Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Otes73 on October 13, 2016, 02:45:14 PM
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Just looking for more advice!
I have been prescribed testogel this morning from my GP. He said to spread a sachet over 8 days, is it just a guess or is there a more technical way of doing this??
Many thanks x
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Hi Otes73
Well done for getting Testogel from your GP!!!!!
However I've just had a look at your other posts and I see you are on a low dose of oestrogen - only 1 pump. Personally I would increase your oestrogen dose for several weeks - even 3 months - before applying the testosterone. You are still very young so a high dose of oestrogen will be fine - difficult to judge I know if you have had a hysterectomy as you may still be producing your own oestrogen. Did you have severe symptoms before starting the estrogel?
The reason why I say to increase the oestrogen first, is that if you apply too much testosterone relative to oestrogen this can lead to an imbalance and increase the chances of the androgenic side effects - ie acne, hair loss and hair growth ( in different places), weight distribution, voice etc
I am a lot older than you but I only use a pea-sized blob of T so my sachets last a fortnight - maybe longer. If you kept your ovaries then you will still be producing some T (as well as from your adrenals).
So my suggestion would be - increase your oestrogen for a while - I see your doc said you could increase the dose - so do get his sanction for this so you can be prescribed the right amount. Then depending on how you feel say after 3 months then start the T - and I would start with a pea-sized blob. No point in using too much too soon...
There are a few other T users on here so hopefully someone in your position and nearer your age may be able to advise better?
Hurdity x
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Thank you Hurdity,
I had been using Tibolone for 6 months prior to the Oestrogel so my GP said should be ok to start straight testogel straight away as my oestrogen levels should be fine?! The only reason I stopped was due to headaches other than that I felt fab :) He said was fine to increase my oestrogel up to 4 pumps if I felt it was necessary.
Think I'll start with a small pea and take it from there. I had to have 2 emergency ops within 12 weeks of my hysterectomy which they think shut my remaining ovary off.
I'm grateful for your help :) x
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I have been using Testogel for 4 months now, and I obtained it from my male GP. Interestingly, the young female doctor in the same surgery wouldn't countenance giving it to me for loss of libido. It is fantastic. I use one sachet over about 5 days. I found that it took about 3 weeks to start taking effect. I started very carefully only using a tenth of the sachet but it is fiddly to measure out and that dose was not effective for me. I played around with the dose until I now use about a fifth of the sachet each day. I just squeeze it out of the packet and don't worry too much that it is the exact same amount each day. I find if I reduce the amount it loses effect. I also use HRT patches which I started a couple of months before the Testogel. They had no effect at all upon my loss of libido. I have not had any negative side effects at all and it is wonderful to have a libido again.
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Hi Lauren1234
:welcomemm:
I am glad Testogel is working for you. However that does seem to be a lot!! What patches do you use and do they contain progestogen? Maybe you are on fairly high dose oestrogen and do not have a womb? Maybe you could tell us a little bit more about yourself and where you are in menopause, and how old you are? Also where do you apply it and have you noticed any side effects? Hope you don't mind the questions but there are relatively few of us on here using testosterone so everyone's story especially adds something to our collective experience :)
Hurdity x
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I`ve recently started using Testim - as prescribed by my GP after advice from meno clinic at Guys. It was a fight to get it though. It`s in a little tube and so far my first tube has lasted 8 days. I`m using a pea sized blob. So far I haven`t felt any positive effects on my non-existent libido, but it`s early days. Good luck!
J x
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I use testogel and one sachet lasts around 6 -7 days. I am on 100 mcg estradot (snipped to 85aprox) utrogestan 1-25 and am 44. I have had only positive results in all departments. I started T in May.
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Thanks for the replies 😊
I don't feel any better for the Testogel at all but it's early days?!
I felt so good on Tibolone but did give me headaches which I don't get on Oestrogel and Testogel. I can't win!
X
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When you say you don't feel better - what do you mean - just libido or other symptoms? I still think you are on a low dose of oestrogen for a high dose of testosterone. The gynae I saw said it can take 4-5 months to fully have an effect (the testogel) - but some women have noticed an effect very quickly. I really would want to increase my oestrogel in your position though as your gynae has already suggested.
Do hope it all starts stabilising for you and you feel better soon :)
Hurdity x
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Hi Hurdity,
I'm on 3 pumps of Oestrogel now.
Libedo and energy levels are zero :(
As you say maybe it's too early to feel the benefit.
X
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Looks like we started same day
I'm trying Testim and I thought itd kicked in whilst on holiday but now we're back I've resumed my low libido
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Oh Annie0710 that's rubbish for you :(
Maybe it'll just take us a little longer to get the benefits?!
Have you ever tried Tibolone?
X
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They offered me Tibolone OR Testim
Seeing as I have hair thinning I opted for Testim but to be honest I've still got hair thinning. I don't know which way to turn really, I've started getting headaches again too
I don't know whether to book an appointment and buy clip in real hair and forget my troubles in that dept and carry on with Testim or buy the hair piece anyway and try Tibolone
Either way and without either I think I'm doomed with my hair now
X
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I tried Tibolone for 6 months and felt great but gave up due to daily headaches.
I didn't notice any hair loss so maybe it's worth a try?
Have you asked to be referred about your hair loss?
I'm going to give the oestrogel and Testogel 4 months and if no improvements then I'd rather have Tibolone and put up with headaches as my energy, libedo etc were great!
X
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A GP referred me to a dermatologist but I could tell she wasn't really interested, told me it wasn't bad and said I had seborrheic dermatitis and female pattern hair loss
I went home and googled seborrheic dermatitis but I didn't have the same as the images shown plus she gave me a gel for a small lesion like mark on my skin and said it'd be gone in 3 months, 8 months later it's still there lol
X
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Looks like we started same day
I'm trying Testim and I thought itd kicked in whilst on holiday but now we're back I've resumed my low libido
Sorry to hear this Annie. Hopefully it's just a temporary blip.
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Looks like we started same day
I'm trying Testim and I thought itd kicked in whilst on holiday but now we're back I've resumed my low libido
Sorry to hear this Annie. Hopefully it's just a temporary blip.
Thank you :-)
I don't want to paint a negative picture of the gel though, my hair is a big deal to me unfortunately
Also I just can't get my head around these blinking pea size portions. I must be near the 40 day mark so should be finishing or near finishing my 4th tube BUT IM NOT! I've finished one and took a tiny bit out of no2, to use a tube in 10 days I'm sure I'd need to squirt about a 1p maybe 20p blob out each time ! But, I dread to think what hair loss I'd get on that amount, there's every chance the hair situation was going to carry on anyway with or without testosterone added in
X
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It all appears to be a fine balancing act and sacrificing one thing for another. :(