Androgel and bloating

**Burkmere** · 01-20-2013, 10:40 AM

I have been using Andro gel for a little a year I guess. It seem like the first six months or so the Androgel worked great and I had more libido...morning erections et cetera. My testosterone levels got up to the upper 500s from mid to upper 200s. About three months ago I noticed some bloating and the bloating has not improved. I had asked my endo about it but he said that it doesn't cause bloating. However, I just read In the write up on this site that bloating can be one of the side effects. I hadn't read that elsewhere. So, can anyone enlighten me about this? Could it be because of the AndroGel? I do have an appointment with a G.I. doctor on Wednesday so hopefully he can shed some light on it.

Also, is hCG alone okay to take rather than the androgel plus the HCG? Does hCG cause bloating? I'm wondering if I will experience the same thing. Of course, at this point, I don't know if the bloating is from Androgel or not. I have not experienced any other noticeable side effects from AndroGel. Thanks a lot for any responses.

**dan991** · 01-20-2013, 12:56 PM

The bloating you are seeing is water retention which is a usual thing with testosterone treatment. Ask your doc for a script for Hydrochlorothiazide. You should be taking your Androgel and HCG at the same time. Your doc should have given you an HCG script to go along with the Androgel. HCG has never caused bloating in my experience.

**Burkmere** · 01-20-2013, 01:27 PM

My Endo said I could take HGC OR Androgel . I stuck w Androgel and upped it to 4 pumps as of Tuesday because despite getting libido back after a few months with Androgel, the boating developed a couple months after that. ( And I agree I think it's water retention).

Question: He is offering just HCG ( my insurance will pay for Androgel but I doubt HCG shots) . Should I take him up on it or since he didn't even realize he should prescribe both Androgel and HCB (nor the hydrochloride....) should I just dump him and look for another Doc...even if outside my HMO. Just curious of your (and others) opinions. Thanks so much! I have an appt with GI doc on Wed and I'm sure he will want to do a colonoscopy but I will mention that I think it's water retention from the Androgel. (Prob ok to do the colonoscopy anyway). Thx for any opinions etc.

**dan991** · 01-20-2013, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Burkmere

My Endo said I could take HGC OR Androgel . I stuck w Androgel and upped it to 4 pumps as of Tuesday because despite getting libido back after a few months with Androgel, the boating developed a couple months after that. ( And I agree I think it's water retention).

Question: He is offering just HCG ( my insurance will pay for Androgel but I doubt HCG shots) . Should I take him up on it or since he didn't even realize he should prescribe both Androgel and HCB (nor the hydrochloride....) should I just dump him and look for another Doc...even if outside my HMO. Just curious of your (and others) opinions. Thanks so much! I have an appt with GI doc on Wed and I'm sure he will want to do a colonoscopy but I will mention that I think it's water retention from the Androgel. (Prob ok to do the colonoscopy anyway). Thx for any opinions etc.

You should be taking HCG with the Androgel, as well as an AI (anti-estrogen). Read the sticky's at the top of this forum and it explains why.

**Vahevahe** · 01-20-2013, 01:58 PM

Dan has some good points. The problem is most doctors know very little about HCG and some that do still wont prescribe it. They know it will be very difficult to get it covered by insurance along with trt. So most of the time in either case they just give a blanket no to avoid the situation altogether or a TRT or HCG choice. AI is almost always needed with higher dosing injections of testosterone but is not always needed with the gels. Your mileage may vary so you need to monitor Estradol levels to make sure they do not get higher and if they do start a Armidex regime. Ofcouse if your doc dosnt know about a AI then i would reccomend finding another doc asap because you might need it later on down the road.