Have a HRT question for you pros....

[GGot FFina?]

Ok, im 34 been on and off steroids (usually months leading to summer) for about 8 years. Have not touched anything in 3 years though.

So i was feeling lethargic, no energy, and sex drive was close to nothing. Have no problem with erections, just dont seem to care for sex like i once did.

I mentioned all of the above to PC doc. He did blood work. My Test level came back at 550. He complained though that my Free test was almost non existent.

He game me the Gel. I put 2 pumps daily on left and two on right arm.

Heres my question... I went back to see him 1 1/2 months into the pump treatment, he did blood work again.

Now my test levels came back at 320. I dont get it?? Im starting to think this is a waste of time and this doctor doesnt know what the hell hes doing.

Can someone tell me how it went down? Should i resume this gel treatment? Is 550 really that bad to be on the pump for probably the rest of my life?

All help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Al

[bass]

no the 550 is not bad, but it doesn't make sense especially when your free is shot! i am guessing they made a mistake on your total readings, maybe you were way lower than 550! but how do you feel compare to before the gel?

gels are a waste of time and money, talk to him about injections!

[lifter65]

what was your free testosterone level?

[kelkel]

I know I differ from most here but A-gel did wonders for me. If your doing 4 pumps your only doing 5grms. which is the basic starting dose. Double it and make your doctor treat you by how you feel, not as a number on a lab report. I do 10 pumps per day and it gets my baseline T level between 400's to 500's. It goes over 850 5 hrs after application so I can't complain. Is Insurance covering it? Maybe Bass is right, switch and see how you feel if he won't up it.

[THORSZ]

Gel does work for some people. I tried it and it wasn't for me. I'd rather spend five minutes a week injecting and then not deal with the mess. My first month on the gel lowered my levels too. I think the starter dose is enough to shut down your natural production, but doesn't get you levels up high enough to do anything.

[bass]

I know I differ from most here but A-gel did wonders for me. If your doing 4 pumps your only doing 5grms. which is the basic starting dose. Double it and make your doctor treat you by how you feel, not as a number on a lab report. I do 10 pumps per day and it gets my baseline T level between 400's to 500's. It goes over 850 5 hrs after application so I can't complain. Is Insurance covering it? Maybe Bass is right, switch and see how you feel if he won't up it.

thats great it works for you, but as levels go, i am on 200 mgs ew and when i did blood work two days before my next injection it was almost 1200. so there is a huge difference in how consistent the injection is compared to the gel, also the gel cost allot more! just think how great you will feel if you switch to injection, not to mention how happy your wallet will be!

[zaggahamma]

Ok, im 34 been on and off steroids (usually months leading to summer) for about 8 years. Have not touched anything in 3 years though.

So i was feeling lethargic, no energy, and sex drive was close to nothing. Have no problem with erections, just dont seem to care for sex like i once did.

I mentioned all of the above to PC doc. He did blood work. My Test level came back at 550. He complained though that my Free test was almost non existent.

He game me the Gel. I put 2 pumps daily on left and two on right arm.

Heres my question... I went back to see him 1 1/2 months into the pump treatment, he did blood work again.

Now my test levels came back at 320. I dont get it?? Im starting to think this is a waste of time and this doctor doesnt know what the hell hes doing.

Can someone tell me how it went down? Should i resume this gel treatment? Is 550 really that bad to be on the pump for probably the rest of my life?

All help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Al

it wasnt the 550 you were complaining about reread your own 2nd sentence.......

now youre at 320...you didnt post a free test level from either lab....nor did you mention ANY change in symptoms...

your last question shouldnt be directed at the numbers.....

test levels go up and down...you shouldnt have been put on trt with only one test anyway...all hormones should have been checked, full blood work, etc.

[GotNoBlueMilk]

My baseline total T was 440. That alone would not have put me on TRT, but my free and bioavailable T were both at the very bottom of the range. My E2 was 4, which was a health concern. Best way to raise E2 in guys with low/borderline T is to give them T.

So your total T may be ok, but if your free and bioavailable T are low you have to deal with that. Those are important numbers, and more important than total T.

Now, to address the 320 blood work. When was the blood drawn, and how long after you last administered gel? What are your other numbers? They matter a lot! And of course, the most important question is how are you NOW feeling?

[DragonRider]

My Test level came back at 550. He complained though that my Free test was almost non existent.

All help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Al

High total testosterone with low free testosterone is an indicator that your SHBG is too high. TRT can lower SHBG, but you need to test that and estrogen levels so you know for a fact what you are trying to treat.
Generally speaking, 4 pumps of Androgel is too low for almost everyone. In your case, the Androgel has shut down and replaced your natural testosterone production and resulted in lower than normal levels of test. This is very common.