androgel

**harleyrider** · 01-20-2012, 09:08 AM

I was taking "C" injections twice week but the doctor has stopped them because of high red count. I have since donated blood and feel better and the b/p has dropped. I have some androgel left over from before the injections started and would like to try some as I don't like how I feel as its been 5 weeks with out T. Any suggestions?

**sirupate** · 01-20-2012, 10:33 AM

Is your doctor putting you back on something? A high hematocrit isn't a reason to take you off of TRT....you just need to drain some blood periodically. Look, my endo had me visit a hematologist over this very thing and that doctor told me that a high heamtocrit is normal for TRT patients and that I just need to donate blood periodically.

Can you call the doctor and get back on TRT now that you have donated?

**zaggahamma** · 01-20-2012, 12:11 PM

New doctor for starters ...if I'm reading u correctly he's given you NO alternate treatment

Wut a fn scumbag

**HRTstudent** · 01-20-2012, 12:58 PM

If you have blood issues then please, listen to the doctor as opposed to us on a forum who only have a small portion of the facts and current situation.

That being said, injections do leave your blood levels at supraphysiologic doses far more than the more natural daily rise-fall of gels like androgel .

So, I would recommend scheduling with the doctor to talk about going back on T therapy if that's what you need. Unfortunately, coming off T therapy after long term use will lead you to very low levels of T compared to what you were used to on T therapy.

**harleyrider** · 01-20-2012, 01:42 PM

That is the only reason he stopped the treatment. As I stated I donated blood ASAP. If not the injections the gel would be better than nothing. hrt are you saying that the gel does not have the same effect on the blood as injections do?

**HRTstudent** · 01-20-2012, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by harleyrider

That is the only reason he stopped the treatment. As I stated I donated blood ASAP. If not the injections the gel would be better than nothing. hrt are you saying that the gel does not have the same effect on the blood as injections do?

Yes that is correct. The nature of injections is that they provide a rise in T level over a few days then a fall over the next few days. In that time, your blood T levels are supraphysiologic and this comes with some unwanted side effects. However, when this is a problem in patients then gels can provide an improvement because the T level is not as high and perhaps more importantly, because the T level goes into normal range shortly thereafter and for the rest of the day.

**ecsaaron** · 01-20-2012, 03:22 PM

The only way I would take the gel is if I squirt it on my toilet paper like aloe for my hemroids. Just for that cooling effect.That being said I guess its alright for some guys just not me

**HRTstudent** · 01-20-2012, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by ecsaaron

The only way I would take the gel is if I squirt it on my toilet paper like aloe for my hemroids. Just for that cooling effect.That being said I guess its alright for some guys just not me

That would probably not feel like aloe at all...

**harleyrider** · 01-20-2012, 04:23 PM

Thanks for the help hrt. I'll see if the doc will go with the androgel . I don't have a problem donating blood but if I can get around it I will.

**zaggahamma** · 01-20-2012, 04:54 PM

hrt, are you saying you've never heard of slightly elevated rbc's when on trt?

and when u say listen to the doctor , the op didnt state the doctor advised ANYTHING(as an alternative to his trt)

dont make it seem as if we are tying to hurt the guy

**BigBadWolf** · 01-20-2012, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by hrt

That would probably not feel like aloe at all...

Let him find out the hard way!!! Lol

**HRTstudent** · 01-20-2012, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by jpkman

hrt, are you saying you've never heard of slightly elevated rbc's when on trt?

and when u say listen to the doctor , the op didnt state the doctor advised ANYTHING(as an alternative to his trt)

dont make it seem as if we are tying to hurt the guy

Oh I am saying it is very reasonable that your red blood cell count increases. That's why getting a regular CBC is important and keep polycythemia in check. T injections simply are more prone to this problem, such as the original poster was having.

When I say listen to the doctor I mean it in the sense that the doctor is trying to get his blood numbers back to a healthy range. The doctor is interested in avoiding a major problem even if it means low t. If that goes bad in the short term it can be far worse than if he simply has low T.

I also said that I recommend talking to the doc about getting back on some form of T therapy because he feels the effects of low T. I don't really get where I came off as insinuating that anyone here meant to hurt him because I wasnt going for that.

**zaggahamma** · 01-20-2012, 08:10 PM

The doc didn't even suggest blood donation and go from there like a month of having slight hi rbc is an emergency....sorry if i lashed out at u..just get irritated at how these doctors are so dictorial

**harleyrider** · 01-20-2012, 08:38 PM

The doc did suggest blood donating. I was just trying to find out if Androgel had the same effect on RBC as injections as I would like to prevent if I can, Thanks and sorry If I miss led anyone.

**zaggahamma** · 01-21-2012, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by harleyrider

The doc did suggest blood donating. I was just trying to find out if Androgel had the same effect on RBC as injections as I would like to prevent if I can, Thanks and sorry If I miss led anyone.

u didnt mislead but make sure you disclose what actually happens at the visits...with only one slightly elevated rbc test i think coming off your treatment was a bit overkill

just my .02

**kelkel** · 01-21-2012, 10:52 AM

Androgel did have an impact on my RBC. Donate blood regularly. Good for you, good for the next recipient. If you do go with agel, use the 1.62%.

**djsingsing** · 01-21-2012, 12:03 PM

Androgel elevated my RBC's as well. I do a double red donation as often as I can. This last time I went in my RBC count was too high to do a double red seems strange. But they would take a regular donation. Time to donate again next week, anxious to see where I am with the count. BTW, I feel GREAT after a donation, probably part mental but it seems our ancestors had it right...an occasional blood letting is good for you

. BTW Kelkel, I am still on the 1.25% gel. I will have to ask the dr abou the 1.62%. I have been on the androgel for about 3 years now, really changed my life. First test total tst=197, now I keep between 500-800 consistently on the androgel. I am 41yo WM.

**harleyrider** · 01-21-2012, 12:11 PM

How much androgel are you using?

**djsingsing** · 01-21-2012, 01:25 PM

I have another post here that gives recommendations on how to get the most from the pump. But I am prescribed 5 pumps daily. For me, every pump of the 1.25% gel raises my tst +75. So at 5 pumps with my natural producing tst plus the pumps I stay at ~500-600. When I am being good and going to the gym like I should, I raise it up to 800-1000 which is most of the time. I have been using the gel so long now I am really in tune with what my tst levels are. The way I figured out the levels was like this. Doc first prescribed 3 pumps, I went back and tst was at ~400. I got the doc to prescribe 5 pumps since that is the secret number for this concentrate to get the most gel from your pharmacy. I went back on 5 pumps and was at 550. Doc said great, keep it there. Next time I went back I was doing 8 for several days. tst was at 750. Doc said too high to bring it down but no concern. next time I went in I had been doing 10, tst was right at 1000. Doc concerned and we had a talk. Told him what I was doing, he said ok, now you know, stop it

. But if you pay attention to your body, you can really get a feel for where your tst level is.