why don't any of you use the androderm patch?

[huckchef]

i gained about forty pounds in the last three years. i think back to when the weight started coming on and no matter what i did i couldnt shake it. i think this is when my cancer began and my metabolism dropped. i went into my first sugery(mar/2005) at 260 lbs(about twenty# over weight)! i started my HRT in june of '05 and didnt really see a change.there were alot of ups and downs with my levels as well. by jan 2006 i was 290 lbs. i played college football at 240 lbs and this was getting out of control. i started doing cardio at least 4 times a week for about 45 minutes to an hour( i never was couch potato...very active in sports and outside activities!!) and since jan i have lost about 15-20 lbs and alot of excess fat. one thing i noticed more than the weight gain was the loss of muscle tone especially in my thighs and waist. but i hope i have it under control for now. i think this androgel will help even more!!!!i know i have to do it ...now! i hope this helps!!!!

[preacherswife97]

John got his results today. He was at 277. He is going to go up to 7.5. We'll see what happens.
Have any of you noticed that the TRT has helped you get rid of excess body fat around the waist? He is curious about this.
He has a lot of "unique" questions so we appreciate everyones replies!!!

[huckchef]

i use the gel also. i'm doing the 7.5 right now which i usually apply to the stomach and then what little is left on the hands i rub into my shoulders. i havent experienced any "heartbeat" thumpings but i do have some almost light headedness sometimes. i'm wondering if i need to back down on the dosage and try the 5. i may try this and see. i was doing injections and this is by far been more baseline level. i will go back in about 3 weeks for a testosterone check. i'm curious to see what they are on the gel! i'm convenced that whatever makes your husband feel good is what he needs to go with. if he can get by with a low dose, do it if not do whats best for him. i'm definitely experimenting myself! good luck and god bless! brian

[preacherswife97]

Dianne, Thanks for the reply! Sorry the TRT didn't work on his head...
We are going to stick with the gel but we are concerned about that little heart beat thingy...
God bless your family!

[Mom]

My husband alternates between his shoulders and stomach. He said that he got a rash on one side of his stomach so he doesn't put it there (on that side) anymore. He has no heart pounding sensation. He has had extra hair growth, not where he puts the gel but overall hair growth (unfortunately, not on his head). For a long time he didn't have much hair on his legs, now it has all come back. He goes to the urologist the end of the month and will find out about his testosterone levels, however, he has no testicles so the result will be that of the TRT. He usually runs low but he gets by with the 5 mg. He has taken it for over 25 years so we tend to be conservative. He has found that Androgel has been the best delivery system of the TRT as compared to the pills, the shots, the patch. Dianne

[preacherswife97]

Questions

My husband is using Androgel also. He recently switched to the pump. Any preferances?
Also, have any of you tried applying to your stomach? He has used his shoulders for about a month now but would like to use his abdomen instead.
Now for a STRANGE question...He is saying he feels a "pounding" sensation in his neck. It feels like a heartbeat near the center of his neck. (I know having a pulse there is a good thing but this is different
We are also curious as to what your testosterone levels are after using Androgel. (those with only one testicle) We are waiting for those results.

[huckchef]

i can really tell a difference with this gel!!! it has definite stablizing powers! i thought the everyday rub down would be a pain in the arse but for sure worth it. if anyone has not tried the androgel for HRT please do. there is big difference!!

[huckchef]

well i thnk i see a more base line level this week. i'm curiuos as to what nest week holds since this is my first few days on the gel. i believe its going to be better! my wife seems to think so too!!!! last night we were grabbing a quick bite to eat at a "chain restaurant" and was having extremly poor service. i knew not to stay when the hostess said give your waitress a little time. anyway long story short my wife wanted to leave and i didnt. which is generally the opposite lately. she said .."it really must be working, you havent even said a word about sitting here for ten minutes w/o even a drink in hand". so maybe this is a sign of good things to come! hope all is well and have a great weekend! brian

[huckchef]

alright.............. went to the endo yesterday and not alot was done! i switched from the injections to the gel. he started me on the 7.5 a day which is 6 pumps. i did the first this morning. i am very excited to see changes. i asked him about my dosage of ethanate and he didnt think it was out of line. he will do some blood testing in 6 weeks but really wasnt concerned with anything but getting a good base line testosterone level. im sure once this is established alot of things will fall into place. i had lost twelve pounds since my last doctor visit on dec. 28th. i was really stoked about that!!!! i just hope these constant levels of test will help me lose more.
i've since been worried about liver function while doing HRT but he said not to worry that i wouldnt have any problems and he was very ademate about that. all i know is thats alot of gel to rub in!!!! hope all is well and god bless, brian!

[nickohs]

!q!

Actually, when it comes to TC, one test is normally conclusive. There is research warning of "latent Testosterone Deficiency" in TC cases.

The increase in body fat is an indication of lowering T levels. Many men become frustrated at the lack of abdominal muscle despite regular excercise.
Lethargy is also a feature of low Testosterone.

I see no reason to wait a few months before being re-tested, however, prior to starting TRT sperm banking should be considered.

I certainly wouldn't want to enter a boxing ring with low levels of Testosterone.

Good luck!

Nick

[nickohs]

Interesting struff guys.

Rightone, the reason many men do not use the patch is because of its numerous downsides. It is considered outdated by the experts. Problems associated with skin irritation, patches dropping off in sweaty times and stuff like that.

Huckchef, yes, I think you are on an overdose. I am a bilateral Seminoma too and, although a little smaller than you, I found injecting 200ml every two weeks or so gave me adequate results, though nothing like a daily gel does.
Those I know on injections tend to inject 100ml weekly as it smoothes the peak and trough effect.

Adjusting the injection frequency is the normal way to cope with our differing metabolisms. I ended up injecting every twelve days to eliminate the darkest part of the trough so to speak. I have a long-distance bilateral running pal in Australia who gets by on half that dose every week. Long distance runners tend to have lower T levels than other men.

The good news about the expensive gels is that Watson Pharma have been granted FDA approval for a generic gel. This should reduce costs in North America.

I hope it helps,

Nick

[huckchef]

yeah real ...i think you need to have those checked more often. even if you feel fine and dont have any symptoms of low levels you may still be low and osteoporosis is a factor later in life. i'm currently working out alot with cardio and have started doing low carb eating trying to get excess weight off. i think alot has been stress and a low metabolism. i believe i had problems stemming back as far as a year and half before my diagnoses. i started putting on weight with no real explanation of why. no changes in habits or activity. always been very active but no matter what i just couldnt shake the few extra pounds. i had my first surgery in march and i didnt start any HRT until late june and i had put on about 20 lbs. i'm now at 30 post diagnoses but its slowly coming back off with the help. i hope more to come!! its tough but im going to get it off and be who i need to be!!! i got alot to look forard to and i dont need this excess burden to slow me down. good luck with everything and i'll be posting soon from the endo!god bless, brian

[RealDeal]

I had a low total testosterone test level(232) about 4 months ago.I had TC 6 years ago so I don't think 1 test is conclusive about the low Testosterone? I Had gotten TC when I was 30.I am now 36 and for the last 2 years I have noticed an increase of bodyfat% and also a minor decrease in strength but could be just age and loss of interest with the weights?I have always lifted weights about 4-5 times a week mostly for muscle growth.Now I am working towards increasing my strength levels and if all goes well i might be trying a sport that I always loved, which is Boxing.Even at 36 I still feel young enough and strong enough.The only thing is the endurance part of the sport.I don't feel like I need HRT because I don't feel that much different from when I was 25.Im just bigger now(6'1 225lbs) then when I was 25.I am going to get a repeat test in a few months to make sure that my Testosterone levels are not low once again.

[rightone]

awesome let me know what you find out? I use the patch but would rather use the enthanate and I am curious as to what your dosage is? I have seen 20 ml vials of enthanante that are 250 mg per ml.

This patch is convenient but I think it puts me on a roller coaster ride. sometimes I break out in cold sweats for no reason. etc. I would like to solve the problem. this is all new to me. I am 28 and hopefully have a long life ahead of me so i want to get this under wraps. alright I'll check with ya'll later.
Oh yeah congrats on becoming a new dad

[huckchef]

yeah i take 3 cc every two weeks. now your questioning has me concerned as though this is two much? i'm calling to make sure i'm right. which i believe i am because my insurance will only cover a 30 day supply and i use it up every month. i checked my insurance and if i switch to androgel it will cost me 35 a month instead of five dollars for ethanate. i'm gonna try it if the endo says ok! will soon see!