Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Keepgoing on September 21, 2016, 01:25:47 PM
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Hi
Hoping someone can help. I need testosterone, I have been to a meno clinic but she says they do not write prescriptions I have to go back to my gp and see if they will prescribe off licence...I'm not holding out much hope as I mentioned it before and that's why I was referred to meno clinic...if my gp won't prescribe how the hell do you find someone who will :-\ xx
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Some private consultants will but not all,for example my private gyne wouldn't but he was happy to an implant. Likewise some gps will ,some wont because its not licensed for women ,mine will . Its not right but its luck of the draw on this one .
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You just have to remind doctor that they already use anti-depresants off licence for things like "menopause" :o
If its good enough for one drug - then they should not become all high and mighty for another drug ;)
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Hi
Thanks for answers my reasoning for testosterone is that I have no energy whatsoever, hair and eyelashes falling out and hair has no condition and I have spent loads trying to get something to help my hair, nothing works, dry skin and eyes making them very sore...can't be annoyed with sex as I'm tired constantly and all over aches and pains. Slightest thing sets my moods off which wouldn't bother me before I just feel in the last couple of years my get up and go got up and left me...I'm only 45 and feel about 70. My hrt regime works but really believe testosterone is needed...I have had thyroid checked everything fine. My testosterone levels were done before and were a bit low but my doc not confident with T so that's why she referred me to meno clinic. So we shall see what gp says next week xx
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You've just summed me up too Keepgoing
We're away in Spain at the minute, I woke up Wednesday morning with a really painful left hip. Walking is really hurting and stairs are unbearable (our villa is high up !)
Just totally fed up with the whole damn thing now
Annie X
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Sorry to hear this Keepgoing - I would have thought that the meno clinic consultants would have revised their practice in the light of the NICE Guidelines. Did you see a gynaecologist? Hopefully you can persuade your GP.
I wonder also if anyone has tried consulting Dr Currie about this (the £25 consultation facility) - so that even though the NICE guidelines make provision for this, it might carry more weight if Dr Currie can recommend it off licence, in response to a particular woman's circumstances?
Hurdity x
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When I get home I think I'll do that x
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UPDATE
Well I got my testosterone prescribed by my gp after meno clinic sent letter advising it for me. I'm in shock as I thought I was going to have a fight on my hands as my gp wasn't to keen before which is why I was referred and through going down this route she was more than happy to prescribe...my thinking is as she said she didn't know much about it she wanted to get the right advice from the people who do, which is how it should be. My blood test was 1.3 but as doc said my symptoms are all pointing to me needing it so it's worth a try. Will get it tomorrow as chemist has to order it in, let's hope this does the trick. I'm one happy bunny xx
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Yay. Mines 0.7 so even lower. Hoping to get it prescribed when I see the specialist .
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Aw well done ! Gives me hope x
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Great news Keepgoing!
Don't expect it to take effect quickly so don't be tempted to increase the dose because it's not doing anything. The gynae I saw said it takes 4-5 months to fully take effect! I only put on a pea-sized blob and gynae actually said start with petit-pois size! Also hopefully your prescription is for Testim or Testogel (or maybe it's a generic one?) rather than Tostran as the latter is double the concentration so less easy to get the right dose for women.
Do let us know how you get on :)
Hurdity x
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I will do hurdity...I'm hoping it's the right one too. The meno clinic has said 1 pump every 3 days but I said to my doctor people on here put a pea size blob on every day so she said to me to see what a pump is and I can work it how I think is best but not to take anymore than the pump measures in 3 days as she said I have obviously researched it...if it's not the right one al ask her to change it xx
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Hi again - sounds like you have been prescribed Tostran as this is the one with a pump. However according to my calculations this will give you 3.33 mg T per day (One pump of 0.5 g gel contains 10 mg T). My tube of Testogel would last two weeks if I used this amount (one tube of 5 g contains 50 mg T). I think that would be approx the same amount that I use as I try to keep my dose low due to being well post-meno, and only on medium dose oestrogen. The only thing I would wonder is how your body would react to having it every 3 days ie would you notice a "hit" of T and how this might influence potential side effects? It would be like having a fifth of a tube of Testogel every 3 days. Mind you I think some women on T take almost this amount every day! (maybe those who are not yet truly peri-menopausal but perhaps were having regular periods before starting HRT but suffering low mood/depression problems and severe pms in addition to other symptoms?). However you have been prescribed it like this so give it a go and see how you get on! Once it has stabilised I imagine your body will adjust. Maybe someone else on here takes it like this ie every 2-3 days?
It's such a pity that there is very little information on its use on women apart from the discontinued Intrinsa patches and implants. When I have more time I'll have another read of the Intrinsa info - but none of it involves long term studies.
Good luck and keep us posted :)
Hurdity x
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Hi hurdity you were right it's tostran got it today but I'm just going to put a pea size blob on each day as I don't like the idea of every 3 days and maybe getting a big "hit" al keep folks up to date with how I'm getting on with it xx
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Just remember though from what I said earlier that Tostran is double the concentration of the other two T types which come in sachets. Therefore a pea sized blob of
Tostran testogel or testim is equivalent to half a pea of testogel or testim Tostran. If you are going to use it daily then it is more difficult to keep to roughly the same dose as you are only using a small amount anyway. Maybe see what one pump's worth looks like before you apply, and then see what a third of this would be? Do you see what I'm saying? The amount used (in women like us) is so small that there is quite a likelihood of variation in what you are giving yourself with the more concentrated product. Also is it even possible to squirt out a small blob? With the sachets you just squeeze out a bit on your finger and then fold over the top and pit a paper clip over the end. Sorry if I sound like I'm making problems but just thinking practically about it. The main thing is you've been prescribed some so, once you've sorted out the best way to apply it - I hope you start to see a difference within a few weeks :)
Hurdity x
Edit - Ooops! Brain not in gear.....
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I do see what your saying hurdity so think al put just less than a pea size every day...it is easy to do with the pump I just press it down a little bit and it's really quite easy thanks for all the help with this as I don't want to take to much and get the horrible side effects xx
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Hi hurdity did you mean half a pea size blob of tostran is equivalent to a pea size of testim and testogel?? Therefore I should use half a pea?? Lol xx
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EEeek! Glad someone's on the ball! Yes of course I meant that! Well it was fairly earlyish in the morning (perhaps not - I used to be at work at this hour!). In fact I was sitting on the computer waiting for my testosterone to dry!!!!
Sorry about that and will amend my post...
Split pea or lentil it is then...... ;D
Hurdity x
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Lol that was funny xx
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5 days on tostran I feel awake and not permanently sleepy like I have been in the past year but past 2 days have a sore stomach feels bloated and have lots of wind...the sore stomach feels like trapped wind. Will this go away as I get used to it or is it not agreeing with me...does testim or testogel cause this?? Xx
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10 days on stomach has settled feel a bit bunged up tho...my eyes feel a lot better, have 3 huge spots on my face had 1 of them since day 3 hopefully this is just until my body adjusts as I have never had spots. Still not a lot of energy and get sore doing to much, I feel like a frail old woman at 45 but I'm hoping it gets better as I know it can take months xx
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Thanks for the update Keepgoing
If I'm ever lucky enough to get it I might start a thread too to help others
Hopefully your side effects will lessen as the good ones kick in x
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Nearly 3 weeks on tostran and I can say I'm feeling good...my sense of well being is back and I'm much more happy, confident and rational. I hadn't realised but I was actually a little depressed before I started it as I was just so bloody tired all the time. My energy levels are still not great but have improved slightly so I'm just taking things slowly and stopping when I have to for example cutting the grass took 2 days not 1, but I am seeing improvements. The 3 huge spots I got when I started are dying down, I bought clearasil to wash my face so don't know if this helped. I can honestly say to anyone who needs this but is scared of side effects to give it a go cause I certainly think it's worth it, I don't feel 90 years old in my body now. I'm not turning into a man either lol it is just all good. Long may it continue and I hope this may help some of you to give it a go, so keep fighting to get it xxx
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Great news Keepgoing and long may it last! I never noticed any effect on my stomach but then I never tie in what my stomach/alimentary canal is doing with what I'm taking. I just ignore it really - it does what it does. If I get slow I just eat a couple of figs!
I think it's important to monitor long term side effects as they by their nature will take a while to manifest themselves - so keep an eye on these and obviously make sure you still have plenty of oestrogen.
Hurdity x :)
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Nearly 3 weeks on tostran and I can say I'm feeling good...my sense of well being is back and I'm much more happy, confident and rational. I hadn't realised but I was actually a little depressed before I started it as I was just so bloody tired all the time. My energy levels are still not great but have improved slightly so I'm just taking things slowly and stopping when I have to for example cutting the grass took 2 days not 1, but I am seeing improvements. The 3 huge spots I got when I started are dying down, I bought clearasil to wash my face so don't know if this helped. I can honestly say to anyone who needs this but is scared of side effects to give it a go cause I certainly think it's worth it, I don't feel 90 years old in my body now. I'm not turning into a man either lol it is just all good. Long may it continue and I hope this may help some of you to give it a go, so keep fighting to get it xxx
I LOVE this update !
It's posts like this that make me determined to not rest until I get T and my mojo back ! X
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No need to worry about my estrogen I'm on 3 pumps of gel lol. I will be keeping my eye on everything esp my hair don't want to lose anymore but saying that it's looking as if it's in a wee bit better condition than it has been. I'm praying I do not get any long term serious side effects as my body really does need it. I have a sensitive stomach so probably why I noticed this but it's all fine now...to be honest I'm never constipated I'm more the opposite...since this peri started my bowels have been over active but I have noticed I'm kinda normal now with the T or maybe it's just the whole hrt combo working. Thanks for advice hurdity and others if I had not come on this site and done some research I don't think I'd be turning a corner now as T was never on my radar...we live and learn xxx
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Annie your right not to give up, we know our own bodies and when something is just not right. It is still early days for me but I really do feel right in myself now...you keep fighting and I hope to be reading your happy updates soon 😀😀 xx
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Thanks Keepgoing, I worry about my hair, its thinning lots but that I've read can be a symptom of low T, surely it's got to be meno related as I was fine until I got to post meno?
I also read on here (it might've been you) that nocturnal dry eye is a symptom , well within weeks of my night dry eye started my hair started thinning x
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Yip it was me my eyes have been sore and dry and very heavy feeling for about a year and it's about a year since I noticed my hair thinning as long as that doesn't get any worse it's fine as I reallly did have very thick hair. My eyes are sooooo much better that's the first thing I noticed on the T and here was me thinking this was an estrogen problem not a T one. Where are you now in your fight for T any nearer? I'm off out now to see Bridget jones baby and I'm looking forward to it as I stopped going out socially cause I felt so miserable but I want to talk again and be sociable if that makes sense xx
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Omg you really are selling this stuff to me !
I'm waiting for an NHS gynae appt so I'm no further forward and can't afford a private consult yet
I've heard T can thicken hair as long as it's used in proper dosages
I read a report from a trial of T and x amount of women noticed no difference in hair, x noticed an improvement in volume and no one reported loss so that's encouraging
I'm hoping when (if) I get it that it calms my social anxiety too and gives me back my personality
Enjoy the film x
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37588549
In case you've not seen it.
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Interesting dangermouse maybe soon it will be offered along with hrt without having to fight for it xx
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Update
Well I'm still feeling good on this T and my hair is beginning to look a lot more healthier, thank goodness. I think I may be shedding some of it slightly, I will ask my hairdresser. Hopefully if it stays like this and I don't shed loads and I will be happy as I did have a big head of hair. I just cannot believe the feeling of well being my body was definitely missing this xx
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Can I ask what dose you are using and how you measure it out?
I've been to collect my prescription but not used it yet!!
How long have you been using it?
Thanks x
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Hi otes the menopause clinic put me on tostran which has a pump and I was to put 1 pump on every 3rd day but I didn't fancy that so I break it up to a pea size blob every day. I have been on this for roughly a month. I had a break out of spots the first week but they have all just about gone, so hoping this was my body adjusting and will get no more. I'm keeping everything crossed no major side effects kick in as I really feel like my old self again xx Good luck with yours xx
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Thank you! Hope it works out for you, sounds like it's going well :)
I'm starting tomorrow, fingers crossed I get the same results as you!
X
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I'm really happy for you keepgoing. I'm waiting for my next gp appointment and hopefully she'll refer me to my nearest Menopause clinic and from there I hope to be prescribed testosterone.
I'll be quoting you, Annie and everyone else who've had a positive reaction, I hope none of you mind.
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I don't mind at all you go for it and hope you get it xx
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UPDATE
Hairdressers today and she said my hair is not falling out anymore and I have actually got a lot of wee short hairs growing all round the front of my head.😀😀😀😀 I am absolutely thrilled about this so maybe T was the answer for hair loss also...long may it continue xxx
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I'm so happy for you !!!!
I'm hoping it'll help me too xx
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I'm over the moon Annie...sounds like you were enjoying your holiday with a wee bit more energy 😀😀 xx
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Yes I'm still here, fly back Friday
We've been busy most days and I still get tired but seem to be able to push myself more than before
Still using my tiny blob and missed 2 days (not consecutively) but can also claim a positive in the bedroom dept, now this may be the fact we're away, 21 year old not in next bedroom and the heat but fiancé is enjoying it all lol whatever the reason !
X
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lol Annie...I have seen an improvement here too, I just thought it was my extreme tiredness making me not that bothered but I can say nothing wrong in that department now 😂😂😂😂 xx
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lol I still get nervous that I won't need lube but so far I've not needed it
Tmi I know but we did it tonight, afterwards fiancée asked if I'd split recently (I was getting paper cuts each time plus bladder or something pain inside) I'm not getting either since T !
X
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Glad you're enjoying your holiday Annie0710 ;) and glad things are improving for you too Keepgoing!
Hurdity x
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Thanks hurdity...oh Annie you made me laugh looks like it's onwards and upwards for us 😜 Xx