kincaiddave
Member
- Awards
- 0
I'm on my fourth Doc and
it looks like he is going to work out great.
I started with him in August and when I tested at 319 total T, I was
put on AndroGel at 5g. Took a while on emails between me and the
nurse practitioner to get them to go ahead and give me a lab order
for a follow up test. They wanted me to go 8 weeks on the gel
before testing. I did get tested at 5 weeks and my total T was
161. They then put me on 10g. Two weeks later (there's progress -
I didn't have to wait too long) I tested at 331.
I scheduled an appointment to discuss what to do, since the gel was
obviously not doing the trick. I should mention that I have gained
about five pounds since the start of the gel. I am sure it is all
fluids from elevated E2. Please correct me if I am wrong there.
There is no significant change in my diet or activity/exercise.
I met the doctor (an urologist) for the first time yesterday. First
appointment and emails have been with the nurse practitioner. He
discussed different methods of TRT and then said that he would like
to try me on shots. He made some points with me with that
suggestion.
He said we need to see how I react to shots and said we would start
with 200mg every two weeks (he lost some points). I asked about
100mg every week and he immediately said that would be OK (he made
the points back and then some).
He said we can give you the first shot today and then I can come
back. I said I hoped to try self injecting. He said sure - more
points.
I asked about HCG in addition to the shots and he said that the
evidence is not there to support the benefits (lost a bunch of
points) and that he wouldn't feel comfortable monitoring me on HCG
and would need help from an endo. I said that I was glad to hear
that he would want help and presented him with print outs of
the "Recipe" and the HCG update from Dr. Crisler and asked if he
would mind working with Dr. John on my case. He said sure. He
earned major points there. He asked to keep the print outs and said
he would contact Dr. John. I hope he has already contacted you Dr. John.
I asked about E2 management on Arimidex and he said no problem (more
points). He said we need to wait for the follow up in five weeks to
see where my E2 is. I wasn't sure about that part. Should I do
anything about E2 between now and the five week follow up? I don't
like the weight gain to date and expect my E2 to go up worse on the
shots and am dreading the negative aspects of that. Any suggestions?
I mentioned that I was concerned about my AM cortisol level of 9.9
(range 8.7 - 22.4). I said that I had ordered some Isocort and was
he OK with that. He said no problem, but didn't offer any other
help on the cortisol. Maybe I should expect that cortisol and
thyroid are a little out of the area of an urologists' expertise. Phil said I
should wait on Dr. Johns' advice on the cortisol and hold off on the Isocort.
I'm going to take his advice.
The nurse went over self injection and handed me a 20g 1 1/2"
needle. That's what was on the script too. I asked about 27g and
she made a face. I said that others were successful by warming the
test up and being patient for the test to flow. She changed the
script - more points. She did not mention aspirating - lost some
points.
When I got my prescription today, they actually gave me 25g, 1 1/2" needles.
I stuck it in about 1". I found that my being nervous about the self injection was unfounded.
Next time won't be so bad psychologically.
When should I feel the first effects?
Should I do anything about E2 for the next five weeks other than 50mg of Zinc twice daily?
Thanks for anyones suggestions/observations and I am really hoping to hear from you Dr. John.
it looks like he is going to work out great.
I started with him in August and when I tested at 319 total T, I was
put on AndroGel at 5g. Took a while on emails between me and the
nurse practitioner to get them to go ahead and give me a lab order
for a follow up test. They wanted me to go 8 weeks on the gel
before testing. I did get tested at 5 weeks and my total T was
161. They then put me on 10g. Two weeks later (there's progress -
I didn't have to wait too long) I tested at 331.
I scheduled an appointment to discuss what to do, since the gel was
obviously not doing the trick. I should mention that I have gained
about five pounds since the start of the gel. I am sure it is all
fluids from elevated E2. Please correct me if I am wrong there.
There is no significant change in my diet or activity/exercise.
I met the doctor (an urologist) for the first time yesterday. First
appointment and emails have been with the nurse practitioner. He
discussed different methods of TRT and then said that he would like
to try me on shots. He made some points with me with that
suggestion.
He said we need to see how I react to shots and said we would start
with 200mg every two weeks (he lost some points). I asked about
100mg every week and he immediately said that would be OK (he made
the points back and then some).
He said we can give you the first shot today and then I can come
back. I said I hoped to try self injecting. He said sure - more
points.
I asked about HCG in addition to the shots and he said that the
evidence is not there to support the benefits (lost a bunch of
points) and that he wouldn't feel comfortable monitoring me on HCG
and would need help from an endo. I said that I was glad to hear
that he would want help and presented him with print outs of
the "Recipe" and the HCG update from Dr. Crisler and asked if he
would mind working with Dr. John on my case. He said sure. He
earned major points there. He asked to keep the print outs and said
he would contact Dr. John. I hope he has already contacted you Dr. John.
I asked about E2 management on Arimidex and he said no problem (more
points). He said we need to wait for the follow up in five weeks to
see where my E2 is. I wasn't sure about that part. Should I do
anything about E2 between now and the five week follow up? I don't
like the weight gain to date and expect my E2 to go up worse on the
shots and am dreading the negative aspects of that. Any suggestions?
I mentioned that I was concerned about my AM cortisol level of 9.9
(range 8.7 - 22.4). I said that I had ordered some Isocort and was
he OK with that. He said no problem, but didn't offer any other
help on the cortisol. Maybe I should expect that cortisol and
thyroid are a little out of the area of an urologists' expertise. Phil said I
should wait on Dr. Johns' advice on the cortisol and hold off on the Isocort.
I'm going to take his advice.
The nurse went over self injection and handed me a 20g 1 1/2"
needle. That's what was on the script too. I asked about 27g and
she made a face. I said that others were successful by warming the
test up and being patient for the test to flow. She changed the
script - more points. She did not mention aspirating - lost some
points.
When I got my prescription today, they actually gave me 25g, 1 1/2" needles.
I stuck it in about 1". I found that my being nervous about the self injection was unfounded.
Next time won't be so bad psychologically.
When should I feel the first effects?
Should I do anything about E2 for the next five weeks other than 50mg of Zinc twice daily?
Thanks for anyones suggestions/observations and I am really hoping to hear from you Dr. John.