Re: Androgel white streaks?

October 23, 2002

Interesting for sure! I also see telltale white streaks on my abs

only, despite applying the AG liberally elsewhere. Whassup?

I have questioned why the " Gerber Baby Food Jar " approach, or any non-

hands application would be preferable. Skin is skin, and AG should

be absorbed. I recognize that any AG on the hands could potentially

be washed away or even worn off sooner than other areas, but even

then a lot of it should be absorbed within the first few minutes.

And, how much loss would there be anyway, in comparison to the total

dosage - has to be minimal, IMHO.

On your situation though - I would be very concerned about the drop

in T from 800ish to 140 - that is very dramatic. It sounds

reasonable to expect some dropoff in T over time, as the testes

eventually stop producing, but that delta just seems to be too much.

Did you have your E/E2 checked? Was it abnormally high perhaps?

SHBG? That T must be going somewhere or converting to something

else. Anybody have any insight on such a dramatic drop?

Cheers.../Dale

> Been on Androgel for a little over a year now. Recently got blood

> tested. Last time I was 800. Now I am 140. Although I dont feel

> tired like I originaly did, I do feel some " brain fog " . Weight is

> good to, but that could be because of my 40 minutes of cardio a day

> routine.

>

> Anyway, upon getting the news, I decided to try to apply the

Androgel

> using the baby food jar. I have to admit, I am getting a lot more

> product on my body than my hands. The only thing I notice, are

white

> streaks across my abs.

> So my questions is,

> What is causing the streaks? Am I applying the gel too thick?

>

> I have noticed that it does take longer to dry than using my hands

to

> apply.

>

> Thanks

> LarryG

October 24, 2002

My previous levels were checked sometime in June, so I dont know when

I started to slide down the scale.

I had this blood test done later in the day and that could be a

factor. I was also on a low-fat diet. I started to add some good

fat (Udo's oil) to my diet to see if I could get my own system

going. My GP is send me back to the endo for more testing. I am not

happy with the endo as he has a rotten attitude. Every time I

mention testing my estrogen, he balks. I do want my GP to confer

with him and find out what additional tests he wants done. When I go

to the endo, I want a decision of treatment right then and there.

Not lets take some more tests and lets see.

I hope he increases my dosage to 7.5 to 10 gms.

I will keep you guys posted.

Thanks,

LarryG

October 24, 2002

larrygreg and naya,

You skin absorbs chemicals differently at different sites. Absorbtion

rates also vary from individual to individual.

I had the same thing happen to me with Androgel. The " normal "

application sites seemed to stop absorbing the gel. Then I stumbled

on some info that said the inner thighs were a good site, but not

recommended because of the potential to get the stuff on your balls (

for most people, this burns like hell). This turned out to be a great

site for me, and I alternate thighs each day to give the skin a rest.

I also put a packet on my chest.

I went through a freaky period of time when my penis " shriveled " -

became mostly loose skin. I was told this could be due to estrogen

overload, but no one knew for sure. Evidently the tissues of your sex

organs are normally saturated with testosterone, since that's there

the body makes it. So, I decided to start applying Androgel to my

penis (the leftovers from the packets). I put it on the top of my

shaft only so it won't get on my balls. This seemed to " juice " my

penis back up. Not quite to normal but a lot better than it was.

Anyway, my testoserone levels are way up and I feel much better. The

message here is to find out what works for you. Some guys wind up

taking the shots because it works better for them. You and your

physician are going to have to do a little experimentation. By the

way, what other labs did your MD do? Did he do a PSA test and a bone

density scan? If not, you may be dealing with someone who really

doesn't know a lot about this disease. There are VERY FEW physicians

who do and who treat it well. Keep this in mind, and don't be afraid

to change MDs if yours seems uncooperative or to brush you off in any

way. Do you have primary or secondary hypogonadism? If you don't

know, your MD may not either!

Regards,

K4

> > Been on Androgel for a little over a year now. Recently got

blood

> > tested. Last time I was 800. Now I am 140. Although I dont

feel

> > tired like I originaly did, I do feel some " brain fog " . Weight

is

> > good to, but that could be because of my 40 minutes of cardio a

day

> > routine.

> >

> > Anyway, upon getting the news, I decided to try to apply the

> Androgel

> > using the baby food jar. I have to admit, I am getting a lot

more

> > product on my body than my hands. The only thing I notice, are

> white

> > streaks across my abs.

> > So my questions is,

> > What is causing the streaks? Am I applying the gel too thick?

> >

> > I have noticed that it does take longer to dry than using my

hands

> to

> > apply.

> >

> > Thanks

> > LarryG

October 24, 2002

I get these too but mostly on my shoulders. I have gotten a close look

at these sites and I believe it is caused by the film being a bit

thicker there than other places. Also, if you wash that area off it

stays white. My theory on this is that the skin in that area gets

super-saturated and it temporarily bleaches your skin's pigment and

blood in that area. It's definitely not something to worry about in my

opinion.

Sorry that I have not been active recently but there is a pretty

wonderful reason for that:

I have been on AndroGel since May of this year. I started at 5G per day

and about 2 months ago went up to 10G per day in addition to 1000 units

of HCG every other day. (I need more external T replacement than most

people, my total T without treatment is 15ng/dl). I have also been on a

low-calorie, low-fat, low sodium, low cholesterol diet. (Seattle

Sutton's... it rocks!). I also take Mega Men multi-vitamin, 10mg of

Calcium and 60 mg of zinc per day. (Take the zinc at night so it doesn't

interfere with the calcium).

I am happy to report that I have lost 18lbs (down to 232), having

extraordinary muscle growth, growing sideburns, hair on upper legs and

abs. Very little brain fog, tons of motivation, less frustration, more

hopeful... My libido is just insane, 20 minute morning wood, having

erections all throughout the day just by thinking about women, oh

yeah.... and I now have the most beautiful girlfriend ever.

Sound like success to you guys?

Morale of this is? Keep plugging at it.... stay on your endo until you

find what works and then check that it is still working every 2 -3

months. Great things WILL happen!

I owe a lot of this success to the amazing people on this list that

first taught me to keep trying new things and to keep driving my endo

insane until he relented. Thank you all!

Best wishes and luck,

Connery

Email: <mailto:jonathan@...>

jonathan@...

Web: <http://www.jonathanconnery.com/>

http://www.jonathanconnery.com

" We must always strive to do the things we think we cannot do. " -Eleanor

Roosevelt