Unsuccessful Androgel therapy

[goga]

Years ago, I was prescribed Androgel therapy with a sachet of the gel applied daily.

Prior to the therapy, my lab results were:

Estradiol - 26 pg/ml (norm 15-60)
T - 4.8 ng/ml (3.5 - 8.6)
Free T - 6.4 pg/ml (8-22)


after a month the readings were:

E - 58
T -4.5
F T - 15 pg/ml.

You can see the changes. E jumped up, F T increased (but not as much as E). Both physically and mentally I felt worse that month.

So, my question is, should I have waited more? Should I have tried AIs? I quit the therapy

 

[CoastWatcher]

Androgel often fails, it did for me. Did you and your doctor consider compounded, testosterone creams? Didn't you post here recently that you are injecting now?

 

[nuclear]

I think one pack daily would be enough to suppress endogenous T production while not being enough to raise your blood levels.

 

[goga]

I am. But apart from the first week (brain fog vanished), I've felt quite bad.

 

[Vince Carter]

I think one pack daily would be enough to suppress endogenous T production while not being enough to raise your blood levels.

I agree with you

 

[Vince Carter]

Important to know that with topical and TD applications you have to apply it one hour before you test, totally the opposite from injections and testing in a trough.

 

[captain]

Doctor Crisler wants labs 2hrs after application. If Androgel don't get you there try Fortesta it has something in it that helps it absorb and stays wet a little longer. Fortesta will burn the skin if you don't spread it out enough.

 

[Davet]

Androgel did diddly squat for me until I moisturized. I was frosting badly which meant it wasn't being absorbed. My labs showed pretty similar results to you goga.
Now I moisturize daily and rotate the sites which maintains a good level of both T & free T.
I also take .25 mg of Arimidex every 7 days which just tweaks things nicely.
It takes a while to get things dialed in but with some trial and error you will get there.

 

[Will Brink]

Androgel always fails, it did for me.

Fixed it for ya.

 

[CoastWatcher]

Fixed it for ya.

You're a pal!

 

[captain]

I was told if you rotate the sites your levels will be lower than if you put it in the same spot.

 

[Will Brink]

You're a pal!

I help people, that's what I do.