HRT Methods and Success

[iBorg317 (imported)]

I've been on HRT for about five years. First injections. I don't remember the amount but it was once every two weeks. Truly a roller coaster ride. I'd go from feeling like Superman to being totally an emotional wreck. I did Androgel

for about three years until it started caused a skin reaction. Recently I've wen to a transdermal patch, Androderm. I'm starting to have similar skin reactions but not yet quite severe. I'm rotating placement using a six day rotation, left hip, right hip then both arms and shoulder blades.

Thanks,

Mike

[mrt (imported)]

I've been on HRT for about five years. First injections. I don't remember the amount but it was once every two weeks. Truly a roller coaster ride. I'd go from feeling like Superman to being totally an emotional wreck. I did Androgel

for about three years until it started caused a skin reaction. Recently I've wen to a transdermal patch, Androderm. I'm starting to have similar skin reactions but not yet quite severe. I'm rotating placement using a six day rotation, left hip, right hip then both arms and shoulder blades.

Thanks,

Mike

If you do injections a lot of us have concluded the only way to keep the levels good throughout the cycle is 100mg (maybe a tad more) weekly. I also tried the bi weekly shots and I just spoke to me GP and said "I can't take it" Men are not used to hormones roller coasting over long periods. Our normal cycle is 24 hours thus Adroderm or gel work most like we are used to. I did a chart of what the levels look like with weekly injections of a tad over 100mg and it spikes a little bit on day 3/4 but keeps strong until the end of the cycle then you restart.

[kietboy (imported)]

Hi,

personnaly my endocrinologist put me on injections once a week and He told me it could even be possible to do them ever 3 days to have a more stable level. But since everthing is fine with once a week i keep it that way, you might want to talk about it with your doc.

Good luck

Kietboy

[coinflipper_21 (imported)]

iBorg317,

I had exactly the opposite reaction. When I started HRT my doctor started with the injections of testosterone suspended in oil. These were supposed to last 2 weeks, but after a couple of days I had a severe allergic reaction and a trip to the ER. I swelled up to look something like, Bibendum, the Michelin Man.

He then prescribed the Androderm patch. My skin reactions were severe chemical burns. I changed to the Androgel and have had no problems for six years now. Individual differences, I guess.

Coinflipper

[kristoff]

iBorg317,

I had exactly the opposite reaction. When I started HRT my doctor started with the injections of testosterone suspended in oil. These were supposed to last 2 weeks, but after a couple of days I had a severe allergic reaction and a trip to the ER. I swelled up to look something like, Bibendum, the Michelin Man.

He then prescribed the Androderm patch. My skin reactions were severe chemical burns. I changed to the Androgel and have had no problems for six years now. Individual differences, I guess.

Coinflipper

Definitely individual differences. One thing many over look is an allergic reaction to the depot suspension agent - the oil. Several I know are allergic to it, not the testosterone in it.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

Depot Testosterone can use Peanut oil for the suspension agent. Peanut is a common allergen. The most common suspension is in cotton seed oil which is far from allergy free. --FLO--

[iBorg317 (imported)]

Well the patches have gone from red and tender after removal to itching while on. I called my doctor ad we're going to try injections again. This time once a week.

Think kind thoughts for me.

iBorg

[plix (imported)]

The new standards for shots are 100 mg every 7 to 10 days versus the old standards of 200 to 400 mg every 2 to 4 weeks. For me I notice some slight differences between just after and just before a shot on a 2 week cycle, but not to the extremes noticed by others. My doctor says that he treats two other guys who say they feel great on 200 mg once a month, which is half of even the old standards. Everyone is different.

Gels and patches are also different for everyone. I know guys who are on T who all say the gels and patches are from the devil himself and should be avoided at all costs. They all say that transdermal methods do nothing for them, or start out doing something but then stop. I often wonder if these guys should call their group "anti-transdermal T guys" (no, I've never claimed to be witty) because almost every single one of them has nothing but disdain for patches and gels. But for me and lots of other people, transdermals work fine, perhaps even better for me. Everyone is different.

[kristoff]

The new standards for shots are 100 mg every 7 to 10 days versus the old standards of 200 to 400 mg every 2 to 4 weeks. For me I notice some slight differences between just after and just before a shot on a 2 week cycle, but not to the extremes noticed by others. My doctor says that he treats two other guys who say they feel great on 200 mg once a month, which is half of even the old standards. Everyone is different.

Gels and patches are also different for everyone. I know guys who are on T who all say the gels and patches are from the devil himself and should be avoided at all costs. They all say that transdermal methods do nothing for them, or start out doing something but then stop. I often wonder if these guys should call their group "anti-transdermal T guys" (no, I've never claimed to be witty) because almost every single one of them has nothing but disdain for patches and gels. But for me and lots of other people, transdermals work fine, perhaps even better for me. Everyone is different.

Personally, I loathe the patches. Don't work for me, perspiration made em come off, had to tape them on, the the tape would rip off skin.

the gels worked great for me at first. But over time their efficiency and effectiveness dropped off. At this point (till a month ago) all they did was maintain certain health characteristic. Couldnt have got up to save my life - not really a big deal tho - the stuff never stimulated a sex drive eitheer, but oh well.

If I were to go back on T (off 39 days now), I would prefer the injectable first, but who knows

[BossTamsin (imported)]

I love the injections. I'm definitely one of those for whom pills, patches, and gels failed to be effective. For me, the pills (Andriol) failed to even have a placebo effect, the patches caused rashes and still weren't effective enough, and the gel didn't seem to do much.

Currently I'm giving myself 100mg on a weekly basis, and while not as good as 'the real thing', it's absolutely the best of all the alternatives I've tried to date. (Not to mention that for me, it's just easier to give an IM injection once a week, as opposed to slopping on gels, taking pills, or applying patches daily.)