Changing from Gels to Injections - personal experiences?

[Megazoid]

I have my varicocele venogram and additional embolization (second operation) arranged for 20th of march. I am hoping that after this operation my testicles will be capable of working properly or at least a bit better than before. To keep thing's simple, there is still some "back flow" of blood going back into the testicles, thus over-heating and blocking up the cells (leydig, sperm production, tiny vessels, etc). Either way i am going to need to run HCG to see if they respond to stimulation and increase in size. Running HCG alone after the operation would be stupid so i am going to run TRT + HCG, but haven't decided on which protocol to use. I am leaning towards 10G's of androgel daily + HCG every 3rd day at 250iu a time. I don't really want to go higher than 250iu so i control E2 better.They have shrunk noticably since before they were "normal" (my urologist told me not to say "atrophied" because the actual "meat" of the testicle is fine according to him and my nut's are simply shrunk due to bad sperm production). Ironically even though i have been on TRT for 2 months now, my testicles haven't changed at all in size (according to ultrasound scan) so that can only be a good thing. I am hoping i can recover some (if not all) natural testosterone after this second operation. finger's crossed!

I have been on 2 tubes of androgel daily for the past 2 months and some day's are better than others, however in general libido is bad, erections poor most of the time (and require heavy stimulation) and joints/muscles hurting. I am visiting my anti-aging doctor soon to get thing's checked out and a full blood profile done while on androgel. I will post my results when i get them (i will be starting a "restart diary/log" on meso soon).

Because i am in the UK the options for T injections are testosterone enthanate or testosterone sustanon. Don't think test cyp is available here (however test e is very similar i have heard?). I want to use anything between 100, 125 or 150mg of testosterone a week (since the amples come in 250mg in the UK, using 125 a week seems logical). I have heard of guy's using 100mg and feeling increadable (some even mentioned removing ALL symptoms in a matter of weeks and getting perfect, efortless erections back, etc). So this would be ideal if it work's out well.

Because everyones experiences are changing daily regarding HRT, i am intrested in hearing personal experiences of guy's that switched from cream, gels or orals to Injections and how they got on. I am also intrested in hearing about your current HRT regiem (Which AI, Suppliments and HCG dosages) and generally how you would consider your lifestyle/progress.

Thanks again for all the support guys! I am going to kick this low t stuff right in the butt

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by Megazoid

I have my varicocele venogram and additional embolization (second operation) arranged for 20th of march. I am hoping that after this operation my testicles will be capable of working properly or at least a bit better than before. To keep thing's simple, there is still some "back flow" of blood going back into the testicles, thus over-heating and blocking up the cells (leydig, sperm production, tiny vessels, etc). Either way i am going to need to run HCG to see if they respond to stimulation and increase in size. Running HCG alone after the operation would be stupid so i am going to run TRT + HCG, but haven't decided on which protocol to use. I am leaning towards 10G's of androgel daily + HCG every 3rd day at 250iu a time. I don't really want to go higher than 250iu so i control E2 better.They have shrunk noticably since before they were "normal" (my urologist told me not to say "atrophied" because the actual "meat" of the testicle is fine according to him and my nut's are simply shrunk due to bad sperm production). Ironically even though i have been on TRT for 2 months now, my testicles haven't changed at all in size (according to ultrasound scan) so that can only be a good thing. I am hoping i can recover some (if not all) natural testosterone after this second operation. finger's crossed!

I have been on 2 tubes of androgel daily for the past 2 months and some day's are better than others, however in general libido is bad, erections poor most of the time (and require heavy stimulation) and joints/muscles hurting. I am visiting my anti-aging doctor soon to get thing's checked out and a full blood profile done while on androgel. I will post my results when i get them (i will be starting a "restart diary/log" on meso soon).

Because i am in the UK the options for T injections are testosterone enthanate or testosterone sustanon. Don't think test cyp is available here (however test e is very similar i have heard?). I want to use anything between 100, 125 or 150mg of testosterone a week (since the amples come in 250mg in the UK, using 125 a week seems logical). I have heard of guy's using 100mg and feeling increadable (some even mentioned removing ALL symptoms in a matter of weeks and getting perfect, efortless erections back, etc). So this would be ideal if it work's out well.

Because everyones experiences are changing daily regarding HRT, i am intrested in hearing personal experiences of guy's that switched from cream, gels or orals to Injections and how they got on. I am also intrested in hearing about your current HRT regiem (Which AI, Suppliments and HCG dosages) and generally how you would consider your lifestyle/progress.

Thanks again for all the support guys! I am going to kick this low t stuff right in the butt

Best is to follow blood test results and make adjustments accordingly.
HCG, best to take 100IU daily, I take 250IU every other day.
10grams of Androgel was too much for me, on 7.5 grams I felt better.
I am now on 0.75gram T cream, 100mg/gram
I had to use Arimidex on higher dose of T, now I am not using it.

[wildfox]

I made the transition from Androgel to injections last Fall.

NOT FUN. Not fun at all.

[Megazoid]

Care to expand Wildfox?

[wildfox]

Originally Posted by Megazoid

Care to expand Wildfox?

What else do you want to know? I went from daily gel application to weekly test injection and did not like the subsequent emotional rollercoaster.

[Megazoid]

what was your HRT routine like on injections? was your libido/erections bad too?

[tbach]

I started HRT last July with Testim gel - 50mg. Unhappy with transfer risk, I asked to be switched to Androderm patch . . . my skin said, "No! No!" It took weeks for the welts to disappear. Then we tried injections of t-cypionate - 100mg per week. It was great for about 4 days after the injection, and then the bottom fell out of my T-boat. Same drill with next two injections - I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. The downs were nasty - erectile problems, lack of energy. When I did some research on cypionate, I discovered that the half life is about 4 to 5 days, which would explain the problem I was having. My doctor was not willing to give me more than one injection per week, so I returned to Testim, but at 100mg. To alleviate the transfer risk, I apply at night before bed and shower in the morning. It isn't perfect - I'm still trying to deal with over-aromatization, but on average, its a much smoother ride.

Some forum contributors suggest that injections be given every 4 to 5 days to avoid the roller coaster effect. I'm sure you can find some posts on this forum regarding more frequent injections.

Best of luck to you.

[pmgamer18]

Megazoid you would do much better on shots if all you can get is testosterone enthanate or testosterone sustanon. Go with enthanate here read this cut & paste.
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Testosterone Enanthate: Chemical Formula C26H40O3
Testosterone enanthate is one of the main forms of testosterone prescribed to FTMs in the United States. It is a slow-acting ester with a release time between 8-10 days. The name-brand of T-enanthate available in the United States is called "Delatestryl," which is suspended in sesame oil. Testosterone enanthate is typically injected anywhere between once every week to once every three weeks. Generic testosterone enanthate can also be obtained through a compounding pharmacy; such pharmacies can mix the enanthate in either sesame or cotton seed oil. (For more information about compounding pharmacies, click here.)

Testosterone Cypionate: Chemical Formula C27H40O3
Testosterone cypionate is the other main injectable form of testosterone prescribed to FTMs in the United States. It is a slow-acting ester with a release time between 8-10 days, similar to that of enanthate. The name-brand of T-cypionate available in the United States is called "Depo-Testosterone," which is suspended in cottonseed oil. Testosterone cypionate is typically injected anywhere between once every week to once every three weeks. Generic testosterone cypionate can also be obtained through a compounding pharmacy; such pharmacies can mix the cypionate in either sesame or cotton seed oil. (For more information about compounding pharmacies, click here.)

Sustanon 100 or 250
"Sustanon" is the brand name for two formulas of injectable testosterone that contain a blend of esters. "Sustanon 100" contains three testosterone esters: testosterone propionate (C22H32O3), testosterone phenylpropionate (C28H36O3), and testosterone isocaproate (C25H3803). "Sustanon 250" contains four testosterone esters: testosterone propionate (C22H32O3), testosterone phenylpropionate (C28H36O3), testosterone isocaproate (C25H3803), and testosterone decanoate (C29H4603). Both formulas feature both fast-acting and slow-acting esters, and can be injected anywhere from once every week to once every four weeks. Sustanon is prescribed outside of the United States.

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I use Deop T and do 50 mgs every 3 days this keep me leveled the 2 days in between each I do 250 IU's of HCG. I take Arimidex to keep E2 down you can't dose it by what others do you need to find the dose that keep you having morning wood. I tell others to start at .25mg of 1/4 of a 1mg pill every 3 days so if you do your shots like I am doing you would take the .25 mg. pill of arimidex the day of your T shot. IF you don't have wood in 4 to 5 days you will keep taking the pill I use wood as a gauge to not go to low. If wood stops your going to low so stop the pill until wood comes back that day go back on the pill but do it less .25 mgs.every 5 days and so on.

To do your shots and this would be a shot everyday get small needles I use a 27g 1ml x 1/2" lg. needle the T comes out slow but you don't need much doing the shot every 3 days. If you T comes in a amp. you will need a big needle to pull out all the T and store this in it. Keep it cold and when you go to fill your smaller 27g need just pull out the plunger and push the T into the needle then put the plunger back in just to start it the turn upright and put out the air and do your shot.

I went to this from gels I was house bound with joint and muscle pain so bad I had a hard time walking when I first got up. Doing shots my pain was gone in less then 4 weeks. A lot of guys are doing shots every 3 days now Dr. Shippen dose his own shots this way.

[wildfox]

Originally Posted by Megazoid

what was your HRT routine like on injections? was your libido/erections bad too?

As others have reported, on shots

Gels were best for me. It was a rather steady daily level, instead of a weekly high for a couple days then low for a couple days. I wanted to try shots because I was worried about transferring the gel to my kids or wife.

Things were best for me on Androgel plus HCG every other day.

[scp831]

I have been injecting for over a year now. I was using gels for about 3 years before starting injections. I prefer to inject. Once you get over the initial fear of injecting it is very easy, and not painful. I would recommend starting off with a low dose before you increase your dose to over 1cc. i starte with 1.5 cc every two weeks, and now I am taking 1 cc every week. Starting with to high of a dose will cause you to have some serious set backs. Make sure that you have your doctor do regular blood check up, at least every 3 months for the first year.