Here is an update, since it has now been a week and a half since I introduced estradiol and stopped all my AA's (no SP, no Spearmint).
During that time my program has been consistently as follows:
4mg Estradiol daily
3500-4000 mg PM daily
plus one cap apiece of Licorice and White Peony.

I think I can almost feel the T beginning to rise again. Subjective, of course, but I feel an assertiveness returning that I have not felt for awhile. Concentration levels are starting to stabilize. My stuff is starting, in small ways, to return to life a little. And some anger is manifesting itself here and there again... mostly in one particular area... but that is a story for another time.
I will be very curious to see results of the next round of blood tests, which I will have taken later next week.
More anon...
Hugs

Wow! I never would have guessed that with taking so much estrogen plus an aromatase enhancer (White Peony), that you would be experiencing a rising free testosterone level.

I would have guessed estrogen dominance.

I'm waiting anxiously for your next blood test, Sis.

Clara

Well, we don't know that I am, Clara. I am just going off of feelings, but I could well be way off base. As to E dominance, I am still using PC daily, so I would think that would balance out. I will find out soon. Bloodwork next week and results the following week.

Here is an update, since it has now been a week and a half since I introduced estradiol and stopped all my AA's (no SP, no Spearmint).
During that time my program has been consistently as follows:
4mg Estradiol daily
3500-4000 mg PM daily
plus one cap apiece of Licorice and White Peony.

I think I can almost feel the T beginning to rise again. Subjective, of course, but I feel an assertiveness returning that I have not felt for awhile. Concentration levels are starting to stabilize. My stuff is starting, in small ways, to return to life a little. And some anger is manifesting itself here and there again... mostly in one particular area... but that is a story for another time.
I will be very curious to see results of the next round of blood tests, which I will have taken later next week.
More anon...
Hugs

Wow! I never would have guessed that with taking so much estrogen plus an aromatase enhancer (White Peony), that you would be experiencing a rising free testosterone level.

I would have guessed estrogen dominance.

I'm waiting anxiously for your next blood test, Sis.

Clara

Hi Sammie & Clara,

One possibility is called negative feedback, here's what I mean:

The response relationship of testosterone on GnRH and LH secretion is known as negative feedback. Thus in an intact system, lowering serum testosterone levels will result in increased LH secretion (high serum LH levels) in an attempt to correct serum testosterone upward. Raising serum testosterone levels will inhibit LH secretion and reduce the endogenous levels of testosterone.


So in Sammie's case her rise in free T is the end result, or its unintended consequence.

LH- Luteinizing Hormone
GnRH-gonadotropic releasing hormone

Well, Lotus...whatever is happening, I will know more in a week and a half. However, something is happening. Here is a new pic from today:

[attachment=5893]

And my measurements are changing, although not in the bust area.

This was at last measure a month ago:
OB- 38.5"
Bust -41.5"
UB - 36"

This is today
OB- 39"
Bust -41.5"
UB - 34"

Waist size has also dropped from 34" to nearly 32"

Hips constant at 38" (dammit!)

Well, Lotus...whatever is happening, I will know more in a week and a half. However, something is happening. Here is a new pic from today:



And my measurements are changing, although not in the bust area.

This was at last measure a month ago:
OB- 38.5"
Bust -41.5"
UB - 36"

This is today
OB- 39"
Bust -41.5"
UB - 34"

Waist size has also dropped from 34" to nearly 32"

Hips constant at 38" (dammit!)

Holy moly,

You look awesome sis!

Much fuller indeed!

Thanks, Lotus. I think the areola are larger now, as well.

Thanks, Lotus. I think the areola are larger now, as well.

Damn straight they are! I agree with Lotus, too. They are much fuller, Sammie.

I still don't understand why your free T level is up, though.

.....Raising serum testosterone levels will inhibit LH secretion and reduce the endogenous levels of testosterone.

So in Sammie's case her rise in free T is the end result, or its unintended consequence.

The unintended consequence of.....what?......increased LH secretion due to a lower serum testosterone level?

Okay, and the serum (total) testosterone level is down because....why?....increased estradiol level from her estrogen meds?

So Sammie's next test should show her estrogen level up, her free T level up, but her total T level down. Is that right?

Clara (feeling amazed and bewildered)

Again, Clara... I don't know that free T is up... it just seemed like it might be a logical result of skipping the AAs, and based on how I was feeling last week, seemed plausible. But one thing I have learned it that my feelings are all over the place, and may have been influenced by other factors. We will know soon enough.
Either way, it will have been an interesting one month experiment.

Well, Lotus...whatever is happening, I will know more in a week and a half. However, something is happening. Here is a new pic from today:



And my measurements are changing, although not in the bust area.

This was at last measure a month ago:
OB- 38.5"
Bust -41.5"
UB - 36"

This is today
OB- 39"
Bust -41.5"
UB - 34"

Waist size has also dropped from 34" to nearly 32"

Hips constant at 38" (dammit!)

Now I call those real boobies those nip looking great

Thanks, Lotus. I think the areola are larger now, as well.

Damn straight they are! I agree with Lotus, too. They are much fuller, Sammie.

I still don't understand why your free T level is up, though.

.....Raising serum testosterone levels will inhibit LH secretion and reduce the endogenous levels of testosterone.

So in Sammie's case her rise in free T is the end result, or its unintended consequence.

The unintended consequence of.....what?......increased LH secretion due to a lower serum testosterone level?

Okay, and the serum (total) testosterone level is down because....why?....increased estradiol level from her estrogen meds?

So Sammie's next test should show her estrogen level up, her free T level up, but her total T level down. Is that right?

Clara (feeling amazed and bewildered)

Sorry Sammie,

We can move the conversation over to another thread but I didn't want to leave Clara hanging,

Clara, you remember that conversation we had awhile back about high estrogen levels tricking the brain in thinking enough T is being produced?. That's what I'm trying to say here, although we don't know for sure until Sammie gets hers results back.

Yes, granted high levels of SHBG are said to bind free T and render it useless, but it's just a speculation on my part in response to your post about raising free T.


Ok back to your local programming and Sammie's wonderful results!