test gel/patch

[toasty151]

wondering what advice is out there on these products. Blood work pending my dr. is going to start me on one of the 2. Im sure he will let me decide just curious if anyone has taken them or heard any feed back on them.

 

[pesty4077]

wondering what advice is out there on these products. Blood work pending my dr. is going to start me on one of the 2. Im sure he will let me decide just curious if anyone has taken them or heard any feed back on them.

Being a 48 year old man, I have gone to the doctor for low test levels(after bloodwork), I personally have done both. My opinion? Have your doctor administer 200mg of test per week, you will get alot more out of that.

I DO NOT CONDONE ILLEGAL USE OF ANY MEDICATION.

 

[James]

i have also used them both... currently using gel. they both work for HRT, but it's a pain in the ass to wear a patch (sweats, falls off, leaves marks) or rub gel in(have to let it dry, swimming and showering require timing). i'm going to try and get IM shots asap. they both work but they are just obnoxious to administer... good luck

 

[toasty151]

appreciate the advice.... how long did you have to wait to shower/swim after gel? And i will def lean towards injections. I heard that there is a long lasting injection one shot a month ... any word on that or is weekly injects better

 

[cb11mass]

You have to wait two hours to shower or swim after applying... Your doc is prob talking about test enan for the monthly injection. My doc started me off with a monthly of enan. Then we kept increasing the frequencie until he gave me the gel so that my levels would stay more steady with the daily applications. However, I loved the gel the first few weeks but after a month I am starting to think that I will switch back to the IM shots. I just felt better on the shots.

 

[James]

appreciate the advice.... how long did you have to wait to shower/swim after gel? And i will def lean towards injections. I heard that there is a long lasting injection one shot a month ... any word on that or is weekly injects better

After I apply the gel, I usually let it dry for atleast 10 minutes before I even put a shirt on. As far as showering, sweating (working out), or swimming... I think the recommened is 2 hours but I would wait at least 4. Hopefully the actual testosterone is absorbed into the skin after two hours... all I know is that sometimes when I apply in the morning it still feels like I'm washing something off when I shower at night. I'm guessing this is just the remnants of what's in tube and that the T has been fully absorbed... but I don't know.

My doctor's argument against the injections was, as previously stated, the fluctuation in T levels over a week, or a month, as opposed to having a somewhat steady state T level in response to daily gel or patch application.

I'm still trying to figure out what is best for since I have only been on HRT for about 8 months. I would at least like him to let me try the inj... my question is for those that do prescribed inj...does it have to be doctor administered or can you do it yourself?

 

[toasty151]

i think prescribed injections method is up to your doctors comfort level. I know a guy who would pick up his shot from pharmacy then make appointment to have dr do injections. If your dr trusts you and you inform him you are comfortable doing self injectins im sure they would allow you to. They might ask you to perform shot in front of them first to ensure you ahve proper technique but after that should be all good. Although with all the bs in the news and test abuse might not be that easy these days. G'luck and keep me posted on results

 

[inoverdrive]

I was going to get the shots administered but hell the insurance gave me such a run around it drove me crazy. So i said the hell with it and took care of it myself. If you dont get the insurance to pay for it then it is expensive!!!

 

[toasty151]

cost is def a concern.... im hoping that insurance will cover it. If not as previously stated i will take matters into my own hands... if nothing else get a dr to give me advice on how he would cycle my body and try to duplicate his methods! As long as i can get whatever he would use that is.... if insurance doesnt kick in im sure i will be flooding this board with cycle questions that have been asked a million times before .... cause lets be honest webmd has nothing on people on here!

 

[bigshadow]

My Doc prescribed me a daily testosterone cream that gets mixed at a compound pharmacy. I really like it. Comes in an oral syringe and you squirt out the amount you need. No residue and it dries pretty quickly. I don't know how long you need to wait before swimming or anything.
In talking to another friend of mine who is on TRT, he told me that his Doc didn't like compound pharmacies b/c they weren't FDA approved or something along those lines. All I know is that the creme costs me $100/mo. vs. his $220/mo. for his gel pump. Mine is out of pocket cost so its a big savings for me.
Everyone absorbs this stuff a bit differently I was told when it comes to transdermals. Some absorb it well and others don't absorb as much. Also where you apply the gel or cream makes a difference. You want to apply it to a thin layer of skin. I've heard some apply it directly to their scrotums, lol, but I choose to rub it on the underside of my forearms.

 

[finny]

I've done gel - found it to be pretty good for what it's designed to do. My concern was summer activities and transfer to my kids. Stopped it for those reasons. Very expensive - around 200/mth, but my insurance covered it.

Moved to Androil. After close to a year, tests came low and the doc concluded that I was not absorbing properly. Very expensive as well - I think even a bit more than the gel. Insurance covered as well.

Now, I have moved to test e. I received the first administration almost two weeks ago. I will be going back to see him in two weeks to get the second shot and some consultation for admin purposes. This is pretty cheap, covered by insurance as well.

I have expressed concerns regardings blood level stability, as I think he wants me to administer bi-weekly - my concerns based on my research into the subject. He told me that he will do things differently than I might've read; he will work to establish stable levels first. Can't wait what he comes up with.

Just a note, I am also doing HCG 2 consecutive days/week at 350IUs each. I think this is an imporant part of HRT as well.

Gel seems like a good option if you're covered by your insurance and can overcome some of its shortcomings.

With injections, I'm a bit put off by 'injections for life'?

 

[inoverdrive]

cost is def a concern.... im hoping that insurance will cover it. If not as previously stated i will take matters into my own hands... if nothing else get a dr to give me advice on how he would cycle my body and try to duplicate his methods! As long as i can get whatever he would use that is.... if insurance doesnt kick in im sure i will be flooding this board with cycle questions that have been asked a million times before .... cause lets be honest webmd has nothing on people on here!

Good luck getting the advice from your doc on how to do it yourself, unless he is really open. I tell mine what im doing just in case of emergency, but other then that he tells me nothing!

 

[toasty151]

I was careful in picking a dr that i could be open with. Its good that your dr knows what your taking but at the same time its his job to tell you info. He may not agree with you taking matters into your own hands but he should still advise you on side effects, monitor bloodlevels, fuck prescribe you estrogen blockers. If i was you i would find a new dr. there are a billion out there why not find one that will help you out.

 

[pesty4077]

appreciate the advice.... how long did you have to wait to shower/swim after gel? And i will def lean towards injections. I heard that there is a long lasting injection one shot a month ... any word on that or is weekly injects better

What kind of test? prop every 2-3 days, cyp 1-2 times per week, ethanate 7-10 days