TRT Update

[SPE]

Since starting TRT back in June, I have gone through 3 different delivery methods. I started with androgel 5g/day. I felt really good on this, although my dht went a little high. Total T after 4 weeks was 757(241-827). The DHT bothered me, simply because I wanted it in the "normal" range . So, I switched to a 10% compounded creme thinking DHT would be less of an issue because it used less surface area. This I really didn't like. Yes, application was easier as there was 1/10th the amount that I had to apply, but I felt like crap. Total T came back at 616 and dht went UP a little bit. At this point I was fed up with transdermals so I decided to go with weekly Test cyp injections. I thought "this will solve all of my problems." Well, I've been on T Cyp injections for 5 weeks now(first week was a 200mg load) and guess what? I really don't feel that great! I feel "ok". But not nearly as good as when I was on androgel. Androgel felt more "even", and it gave me a rush for the first few hours after I applied it. I also had a more confident feeling while on androgel. Injections have their place, I'm sure, but I'm just not a fan. To me, taking 1 minute a day to apply gel is less hassle than injecting weekly. Where am I going from here? Well, I like the idea of a higher concentrated transdermal, so I'm going with a PLO base at 100mg/ml(10%) along with 10mg DHEA in there. If this doesn't work, I'll go with a 5% compound but using an alcohol base, like androgel. I think the whole point of this post is that there is a misconception that injections are always the best way to go. I now see why SWALE prefers to start off with products like androgel. They are easier, and for many produce adequate T levels.

[Axl]

just out of curiosity: what were your T levels before starting HRT??

[SPE]

My total T was at 302, same scale as above. I'm 25 years old so that's not exactly ideal. It has been as low as 175 on a scale of 260-1000.

[Axl]

My doc has put me on T enanthate "because my baseline T level of 220 ng/dl was too low. Gels are not powerful enough to correct this...". Apparently, they seem to work fine for you.... If I ever get tired of the shots, I might want to give te gels a try....
By the way: the main reason why SWALE likes to start of with gels is its simplicity in use. Moreover, it's easier to switch from gels to T shots than vice versa because of the 24hr half-life of the gels.

[SPE]

Simplicity. Yep, I think that's what I like most(besides the way I feel). Some folks just absorb things better transdermally . Might have to do with bodyfat? I'm fairlly lean(~10%?) and have visible veins in my arms, shoulders, lower abdominal area, quads...well, I guess just about all over except for my stomach. Maybe the leaner you are, the easier it gets into your bloodstream? But yeah, getting to 757 off of 5g of androgel kinda surprised me.

[Axl]

it's nice to see that there are people here that are happy with their treatment It gives hope for those who haven't found their solution yet...
Have you tried adding HCG to your regimen? MAybe this can add a little more to your "feel good factor"

[SPE]

Yeah, I did. For me it really isn't that noticeable. It keeps my nuts hangin' low, and that's good enough for me!

[frankwhardy]

Originally Posted by SPE

. . . Well, I like the idea of a higher concentrated transdermal, so I'm going with a PLO base at 100mg/ml(10%) along with 10mg DHEA in there. If this doesn't work, I'll go with a 5% compound but using an alcohol base, like androgel. . . .

Why would you try a 5% concentration in the AndroGel-like alcohol base and not 10% like in the PLO base? Did your compounding pharmacy indicate that 5% was the maximum amount of T they could get into that particular base? I'm asking because I'm going through a similar thing of trying out different bases (creams and gels - without added T) to see which feel the most comfortable and might be least likely to irritate my skin. I agree that the AndroGel, at only 1% T, seems overly dilute. My compounding pharmacist seemed to think that a PLO base wasn't as preferred as some others because absorption tended to be too rapid, leading to an early spike in T. (My prescription will be for 10% T once I decide on which cream or gel base to use.)
Frank

[SPE]

My thinking about the 5% was this: I have already tried 10% and I'm not sure if the creme had poor absorbption compared to the 1% alcohol based androgel, or if it absorbed poorly because 10% is too high. If the 10% PLO doesn't do the job, then my thinking is that a 5% base would absorb better. At this point it's just speculation though.