Re-intro...Saying Hello

[sirupate]

First off, hello everyone. I've been here for quite a while, but didn't post much the last few years. I've been in a "happy spot" with my TRT. Just sort of satisfied with how things are. I see a urologist and he has had me on Androgel 1.62% - 4 pumps, for about two years. Works well for me.

So...in December I retired. Cool. New pharma insurance doesn't want to cover Androgel. I sort of understand. That's some expensive stuff. I'm going back to injecting test. cyp. shortly. Prescription is for 100mg./wk. Standard fare. I have done the gel, injections and Testopel pellets over the last 6 years. All worked, to one degree or another. Each with its advantages and disadvantages.

I'll come around more often now that things are getting switched-up. I'll try to dial the injections in. Sub-q, unless my wife wants to "stick" me for fun.

My advice to the recent forum members...take it easy. This isn't done quickly, unless you have a very good doctor who specializes in TRT. Most don't. For most of us, it is a learning experience and that applies to our doctors as well. You may not feel great yet, but you don't have to solve it in a week or two either. TRT is a pretty long road. Life long for most of us.

Take care.

Jeff

[2Sox]

Welcome back.

[Bio-Active]

Welcome back

[Beethoven]

Welcome back

[kelkel]

Bout time you showed back up!

[Motardpdx]

Welcome!

[lovbyts]

Welcome back. Hopefully it wont take you long to get dialed in. Best of luck.

[Java Man]

Welcome back!

[zempey]

Welcome back. I will be exploring the TRT road shortly, just need to get a referral to a doctor and get the ball rolling.

[Simon1972]

Welcome back, would you mind going over the pros and con's of all the different trt options. Sounds like you have a lot of experience.

[sirupate]

Welcome back, would you mind going over the pros and con's of all the different trt options. Sounds like you have a lot of experience.

Sure, but I'll probably miss something in doing so.

Androgel....very expensive unless you have good pharma insurance coverage. Pretty consistent levels as you apply the gel daily. Some risk of dosing your SO, or children, but I think the risk is small and mainly occurs during the first couple of hours after application. You get a pretty decent DHT "rush" from the gel, but that may also lead to more hair loss. Most guys can be in the upper end of the normal range using the gel. On the other hand, we have had some guys here who tried the gel and they just didn't absorb it well.

Testopel implants - Again, very expensive. I think each pellet is about $70, plus the fee charged by your doctor to do the implant in the gluteal region. I typically had 12 or 13 pellets implanted at each procedure. Chances are that your doctor is going to have to make a case to your medical insurance provider that this is "necessary". Doctor numbs you up with a large amount lidocaine...10cc's comes to mind. He then makes an incision and inserts the pellets one by one under your skin. It doesn't hurt at all, but you don't want to watch a video of the procedure either.

Levels are at peak about 3 weeks after implantation, then decline slowly for about 3-4 months. At the end of 3-4 months, I always felt like I wanted a new procedure. or start applying gel again until the doctor agrees to a new procedure. I never felt like I was going to "expel" any pellets, and my doctor told me I could lift weights the day after the procedure. Some risk of infection from the incision, but small I'd imagine. The benefit of the pellets is you can forget about daily or weekly dosing/injections.

Injections - lots can be said here, and outside of the USA there are better meds than test. cyp. available. Injections are pretty cheap compared to the other alternatives. Daily levels fluctuate to some degree moreso than with the pellets or gel. If you are "squeamish" about sticking yourself, then injections may not be for you. I always injected into my quads (vastus lateralis), or did sub-Q into my belly region. Your SO may be willing to inject you in the glutes area, and there are a few really flexible guys here who can do that themselves.

With such relative large amounts of test. being injected each time, aromatization may be a concern. With gels or pellets, the daily amount is small enough that aromatization usually isn't to big of a deal.

Remember that while generalizations can be made, everyone is an individual and will have a different experience with the three methods. I always felt best on the gel, but may hairline is receding on me. Could be related. My pharma insurance now that I am retired doesn't want to provide Androgel, and it doesn't come off patent for many years. So I'm going back to injecting.

[iron4life79]

My advice to the recent forum members...take it easy. This isn't done quickly, unless you have a very good doctor who specializes in TRT. Most don't. For most of us, it is a learning experience and that applies to our doctors as well. You may not feel great yet, but you don't have to solve it in a week or two either. TRT is a pretty long road. Life long for most of us.


This is EXCELLENT advice.

I4L