New labs with Androgel

**CobraMustangSVT** · 05-23-2014, 02:58 PM

I just came back from the doc and the numbers are:

total testosterone : 489 (ref 241-827)
estradiol: 43 (ref < or = 39)

The estradiol was the regular one from Quest (I forgot to ask for the sensitive one). This test was my trough. I took it in the morning before putting on the gel or taking my hcg shot.

I use 2 pumps of Andrgel 1.62 and 250ui's of HCG on M-W-F.

I'm gonna bump up the hcg to 300iu's every M-W-F because I'm experiencing some shrinkage before my next HCG shot. Hopefully this resolves it.

My doc asked me if I wanted to bump up the Androgel to 3 pumps a day. I said to let me think about it because I'm worried about the estradiol.

What do you guys think? Also, any guesses as to what my peak would be?

For reference, my old numbers for total T were: 290 (241-827), 277 (241-827), 210 (270-1194) and 292 (348-1197)

Thanks

**hawk14dl** · 05-23-2014, 03:29 PM

2 days between hcg shots and you're having shrinkage? That doesn't sound right to me. I let mine run out on accident, had about 200iu on Monday and none since. No signs of shrinkage or any negatives yet. I usually take 350iu Monday/Thursday.

**CobraMustangSVT** · 05-23-2014, 03:37 PM

At first I was doing 250 on M&W. I was getting softness and shrinkage. I bumped it up to 250 on M-W-F and was fine on that for a while, nowI feel a little shrinkage.

Wait a second. This batch of HCG is a couple of months old. I usually burn through it in 6 weeks but this has been around for more than 2 months. Could that be it?

Would it be bad to go bump it up 50iu's 3x a week?

**kelkel** · 05-23-2014, 05:31 PM

Stop obsessing over your nuts. Seriously. Hell, put em in cold water and they shrink up, it doesn't mean you need more hcg !

Regarding you Serum Testosterone level. It means nothing. You need to obtain a Free T level as that's what works for you. You can have great serum T but if all your free T is bound then it's useless. No guess on your peak. Next time run your BW about 4-5 hours after your application if curious. Monitor your DHT level on gels as well.

**CobraMustangSVT** · 05-23-2014, 05:41 PM

Kelkel,
Thanks for slapping me back to reality. I have been obsessing over them. I'm constantly feeling them throughout the day hoping that they're still there.

I'm gonna stick with what works and that was 250iu's on M-W-F.

**kelkel** · 05-23-2014, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by CobraMustangSVT

Kelkel,
Thanks for slapping me back to reality. I have been obsessing over them. I'm constantly feeling them throughout the day hoping that they're still there.

I'm gonna stick with what works and that was 250iu's on M-W-F.

I feel your pain Cobra. Mine never quite came back to normal. I guess I was just at too low a level (59 T level) for to long and the damage was done. I happen to do the same protocol that you are doing.

**CobraMustangSVT** · 05-23-2014, 05:49 PM

Thanks again. I'll leave everything as is and get more bloods, especially free t and DHT

**Times Roman** · 05-23-2014, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by CobraMustangSVT

I just came back from the doc and the numbers are:

total testosterone : 489 (ref 241-827)
estradiol: 43 (ref < or = 39)

The estradiol was the regular one from Quest (I forgot to ask for the sensitive one). This test was my trough. I took it in the morning before putting on the gel or taking my hcg shot.

I use 2 pumps of Andrgel 1.62 and 250ui's of HCG on M-W-F.

I'm gonna bump up the hcg to 300iu's every M-W-F because I'm experiencing some shrinkage before my next HCG shot. Hopefully this resolves it.

My doc asked me if I wanted to bump up the Androgel to 3 pumps a day. I said to let me think about it because I'm worried about the estradiol.

What do you guys think? Also, any guesses as to what my peak would be?

For reference, my old numbers for total T were: 290 (241-827), 277 (241-827), 210 (270-1194) and 292 (348-1197)

Thanks

just out of curiosity, was the injection option ever discussed?

**CobraMustangSVT** · 05-23-2014, 06:05 PM

I was on injections for 5 months and it was great. I then transferred my care to the Veterans Administration and their only choices were injections every 3 weeks or Androgel . No matter what I showed them or told them, they wouldn't budge so I went with Androgel.

At least the Androgel is free

**kelkel** · 05-23-2014, 10:21 PM

Androgel can work for guys. It actually mimics the diurnal nature of endogenous T production far better than injections. And as I referenced above it can elevate DHT as well. This is not automatically a bad thing as DHT is part of what makes you a man.

There are tricks with agel as well. Know that if you put moisturizer or suntan lotion on about an hour or so after agel application it will increase your absorption and elevate your T levels by I believe about 17%, if I recall correctly. It was right on the agel insert in the past. Don't know if it still is but I'm sure it's still on some of my old package inserts.

**Metalject** · 05-24-2014, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Stop obsessing over your nuts. Seriously. Hell, put em in cold water and they shrink up, it doesn't mean you need more hcg !

Regarding you Serum Testosterone level. It means nothing. You need to obtain a Free T level as that's what works for you. You can have great serum T but if all your free T is bound then it's useless. No guess on your peak. Next time run your BW about 4-5 hours after your application if curious. Monitor your DHT level on gels as well.

Glad someone finally said this!

**CobraMustangSVT** · 05-24-2014, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by Metalject

Glad someone finally said this!

Yeah, I really needed it. I do obsess over my nuts. At first they did get soft on 500iu's a week but once it bumped up to 750iu's, it went away.

At this point, it's like I'm looking for shrinkage and it's not there. I'm just looking for it.