The Patch is a joke

[Guest guest]

First off, my first endo who happened to be clueless put me on the patch, and I

have yet to hear from anyone that it was either effective for them or did not

cause major discomfort. My theory on the patch is that the docs who use the

patch for their first or second line of exogenous T treatment are typically

getting wined and dined by the drug reps who are peddling the patch--in my case

androderm.

I would ask how much gel are you using? Where are you applying the gel? And

what brand of gel are you using? If getting T to absorb through your skin is

really the issue at hand, I would try a different application site. One of the

best sites for application is the inner arm and wrist area. Most docs will not

tell you this, but for most people the skin is fairly thin in the inner

wrist/forearm area, there are lots of viens and capilaries in that area, and

typically there is not a great deal of fat or adipose tissue there to hinder

absorbtion and to cause more aromitase activity.

Do you have sleep apnea? This will lower your T levels regardless of how you

are taking exogenous T.

Also, since being put on the patch or gel, has your E2 level changed

significantly?

Sorry if you have answered these already, I have not been reading the posts on

this board much lately

SB