Re: Re: Normal Homone Level/Benefits

[Guest guest]

I tend to like Depo Injections better also....

Summer '00 I was on 200 mg/wk Depo and was in a weight training

program....gained 10 lbs lean cell mass in 12 wks.

Then I went on compounded T-gel didn't raise my T levels above

~530....that was with 2x/dy application 10% T gel.

Did three months on 10 gm/dy AndroGel (AG) and because of prostate concerns,

PCP put me on 100 mg/Depo/week....

Blood collected 8th day after last injection of 100 mg Depo-Testosterone

on...

June 4th '01

.. . . .Testosterone

.. . . . . .Total. . . . . . . . . 989 (241 - 827)

.. . . . . .Free. . . . . . . . ..42.0 (6.6 - 18.1)

July 9th '01

.. . . . .Total. . . . . . . . . 774

.. . . . . Free. . . . . . . . . 38.8

My free T was TOOOOOOOO high so I asked PCP to go back onto AndroGel 10

G/dy. Someone posted that high free T can exacerbate T > E

conversion...which apparently was true. Aug 2nd my estrogen was 198 (40 -

115) and estradiol 87 (<54). That's when I asked for an Arimidex Rx. My

attempts controlling Es with ChryDim gel, over a nine month period, were

unsuccessful.

My current lab work..began 10 G/dy AndroGel Nov '01

.. . . . . .12-5-01. . . . . . . . . 3-11-02. . . . . . 4-29-02

.. . . . . . 29 dys. . . . . . . . . .. 96 dys. . . . . . .145 dys

Tests Serum. . . . . . .750. . . . .704. . . . . 791. .(241- 827)

.. .%Free & Weak. . .47.7. . . . 37.6. . . . .39.6. .(18.3 - 62.3)

F & W bound. . . .357.7. . . 264.7. . . .312.4. .(66.6 - 276.3)

Estradiol*. . . . . . . .. . . 50. . . . . .16. . . . . . 27. ..(0-54)

Estrogen*. . . .. . . . . . 124. . . . . .44. . . . . .73. . (40 - 115)

T/E2 ratio. . . . . . . . . .. .15. . . . . .44. .. . . .29

________________________

*Controlled with Arimidex - Rx

I'm still fine tuning my estrogen/estradiol levels....last results were

using 1 mg Arimidex for two days and one day off....now I'm trying one week,

1 mg Arimidex every day and 2nd week two dys on and one day off. Some men

find 1 mg Arimidex/eod....I tried that and my levels are shown from 12-5-01

bled above..

I've been on TRT since Feb '99 and with regard to nut mass reduction, I've

always been saying that my nuts were like walnuts. In a recent post, a

member implied that I had lost nut mass when he referred to walnuts in a

negative manner. I will here after say " unshelled walnuts " ;-)

I see my PCP in a few weeks and I'm going to ask about going back on Depo

for awhile....at least until next slow down in production. Prostate issues

are non existent....With PSA of 13+...had trans rectal ultra sonographic

(TRUS) prostate biopsy...12 cores collected, all negative for

adenocarcinoma.

Just my experiences....

OR eon

64 yo HIV+ GayMan

[Guest guest]

Did you ever try testosterone injections? I use combination of injection and

gel to get my levels. I also take Arimidex to prevent aromatization.

Re: Normal Homone Level/Benefits

I'm a 42yo male that was diagnosed with T=270 at age 40, and no

fertility problems. I was having sadness, depression, ED, hot

flashes, irritability, etc, so I asked my MD for a testosterone check.

Anyway, I was on Androgel for 12 months with virtually no increase

above 330, so I asked to switch to Androderm which got me to 450.

Three months later I started HCG (2,000IU/3x/week), this was six

months ago (Jan 2002). At three months of HCG use (March 2002), my

level was 615 and I'm due for another test next week.

Generally, I find the shots easier than Androgel with the following

benefits over Androgel:

Increase in testicular mass

Improved Libido

Reduced cravings for sweets/sugar

Reduced late night food cravings

Firmer, easier to obtain, and morning erections

Less mess, more discreet to use, don't need to worry about washing it

off after exercise or swimming.

DOWNSIDE: I've lost a lot more hair on top of my head. This

concerns me that my DHT levels are too high. Also, you can get

bruising at the injection sites. HCG must be refrigerated so this

can be a hassle if you travel (pack the needles in your checked

luggage).

Let me know if you want anymore information. Seren.