My experience with Testim (testosterone gel)

[purpleToes]

Why are you thinking of changing to injectable T instead of continuing transdermal T?

[NateDEEzy]

Couple reasons. I've heard that some people on gels complain that the initial good feeling go away a month or 2 after being on them.. ( although I have read about many people on gels for a year and even longer still having great results). Additionally, I have heard other complains such as an inconsistent feeling throughout the day (roller coaster effect) the stickyness, rashes at the site of application; I can't tell you how many people who's personal testimonies I've read on various forums who say they started on gels and switched to shots, and even though its a shot, they are much happier, but don't let me sway ur opinion, I have heard of many people having success with gels too, so its all just personal preference. However if u do decide to do shots make sure you are injecting at the very least 1x a week. If u inject less frequently than this, u begin to have the roller coaster effects

[NateDEEzy]

I forgot to mention, the reason why people begin to experience loss of the initial good feelings is the testosterone begins to aromatase, which means it converts to estrogen, so these ppl who complain of this will usually go to the doctor, get bloodwork and find their tesosterone to be extremely low again, I've even heard of some ppl getting blood work after starting gels and having their testosterone be lower than when they initially started. This is because the body senses the extra testosterone and shuts down its own production and meanwhile, much of this extra tesosterone is either not enough to make up for the loss of natural production, or the testosterone is being converted to estrogen. Although your partner is on hcg, which will prevent the shutdown of his own natural testosterone production. One more thing to look in to is an (AI) aromatase inhibitor, which acts to prevent the aromatazation of testosterone, which essentially keeps estrogen at an optimal level. Ideally in a true HRT protocol, you will use : hcg, exogenous testosterone, and an AI. Sorry if there are a lot of spelling errors, im writing this from my phone lol!

[xzena3]

So I had been experiencing the usual symptoms asociated with low T. I went and got tested and sure enough I came in at 200. I started testim treatments and noticed imediate results. after a few days I felt a change in direction, like I was slipping back to the way i was before treatment. My doctor says that it takes weeks or months to notice a change and that I could not have felt the changes that quickly. Has anyone experienced this? If so did your conditions improve again in time?

[NateDEEzy]

Originally Posted by xzena3

So I had been experiencing the usual symptoms asociated with low T. I went and got tested and sure enough I came in at 200. I started testim treatments and noticed imediate results. after a few days I felt a change in direction, like I was slipping back to the way i was before treatment. My doctor says that it takes weeks or months to notice a change and that I could not have felt the changes that quickly. Has anyone experienced this? If so did your conditions improve again in time?

Hey there!

Looks like it's time to find a new doctor!! As you'll begin to understand, most doctors have a very poor understanding of TRT, and it appears your doctor is not the exception! lol

I touched on this in the above posts. couple things could be going on.

1. you're introducing exogenous T to your body, your body recognizes that it has more than it's used to, so it shuts down it's own natural production and the testim you're using isn't able to maek up for what your body is shutting down. So, if this is going on, I'd bet if you went in for a blood test, your testosterone would be around the same level as before you started treatment.

2. your body in aromatizing the gel and your estrogen is skyrocketing

I'd call around to different doctors in your area and see if they deal with testosterone replacement. If yes, ask how they normally treat their patients.. Ideal TRT is in the form of testosterone injections (no less frequent than 1/wk), hcg (some do, some don't.. I know many people who have had success without hcg injections tho), and an Aromatase Inhibitor

[NateDEEzy]

Just outta curiosity, I see this is your first post, do you have ADHD or ADD like symptoms?

Please also include your age and all your symptoms

[MusicLife]

Hey guys, I thought I'd add to this thread as I posted similar symptoms and Nate chimed in on the thread I started.

It's possible I may have low T. I'm generally fatigued (even after a full nights rest), rely on coffee, depressed, unmotivated, bored, poor short term memory and a mental fog of sorts.

While not gluten free, I've cut a ton of it out of my diet. I exercise regularly, eat a health balanced diet full of fresh fruits, veggies, and chicken. (Beef ocasionally) Still, boredom, low energy and depression are a huge problem.

I've been diagnosed by my Psychiatrist with ADHD-PI. Though when I came to this forum I think it's more closely related to SCT. Then Nate chimed in with low T, and it's been looking more related to that, more than low T. My big question is that these seemed to appear when I entered 6th grade. Could low T be a factor when I am that young?

I'm 28 now and have my physical scheduled for December 17th. (My lab work to be completed 2 weeks prior to cover the results with my Doc). I'll keep everyone informed about my results.

On a side note my Psychiatrist recommended I see a medication specialist. The specialist stated that I should get a physical so that's a good sign. But she also gave me Adderrall XR (ive not tried extended release before). This has been the best experience on the medication so far. While not life changing, at least I'm not tired and it takes the edge off being bored all the time. I'm currently taking 30mg of XR Adderrall. Mental fog and short term memory are still bad. Motivation has been increased slightly and I can at least hang with my siblings without feeling that this is SOOO BORING! It's more like ok, I can at least begin enjoying the projects they are working on, but at the same time would still rather be doing something on my own terms. (which I feel terrible to say, because I love them... but it's the truth.)

Downsides are I can't take this again, at least 9 hours before bed, if I don't I never sleep. My libido has been further decreased, which it hasn't been great to begin with. I'd rather deal with low libido at the moment and figure this stuff out with energy.

[NateDEEzy]

Originally Posted by MusicLife

Hey guys, I thought I'd add to this thread as I posted similar symptoms and Nate chimed in on the thread I started.

It's possible I may have low T. I'm generally fatigued (even after a full nights rest), rely on coffee, depressed, unmotivated, bored, poor short term memory and a mental fog of sorts.

While not gluten free, I've cut a ton of it out of my diet. I exercise regularly, eat a health balanced diet full of fresh fruits, veggies, and chicken. (Beef ocasionally) Still, boredom, low energy and depression are a huge problem.

I've been diagnosed by my Psychiatrist with ADHD-PI. Though when I came to this forum I think it's more closely related to SCT. Then Nate chimed in with low T, and it's been looking more related to that, more than low T. My big question is that these seemed to appear when I entered 6th grade. Could low T be a factor when I am that young?

I'm 28 now and have my physical scheduled for December 17th. (My lab work to be completed 2 weeks prior to cover the results with my Doc). I'll keep everyone informed about my results.

On a side note my Psychiatrist recommended I see a medication specialist. The specialist stated that I should get a physical so that's a good sign. But she also gave me Adderrall XR (ive not tried extended release before). This has been the best experience on the medication so far. While not life changing, at least I'm not tired and it takes the edge off being bored all the time. I'm currently taking 30mg of XR Adderrall. Mental fog and short term memory are still bad. Motivation has been increased slightly and I can at least hang with my siblings without feeling that this is SOOO BORING! It's more like ok, I can at least begin enjoying the projects they are working on, but at the same time would still rather be doing something on my own terms. (which I feel terrible to say, because I love them... but it's the truth.)

Downsides are I can't take this again, at least 9 hours before bed, if I don't I never sleep. My libido has been further decreased, which it hasn't been great to begin with. I'd rather deal with low libido at the moment and figure this stuff out with energy.

I've tried vyvanse and adderall xr, both produced similar results for me, which were good, but seemed to not attack the root. Admittedly, I dunno if the Testim I tried conquered the root of my problem, but based on my symptoms and the result I experienced, it produced the best result out of anything I've tried.
This condition really is no fun, in fact, the more I think about it, the whole human condition doesn't seem to be too fun unless you're part or a very small minority. I often wonder why there needs to be so much suffering and why it has to exist, for example, why can't we just always naturally feel what it feels like while high on drugs? The possibility to feel this good exists, so why can't we feel this good all the time? I guess suffering is just part of the sick and twisted plan of whoever the hell created us.

[MusicLife]

I've tried vyvanse and adderall xr, both produced similar results for me, which were good, but seemed to not attack the root. Admittedly, I dunno if the Testim I tried conquered the root of my problem, but based on my symptoms and the result I experienced, it produced the best result out of anything I've tried.
This condition really is no fun, in fact, the more I think about it, the whole human condition doesn't seem to be too fun unless you're part or a very small minority. I often wonder why there needs to be so much suffering and why it has to exist, for example, why can't we just always naturally feel what it feels like while high on drugs? The possibility to feel this good exists, so why can't we feel this good all the time? I guess suffering is just part of the sick and twisted plan of whoever the hell created us.

I hear ya. So I take it you're not taking T supplements? Just not comfortable with the idea of injecting it so often? If it made you feel that good originally, you would think it would be enough motivation to continue taking it?

I dont necessarily want to be "high" on drugs more so than just have an internal drive and motivation that makes PHD majors successful. If I could just sit and run through scales on my guitar all day long, memorize all the notes, and music theory, I'd be MUCH better at my instrument... frankly at a professional level. But I dont, and I must face the reality of living a sub par life where I'm a jack of many trades, but master of none.

Also, as far as the whole misery and suffering thing. Without suffering how would we know joy? Just playing devils advocate here, of course i'd rather live a life of joy.

[NateDEEzy]

I'm in the process of trying to get prescribed it. Testosterone is available by prescription only, and my numbers haven't been below the "normal range", so I have been trying to talk to people outside my primary who are more in the know and open to helping.

****, I wish I could take it every day if it continues to make me feel how I did when I took it.

[NateDEEzy]

And I guess it seems true that without suffering we wouldn't know joy, but what I'm saying is, why can we always just feel how people do on the most euphoric drugs, all the time, sure pain could still probably be felt or identified, but it wouldn't be or seem as devastating, it would seem.

[jman05]

I am seeing a doc tomorrow for low test. I also have bad SCT and meds have stopped working. I recently suspected low test because of other factors, and then saw this post. I have recent lost significant muscle strength, tired even after 10 hours of sleep, more trouble focusing, and trouble keeping an erection. I'm really hoping low T is a factor in this. The problem is just like any drug though....my body adapts and it eventually stops working.

[NateDEEzy]

Originally Posted by jman05

I am seeing a doc tomorrow for low test. I also have bad SCT and meds have stopped working. I recently suspected low test because of other factors, and then saw this post. I have recent lost significant muscle strength, tired even after 10 hours of sleep, more trouble focusing, and trouble keeping an erection. I'm really hoping low T is a factor in this. The problem is just like any drug though....my body adapts and it eventually stops working.

Please keep us updated !! And if it turns up low, I hope this is a successful solution!

Additionally, I tried to look up reason why tolerance occurs with drugs like adderall but didn't have much luck. What I found though was, the drug causes the brain to release more of certain chemicals, it's not adding extra chemicals to your body. With testosterone, it is adding extra testosterone to your body, and so I believe the method of action is different. And I can't really say i've heard of anyone building a tolerance to testosterone. I think as long as you are able to keep testosterone at a high/normal level and keep estrogen in a normal level, you're pretty good. There is a bit more to this, but that's the basics

[TheChemicals]

The problem with any testo treatment is the side effects, especially form estrogen conversion.

Guys go bald, get btch tits, and a host of other problems. Its difficult to say that the treatment will be safe for longterm use. Then you also have the problem of your body not producing its own testo anymore and now your in for life, and stuck with whatever side effects come up in the future.

[NateDEEzy]

Originally Posted by TheChemicals

The problem with any testo treatment is the side effects, especially form estrogen conversion.

Guys go bald, get btch tits, and a host of other problems. Its difficult to say that the treatment will be safe for longterm use. Then you also have the problem of your body not producing its own testo anymore and now your in for life, and stuck with whatever side effects come up in the future.

Wow this is quite a negative review. It's true that there aren't many people who have been on testosterone long term, however, I just came across someone the other day who has been on testosterone replacement for 20 years, so it's not like they just invented the practice. In fact, testosterone was used around the 1950's as an anti-depressant, so it has been around for longer than most other popular drugs we commonly hear about today.
In terms of estrogen conversion, this is why the practice of injecting weekly with a lower dose, instead of once/2 or 3wks a a much higher dose has become the cutting edge in the field, as this lowers the amount of aromatization that occurs (converting androgens to estrogens). Additionally, many use aromatase inhibitors (AI) and hcg with their treatment. The AI's work to prevent aromatase, keeping testosterone levels elevated and preventing estrogen levels from rising. And hcg is used to prevent shutdown of natural testosterone production and testicular atrophy, so therefore, your body is still creating testosterone similar to the levels it did before introducing exogenous testosterone, plus now you are adding exogenous testosterone, thus elevating the level in your body and the AI works to prevent the conversion of this extra testosterone into estrogen, which then keeps your estrogen within normal range; resulting in your body having little to no shutdown, raised testosterone and same level of estrogen.
All in all, although this review seems to concentrate on the negative, correct preventative measures can reduce the likelihood of experiencing them (such as the protocol I just listed about: exogenous test, AI, hcg) except really baldness, which is all genetic, if you have a predisposition to baldness, elevated testosterone will certainly accelerate this, but if you do not have a predisposition, it will not.
And so really, for the trade off of potentially going bald a year or 2 before you naturally would (again, only if you are predisposed to baldness) to potentially experiencing a much happier existence, I would happily take the trade. As for any other side effects, if scientists found later on that I might die 5 or 10 years earlier than I might otherwise have, whatever. I'd certainly rather live fully, happily, and have a zest for life for the remainder of my life and cut it 5 years short, than live as I do now for my extended life. This of course is all in the speculation that testosterone would cut your life short, but it appears that if anything low testosterone poses more health risks than normal testosterone would, and so, if anything, it appears testosterone replacement would act as a life extender.