My Boys are Back! - Test Results

[Dano2718]

Hey all -

I just wanted to post some good news I've gotten for all the other guys who are trying to get OFF HRT and restart their HPTA axis. Well, my background, briefly:

Started Depo-T shots at 100 mg/week at age 31 years old due to a low T (314 ng/dl), fatigue, and low libido. Figured out more than a year later that much of this was due to lifestyle factors and mild depression.

So, first attempt, after 16 months on T shots I went cold turkey and tested 2.5 months later

Total T was 188 ng/dl (LOW)

Went back on T shots for 4 months and quit again - this time armed with my liquid SERMS.

Regimen was 50 mg clomid + 20 mg Nolva per day. I tapered after 8 weeks to 25 mg clomid. After 3 weeks on 25 mg clomid + 20 mg Nolvadex (11 weeks total), I got tested again:

LH = 8.2 mIU/ml (1.5 - 9.3)
Total T = 710 ng/dl (241 - 827) !!!

So my boys can produce when given the signal.... Now I just gotta taper off the SERMS and cross my fingers. I know it will come back, just a matter of how long it will take.

I was totally surprised by the results as my libido is not so great - I can do it, but I'm not usually in the mood. This may be due to the SERMS or the stress and mild depression I'm going through right now. Certainly, getting my labs made for a good day .
Regards,
Dano

[BigAk]

Good job Dano... That's some great news to all of us indeed. My only comment is that you were on the clomid for a very long time. Could you have achieved the same results within one month perhaps? instead of three??

Anyway... I'm very happy for your success. It's time to taper off the Nolvadex and drop the clomid. Please keep us updated with your results.

[van-man]

Congrats! like bigAK I think its time to drop the clomid and start cutting your nolvadex in half. I would cut down every week until you hit 2.5mg adn then call it good.

I think you'll stay strong!

[Andrew Androgen]

Only time will tell. Have a blood test done 8 weeks after you finish nolvadex. I bet your levels won't be nearly as high as they are now.

[keninottawa]

Right on! I'm soon beginning a protocol of Nolvadex in an attempt to accomplish the same thing. I'll be sure to keep track of your results!

[Dano2718]

Hey Van Man and BigAK - thanks for the encouragement. It was guys like you, as well as reading Dr. Scally's paper on HPTA restoration that made me think it's possible to get off shots for life. Definitely not a piece of cake, but it can be done.

I think I decided to run it 11 weeks because this was after nearly 2 years of TRT, not a post AAS cycle. I know that's a little long by some standards. I should be done tapering off the Nolva in what - 6 or 8 weeks? Then I figure wait another 6 weeks to get tested? What do you guys think of that plan? Also, I'm a little concerned about the libido - does it come back after you quit the SERM's? Any feedback is much appreciated.

Keninottowa-

Good luck to you man, just think about how good it will be not having to jab your leg every week, and getting blood work and prescriptions for the rest of your life.

[wildfox]

I'm impressed!

How long after your last shot did you wait before starting serms?

When do you think you'll be done?

What is your fitness level?

Have you tried anything for libido like Nettle Blend to free up T?

What were your DHT, SHBG, E2 levels?

[BigAk]

Originally Posted by wildfox

I'm impressed!

Have you tried anything for libido like Nettle Blend to free up T?

I had no idea that Nettle Blend frees up T which helps with libido!!!.... Is this a proven fact?

[BigAk]

Originally Posted by Dano2718

I should be done tapering off the Nolva in what - 6 or 8 weeks? Then I figure wait another 6 weeks to get tested? What do you guys think of that plan? Also, I'm a little concerned about the libido - does it come back after you quit the SERM's? Any feedback is much appreciated. .

I think you could taper off the Nolvadex within 2 to 3 weeks IMO... Then wait about 6 weeks to get tested again.

As far as the libido, Nolvadex raises one's SHBG and restricts free T and bioavailable T. Once you're off the Nolvadex, your body naturally tries to lower SHBG and free up more T. This will increase your libido.

Many on here notice a big drop of libido while on the serms including myself. Just two weeks ago, I started some Nolvadex and shortly afterwards, my erection and AM wood went away. I stopped it and now my erection is back... However, I'm getting ready to go on a long cycle of Nolvadex to raise my total T. I'm thinking about staying on 10mg/day for two months then taper down for a month... What do you think of this dosage? or shall I go up to 20mg/day?? What made you go up from 10 to 20??

[Megazoid]

Good luck bro! I like to hear stories like this, i hope i will be saying the same thing soon.

[coz]

Originally Posted by BigAk

I think you could taper off the Nolvadex within 2 to 3 weeks IMO... Then wait about 6 weeks to get tested again.

As far as the libido, Nolvadex raises one's SHBG and restricts free T and bioavailable T. Once you're off the Nolvadex, your body naturally tries to lower SHBG and free up more T. This will increase your libido.

Many on here notice a big drop of libido while on the serms including myself. Just two weeks ago, I started some Nolvadex and shortly afterwards, my erection and AM wood went away. I stopped it and now my erection is back... However, I'm getting ready to go on a long cycle of Nolvadex to raise my total T. I'm thinking about staying on 10mg/day for two months then taper down for a month... What do you think of this dosage? or shall I go up to 20mg/day?? What made you go up from 10 to 20??

Good to hear Dano.

I'd still caution about stopping the novladex to soon. IMO i think for restarting HPTA it should be run it for maybe 2-4mths. With my last try I stopped too quick and relapsed & have seen similar accounts from others. The SERMS seem to kill libido once u start them, but over time it does come back slightly while still on them.

I'd recommend you go with 20mg/day - thats what I've been running now for 10+ weeks. Main reason for that is mine come in 20mg tabs. But it seems to be a good dose.

[BigAk]

Originally Posted by coz

I'd recommend you go with 20mg/day - thats what I've been running now for 10+ weeks. Main reason for that is mine come in 20mg tabs. But it seems to be a good dose.

Hi coz... When you relapsed, what were your numbers?.. Also, what are your numbers now after 10 weeks of Nolva?

[Dano2718]

Originally Posted by wildfox

I'm impressed!

How long after your last shot did you wait before starting serms?

When do you think you'll be done?

What is your fitness level?

Have you tried anything for libido like Nettle Blend to free up T?

What were your DHT, SHBG, E2 levels?

OK here goes:

- waited one week after my last shot of Cypionate. I figure why wait to start the process until after you are in a hypogonadal state? Trying to bridge the levels with the esther and natural production coming back online.

- Well, I think I will go with the very slow taper on Nolvadex - probably 6 weeks, then wait 6 weeks for retest.

- I do weights, biking, or running every day about 45 minutes average, so moderate fitness

- Have not tried the Nettle Blend - not familiar with it. My libido slowly seems to be coming back in the last few weeks.

- I did not have the other hormones measured - keeping track of total T is enough unless you are really feeling like something has gone wrong, IMHO.

[Dano2718]

Originally Posted by BigAk

However, I'm getting ready to go on a long cycle of Nolvadex to raise my total T. I'm thinking about staying on 10mg/day for two months then taper down for a month... What do you think of this dosage? or shall I go up to 20mg/day?? What made you go up from 10 to 20??

BigAK - thanks for the advice about libido - one doesn't know how important it is till it's GONE!!!

Well, I'm a junior member and only ever did one short AAS cycle long before doing TRT so I'm definitely not an expert. I see the half life of Nolvadex metabolites is like 15 days or so - so keep that in mind... I would be curious about a dose response curve with how much stimulus is provided by 10 mg vs 20 mg and make a value judgement on how high you want to go - i.e. 10 mg may provide 80% of the benefit of 20 mg, who knows. But less "intervention" is probably safer. I forgot if you ever got any test results on or off the meds. Are you thinking of doing Nolva again because you got tested or is it just that you feel subjectively low on T?

This is good stuff, thanks for all the input

[coz]

Originally Posted by BigAk

Hi coz... When you relapsed, what were your numbers?.. Also, what are your numbers now after 10 weeks of Nolva?

My Total T drop to about 10nmol/L after I had stopped all SERMS for about 4-5 weeks. I got another blood test 2 weeks after starting Novladex 20mg a day and they were on the way up to 15nmol/L.

I havent had any more blood tests since, as I'd decided to run the novla for at least 3mths - and have been focusing more on how I feel, than to be hung up with numbers. As mentioned in other threads after about 6-7 weeks, there have been alot of improvment in most areas - so I feel that my levels have come up.

I'll get some tests done in another few weeks, and will post the results then.