Starting Androderm - questions

[Guest guest]

My Endo recently prescribed Androderm 2.5, after my T came back

around 250. I applied my first patch yesterday.

I know that it's different for everyone, but still, I'd like to know:

how long before I can expect to notice any change?

Will I notice an increase in mood, energy, libido, concentration?

Isn't 2.5 a lower than usual dose?

Also, has anyone tried using DMSO in conjunction with the patch to

increase the absorption of T?

When my results came back showing secondary hypo, and when it became

clear that I would be getting some sort of T augmentation, I began to

make some lifestyle changes. I quit taking my antidepressants (celexa

and wellbutrin) which had flatlined my emotions. I cut WAY back on my

alcohol intake. I quit smoking. I feel that, at 43, perhaps the T

replacement can be the catalyst for some much needed personal habit

changes. With all that in mind, if the patch raises my T levels to

optimal, and I start working out, will I potentially notice an

increase in muscle mass and strength? In the past, I saw very little

change with working out. I also have gynecomastia - will the

combination of T and also taking zinc (as Shippen recommends) reduce

this problem?

I'd like to finally start feeling like a man. I'd like to have a

stronger libido and a desire for a relationship to exercise that

libido in. I'd like to WANT to spend more time with others and less

time alone. I'd like to increase muscle strength. I'd like my body to

look more masculine - larger muscles. I'd like to be more

competitive. I'd like to start accomplishing more. I'd like to have a

better mood. I'd like to eliminate the pervasive hopeless feelings

that have plagued me for my entire adult life.

I realize that the T is not the answer to all my problems, but right

now I have some hope that I can increase my quality of life.

[Guest guest]

> how long before I can expect to notice any change?

I used androderm for about 6 months, and I first noticed my skin got

oilier and my body odor changed. After a few weeks I got some slight

(not fully hard) morning erections.

>Will I notice an increase in mood, energy, libido, concentration?

It will probably take at least a month before you notice. The first

thing I noticed was I slept better. Now I sleep well and wake up

feeling much more refreshed and have more energy during the day.

I think it was several months before my libido increased. I was in a

supermarket one day and noticed all the women looked particularly

attractive. While going through the checkout line I started to get an

erection even! Probably the first spontaneous erection I had had for

years! I think it may have been three or four months since starting

the T possibly. I wish I had kept a journal or diary now!

> Isn't 2.5 a lower than usual dose?

I increased my androderm to 5 gms becasue 2.5 wasn't enough. Be sure

to get regular free T tests once a month at least. It will take up to

6 months for your own T production to shut down, so you'll have a high

free T at first while your body continues to produce some T and the

androderm contributes some. Keep in mind that T replacement has to

provide all your T; you can't just take a little because you body will

produce less and you'll end up where you were before starting the AD.

Alot of people report feeling good for awhile and then going downhill

some. This is normal.

> Also, has anyone tried using DMSO in conjunction with the patch to

> increase the absorption of T?

No, but I don't know if this will help. The problem is the amount of T

in the patch to start with. You may develop a skin reaction just from

the patch, and DMSO may make it worse.

> When my results came back showing secondary hypo, and when it became

> clear that I would be getting some sort of T augmentation, I began

to

> make some lifestyle changes. I quit taking my antidepressants

(celexa

> and wellbutrin) which had flatlined my emotions. I cut WAY back on

my

> alcohol intake. I quit smoking.

Sounds good!; I started on Wellbutrin a year ago because I decided I

was still somewhat depressed. T replacement won't necessarily end all

depression. I wouldn't take any other antidepressant than wellbutrin

though because anything else may have negative sexual effects.

I feel that, at 43, perhaps the T

> replacement can be the catalyst for some much needed personal habit

> changes. With all that in mind, if the patch raises my T levels to

> optimal, and I start working out, will I potentially notice an

> increase in muscle mass and strength? In the past, I saw very little

> change with working out.

Yes, but don't expect miracles. You won't look like Arnold

Schwartzneggar in 6 months. I'm stronger than I've ever been but it's

taken years to get that way. You should lose some body fat unless you

take too much T; too much T will cause estrogen conversion and cause

you to retain water (bloat) and have more subcutaneous fat.

I also have gynecomastia - will the

> combination of T and also taking zinc (as Shippen recommends) reduce

> this problem?

I had surgery to have my breasts reduced, but they might look smaller

just by losing body fat all over. Are you overweight?

> I'd like to finally start feeling like a man. I'd like to have a

> stronger libido and a desire for a relationship to exercise that

> libido in. I'd like to WANT to spend more time with others and less

> time alone. I'd like to increase muscle strength. I'd like my body

to

> look more masculine - larger muscles. I'd like to be more

> competitive. I'd like to start accomplishing more. I'd like to have

a

> better mood. I'd like to eliminate the pervasive hopeless feelings

> that have plagued me for my entire adult life.

All those positive things happened to me, but it takes several years

for it to really be noticeable. The hairiness and muscularity

definitely took me 2 or three years at least.

> I realize that the T is not the answer to all my problems, but right

> now I have some hope that I can increase my quality of life.

It did for me, but I developed a skin reaction to the androderm

patches. I would get a red, itchy spot where the patch was and they

would fall off if I sweated when exercising. I switched to T shots and

used them for 6 years. Then I tried androgel and didn't like it as

well. Now I'm on HCG and really like it, but I have secondary

hypogonadism, and we all know from reading this group that if you have

primary hypogonadism, HCG won't work. Getting a uro to let you try HCG

is very difficult because traditionally they didn't use it. You may

need to get another uro if you want to use it.

HCG won't help.

[Guest guest]

Opps! Delete the " HCG won't help " at the end of the message!