started my gel today

[xpunksurferx]

today I took .5 adex and 1 5g tube of testim, feeling good to get started! Ins hasn't approved it yet but the manufacturer got me started with my first month! If they don't approve it I am gonna stick with the shots, excited to start feeling better!

[durak]

shots = better

[BJJ]

Good Luck

[zaggahamma]

glad youre getting started.....did you mention your levels in another post....i see your ALREADY on adex on very low dose of test? and i dont see a question in this post.....

[Vettester]

What's your E2 score at? Not a fan of Gel, but I wish you the best while you're taking it.

[lovbyts]

Why the adex?

[xpunksurferx]

estro was at 72 on a 0-52 scale, I have slight gyno and am prone to estro reactions, but he put me on it as more of a lowering tool, he said that we will monitor e2 levels and adjust accordingly, from what I am reading 5g of gel is not much, I haven't felt any different so hopefully it kicks in within the next few days

[zaggahamma]

estro was at 72 on a 0-52 scale, I have slight gyno and am prone to estro reactions, but he put me on it as more of a lowering tool, he said that we will monitor e2 levels and adjust accordingly, from what I am reading 5g of gel is not much, I haven't felt any different so hopefully it kicks in within the next few days

interesting...glad you added that...as u see we all had similar questions....

wish u well

[lovbyts]

Good, at least he is watching your estrogen also and seem to understand how it works also.
Yeah the gel I never really felt anything and is why I switched to injection.

[xpunksurferx]

I'm on day three of gel and I don't feel much. A little better mood but no increased sex drive/energy. I'm gonna give t a month then ask to make the switch if not much better

[zaggahamma]

I'm on day three of gel and I don't feel much. A little better mood but no increased sex drive/energy. I'm gonna give t a month then ask to make the switch if not much better

4 years ago when started with androgel i cant remember if i immediately doubled my dose just from how i researched but ALL THOSE categories you mentioned increased for me in a relatively short time...less than a month like youre saying...but either way you say you want on injections and its better anyway

[xpunksurferx]

I agree the gel is already a pain in the butt, I am trying not to rub up against anything while it drys right now

[durak]

What do you do when you sweat?

[subnet]

I was on Testim for at most 2 days before I called my Dr. office (not my endo who was useless) and said that I didn't like it and that I wanted to go the injections route. By the time i got in, it was about a few weeks on gel and I've been on Test E since. MUCH better in my opinion (at least for me). No worries about transfer at all. No smell like Testim (although others have said it smelled 'clean'?). Ability to change my dosage easily. With insurance, Test E is a lot cheaper even with buying the pins. It's a slight PITA considering I've been injectin twice weekly, but better than smearing gel on my shoulders once a day...

[xpunksurferx]

Did you notice that the injects work better?

[durak]

injections are more efficient/effective.

[xpunksurferx]

So I have been on 5 days and it goes something like this:

1 hour after applying 1 tube of Testim, I get the improved sense of well-being, body feels calm and relaxed, and a VERY SLIGHT improvement to libido, I don't feel symptoms improving vastly, but I may be somewhat impatient.

2 hours later, I feel the same as I did before I started

From what I have read most people are supposed to feel good, most of the time, I am guessing I may be underdosed at 5mg, or just not absorbing.

How long should I wait before contacting my doc to let him know, they scheduled me for a follow up in 3 mo with new labs, but we all know that is 2 months too long, should I give it a month and then ask him to either up the dose or switch to shots? Or is this something that takes a couple of weeks to work?

[talstar]

I would get a appt. for the end of the month. By then you will either like it or not and will be able to start the next month(May) on shots if your doc will allow it. I was on 10g of androgel and my test was only 236.

[baja212]

today I took .5 adex and 1 5g tube of testim, feeling good to get started! Ins hasn't approved it yet but the manufacturer got me started with my first month! If they don't approve it I am gonna stick with the shots, excited to start feeling better!

I started back on Testim in late January. For the first six weeks the Gel did absolutely nothing, all the symptoms of low test were continuing, irritablity, no energy, lack of focus and concentration, no sex drive or morning wood.
Then gradually I started to notice my pumps were returning at the gym. The morning wood started to return, I began to roll-on and off the wife again. What made the difference, was how I applied it. After getting out of the shower I would allow at least 15-18 minutes for the gel to dry before getting dressed. I think that's what did it. Although, I agree with the majority, injections are the way to go.

[xpunksurferx]

Haha, I do apply it just like that, sex drive is returning slightly, pretty good last night actually! Little acne, and definitely holding more water, my rest week is up and I had my first workout last night, nothing major to report, I noticed I was a little more veiny, but that could just be placebo, we will see how it goes, I have a seven mile run uphill coming up next week that I have been training for, hopefully the test gives me some benefit for that!

[zaggahamma]

Haha, I do apply it just like that, sex drive is returning slightly, pretty good last night actually! Little acne, and definitely holding more water, my rest week is up and I had my first workout last night, nothing major to report, I noticed I was a little more veiny, but that could just be placebo, we will see how it goes, I have a seven mile run uphill coming up next week that I have been training for, hopefully the test gives me some benefit for that!

looking veiny is placebo

[Vettester]

Read the anabolic ratings on the main website, Gel is something like 4 out of 10. The stuff is a waste!

[sierrahiker]

Here was my problem with the gels: they will work for some guys for awhile, but then your body stops absorbing it and your levels will crash. I've crashed twice in the past year and it's mental and physical agony when that happens.

I was taking 8 pumps of gel a day (10 grams), and actually got my t. levels from 317 to over 1,000 and felt great.

But it didn't last more than 3 months.

Then for no rhyme or reason my body stopped absorbing the gel. You don't realize it for awhile until everything in your body begins to break down and all the low T. symptoms return with ferocity.

On the gel, I crashed down to 114 and that is about as low as you can go unless you're a critically ill AIDS patient (and I felt like one at 114, believe me).

With the shots you don't have the absorption issue or danger of transference. two big pluses.

[Epic Ed]

I'm surprised he wants you on the gel with the estrogen levels you're running. The gels aromatize at a greater rate than the injections making your E2 problems even worse. The absorbtion rate with the gels also is inconsistent, so you're getting a different dose every day, as opposed to the once or twice a week test injections that is consistently dosed. I know you're set for a month's supply of the gel, but if your insurance doesn't cover it going forward the price of the gel is exceedingly ridiculous. If you have a choice the injections are a no-brainer.

[xpunksurferx]

ins covered the gel, but I can tell that it is aromatizing pretty strongly right now, I am going to call my doc next week and switch to shots, because of the estro side effects/short lifespan of the gel

[xpunksurferx]

Here was my problem with the gels: they will work for some guys for awhile, but then your body stops absorbing it and your levels will crash. I've crashed twice in the past year and it's mental and physical agony when that happens.

I was taking 8 pumps of gel a day (10 grams), and actually got my t. levels from 317 to over 1,000 and felt great.

But it didn't last more than 3 months.

Then for no rhyme or reason my body stopped absorbing the gel. You don't realize it for awhile until everything in your body begins to break down and all the low T. symptoms return with ferocity.

On the gel, I crashed down to 114 and that is about as low as you can go unless you're a critically ill AIDS patient (and I felt like one at 114, believe me).

With the shots you don't have the absorption issue or danger of transference. two big pluses.

Do you feel more stable with shots?

[xpunksurferx]

Doc bumped me to 10g, feelin better the last 2 days, will let you know how it goes from here! Carbed down the last 2 days and got rid of a buttload of water-weight, feelin good now!

[xpunksurferx]

Have an appointment on Thursday to talk to doc about switching to injections

[zaggahamma]

Have an appointment on Thursday to talk to doc about switching to injections

thats about when i was feeling my best when i decided to put 15g (3 packets) of gel on ed and shortly after that switched to test cyp at 200mg a week and when i mixed in the arimidex ....WOW....what a feelin...top of the world