How long to give gels a chance?

[zerodarkthirty]

Pre TRT: Total T 265 ng/ml

1 month Axiron (60 mg) =>> Total T 65 ng/ml E2 = 49.5 (0-35 range)

I've switched to Androgel and have done 4 pumps/day since Friday. Weekend was very rough and I'm certainly not moving in the right direction. Dr. wants me to do this for another few days to see if there's any improvement with the increased dosage.

Maybe I'm just not being patient enough and I'm being a whiny baby. However, I absolutely feel like trash. I've gone from never missing my daily run/workout to a total apathetic slug. I was planning to ask to be moved to shots on Thurs.

Too soon to switch?

[steroid.com 1]

Generally speaking it take about 2 weeks for serum levels to reach a point of stabilization after initiation of transdermal and for those who inject it takes up to 6 weeks.

Either your dosage is low or you don't absorb well...which is not uncommon at all.

You need blood work by now after 1 month.

[zerodarkthirty]

Alright, well I think I must not be absorbing the transdermals. I'm at week 5 and BW at 1 month resulted in total T of 65. I'll try this game for a few more days just to give it the ol' college try.

[Rusty11]

It's strange how some ppl respond well to gels while others do not. Don't know if it's related to skin type, or what. I've done well with Testim for a year now. But stories like yours seem to be the norm around here. Good luck with your decision. I don't blame you for being antsy to try something else. A T level like yours can surely be "fixed".

[zerodarkthirty]

How much are you taking per day, Rusty? I definitely feel like the site is pro-shots and I came into this thinking I'd be a gel guy due to the more consistent levels, etc, but I'm not so sure now.

[Rusty11]

I started out at 230 a year ago and was put on two tubes of testim a day-10 grms. Levels went up to about 600. Bw always done prior to the days application. Started 100iu/day hcg three months ago. Total t went waaaay up. Dropped to 1 tube + hcg/day. Level at 850 a month ago. Sensitive e2 at 35. Btw, I'm 51.

[zerodarkthirty]

I take it you feel better at 850 than at 600? So your Dr. was willing to do the HCG route? I love my doc, but I don't think she's familiar with HCG/AI issues. HCG via injection?

[Rusty11]

I didn't feel great when it was 1400 before dropping down on the gel. Honestly, I think it's the hcg thats made me feel better as opposed to the increase from 600-800. And my endo thinks hcg is used only for fertility, so I just took care of that myself. I have never done something behind a dr.s back, but my slight shrinkage and aching are more important.

[HRTstudent]

Id give gels at least 12 weeks, assuming you made changes at appropriate times and don't just stick with the same poor schedule for the entire time or even half.

[steroid.com 1]

I didn't feel great when it was 1400 before dropping down on the gel. Honestly, I think it's the hcg thats made me feel better as opposed to the increase from 600-800. And my endo thinks hcg is used only for fertility, so I just took care of that myself. I have never done something behind a dr.s back, but my slight shrinkage and aching are more important.

It's pretty well known now that elevated Testosterone serum levels have a negative effect on men when done for a long period of time (vs a cycle). Loss of libido, ED and many of the same symptoms of low testosterone serum levels rear their ugly head again.

Now, get down to the 700's to 900's and men feel all the great results again.

We say it here over and over again; too much of a good thing is not good when it comes to TRT in men.

Now, as for HCG; many clinicians believe it not only acts as a perfect LH analog but also acts as a neurohormone very similar to a sex hormone and acts positively on the CNS. Meaning that it plays on receptors in the brain for that sense of well being, sexual desire and satisfaction we all seek.

I know when I started on HCG it had that effect on me big time!!!

[steroid.com 1]

I didn't feel great when it was 1400 before dropping down on the gel. Honestly, I think it's the hcg thats made me feel better as opposed to the increase from 600-800. And my endo thinks hcg is used only for fertility, so I just took care of that myself. I have never done something behind a dr.s back, but my slight shrinkage and aching are more important.

I don't condone self medication; but in cases like Rusty's where the administration of HCG is pretty much straight forward and where his Doc won't prescribe and relieve the man of the consequence of HPTA suppression and testicular atrophy...self administration of a very safe peptide like HCG is not only warranted but a necessity.

[zerodarkthirty]

I don't condone self medication; but in cases like Rusty's where the administration of HCG is pretty much straight forward and where his Doc won't prescribe and relieve the man of the consequence of HPTA suppression and testicular atrophy...self administration of a very safe peptide like HCG is not only warranted but a necessity.

Ok. I'm going to call my Dr. today and see if she'll prescribe HCG. If not, I'm switching to guns.