I've Been "Pelletized"

[Brohim]

3:02

[Vettester]

Oh God, did I just sit there and what some hairy ass go through that torture??

Surely that's grounds for banning!! LOL

[FONZY007]

I sort of layed-off heavy exercise for 4 or 5 days after the pellets were inserted. I walked mostly, but I'm not bustin my nuts lifting weights anymore. More multiple sets and core stuff. I think you could go upper body pretty hard without causing a problem. I'd leave squats out for a week or so.

And for Sholva...how is this worse exactly than sticking a pin in your quads twice a week? Theoretically, the chance of infection or of injecting into a blood vessel exist there, causing problems. Guys complain all of the time about quad soreness for a few days after the injection.

All of the current methods of augmenting our testoterone levels have upsides and downsides. You just have to make a choice. Oh...and just to reiterate...the jury is out for me until about the June/July timeframe, when my pellets have been in for 3-4 months.

I do twice a week quad injections and they are never sore

[Shol'va]

3:02

Holy Crap! I know I was joking in my earlier posts but damn. It's almost as bad as I envisioned it to be. Eff that! You guys each to your own but I'm sticking with my weekly shots on cycle and if and when it comes to it weekly shots of maintenance shots for trt.

[Shol'va]

Oh God, did I just sit there and what some hairy ass go through that torture??

Surely that's grounds for banning!! LOL

I must be a wuss cause I'll stick to pins.

[Vettester]

I must be a wuss cause I'll stick to pins.

I'm with you, I'd rather pin my dik before going through that procedure.

What the doctor failed to mention in the video is that injections are not painful if done correctly, plus a person could go Sub Q if they want to make it even more painless. What this doctor isn't telling everyone in the video is that he's cleaning up the $$ by promoting this procedure. Sending patients home with a bottle and pins doesn't pay for his country club dues.

[kelkel]

^^I concur. I'd punch that doc if he assaulted me with a syringe like that, OMG! Not pleasant to watch yet I have one friend on them who loves it.

[bass]

nope, sq for me.

[sirupate]

A 3 month (13 weeks actually) data point measurement for the record:

Total 466 (280-800)
Free 12.5 (8-55)

My 1 month measurements with 12 pellets inserted were:

Total 843 (280-800)
Free 24.6 (8-55)

I don't feel bad yet, but not as quite good as I felt the first couple of months. It would be nice if I could get my free level up there a bit more. I scheduled a new Testopel procedure about a week from now, which gives my arse a bit of time to heal before I go to the beach and sit in the water all day.

The procedure itself doesn't bother me at all...but I'm not sure this is the way to go either. I think the injections, carefully tuned, are the best way. I may switch after another 3-4 months.

A data point for your information.

Jeff

[sirupate]

Damn...watched that video of the procedure above and now wish I hadn't. 10cc's of the numbing medicine injected...ouch, that's a bunch. It is only the first "prick" that stings though. When you are laying on the table...you don't get to watch, so it all goes pretty well after that first numbing injection.

And, whoever posted about the money the docs are making on this are quite correct. I was a bit shocked when I got the bill for the procedure. Insurance paid for most all of it, but still, it is expensive.

I'll post after the next procedure if anything strikes me as interesting about it. I know I am curious as to how many pellets I will get this time around. I'd rather get a few more pellets than the 12 given last time considering what you go through to get any at all.

[makingwaves]

Sad to hear that on levels. It sounds like same roller coaster ride as shots every couple weeks, big ride up followed by big drop down. Contrary to what they say it is not more fun if you raise your arms up over your head.

[curioususer]

what has been seen cannot be unseen!!!

[Brohim]

Damn...watched that video of the procedure above and now wish I hadn't. 10cc's of the numbing medicine injected...ouch, that's a bunch. It is only the first "prick" that stings though. When you are laying on the table...you don't get to watch, so it all goes pretty well after that first numbing injection.

And, whoever posted about the money the docs are making on this are quite correct. I was a bit shocked when I got the bill for the procedure. Insurance paid for most all of it, but still, it is expensive.

I'll post after the next procedure if anything strikes me as interesting about it. I know I am curious as to how many pellets I will get this time around. I'd rather get a few more pellets than the 12 given last time considering what you go through to get any at all.

Bro I would ask for more pellets this time. Your 400 at 13 weeks tell him you want to stay at 800. Go for more pellets.

[sirupate]

I'll ask for more pellets, but the reality is that your levels decline over time and you can't stay at the 800 level for all that long. It is a roller coaster ride, but with much longer intervals than the injections. Think 3-4 month decline followed by a one month high, then a 3-4 month decline again. I think it is much like getting injections every 2-3 weeks.

We all know (except some MD's) that you can smooth this process out a lot by making weekly or 2x weekly injections. Or, it can be very smooth with a gel, for those that absorb gel well. But, bang for the buck, it is injections hands down. You just have to come to like sticking yourself and I know some of you do.

[kelkel]

It's not a "like" thing, imo. Just a necessary evil you become accostomed to. I'll gladly take the momentary discomfort as opposed to living with basically a "0" T level. Just gotta find what works for each of us!

[ZenFitness]

Hi sirupate,

I just got pellets at the beginning of June and felt like a champ a couple weeks in. Still feel pretty good after a month... my one month BW was at 610 total test. I'm 6' 3" and 205 lbs, low BF%... do you mind sharing your height and weight? The reason I ask is that I had 12 pellets inserted and want my total test to be up more in the 800 - 900 range... maybe 14 - 16 pellets next time or maybe injections.

I think I'm likely going to switch to injections so that I can stabilize this out and have more control over fine tuning dosages. I had to pay for my pellets out of pocket against my deductible... $860, yikes. That should be the only big hit though, after that I think it is 15% out of pocket. Docs are making some good $$ on this, and injections seem like they would be cheaper.

[sirupate]

Zen....I am 5'10" and weigh between 195 and 205 depending on how my exercise and diet are going. Sounds like you need a couple more pellets, or add some hCG to what you are doing. The injections, if you aren't queasy about injecting, will keep you more level and will be less expensive. Obviously I decided to try one more pellet procedure. I did feel pretty good through months one and two. Felt the drop off in month three and getting the new procedure about month four.

I don't necessarily begrudge the doctors their (healthy) fee for this. I'm just not sure it is the solution as you still get a drop off where you don't feel great and those low levels can last for a month or two until you get more pellets inserted. You have ups and downs with the injections, but they are pretty short lived unless your doctor has you injecting on an infrequent basis.

[MRNJ1992]

did shots and gel-levels were never steady. off now 2 months-maybe pellets are next.

[Firestorm#1]

A friend of mine had the pellets and they came out during a leg press. Not a pretty site.

[sirupate]

A friend of mine had the pellets and they came out during a leg press. Not a pretty site.

Yes, that can happen until the incision is fully closed up. I'd avoid leg press and squats (anything like that) for at least a week after getting the implants. Upper body work should be good to go. How many days after the implant procedure did this happen to your friend?

[DanMan250]

did shots and gel-levels were never steady. off now 2 months-maybe pellets are next.

How frequently were you doing the shots and at what dose?

[MRNJ1992]

shots once a week, dose 200 mgs, after 3 months 300 mgs T level was 180 before and went as high as 900. Went to a urologist he changed me to androgel levels went to 1500 didnt feel anything. now off T level is 117 waiting 1 month more for bloodwork. my free T is 35.8 too high thats why the doc took me off.

[DanMan250]

shots once a week, dose 200 mgs, after 3 months 300 mgs T level was 180 before and went as high as 900. Went to a urologist he changed me to androgel levels went to 1500 didnt feel anything. now off T level is 117 waiting 1 month more for bloodwork. my free T is 35.8 too high thats why the doc took me off.

You were taking an incredibly high dose of injectable test. You were really doing a mild cycle not TRT. It really surprises me that your T levels were not way above the ref range. Makes me think your test was underdosed. Typical TRT dose is 80mg - 120mg per week, best split into atleast 2 doses each week for most stable levels. I'm only on 40mg of test cypionate twice a week along with 100iu HCG ED and I am right at the top of the ref range.

[MRNJ1992]

Thanks for the reply

[MRNJ1992]

Did you gain alot of weight-water weight,bloat,etc? I put on 30 pounds with alot of water retention-obviously unwanted.

[sirupate]

Second Testopel procedure a few minutes ago. Got 12 pellets again. Nearly pain free...he used 12 cc of lidocaine for numbing. Wants me back in a month for bloodwork and thinks I am no more than a 4 month kind of guy for this. We'll see...3 months plus a week or two would be better for me. Damn pellets are bigger than you might think they are.

Nothing else significant about this time around. Easy really. Hoping to feel better in a few days.

[sirupate]

Lidocaine (12cc's) wore off after about 24 hours, then I was a bit sore for two days. No sign of infection and I am not worried about losing the pellets at this point.

All is good, and my levels should be about peaked when I head off for my beach vacation in a few weeks.

[crawdaddy]

Yup, with those beautiful pics....we get the picture like it or not....lol

[havanakid]

INjections all the way...Keeps your levels more stable.At least for me its been great.

[61er]

I'm two months into my first round with pellets. I much prefer it to the gels. In fact, i don't even think about testosterone most days. As for the inevitable drop off in T levels, my doctor advised keeping some Testim handy. Sounds like a sensible bridge solution, although my insurer may balk.

[ZenFitness]

I got my results late last week after several months in, and my total T from pellets at the beginning of June is in the low 400s now. Not bad I guess for three and a half months. I'm starting to notice a very subtle increase in body fat and a decrease in muscle bulk, and there are some other symptoms (more tired in the mornings, etc.).

I'm wrangling with my urologist to start injections as I'm new to TRT and this round of pellets was my first go of things. My thought is to give injections three months, see how they go, and then make a longer term decision regarding pellets vs injects.

[sirupate]

Got my third set of pellets yesterday. Procedure was easy, as usual. I ask the doctor about doing some weightlifting that evening and he replied that he didn't see any problem with doing that. Doctor did say that his supply of pellets for patients is backordered for an indefinite time period, so he may switch me to injections or gel at my Spring 2013 appointment, depending on how the supply issue works out. Not sure if that means the Testopel procedure is becoming much more popular, or if there are manufacturing problems going on.

It had been 5 months almost exactly since my last procedure. My "tank" was getting pretty low. Total test level of 234, or something close to that after 5 months. In my opinion, I need new pellets at 4 months and not wait any longer.

[-Ender-]

3:02

Oh God, did I just sit there and what some hairy ass go through that torture??

Surely that's grounds for banning!! LOL

I'm with you, I'd rather pin my dik before going through that procedure.

that looks brutal and I would think that scar tissue will become a common theme among those that opt for this method.