Doc wants to give me testosterone....questions?

[archive_Mickey]

Ok the docs office called me today and said that they got my blood work back and my test was at 311. She said for a guy my age, 24, I should be between 400-500 at least.

She then asked if I would rather have AndroGel or injections. That was hard....INJECTIONS!
She said that they have to give them to me there every week and they will "monitor" it. I have an appt. on Monday to talk over the particulars like what kinda test it is and how much.

Ok my questions are:
1. How many mgs per week do you think they are going to try and give me?
2. How many mgs a week should I really take?
3. If they are "monitoring" me am I ever going to be able to take anything else or more?

Thanks for any help.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[archive_Ulter]

1. How many mgs per week do you think they are going to try and give me?

Anywhere from 50 to 100mg.

2. How many mgs a week should I really take?

You'll have to take what they give you.

3. If they are "monitoring" me am I ever going to be able to take anything else or more?

No.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[archive_Mickey]

The funny thing is I have known that I have low test but never really wanted to do anything about it because it has never bothered me sexually. I just noticed that my moods, energy, and strength were kinda erratic.

I think I realized it when I took 10mgs of dbol in the morning for a couple of months. I felt like I was on a cycle it was like night and day. I then thought that if such a small dose can make me feel so much better energy wise then I must have low test.

Im hoping that they only want to test me like every 6 months or something. That way I can sneak mini-cycles inbetween testing.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[archive_Bjaarki]

Some docs are beginning to get more liberal with their doses - I know a guy on this board who has a scrip from a regular doc, not a gray-market guy, for 700mg/wk - but they wouldn't do that for a guy your age, with such a marginal test level.

Are they going to be monitoring your test levels or just estradiol? If the latter, you can control that with anti-e's, within tolerable limits, anyway.

Bjaarki

... Then, do what you have to do.

[archive_Mickey]

B, Im not sure what they are going to do. She just said over the phone that they were going to give me test once a week. I find out the particulars on Monday.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[archive_Cyp]

Dude thats crazy, your MD is pretty cool. I have a nat test level of FREAK'N 70 and all he wants to give me is Androgel. Im working on my Endo, but tobe honest its getting to the point where its not worth it. Though, I called my insurance and they said they cover 10cc vials of cyp for a 8 dollar co-pay!!!

Congrats bro, hope it all works out. Like Ulter said you can only take what your MD gives ya.

[archive_Mickey]

Cyp you are just getting a raw deal!

You need to find another doc immediately. First the crappy gyno surgery and now this. There is no way that I would ever stay with a doc who wouldnt do everything he could to help me get my test higher than a 70. That really is crazy.

The coolest thing is my doc called me and asked me if I wanted Androgel or weekly shots! I couldnt believe that she asked me that. I said shots because I have "sensitive skin" and I dont want to get a rash from the gel

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

I dont understand why everybody is dismissing Androgel so much, I actually like it a lot

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.

[archive_Mickey]

If Androgel was my only option I wouldnt refuse it. Its just that if I have an option I am going to take the cyp or enthanate over a gel any day.

I really do have kinda sensitive skin though. Also I am pretty active playing sports like basketball, softball, riding bikes, and stuff like that. I know that after you apply the Androgel you cant get it wet and it just seems like it would be more of a hassle for me.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[macdaddy]

Dude, I took androgel for 3 months, my test went from 190 to 172, that's why i don't like it. Then the doc tried the adroderm patch, it would stay on, now we are doing 300 mg shots of cyp every other week. I have more blood work scheduled next week, I'm interested to see how it comes out.

[Photobear]

I was on the gel for a while and one pack didn't do anything to help my test levels. After my endo upped it to two packs it got to some respectable levels.

Mickey, as far as playing sports goes, the gel is pretty much absorbed in 15 minutes after you put it on. You won't sweat it out.

MacD, give me a call, we'll take care of those tests levels

[archive_kfp40]

currently im on 100 mg of cyp a week hrt. with my doc she lets me take my cyp home and the wife does the shots. they do blood test to check for levels. after they find out were your new levels are they only check every six months. at least thats were im at.

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

How are you guys applying the gel? I rub 100g on my inner thighs with my forearms so as to not get any on my hands and waste it. I also keep this area free of body hair more or less. And I include 1/4 arimidex eod to keep E low....hoping that my HPTA will remain working, albeit throtteled. Did I mention that I feel great?

At the beginning of my treatment, I was put on shots. A 200mg injection would wear off within 5 days and my doc wanted to give them to me every 3 weeks. So, I opted for the gel.
I never volunteered any information or eluded any knowledge about HRT. I remember when he suggested supplemental testosterone the first time, my inside screamed yeah and my mouth said: Is testosterone that male hormone I keep hearing about?

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.

[onicap]

I was in the same boat as you Mickey, only I am older. My doctor told me the same thing. I was going to get test to bring me up to "normal" levels. First we tried the androgel and that crap sucked. I was smearing two or three packs on a day and nothing changed. I had my blood levels monitored while doing the gel and it showed no change. So then the doc says that I have to take injections. That was cool with me since that was what I had originally wanted in the first place. Well the doc's idea of a good "starting" dose was 50mg....a month! So I said ok...knowing damn well that dosing was pretty much pointless...but you gotta play their game. So to make this long story short, after 16 months we finally got up to 200 mg every two weeks. I still get monitored with labs but my shots are covered by insurance. And I got a script for them. If you're going to go the legit route their are a couple things to remember. First, NEVER let your doc know that you've done steroids in the past...most docs think that steroids are addictive and you'll come across as a junkie looking for a free fix. It's that whole class III rating system. Secondly, be prepared for a long wait in upping your dosages. They'll want a lot of blood testing and monitoring so the doses will be small at first but if you're still out of the "normal" range then they will slowly creep up in amount and frequency. Be patient. Thirdly, don't supplement with any other long acting AAS. If your levels show any sort of discrepancies it will raise a red flag to your doc. (I had a blood test that was done improperly at the lab and the results came out way high....my doc called me and asked me if I was taking any other steroids and I said no. I went that day to the lab and gave blood and the results came back normal.) Doing hrt legit can be frustrating at times because most doc's aren't schooled in replacement therapy for men. I know guys who tried doing it through their doctors but gave up in frustration...hell, my wife told me to go down to Mexico and just get my own supply and screw the doctors because she was tired of it herself. Maybe you'll get lucky and have a liberal doc but my advice is to expect the worse and hope for the best...good luck.

[Dragon]

Ask if they can show you how to do it your self so you don't have to go in every week. That would be a hassle.

Bjaarki, <BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> know a guy on this board who has a scrip from a regular doc, not a gray-market guy, for 700mg/wk <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Is that an internet doc? That is hella high!!

[archive_Mickey]

Went to the doctor this morning and she is putting me on Androgel at first because my insurance wont pay for injections without me trying the gel first. She said that they are a real pain and that she has to do it this way. She said she doesnt even like Androgel and hasnt had good results with it. I am supposed to take it for 4 weeks then get another blood test. If that test shows that my levels are still low then she will put me on shots.

She said 200mgs a week at first then she will check my levels and cholesterol from there and make a decision how much per week thereafter. She is really cool and I told her that I know about HRT through a semester research project that I did on it in college (which I actually did do). I think that as long as my cholesterol is low she will let me stay on 200mgs a week when that time comes.

For now I have a box of Androgel that is just going to sit here until I get real test. I was reading the insert in the box and it says that you only get 5mgs of test per application of this stuff. Pretty crappy if you ask me. I have 30 of the 50mg packets with 5 refills. My insurance wacks me $25 each perscription though so I dont think I am going to waste $150 bucks on this stuff.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[archive_Mickey]

Also forgot to add that she said that the insurance will cover my surgery because it was cause by my "medical condition" and I'm not doing it for cosmetic reasons

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron