• HOME

    • Question: Androgel Success Stories?

    I have heard a lot of mixed results regarding TRT. Has anyone had a dramatic increase in libido as a result of therapy? I have been some what discouraged by some of the things that I have hear about HRT. Tom

    Answers:

    A: I was very close to being diagnosed with mental health problems. My Doctor said that hormone problems often mimic this and she told me that my labs were low enough to warrant trying HRT. It took us a while to get the dose right. Her scheme was this.

    Prostate Exam, PSA *Before starting.

    Start on the lowest dose.

    Recheck in 2 weeks.

    *During this time I had a short period of Euphoria (The WOW effect) as she calls it. Then I crashed when my Testes shut down fully and all I had was what I got from HRT. She upped the dose and reskeded the labs for 2 weeks from the dose change.

    Labs.

    She reviewed the labs and bumped me up. I ended up trying the max dose but two weeks after that she had labs done and dialed my down one pump.

    I had PSA, DREs every 6 months for a while then to yearly (When I have my physical) This is important to do btw for your own safety / peace of mind.

    Your labs (250ng/dL) are well below anyones "normal" and you should be screaming for a more AndroGel and ask for a controlled program. Labs 2 weeks after any dose change. Interviews to review your symptoms.

    You don't have to be in the "bottom" of the normal range. You just have to be INSIDE the normal range. Where depends on your symptoms and feedback. If you don't squeak to your doctor you won't get the grease. Some men can function near the bottom (Which is still well above your labs) but many men need to be in the middle and some need to be in the upper end of normal. What you want to avoid is being outside the normal range (High or low)

    My mental health issues were hormone related and I found that very shortly after I got on a healthy dose my Anxiety and depression issues went away. My energy also came back quickly. Mood improved as part of the early changes. My mental fog and my sex drive didn't really change until about 3 months in from having good healthy levels and I see that the AndroGel site now says this is how it normally works.

    So, two ideas. One be proactive with your doctor. Be in his/her office with notes on your symptoms. INSIST you get out of below normal levels for sure!

    Don't accept labs in 6 months or whatever. Ask for a more reasonable turn around and tell they you want to move this along.

    Second be sure your making the most of your current dose. Rub don't "slather" your AndroGel in. If your hairy? Shave, use Nair for men or whatever.

    Slopping it on hairy skin is not very effective. And don't shower directly after you apply AndroGel. It absorbs into the skin but if you shower after you apply it you can wash it away.

    *Last don't be discouraged if your mental health issues don't go away. You can have both problems at the same time. Its only "possible" they are related.

    Talk to your GP about this and if your using meds for BiPolar do NOT just stop taking them. Work with your doctor(s) about this.

    In regards to your sex drive question. We went from 6 times a year to around 4

    (or more) times a week so YES... It can work.

    - James

    A: For me it took a while, I've been on this now about 8 months and am finally starting to "feel" like I'm back to "normal," but it definitely has helped. Before I was having drive and performance related issues because it was so low. Now I say that I'm back to normal because I have enough of a drive for a few times or so a week. Prior to Bipolar treatment, when I was manic, I had a sex addiction so I basically was going overboard (not that it wasn't fun), so its hard for me to gauge in my head but I don't think I'll ever get back to that. It wasn't really healthy either. Now I am seeing one girl and about to be engaged. She has seen me through this tough time so I appreciate her sticking by me through all these troubles.