My new HRT regimen (w/o testosterone)is working .....some concerns!

[rjrjclub]

Background: In July 2009 got hooked up with an incompetant internet HRT clinic. Had some blood work done before starting TRT.
Age:53 weight: 185 lbs. Height: 6'-0", worked out 3-4 time per week.
After 5 months, I had to insist on blood work(labs) to see how I was doing.( My libido was going down hill fast and was having terrible joint pain and fatigue especially in base of my neck).
Note: starting taking sermorelin in late Nov.2009
Jan 4th, 2010 lab results:

Estradiol 85.3 normal 0-53
FSH 0.3 normal 1.4-18.1
LH <0.2 normal 1.5-9.3
Total T 4839 normal 241-827
free T >49 normal 7.2-24.0
IGF-1 79 normal 87-238
eGFR 58 normal >59
Creatinine 1.29 normal .76-1.27
SHBG 51.9 normal 14.5-48.5
Every other test were in normal range(thyroid, liver, etc).

I Joined MesoRx and posted my results. I stopped everything cold turkey per the advice of Dr. Scally. After my gonads shrank to the size of a small grape I contacted Dr. Scally to help with my HPTA restoration. (He also assisted me in getting ALL my money back from the incompetent HRT clinic).

I waited one month after HPTA restoration to start TRT again. I started taking 60mg of test cyp. per week, 500iu. HCG 2x per week, and 1 mg. arimidex. After 6 weeks I had a blood test done:

Estradiol 47.2 normal 0-53
FSH <0.2 normal 1.4-18.1
LH <0.2 normal 1.5-9.3
Total T 1079 normal 241-827
free T >49 normal 7.2-24.0
IGF-1 60 normal 87-238
eGFR >59 normal >59
Creatinine 1.26 normal .76-1.27
SHBG 49.9 normal 14.5-48.5

After shutting down my HPTA again and the return of the neck joint pain/fatigue again on 60 mg. of test. cyp. per week I decided to try a natural route to HRT. I've had very little libido in 2010. After reading the various threads/forums I decided on the following NON- TRT regimen: (Started it in early June 2010).
Acetyl l-carnitine 2 grams per day
Propionyl L-carnitine - 2 grams per day
methyl ester l-arginine - 3 grams per day
cissus quadrangularis - 1 gram per day
Turmeric extract - one 300 mg capsule per day
milk thistle extract - 300 mg capsule per day
creatine suupplementation - 5 grams per day
D-aspartic acid - 1.5 grams per day
NA-Rala
Fish oil capsules

My workouts started improving. Energy levels were great. Still had little libido but getting more nightime erections. Still had some joint pains, but much better. In early Sept. 2010, I added the following to my regimen:

Tumeric extract - 300 mg capsule 3xday instead of 1.
clomid - 25 mg every other day
mucuna pruriens extract - 3 time per day (one before
bedtime)(great for wild and vivid dreams)
D-aspartic acid amount reduced to every other day

In two weeks my libido finally returned. My IBS(irritable bowel syndrom that Iv'e had for 30 yrs+)was greatly reduced. My joint pains is gone. Lots of wood at night, stronger erections. I've gained about 10 lbs. of muscle in 5 months. My neck fatigue has disappeared. Had a blood test done last week. Here are the results:

Estradiol 31.5 normal 0-53
FSH 3.9 normal 1.4-12.4
LH 5.1 normal 1.5-8.6
Total T 748 normal 241-800
free T 15 normal 7.2-24.0
IGF-1 88 normal 87-238
eGFR 48 normal >59
Creatinine 1.51 normal .76-1.27
SHBG 47.9 normal 14.5-48.4
Bun/creat 11 normal 8-27

My concern is that taking all of these supplements is affecting my kidney function ( see serum creatinine, and eGFR results above).

Before starting TRT in July of 2009 my eGFR was 58(low) and my serum creatinine level was 129(high).

Is the creatine supplementation affecting the serum creatinine?

Can I just take clomid an extra day a week and skip the D-aspartic acid, both l-carnitines?

I researched on the internet and it appears that most of these supplements help or support kidney function. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

 

[rjrjclub]

Here are the results:

Estradiol 31.5 normal 0-53
FSH 3.9 normal 1.4-12.4
LH 5.1 normal 1.5-8.6
Total T 748 normal 241-800
free T 15 normal 7.2-24.0
IGF-1 88 normal 87-238
eGFR 48 normal >59
Creatinine 1.51 normal .76-1.27
SHBG 47.9 normal 14.5-48.4
Bun/creat 11 normal 8-27

My concern is that taking all of these supplements is affecting my kidney function ( see serum creatinine, and eGFR results above).

Before starting TRT in July of 2009 my eGFR was 58(low) and my serum creatinine level was 129(high).

Is the creatine supplementation affecting the serum creatinine?

Can I just take clomid an extra day a week and skip the D-aspartic acid, both l-carnitines?

I researched on the internet and it appears that most of these supplements help or support kidney function. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

Two more blood test were flagged below normal:

WBC(white blood count) 3.9 normal: 4.0-10.5
Platelets: 139 normal: 140-415

I am a moderate to heavy drinker. Can that affect the above results?
(I did find some studies recently that 3 or more ounces of 80 proof alcohol can lower your IGF-1 levels, especially if taken before bedtime).
That could explain my IGF-1 levels of 59 (July 2009) and 60 (May 2010). I've been taking mucuna pruriens extract to raise my IGF-1.

 

[rjrjclub]

My workouts started improving. Energy levels were great. Still had little libido but getting more nightime erections. Still had some joint pains, but much better. In early Sept. 2010, I added the following to my regimen:

Tumeric extract - 300 mg capsule 3xday instead of 1.
clomid - 25 mg every other day
mucuna pruriens extract - 3 time per day (one before
bedtime)(great for wild and vivid dreams)
D-aspartic acid amount reduced to every other day

Correction: clomid amount is 12.5 mg every other day. I thought I had 50 mg tablets that I was cutting in half. They're actually 25 mg tablets.

 

[CubbieBlue]

Correction: clomid amount is 12.5 mg every other day. I thought I had 50 mg tablets that I was cutting in half. They're actually 25 mg tablets.

I don't know how much any of those supplements are doing, but the clomid is doing a good job of raising your T levels.

 

[rjrjclub]

I don't know how much any of those supplements are doing, but the clomid is doing a good job of raising your T levels

You may be right about the clomid. Although, most of my strength and muscle gains gains came during the summer months before I started the low dose clomid. The muscle gains could of came from the creatine that I started using in June 2010. I was using the two L-carnitine combos based on this study that I found.

Carnitine versus androgen administration in the tr... [Urology. 2004] - PubMed result

The d-aspartic acid usage was based on this study that I found:

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Full text | The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in human and rats

I probably could skip all the amino acids and just take the 12.5 mg of clomid every day.

My next challenge: wean myself off PDE5 inhibitors (cialis, etc.) by using the pycnogenol and L-arginine combo that I read about here on Meso. Could be placebo but it's worth a try.

 

[NeedsHRT]

Your SHBG is dangerously high. You need to stop drinking cold turkey. That means test is getting blocked in favor of estrogen. Drinking produces more aromatase to produce more estrogen. Nice T levels tho.

 

[rjrjclub]

Posted by NeedsTRT
Your SHBG is dangerously high. You need to stop drinking cold turkey. That means test is getting blocked in favor of estrogen. Drinking produces more aromatase to produce more estrogen. Nice T levels tho.

Did some research after your post. I have to agree with you about the moderate and heavy drinking raising your estrogen level. I was able to cut back dramatically during Feb-May 2010. Started drinking every night starting in June.

That said, I may have found an answer to my original post regarding my high serum creatinine levels. I was assuming it was taking creatine supplementation that I started in June 2010.
Approximately 6 weeks ago I went to a throat doctor because of a chronic sore throat (mild but lasting longer than 8 months). Even though I haven't had have heartburn lately( for about 5 months) he told me that I had gastric reflux. He could see the acid burns in my throat. He put me on prilosec or omeprazole(generic prilosec) at two 20 mg tablets per day . I found these two links regarding prilosec or omeprozole.
DoubleCheckMD Side Effects -

and;
Prilosec (Omeprazole) Drug Information: User Reviews, Side Effects, Drug Interactions and Dosage at RxList
(under the side effects page and down near bottom of page under UROGENITAL

I've been taking prilosec for 10+ years almost on a daily basis. This may explain why my serum creatinine levels were slightly above normal when starting my TRT in July of 2009.

Thought I'd pass that along to anyone that uses prilosec ( or generic) on a long term basis.

BTW: Throat Dr. recommended to stop drinking alcohol before I go to bed to cut down gastric reflux.