If you look at the literature, two swipes (one under each armpit) is just a good – and sometimes better – than multiple swipes on a single arm due to the first contact drying and blocking the second contact. So I dose morning and evening two swipes. Also, I use a spray deodorant. If you don’t you get a real mess under the pits that sticks your hair together and hurts like hell as the they are pulled when you raise you arms. With double dosing, you won’t reach the levels of single dosing with 7.5 or 10g of Testim, nor will you ever reach the higher DHT levels due to the higher concentration and lower surface area of Axiron.
One thing I have heard many are doing is single squirt and swipe under each arm and then a single squirt and swipe on the intercostals and rub the stuff in like you would Testim. Some do it on both sides and get the full dose of four full swipes, but this is off label and not how the product is to be used, plus it negates one plus of the product that you remove the contact issue with other people.
When swiping, I start at the top of the pit and hold the applicator almost vertical (a slight angle towards the pit, maybe about 10-20 degrees. The first swipe starts out with little pressure (the applicator container is very rubbery and flexible – if you push too hard the stuff just squirts out 360 degrees). The pressure is enough to begin to bend the applicator edge up on the side that is sliding down as this stops spillage that will just drain down the side of your body . As you move down slowly increase the pressure, then move up with the same slightly increased pressure up (this time the upper part of the applicator will bend down a bit). When you feel the stuff is mostly out of the applicator (you pit will feel wet) then push hard and move up and down a few times and then push and press your elbow down to your side for about 30 seconds and then allow your arm to just hang. You will dry in under five minutes and can then use the spray.
For me I first saw T levels of 450 with three swipes in the morning. The data is showing I won’t see much more or may even see a drop if I use four. Now I do two morning and two evening but I have not been measured yet. I can say this, my weight lifting and cardio are reduced from the Testim. I am going to try the two swipes under arm and then just rub the equivalent of two swipes on intercostals to see if I get a bump. My goal is not to have too high an increase in DHT.
For me, I may switch back to the Testim, although I will say this: from a libido point of view there is something about the Axiron that is better than Testim even though T levels are not as high. My last labs showed and E2 of 25pg/mL I believe, so my T to E2 ration even with a T of only around 450 was almost 20:1. On Testim, with T levels of 1000ng/dL my E2 was around 90, which is about 10:1. So maybe – for me – the ratio is important. I used to think it was the DHT that drove my libido, but I think if your DHT is above the high end you don’t get much of more of libido boost with higher levels of DHT and may even reach a level where the modulation on libido may be negative. Everyone is different.
Maybe Axiron does not convert to E2 as well. However, from a weight lifting perspective and cutting perspective the Testim was better. I am now trying to find that happy medium using Axiron and possible intercostal application. If I don’t get too much E2 conversion and can get my T up, then this is probably my solution as long as my DHT does not shoot up sky high. Of course, all of the this may be moot and I may see better results once my gut in healed and I am off the antibiotics. I once heard you say that AB can increase E or reduce T or both. I won’t know until after the protoco
In conclusion: If I had started with Axiron from where I was originally I would be very happy. On Testim I could to a set of 225, 245, 275, and then 315 (5,5,5,1). Now I do 225, 245, 275 (5,5,3). In both cases I could easily do 225 at 8 for the first set, I just choose 5. I could probably easily do three sets of 8 at 225 (or even 245). For a 45 year old this is pretty damn good given my heart condition and actually I should be quite happy with this and accept it. I am beginning to reach this acceptance level as I get the best of all worlds – I don't know anybody personally that can do what I do. So I think Axiron is a very good product for me. I do need the assistance of the PDE5 inhibitors at all times on Axiron, while on Testim it was hit or miss (which actually made things worse from an anxiety point of view)
