Androgel vs injections advise needed

[magnumdivr]

I was put on Androgel about a week ago and told to follow up in 4 weeks with the Doctor. I have not felt any change in the week I have been on the Androgel and I'm very uncomfortable using the gel because I have two young daughters and a wife that already has a high test level. I moved my appointment from 4 weeks to 2 so I can ask to be put on injections. I am afraid that he will say every 2 weeks for the injections so I can have them done in his office. From what I have read I should try for 2 shots a week to keep things more even and do them myself. Also I was not put on anything to maintain my own test production (HCG). I am looking for advise if you think I am asking for the right thing or should I just follow the what the Doc said?

 

[brazensol]

I was also given Androgel 1% (5mg packet). Just had my follow up test after three weeks and testosterone went down just as I expected it would. Initial level was 231 ng/dl and it dropped to 108 ng/dl after three weeks of Androgel. My doc wants to put me on a higher dose of Androgel but I want to get injections. Partly because I have 4 children at home and a wife and putting on gel everyday is a hassle (small one but still a hassle). Also, I don't think gel works that well for most people. If he insists on gel I am getting a new doc or going with MaximusHRT or IncreaseMyT.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I was also given Androgel 1% (5mg packet). Just had my follow up test after three weeks and testosterone went down just as I expected it would. Initial level was 231 ng/dl and it dropped to 108 ng/dl after three weeks of Androgel. My doc wants to put me on a higher dose of Androgel but I want to get injections. Partly because I have 4 children at home and a wife and putting on gel everyday is a hassle (small one but still a hassle). Also, I don't think gel works that well for most people. If he insists on gel I am getting a new doc or going with MaximusHRT or IncreaseMyT.

Why would you choose Maximus? They are no longer a sponsor, support the place you hang at bro........................

 

[brazensol]

Why would you choose Maximus? They are no longer a sponsor, support the place you hang at bro........................

For starters I did not know they weren't a sponsor. I only now just heard of Chip passing away. I will take a look at what you have to offer.

 

[theguy9129]

Well everybody is different as far as absortion but overall you really have to wait 4-6 weeks to get where you want to be, although I went on the patch first and felt changeds immediately. I am now on the shot and almost 2 months into the process. Overall I am doing better but I am not even close to being there yet. Dont matter what delivery method it seems everybody has to up their dose at least temporarily, and it seems most need an Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or Aromatase inhibitor (AI) which I am currently working on myself.

 

[brazensol]

Since you are on the gel how have you been feeling? I never felt any real improvement except morning wood. After about 5 days I started to have very bad midday fatigue. This is no doubt from the drop in free and total testosterone levels. I now take two hours naps which I did not have to do before starting the Androgel. If I can't convince the doc to start me on injections I will have to find a new doctor.

 

[theguy9129]

Injections are cheapest method I beleive, from I heard injections can provide the most stable feeling, which I can attest to, problem I am having is come about day 5 after the shot I can feel it dropping off, I really dont want to pin twice a week, thinking about asking to do 100mg every 6 days instead of 7, but it could be an issue of not having an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) either, which like I said I am working on.

 

[brazensol]

I hear a lot of guys are very happy with the 84 hour injection protocol. Something like Monday A.M. and Thursday P.M. I don't inject (yet) but would have no problem with this type of schedule. I think I will go with sub q.

 

[magnumdivr]

Thanks guys, I don't know what the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) is and I don't know why he did not put me on something to protect my own production. I will need to ask my Doc on Monday. I have not really felt much of a difference yet. It seems a lot of people start to feel better on the gel and then drop off. I was hopping that if I go to shots that would not happen. That 84 hr idea is interesting I will talk to him about that as well. I am just so anxious, I have been feeling bad for a long time with many different symptoms and when I found it could all be linked to low T I just want to dive in and get the best treatment as fast as possible. I know there is no quick fix and it will take time to get it right I just want to get as much info as I can so maybe I can avoid going down the wrong path and having to start over. I also don't trust anything a Dr. says unless I looked into it my self.

 

[brazensol]

For years my wife would say "that sounds like you" whenever on of the low T commerials would come on. I finally decided to see if she was right. I know what you mean about how you feel. I have lost interest in just about everything...

Everyone is different. Some feel improvement almost immediately while other take more time. I've heard some guys say it took about a year before they really got to where they wanted to be so patience may be required. I've lived with this for years (probably decades) so I can give it some time as long as I know I am on the road to getting better.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Sometimes it does take a year, but the problem with the cream is that your body starts to realize your sneaking testosterone in through the side door, and it tries to put a stop to it by increasing aroma.

With injections your bypassing the Sub-C layer. Inside dense lipid cells is where aromatase enzymes lie.

This is not the case with everyone. Many users commonly report that it works well for a short period of time and then the feeling of well being and libido they had wears off.

In some rare cases I have seen men switch from injections to cream and do better, it really just depends on a million variables.

 

[brazensol]

Sometimes it does take a year, but the problem with the cream is that your body starts to realize your sneaking testosterone in through the side door, and it tries to put a stop to it by increasing aroma.

With injections your bypassing the Sub-C layer. Inside dense lipid cells is where aromatase enzymes lie.

This is not the case with everyone. Many users commonly report that it works well for a short period of time and then the feeling of well being and libido they had wears off.

In some rare cases I have seen men switch from injections to cream and do better, it really just depends on a million variables.

I think my body caught on almost immediately since I never got anything out of my initial dose except morning wood (sometimes) and quickly shut down my own production. If I can't convince my doc of injections then you will probably be hearing from me soon.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I think my body caught on almost immediately since I never got anything out of my initial dose except morning wood (sometimes) and quickly shut down my own production. If I can't convince my doc of injections then you will probably be hearing from me soon.

talk with Todd at IMT, he is a good guy.

Your probably right about catching it right away, if E went up that suppressed your T even more, it is about 10x as suppressive as testosterone.

 

[BigFella]

On cream for four months. It was a bloody nuisance. It did kick in fast, but I aromatized like crazy.

Now on injections - Test E 0.5ml plus half an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) tab E3D. I feel much better, but even if I didn't I'd stick with injections - it's so much easier, faster, less messy. I'm waiting on bloodwork to come back, may switch to 1.0ml E4D if the T levels aren't in the top half of the range.