steady protocol, because hormones not in balance can cause some nasty side effects. INCLUDING ANXIETY.


To improve your well being you need to reach a steady state where your hormones don't fluctuate and stay the same over a longer period of time.

If you by first sign of trouble start taking these arimidex you just prolong the period to reach a stable state.

And you risk ending up in a hormonal roller coaster where you keep changing doses or protocol just to feel better.

I've been there and once you get hooked into finding a quick solution it just never ends.


Let's say you add in some arimidex. In a week all of a sudden your anxiety gets even worse. Now you come back and say, maybe i crashed it? I think i crashed it...

Should i stop taking the arimidex?

And you do, and a week after u say hey, im feeling abit better, and then 3 days later anxiety is back. And you say hmm maybe i rebounded to quickly and im high again, i must start the arimidex again.

And it just goes on and on and on


Week 3, wait you don't know what you are doing listen to what people tell you, wait.

Excellent post, Harold.

 

[Mike9876]

Ok, thanks for all the advice. I'll just wait it out. I was planning on having my blood test at the end of week 8. I might bring that forward slightly to week 6 or 7 so I have an idea what where everything is at.

 

[FeelingLost]

Ok, thanks for all the advice. I'll just wait it out. I was planning on having my blood test at the end of week 8. I might bring that forward slightly to week 6 or 7 so I have an idea what where everything is at.

Hi Mike these first 5-6 weeks when starting TRT can be a real b-itch. Your body having to deal with hormones it hasn't seen in awhile . Some stuff will overshoot. Just know it will get better. I found intense exersize really helped me when I got anxious. 10 minutes on the stationary bike with the brake cranked can take your mind right off your anxiety.

Read up on high E2 symptoms and just keep an eye on how you feel. No one ever dies from high E2 for a short period of time. Hell it take months to start getting man boobs so don't panic. Know that many of us have been in your shoes and you will be OK. Keep posting and asking questions it will help.

 

[HealthMan]

Your body is still adapting and getting used to TRT. It takes time for things to settle down. Anxiety can be a common thing to happen during this time (first couple of months). If after that and labs done you still are having issues then investigate. I wouldn’t worry for now.

 

[30005Gator]

This happened to me at about that same time...racing heart (RHR of 120), anxiety, etc. It went away after a couple of days. And my E2 was at about 14 because of too much Arimidex. I was at 52 before I started TRT.

 

[Mike9876]

Thanks again for the replies and advice, I really appreciated it a lot and it's helping me understand all this. Yesterday after my initial post, and before anyone had repsponded, I was doing a lot of reading up and had decided that my E2 was probably too high given my symptoms (I have also been having some nipple sensitivity and itchyness), so I took some Arimidex. Of course, then the replies from everyone started coming in saying don't take an AI yet, which I won't do again now. Having said that, I do feel a lot better today. I realise this might have nothing to do with taking the Arimidex however. I will just continue to monitor how I feel and I'll probably get my bloods done around week 7, unless anyone thinks it's better to have it earlier/later.

Thanks again, all this advice has been really helpful.

 

[Mike9876]

I just wanted to do a follow up. I have been having an extremely tough time emotionally. Getting really upset and emotional. I ran into my ex at a cafe yesterday. She looked happy and for the rest of the day I was a complete wreck. This isn't like me and I'm honestly feeling so bad I'm at the point where I'm considering getting off this altogether. I know I should stick it out but I'm just doing really badly in how I'm feeling emotionally.

 

[FeelingLost]

I just wanted to do a follow up. I have been having an extremely tough time emotionally. Getting really upset and emotional. I ran into my ex at a cafe yesterday. She looked happy and for the rest of the day I was a complete wreck. This isn't like me and I'm honestly feeling so bad I'm at the point where I'm considering getting off this altogether. I know I should stick it out but I'm just doing really badly in how I'm feeling emotionally.

Come on Mike you would prefer she not be. That part of your life is over. Be happy for her and move forward. Your time is coming. I don't know what your financial situations is but if you can afford it do a blood test. Sure you are not at steady state yet but a test would put your mind as easy. Knowing your TT FT and E2 is not very expensive. Look here? https://www.discountedlabs.com/testosterone-total-and-free-regular 30 bucks and here https://www.discountedlabs.com/estradiol-sensitive-lc-ms-ms 52 bucks. What do you think, do able? You don't want to crash your E2, that is real hell, but knowing your E2 now might help in deciding if taking another AI is the right choice.
Again don't wish your X ill just move forward and concentrate on fixing you that is where your energy need to be.

 

[FeelingLost]

A second thought Mike, If your anxiety is getting to you and you think its high E2 well HCG is know to raise E2 just stop taking that for a while.
If you are supplimenting DHEA stop that as well. Your ball will not turn to prunes over night. 100 mg/wk is a pretty low dose but if your SHGB is on the low side that might be to much. Cut back to 80 a week. This is a marathon not a sprint.

HTH