New Bloodwork Results...3 Months Of Hrt...androgel...

[zaggahamma]

Levels before HRT:
2/3/06
Total Testosterone:275
Free Testosterone: N/A
3/17/06
Total Testosterone:298
Free Testosterone: 9.6

Figures were in range, but low normal and the doctore prescribed androgel for my symptoms (fatigue, mild depression, slight ed).

3/31/06 Starting dose 5mg androgel (14days)

4/13/06
Total Testosterone:140
Free Testosterone: 5.8

Both figures low and out of range. Doctor wanted to wait up to a year for better results. I felt slightly better even on the low dose especially with erections. However still felt like taking naps during day on good 8 hours of sleep AND several cups of coffee through the A.M.
I started taking 10mg on my own and felt a lttle stronger in my weight lifting but nothing at all dramatic....diet pretty good...lots of oats, wheat, lowfat milk, chicken, veggies , fruit....nothing like a bb diet for cutting or anything but real close to food group and calories average approximately 2,400-2,700 ED and I am 6'3" 245 prolly 18-20% BF. Cardio averaging 4 days a week for 30-45 minutes in addition to hour of weights. Still not even a slight increase in metabolism judging by pants fitting the same.

5/9/06(on 10mg androgel for approx. 1 month)
Total Testosterone:785
Free Testosterone: N/A
LH: 0.1
FSH: 0.2
SHBG: 17.9
FREE ANDROGEN INDEX: 152.0
ESTRADIOL: 19 on a scale of 10-50

This free androgen index was too high in my doctors opinion to keep me at 10mg.
I told him that I was feeling better, though and he said..yeh, cuz your getting too much....come back in 90 days.
Since then I called and expressed concern of getting gel on my kids and he sent my a RX for shots and that's where I am now 1 week of 200mg cyp. I am taking that in 2 shots of 100mg each. The script is for 200mg E3W.

But today I called to cancel biopsy at uro because my PSA is real low and I want a second opinion on whether a biopsy is necessary and talked the nurse into reading me my latest test levels:

6/12/06
Total Testosterone:130
Free Testosterone: 5.7

These levels were taken on a Monday morning around 9:00 after not taking androgel since Saturday Morning. So I missed all Sunday and also skipped the Monday dose before the blood test.
Does it makes sense that my levels were so low from only skipping the 2 days of the androgel? I would like to know how high I am ON the test, especially since I'm taking shots now, but it would be nice to know that on the gel that i can get such a level by stopping only 2 days before bloodwork.

[Ufa]

You should never take a gel or shot just before a blood test. It will show an
inaccurate level and give you and your Doc the wrong facts which are then
being used to determine your therapy.

I wonder how many other's have been duped by their Doctors into believing
their test levels have recovered only to find out their numbers were the
event of a temporary spike.

F---N gells, good for nothing. Just makes me mad to think of all that nasty
snot I rubbed on my shoulders thinking I was really getting something.

[zaggahamma]

Believe me, I didn't like all the shiat on me either, but it really did help a bit. But i think you said you might need to lay off the shots like over a week to make sure the blood test doesn't get confused. Didn't you use a week a few times and run high or somethin? I'm just wondering when I need to break to show my natty levels and maintain my dose prescibed.

[Ufa]

Believe me, I didn't like all the shiat on me either, but it really did help a bit. But i think you said you might need to lay off the shots like over a week to make sure the blood test doesn't get confused. Didn't you use a week a few times and run high or somethin? I'm just wondering when I need to break to show my natty levels and maintain my dose prescibed.

Test c and Test e are out of your system in 16 or 18 days depending on
the type of test. Just to be sure I'd wait 18 days. You will feel like shit
and your test levels will be at their lowest. Like very low some people
get below 100.

Now, if your Doctor and you have a target of say 800 or whatever, you
just have to taper down to what you are supposed to take. I would
say 100mg per week. No twice a week stuff. Do 100mg for about 2 or 3 weeks then on the 7th day get blood work done. You should be in the
range your doctor perscribed. However, there are other variables that
may concern both you and your Doc. Like estrogen, cholesterol, liver,
some that do large amounts get horrible HDL and LDL numbers. Sometimes,
they look reversed. In my opinion you have to keep all your blood work
numbers in order, then augment all you like. Cause your a family man
I would not do over 200mg per week. I think that 300mg might shut you
down and your family life might suffer. just my opinion.

[vermin]

I told him that I was feeling better, though and he said..yeh, cuz your getting too much....come back in 90 days.

Uh...what?

Feeling better is bad?

Do you have the option of a different physician?

[zaggahamma]

Uh...what?

Feeling better is bad?

Do you have the option of a different physician?

yeh, i have PPO....the insurance has been good...just the docs are watching there butts I guess...I've been to 2 endos and 1 uro to try to get a proper dose....i finally to this one to write a script for injects so I can pretty much find my own level/dose....on the gel, i was starting taking
15mg ED (3 packets)(trying to get at least 100mg of test)...started becoming a pain and worry about getting dressed real quick on weekends when my 3 year old climbing on my lap, hug, etc.....so I started out last week 200mg for the whole week (cyp) (split up into two shots) and this week I'm going for around 300 for the week and I'll be getting a blood test from my uro right smack dab in the middle of the dose...so I'll get a good idea where the dose is bringing me....don't have to worry i don't think because the script is through my endo....uro doesn't know about this endo...or at least shouldn't. So I'm still kind of in the begging of HRT trying to find the right amount. Like I said I was feeling better on the gel around 70-105 mg of test, but metabolism/strength not quite there from the amount of effort I'm putting into my training. I'll keep chiming in with updates.
Thanks again.

[vermin]

Good luck bro - it is insane the hoops we have to go through just to be treated reasonably by the folks who are getting rich off of us....

[Ufa]

Good luck bro - it is insane the hoops we have to go through just to be treated reasonably by the folks who are getting rich off of us....

Your catching on quickly. These endo's are playing us like a fiddle. You ain't seen nothing yet. Wait till you take a sneek peek at your medical file. Yea!
Your going to blow your mind all the nasty little lies they tell the insurance
company to collect the charges. Then the tell you a whole different story.

Have they tried to sell you vitimans on the side? My Doc had her APN selling Jin out the back door! Good thing is after about a year you meet other
Doctors and know a lot more. Then the playing field levels out. You can
demand more and get better service. Good luck with your program.