TRT question

[bigt405]

To make a long story short I was put on trt (androderm- 2 patches a day) almost seven years ago by my pcp after numerous blood test showinglow test levels. Now last month my insurance company has decided that they will not pay for the androderm anymore. They will cover androgel or shots. I told my doc that I did not really want to try the cream for various reason and that I prefer to just do the shots. That is when he tells me that he would do that but his standard prescription for that is one shot every three weeks. This just does not sound right to me. Is anyone else on this type of schedule and or do you think it is time for me to find a different doc?

 

[rambofireball]

Definitely time for a different doc, or get ready for a battle for proper treatment. Anyone here will tell you that. Most MD's will staunchly stick to a 2-3 week interval for injections even though this is long outdated and shown to cause a whole bag of terrible side effects. It took a few appointments of me bringing pubmed articles and personal accounts in support of a shorter interval of 1-2 shots a week before my endo finally gave in to letting me inject 100mg once a week. I've felt 100x better since switching to this from 200mg every 3 weeks. Its worth it to find a doc who's willing to work with you.

 

[napalm]

Try and find a good endo. Every 2-3 weeks would be awful. Multiple injections per week is ideal. Levels stay much more stable and you avoid the peaks and troughs of bi-weekly injections. My endo let's me inject twice/week.

Good luck...

 

[LMuscle]

I inject 3 times a week 30, 30, and 40. Works great, I feel awesome! Much better than twice a week at 50, 50.

 

[bigt405]

Thanks guys for the advice. I am in the process now of trying to find a knowledgeable doctor right now.

 

[chedapalooza]

Hey guys. Just got prescribed androderm patch to try for 30 days after getting 290 test reading (I am 24!) I am currently taking licogenix and ergotest and wonder if I shoul cease these things while taking the patch... My numbers dropped while on various supplements Over the past 4 years... I'm willing to try anything to regain my youth and start building muscle safely ... Any advice and input is greatly appreciated.. I am a big fan of erase , I'm assuming that would be ok to use in conjunction w the patch?

 

[kisaj]

My doctor is great, and even he believes that standard protocol is every 2 weeks. He lets me self inject, so it's not a concern, but I argued with him last time because he asked if I had thought if maybe I could try every 10-12 days. I was like, "why would I ever do that?" It is completely ridiculous in this day and age that this is even a suggestion. Once every 7 days minimum for steadiness. Some like multiple times- even better yet.

 

[alpinecoach]

I just started injecting 100mg/2xweek instead of 200mg/week, and I have noticed a BIG difference, no up or down, no anxiety. I am thinking this is helping E2 control as well. Going in for BW next week, we will see what the results are.

 

[chedapalooza]

Hey guys. Just got prescribed androderm patch to try for 30 days after getting 290 test reading (I am 24!) I am currently taking licogenix and ergotest and wonder if I shoul cease these things while taking the patch... My numbers dropped while on various supplements Over the past 4 years... I'm willing to try anything to regain my youth and start building muscle safely ... Any advice and input is greatly appreciated.. I am a big fan of erase , I'm assuming that would be ok to use in conjunction w the patch?

Bump

 

[The Matrix]

I just started injecting 100mg/2xweek instead of 200mg/week, and I have noticed a BIG difference, no up or down, no anxiety. I am thinking this is helping E2 control as well. Going in for BW next week, we will see what the results are.

I would start 40 mgs 2 times a week. Higher dosages can cause adrenal and thyroid imbalances. More chances of aromatizing to e2 and other nasty side effect.

 

[bigt405]

Hey guys. Just got prescribed androderm patch to try for 30 days after getting 290 test reading (I am 24!) I am currently taking licogenix and ergotest and wonder if I shoul cease these things while taking the patch... My numbers dropped while on various supplements Over the past 4 years... I'm willing to try anything to regain my youth and start building muscle safely ... Any advice and input is greatly appreciated.. I am a big fan of erase , I'm assuming that would be ok to use in conjunction w the patch?

My doctoer started me out on one Androderm patch a day and eventually had to go to two a day to get me in the mid range of normal. If I were you I would not take anything else until my blood test got me to where I wanted to be then I would experiment with other options for an increased boost. If my stinking insurance had not decided to stop covering the Androderm that is what I would still be doing today......

 

[chedapalooza]

My doctoer started me out on one Androderm patch a day and eventually had to go to two a day to get me in the mid range of normal. If I were you I would not take anything else until my blood test got me to where I wanted to be then I would experiment with other options for an increased boost. If my stinking insurance had not decided to stop covering the Androderm that is what I would still be doing today......

Thanks for the info. Did u get something else in place of it? Any fertility issues?

 

[bigt405]

In the process of locating a more knowledgeable doctor, but for now just getting one shot every three weeks. Got an appointment next with a new doctor.

 

[bigt405]

As far as fertility issues/ non that I know of....

 

[chedapalooza]

Well good luck and thanks !

 

[kisaj]

Good luck and hang in there. I don't want to say you are in for a bummer of a ride with that schedule- but you are in for a bummer of a ride.

 

[alpinecoach]

In the process of locating a more knowledgeable doctor, but for now just getting one shot every three weeks. Got an appointment next with a new doctor.

I can't imagine 1x/3week, that is going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride. Good luck brother. Get a new doc QUICK, as this is going to be rough. Hell, I pin 2x/week and may go to three, makes for a nice even ride.

 

[alpinecoach]

Try to talk your doc into letting you self inject, and then order extra pins on the internet. Split your dose up and pin at least once a week.

 

[chedapalooza]

Does anyone know if I can put my androderm patch over a tattoo? I have to rotate sites and wanna use my upper arms but they have tats..

 

[bigt405]

Don't know about the tattoo thing but as far as changing the locations I did that at first, but found that just moving it around a few inches on my outer thigh worked best for me.

 

[chedapalooza]

Don't know about the tattoo thing but as far as changing the locations I did that at first, but found that just moving it around a few inches on my outer thigh worked best for me.

Ah alright, bc with working out and running it's hard to find anspot that it wont potentially get abused.. My stomach seems to be the safest

 

[chedapalooza]

Quick q: after initially feeling amazing the first 4-5 days, I'm slowly starting to lose the swagger and mojo so to speak that I had regained upon starting.. Also noticing sleep quality returning to the poor side and more body aches returnjng... Is this normal, would this mean that I am leveling out and will need a higher dose soon? Also noticing libido and erection frequency decreasing ...

 

[LMuscle]

Quick q: after initially feeling amazing the first 4-5 days, I'm slowly starting to lose the swagger and mojo so to speak that I had regained upon starting.. Also noticing sleep quality returning to the poor side and more body aches returnjng... Is this normal, would this mean that I am leveling out and will need a higher dose soon? Also noticing libido and erection frequency decreasing ...

Didn't I read in a previous post you were taking a prolactin inhibitor? I took cabergoline for a few months and felt great, but after that I started getting the sore/stiff joints again, low sex drive etc. I quit the cabergoline and everything returned to normal.

 

[chedapalooza]

Didn't I read in a previous post you were taking a prolactin inhibitor? I took cabergoline for a few months and felt great, but after that I started getting the sore/stiff joints again, low sex drive etc. I quit the cabergoline and everything returned to normal.

No, I'm not bc my levels last week were perfectly normal. So no need ATM.. I'm taking licogenix and bulbine to help keep any estrogen at bay.. (I was on them prior to starting the patch last week).. Just strange that the first few days were awesome and now I feel noticeably less well..

 

[bigt405]

As an update I went to my new doctor today and I am pleased with the results. We discussed different options, gave some blood, recieved a shot and scheduled a return visit in two weeks. He is leaning towards weekly shots with me doing them myself. So it looks like I might have found a good one.

 

[chedapalooza]

As an update I went to my new doctor today and I am pleased with the results. We discussed different options, gave some blood, recieved a shot and scheduled a return visit in two weeks. He is leaning towards weekly shots with me doing them myself. So it looks like I might have found a good one.

Great news. Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[kisaj]

That's awesome. The day your doc says he'll work with you on a schedule and let you self inject, you feel like hugging him. Good luck.

 

[bigt405]

As a follow up I went back to my doc today and he put me on one shot of 100 ml a week for now. He is going to check my blood again in three weeks. He also mentioned possibly trying Testapel pellets has anyone ever had any experience with these?

 

[chedapalooza]

As a follow up I went back to my doc today and he put me on one shot of 100 ml a week for now. He is going to check my blood again in three weeks. He also mentioned possibly trying Testapel pellets has anyone ever had any experience with these?

I read they can like burst thru your skin unexpectedly... I'd stick with shots man lol

Luckily my patch boosted me up to 679 in two weeks and normalized free test

 

[kisaj]

That's awesome that he put you on a 100 a week.

 

[v4lu3s]

it took me almost 6 months to get to normal levels at 100 milligrams per week. so 3 weeks in to 100 milligrams a week it may still be low if your at all like me

 

[threeFs]

For what its worth, yesterday I actually read the paper that came in my test cyp rx from the manufacturer. It stated that the half life is 8 days. But what confused me is that it also said to administer every 2-3 weeks.
The end who prescribed it to me said "it's come a long way...it used to be prescribed as 1 injection every 4-5 weeks." Anyway, he prescribed me self inject @200 every 2 weeks which he called "a hefty dosage" but disagreed at 100/week. Well, since I self inject, I go 100/ week.
My new doctor, anti-aging, sees things more in line with what I see. Just my 2 cents

 

[kisaj]

For what its worth, yesterday I actually read the paper that came in my test cyp rx from the manufacturer. It stated that the half life is 8 days. But what confused me is that it also said to administer every 2-3 weeks.
The end who prescribed it to me said "it's come a long way...it used to be prescribed as 1 injection every 4-5 weeks." Anyway, he prescribed me self inject @200 every 2 weeks which he called "a hefty dosage" but disagreed at 100/week. Well, since I self inject, I go 100/ week.
My new doctor, anti-aging, sees things more in line with what I see. Just my 2 cents

I wonder if the endo knew that half of 200 is 100 before he disagreed.

 

[threeFs]

I wonder if the endo knew that half of 200 is 100 before he disagreed.

Thanks to the advice on this forum, I went to 4 doctors and didn't stop until I was satisfied. I mean look, some doctors are just "qualified" guys who can write prescriptions. They all have their own opinions. Keep fishing until you're satisfied with your catch. A doctor should be seen as a partner to assist you with your journey to improved health, not as an all-knowing dictator (like the endo I saw)

 

[kisaj]

Exactly.

It's our bodies and health. We owe it to ourselves to be educated and then use the doctors and specialists as a supporting staff. Obviously we depend on them for things we cannot know or understand without professional guidance, but it's still not an excuse to go in blind.

 

[bigt405]

Has anyone ever used a compounding pharmacy before? The reason I ask is my doctor wrote my script out for a 10ml vial and my CVS said it had been on back order for months, but a local compounding pharmacy has it on hand.

 

[v4lu3s]

I get my 10ml vital from my insurance company mail order pharmacy without problems...you might want to see if you have something like that, for me it is also the best price.

 

[BJE]

As an update I went to my new doctor today and I am pleased with the results. We discussed different options, gave some blood, recieved a shot and scheduled a return visit in two weeks. He is leaning towards weekly shots with me doing them myself. So it looks like I might have found a good one.

I am glad he is letting you do the shots yourself. Once you get to a stable level and you and your doctor are satisfied with the result, then you may want to try more frequent injections to see how you feel.

I think part of the reason that doctors want to inject every 2-4 weeks is that they think a patient wouldn't want to come into the office more often than that, and that people don't like shots therefore they are trying to minimize the number of shots. Self injecting solves the first issue, being a man and getting over the fear of shots solves the second issue.

 

[bigt405]

I gave myself my first shot today and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I go back in three weeks for another blood test. My last blood test ten days after a shot of 200 ml had my test at only 277 so we shall see how 100 ml every 7 days does.

 

[threeFs]

It takes awhile to fine tune the proper dosage for each individual. My doc just bumped me up to 120/wk from 100. He wants my level to be around 800 (the endo wanted me at 300 so I'm stoked to see what 800 is like)
Did your doc tell you what he wants your test level to be?

 

[chedapalooza]

Mine was content with high 600s but that was at 4pm so that leads me to assume it was probably around 750-800 in early am hours

 

[BJE]

I gave myself my first shot today and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I go back in three weeks for another blood test. My last blood test ten days after a shot of 200 ml had my test at only 277 so we shall see how 100 ml every 7 days does.

One thing to remember is that it may take as many as eight to twelve weeks for you to get a stable level. Because of the half life, each week when you get a shot you will have more left over in your body than the last shot up until you reach a stable level. Front loading with about three times your weekly dose will bring you to a stable level much more quickly, but doctors probably aren't into doing such things. If you have your level checked after only a few weeks your level will probably be a fair amount lower than it will be in a couple of months.

 

[v4lu3s]

It took me six months for my levels to stabilize.

 

[chedapalooza]

It took me six months for my levels to stabilize.

Took me two weeks.. Weird

 

[v4lu3s]

Well I think we just proved you are not me......and I am most definitely not you....

 

[chedapalooza]

Well I think we just proved you are not me......and I am most definitely not you....

U sure?

 

[kisaj]

whoa man, you guys are blowing my mind

heavy

 

[threeFs]

Focus, grasshopper, focus

 

[bigt405]

The doctor is shooting for mid 600s....where I was when I was on two androderm patches a day.

 

[chedapalooza]

Hey big T . I'm switching tomorrow bc the patches r giving me crazy itchy rash/burns! You found the gel to be effective?