Choosing between Androgel or every 2 week injections

[Slick88]

Hey everyone, looking for some advice. Started TRT 6 weeks ago and have been put on 2 pumps of androgel daily. After about 3 weeks I noticed a slight improvement in energy and libido, but since then I seem to feel very up and down. I apply the same amount each day (also do lotion to increase absorption) but am not feeling much of a consistent difference. The other major concern is the cost, I am going to have to pay $550 a month for it for 3 months until I hit my deductible and then $80 a month after. (Also have the option of going to a speciality pharmacy that makes a similar cream for $70/month).

I talked to my urologist about switching to injections and he did feel as though it was too soon, but left it open to me. The issue, is that they will not let anyone self inject and they typically inject patients every 2 weeks (which I know is a huge no-no).

My question is this: for those who have had both, do you think I’d be better off dealing with the issues of injecting every 2 weeks or just sticking with androgel

[almostgone]

If they won't let you self inject at any point in time and the Androgel doesn't get you to feeling "normal", I would begin shopping around for another Dr.
My PCP let's me self inject, but initially I had to go through the horrible old school protocols with them doing the injections, and then let the labwork prove that I needed to be on a weekly schedule at a minimum. Once I got on a weekly protocol and was self injecting, I split my dose in half, lowered it slightly and then dialed the dosage in on my own. I am scripted .75cc of 200mg/ml cyp weekly, but inject .25cc twice per week.

[Slick88]

If they won't let you self inject at any point in time and the Androgel doesn't get you to feeling "normal", I would begin shopping around for another Dr.
My PCP let's me self inject, but initially I had to go through the horrible old school protocols with them doing the injections, and then let the labwork prove that I needed to be on a weekly schedule at a minimum. Once I got on a weekly protocol and was self injecting, I split my dose in half, lowered it slightly and then dialed the dosage in on my own. I am scripted .75cc of 200mg/ml cyp weekly, but inject .25cc twice per week.

Thanks for the reply. So, initially when they were doing the injections were you still getting them weekly or was it every 2 weeks? My thought was trying to go the route you provided and try it there way with every 2 weeks and likely move things down to 1 week

[almostgone]

Thanks for the reply. So, initially when they were doing the injections were you still getting them weekly or was it every 2 weeks? My thought was trying to go the route you provided and try it there way with every 2 weeks and likely move things down to 1 week

Oh, it was worse than that......monthly. Then she saw my first labs after monthly and saw I was even lower than I was prior to beginning replacement therapy, moved me to 2 weeks, and then weekly.
Fortunately, my Dr. will listen and isn't dismissive at all. I just had to jump through the hoops. The closest thing to a progressive protocol that was available at the time was pellet therapy, but I wasn't too keen on it.
So,.it.took time but I was able to get on a self injection protocol. It all depends on your Dr. You may be able to locate a more progressive Dr. in your area. I couldn't, and didn't want to go the online provider of replacement T route, although there are some.very good ones out there.

[JdFlex]

I second looking for a different Dr that you can work with. My insurance will not pay for the Dr visits for the injections so the Dr allows me to self-administer. My pharmacy gives me two 1ml vials per month so even if I wanted to screw with my dose I could not increase it (well not with the RX stuff). Maybe that type of arrangement would ease you Dr's concerns.

[Youthful55guy]

Oh, it was worse than that......monthly. Then she saw my first labs after monthly and saw I was even lower than I was prior to beginning replacement therapy, moved me to 2 weeks, and then weekly.
Fortunately, my Dr. will listen and isn't dismissive at all. I just had to jump through the hoops. The closest thing to a progressive protocol that was available at the time was pellet therapy, but I wasn't too keen on it.
So,.it.took time but I was able to get on a self injection protocol. It all depends on your Dr. You may be able to locate a more progressive Dr. in your area. I couldn't, and didn't want to go the online provider of replacement T route, although there are some.very good ones out there.

I agree with the others. Time to find a new doc that isn't heading toward extinction. Any doc that even considers a monthly injection protocol with T-cyp should have his license revoked, or better yet forced to endure the same archaic treatment along with leaches.

[Slick88]

I agree with the others. Time to find a new doc that isn't heading toward extinction. Any doc that even considers a monthly injection protocol with T-cyp should have his license revoked, or better yet forced to endure the same archaic treatment along with leaches.

Yeah, he said I would get one every 2 weeks, not once a month, but still, not good.

I have a hard time understanding how you guys are able to just shop around to find a new doc. The “men’s clinics” charge an insane amount and any of the urologists (including the one in seeing” required a referral

[almostgone]

Yeah, he said I would get one every 2 weeks, not once a month, but still, not good.

I have a hard time understanding how you guys are able to just shop around to find a new doc. The “men’s clinics” charge an insane amount and any of the urologists (including the one in seeing” required a referral

Try your primary care physician.

[kelkel]

I agree with the others. Time to find a new doc that isn't heading toward extinction. Any doc that even considers a monthly injection protocol with T-cyp should have his license revoked, or better yet forced to endure the same archaic treatment along with leaches.

This^^.

Take a few minutes and read a few of the sticky threads at the top of this forum regarding Finding a Doc and Initiating TRT. They'll help you along the way.

[Youthful55guy]

Yeah, he said I would get one every 2 weeks, not once a month, but still, not good.

I have a hard time understanding how you guys are able to just shop around to find a new doc. The “men’s clinics” charge an insane amount and any of the urologists (including the one in seeing” required a referral

Long story short is that it's not easy and takes time and effort on your part. Asking other guys in the forums that live near you is a good place to start.

I started out in the "Men's Clinics" for the first 3 months. While they were actually reasonably priced and my insurance cover it, they only did shots in the clinic and only once per week. With a looming 3 week vacation planned, I quickly saw that this was going to be a problem. Also, we could never get weekly injections to last through the week, we had to go higher and higher on T and that was becoming an issue with erythropoiesis.

A guy in a different forum suggested a doc not far from me in the north LA area. We was amazing, spent the time to listen to me, and got me started on a protocol that is very similar to what still in my standard protocol of 40-50 mg T-cyp E3D. Problem was he charged an arm and a leg and did not take insurance.

I stuck with the TR specialist for about 3 years and informed my PCP of what I was doing. She monitored me with additional labs. This gave her a level of comfort that I was not going to kill myself. After 3 years I approached her to take over the protocol and prescribe my T-cyp and HCG . By this time I had developed a sufficient comfort level with her and she agreed. That was about 4 years ago and that's where I'm at today.

[Slick88]

Long story short is that it's not easy and takes time and effort on your part. Asking other guys in the forums that live near you is a good place to start.

I started out in the "Men's Clinics" for the first 3 months. While they were actually reasonably priced and my insurance cover it, they only did shots in the clinic and only once per week. With a looming 3 week vacation planned, I quickly saw that this was going to be a problem. Also, we could never get weekly injections to last through the week, we had to go higher and higher on T and that was becoming an issue with erythropoiesis.

A guy in a different forum suggested a doc not far from me in the north LA area. We was amazing, spent the time to listen to me, and got me started on a protocol that is very similar to what still in my standard protocol of 40-50 mg T-cyp E3D. Problem was he charged an arm and a leg and did not take insurance.

I stuck with the TR specialist for about 3 years and informed my PCP of what I was doing. She monitored me with additional labs. This gave her a level of comfort that I was not going to kill myself. After 3 years I approached her to take over the protocol and prescribe my T-cyp and HCG. By this time I had developed a sufficient comfort level with her and she agreed. That was about 4 years ago and that's where I'm at today.

Great info man, thanks for the breakdown. I used the info on the sticky’s and tried to find a progressive doc in the area originally, however there really are not any lol, so I ended up going to a eurologist who was open to treating me, but not giving me options. I am wondering though since I am already on TRT if this might make it easier in speaking with my PCP (my first go around he just said he couldn’t treat me since I was in the “normal range” which was 306 in a range of 290-900)

[kelkel]

I am wondering though since I am already on TRT if this might make it easier in speaking with my PCP (my first go around he just said he couldn’t treat me since I was in the “normal range” which was 306 in a range of 290-900)

Remind him you're not a number.

[austinite]

It's quite mind boggling, but the sad truth is, there are many out there that lack the knowledge to prescribe properly. Pretty sad really. Find a new doc as mentioned.