Androgel....

[Freemason]

Long story short..newb here. 45 yrs old. Haven't worked out in over 5 years. Nothing. Low libido, no energy, want to nap 3 hours in afternoon, lazy, etc..

Went to a urologist for another condition and blood work came back my Total T was 141 and Free t was 21! Ouch. No wonder I feel like crap. Any way..went to see my local GP and she started me on Androgel ..1.62%..40mg day. 2 pumps/day. I know a little about hormones as I actually sell a form of HcG . Lol. Guess I didn't want to so shots if I didn't have to. I also used to sell Androderm patch loooong time ago and nobody used it. Every uro did Gel or shots. I had my GP do a full blood work up. Everything was normal(accept test of course.) estradiol was 44? I believe. PSA was 0.5. Never had that checked.

So....I'm on day 4. Another reason I've chosen the gel is because I remember in my training that it gave you a more steady state of Test. Whereas the shot was up and down. It's prob all about absorption on what works. I did start working out lightly last couple days. Walking and light weights. Surpassingly I wasn't sore today.

I'm praying this stuff works. I'd like to get into shape..meaning for once in my life have a respectable body. I know it won't happen with TRT alone. I'm 6' and 180 but flabby 180. Not a lot of muscle. I've been like this most my life and I'm quite sure my Low T has been there my whole life.

[kelkel]

Welcome to the forum Freemason!

I'm very curious if they found a cause for your low T? Assuming a normal scale was used (say Labcorp 349 - 1197) that's a very low number. Normally something, or a combination thereof, is suppressing you at that number. Did you see your blood work or have a copy you can post?

Gel doesn't necessarily give you a more steady state but it does imitate the diurnal nature of endogenous testosterone more closely. Many of us here that do injections split the weekly dose in half and inject every 3.5 days or so. It keeps a much steadier level of T as well as minimizing estrogen turnover.

Transdermal testosterone replacement therapy in men

[Freemason]

Thanks K. Well I'm pretty sure my T has been low my whole life...but for about 3 years I was taking stuff I shouldn't hae been if u know what I mean and that prob didn't help.

I'll see if I can scan my results. Lab was the hospital lab and range was 280-1170? I think. Once I found out I started looking up and reading about low T and how bad it is on the body and mind and I'm kind of mad at myself for not taking care of this a lot sooner. It also upsets me that we men and this condition is so taboo with society and doctors. If a woman had a hormone problem they woild be asked to be on Oprah and given a script immediately.

That makes sense twice a week with shots. I'll see how this goes for couple months and see if I have to go on HcG or not to prevent test shrinkage etc. I did think about starting with HcG only.

[kelkel]

Definitely post them if possible. So many doc's see low T on blood work and slap gel on their patients which band aids the real cause. Remember to update this thread with your first BW on agel as well. Let's see how you're doing. Re HCG , no one "has" to go on it. It's just a smart and healthy thing to do. It mimics LH production which will be shut down due to exogenous test. And we have LH receptors throughout our bodies, not just in our testicals. Search up Crislers paper on HCG or Nelson Vergel's. Also read the sticky threads at the top of this forum.

[applips]

It also upsets me that we men and this condition is so taboo with society and doctors.

Yeah tell me about it mate terrible situation here.

[Simon1972]

Gels are a great introduction. Get your dht levels up as well. Gets a little old having to rub it on every morning, you will find pins every 3.5 days works better. But try the gels, once you get the help you need you can easily transition to pins. I went down that same track and don't regret doing the same.

[kelkel]

Gels are a great introduction. Get your dht levels up as well. Gets a little old having to rub it on every morning, you will find pins every 3.5 days works better. But try the gels, once you get the help you need you can easily transition to pins. I went down that same track and don't regret doing the same.

I did the exact same thing.

[Freemason]

Thanks for the support guys. Yea I figured I'd start with gel but back of my mind I'll prob end up on shots. Gonna get my BW done 2 weeks in and see if anything is happening.

[kelkel]

Post up how you make out.

[Freemason]

Post up how you make out.

Hey sorry been busy..sort of. lol. Well I should have an update tomorrow with blood work..been on gel for 3.5 weeks now so I'm curious. I don't feel that much different. Maybe a little better but nothing like I'd expect. After first 10 days at 40mg a day I bumped up to 60mg or 3 pumps daily so been on that for 15 days or so. I know they say it takes a few weeks or more to start feeling much so....

What I'm learning is from readin pg the absorption of gel is around 10-12%? So I guess I'm prob getting what? 42-48mg a week? Prob not enough.

I'll prob end up going to 4 pumps a day I'd guess then I'll ask to move to inj. Thoughts?

[Simon1972]

doesnt sound right at all, i was on 150 mg/ml a day, although it was cream not gel .
so 15mg absorbed at 10%, you are at 6mg /day. My bw at that was around 750 (300-1100), based on my bw, and dont take it as gospel- just a guess-timate, you would be around 320 maybe.????
im taking bets, but either way i cant see it working out at that low dose- dont make out you feel great during your appointment- tell him you feel no different.

I think its too low and you have definite room for an increase in dose.

[2Sox]

I started on Androgel too. Absorption is an issue after awhile and men often have to increase the daily pump number to get the same effect. A plus is an awesome increase in DHT and booming libido. But hair loss comes with that if you are prone and have the genetic background.

To maximize the coverage, I'd suggest you use latex or nitrile gloves to apply because an enormous amount is wasted on the thick skin of your hands which is not absorbed and you just wash off down the drain. After applying, splash a little rubbing alcohol on your gloved hands and apply the rest to another part of your body like the back of your knees. You'll know you have it all off when you no longer have that slick feeling between your hands and your body. You'd be surprised how much is left on those gloves! If you are adventurous, you can apply a little bit on your shaft and feel the rush! Believe me, it works.

[Freemason]

I started on Androgel too. Absorption is an issue after awhile and men often have to increase the daily pump number to get the same effect. A plus is an awesome increase in DHT and booming libido. But hair loss comes with that if you are prone and have the genetic background.

To maximize the coverage, I'd suggest you use latex or nitrile gloves to apply because an enormous amount is wasted on the thick skin of your hands which is not absorbed and you just wash off down the drain. After applying, splash a little rubbing alcohol on your gloved hands and apply the rest to another part of your body like the back of your knees. You'll know you have it all off when you no longer have that slick feeling between your hands and your body. You'd be surprised how much is left on those gloves! If you are adventurous, you can apply a little bit on your shaft and feel the rush! Believe me, it works.

Ok well...I just got my BW back and my Total Test was

847!! Up a whopping 700 in just 3.5 weeks.

My Estradiol was 28.2 which was good I guess

LH was little low 0.2 but isn't that to be expected?

Their lab range on total T was 348-1197.

I mean I guess I'm feeling little better but I still hits that 1-2 hour afternoon lull. Maybe I should go start working out now and stop,sitting on my butt all freaking day and also eat healthier? I wake up and in goes my nicotine and have coffee with zero breakfast and don't eat until Noon. Gee no wonder my body is all messed up.

[2Sox]

Maybe I should go start working out now and stop,sitting on my butt all freaking day and also eat healthier? I wake up and in goes my nicotine and have coffee with zero breakfast and don't eat until Noon. Gee no wonder my body is all messed up.

Isn't interesting when given enough time for thought, we find our own solutions?

[Freemason]

lol. I'm lazy. Used to play college basketball and actually used to lift weights regularly when I was 19-23 or so...hit 30 and just stopped doing everything..ballooned up to 225..then met wife and got in somewhat shape...then about 5-6 years ago did stuff I shouldn't have for first time in life at age 40 and lost a lot of weight. Was down to 155...yikes..got help and have been good for few years. Now I'm around 185...I'm 6'. But at 45 yrs old I'm a heart attack or stroke prob waiting to be statistic. Tired of this. Think I've hit my bottom as far as my health goes...time to make a change.

[Beethoven]

Isn't interesting when given enough time for thought, we find our own solutions?

Isn't it though ? BTW rubbing Androgel on your shaft? Really? Never heard that before. Even while on injections ? Just curious .

[2Sox]

lol. I'm lazy. .. Think I've hit my bottom as far as my health goes...time to make a change.

Sounds like you have an honest revelation and a plan in mind.

[Freemason]

Sounds like you have an honest revelation and a plan in mind.

Hope so. 2 young kids and I'd like to be around when they are adults. I've treated my body like crap for years...time to pay it back.

[2Sox]

Isn't it though ? BTW rubbing Androgel on your shaft? Really? Never heard that before. Even while on injections ? Just curious .

Let it go B. LOL.

[Simon1972]

Wow. On 150my a day on creams I hardly reached those figures. I must have had a dodgy pharmacy

[kelkel]

Let it go B. LOL.

If he lets go he won't be rubbing....

[2Sox]

If he lets go he won't be rubbing....

[Freemason]

Are we still talking about my Arms and shoulder?

[2Sox]

Are we still talking about my Arms and shoulder?

See post #12