Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Waterdaggers on December 17, 2017, 09:49:41 AM
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I've been prescribed testogel (1 x 50mg sachet per week) for surgical menopause symptoms of depression and lack of energy/tiredness. Just wondering when will I start to feel better? At the moment I feel like a recluse, am barely working and cry every day. I've been taking it 3 days. I just want to get back to being me again. So fed up of menopause symptoms! I'm 43 and also taking estrodot 125.
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Anyone?
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It's really hard to say, as it varies from person to person. I use Tostran and I think I felt my energy increase in the first couple of months x
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Thanks for your reply Annie. Was it quite a noticeable increase? Or not so much. I feel like I'm hoping for a miracle but I just want to be the woman I once was again....
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I can't say either - although some changes may be felt fairly quickly, it can take up to 4-5 months for the bodily changes to take effect fully - according to the gynae I saw. It is quite a gradual thing - not at all like getting rid of hot flushes and sweats which happens noticeably and usually fairly quickly. You have to be patient and not be tempted to increase the testosterone dose - which in your case is actually quite high - although as you are in surgical menopause I presume higher doses can be taken since your ovarian supply has been completely cut off? Please don't let that put you off but have confidence that you are getting the best treatment you can and you must give it time.
I do hope it has the desired effect soon and that you feel more motivated and energised - especially as Christmas is looming! Let us know how you feel and do keep posting and there will be someone there to support you - although this time of year members come and go a bit sporadically as you can imagine.
Hurdity x
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From memory Waterdaggers I noticed a slight improvement after 2 weeks and the full effects at around 5 months, as T is cumulative. Keep going, it's worth it x
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Thanks for your encouragement Hurdity. I don't mind it taking a long time as long as it does make an actual difference.... I just want to know things will eventually improve I guess. With eostrogen the effect was so much more immediate so it's easy to feel with the testosterone not having such an immediate impact that it's not going to happen at all.
I'm not sure about the dose.... but yes assume having no ovarian testosterone supply will be dictating that. He did say he would like me to have a pellet inserted once I have the dose right, which sounds a lot more convenient. He also said I should notice a change in a few weeks but I've read elsewhere 4 months so I wondered what others had experienced.
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Peri thats great to hear!! Fingers crossed it works for me too
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Thanks for your reply Annie. Was it quite a noticeable increase? Or not so much. I feel like I'm hoping for a miracle but I just want to be the woman I once was again....
I remember noticing that I'd been feeling better with more energy and asked hubby if he'd noticed, which he said he had. So it wasn't a ‘ding' moment of omg I feel better, but more ‘hey I have achieved more lately than I have done in a few years'
Does that make sense ? X
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You should definitely notice a difference! Gradually as Annie0710 says....peri - that's amazing - I don't remember feeling it like that so quickly! Sometimes I feel I need an even higher dose but can't increase without increasing oestrogen too and that's out of the question for me ( age, cycle length). Let us know :)
Hurdity x
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I've been using testogel for 3 months, 1 sachet per week. I noticed after about 6 weeks that I had more enthusiasm for doing stuff whereas before that everything felt like it was too much trouble. I had my appointment today and the consultant said what
I described was what he would expect at this point and that after 6 months I should be much improved again. At the moment I still get sudden crashes of fatigue which usually pass after a few minutes but sometimes I need a quick power nap.
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Yes thats me.... I can't be bothered to do anything! Everything is an effort, even the things I used to really enjoy. I don't think it helps that I am not sleeping well either. So far I'm two weeks in and no major change.
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Ive been on Tostran since May and just going through a blip of no energy, but libido has gone up.
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First thing I noticed was an increase in sex drive after a few days
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Hi Waterdaggers
I have only been using Testogel for six weeks the first thing I noticed after a couple of weeks was an increase in sex drive and over the last month my energy and general well being has certainly increased
Leading to the best Christmas I have had in years :bed:
Lanzalover x
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Yeah sex drive may have increased (although it was ok before to be honest). Unfortunately I don't have a partner so can't really try this out. Three weeks in now and still feel lethargic.
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At 3 weeks I hadn't noticed any change. After 6 weeks things started to improve. At 12 weeks I had more energy but still getting energy crashes. Now 14 weeks in I've been out dragging heavy conifers about 50 yards to a bonfire and sweeping up wet leaves and stray branches after the storm. I've transformed into superwoman ;D
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Will gp's prescribe testosterone?
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Will gp's prescribe testosterone?
I doubt it unless it's been prescribed by a consultant first as it isn't licenced for women. My consultant asked who my gp was in case I run out of anything before my next appointment. He said some gp's won't prescribe testosterone at all.
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Stillsearching.... I so hope the same happens to me!
Brainless an NHS menopause consultant prescribed mine for me. Just ask your GP to refer you.
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Thank you waterdaggers. I suppose its difficult to know before an appointment if the consultant is open to prescribing testosterone. Does anybody know if Dr Currie ever recommends testosterone?
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I'm guessing it would be quicker to see a consultant privately but that will be a stretch cost wise so it would be good to know if either Dr Currie is open to suggesting testosterone or other consultants in North Yorkshire?
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Some GPs do prescribe testosterone - but it's hit and miss - because as has been said - there is no product licensed for women at the moment. Therefore you can't insist on it even though the NICE Guildelines do make provision for it Some more enlightened GPs who don't feel they can prescribe it, refer to a consultant and then are able to do so. It might be possible to push for this ( ie ask the doc to consult someone else even if they can't refer you?). Others will do so (prescribe T) after the woman has first got a prescription from a private consultant.
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity. Im a bit timid when it comes to doctors so Im starting to think it might be worth emailing Dr Currie as i wouldn't have to ask face to face and if she doesn't prescribe testosterone then it would be less money lost than other private appointments.
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Sound like a good plan. I'm a fine one to talk as I've managed to get 2.5 years of T after one private consultation in May 2015 because you get so much in one box. I will test out the NHS system soon - but I know what you mean about taking to the docs. eg my nice gynae specialist GP I've known for 30 years so wouldn't really want to argue with her.... good luck anyway :)
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity. Im a bit timid when it comes to doctors so Im starting to think it might be worth emailing Dr Currie as i wouldn't have to ask face to face and if she doesn't prescribe testosterone then it would be less money lost than other private appointments.
There is no reason to be timid with your doctor anymore than you are timid to ask questions here or in any other area of your life. After all, all you are doing is asking a question what's the worst that can happen? I've never considered that I was particularly forthright until my optician at the end of an appointment told me I was a scary lady. :o We have a good relationship and if I want to know something I ask him. Likewise if I want my doctor to give me information I ask for it. That's what we pay them for.
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Thank you waterdaggers. I suppose its difficult to know before an appointment if the consultant is open to prescribing testosterone. Does anybody know if Dr Currie ever recommends testosterone?
I would have thought most meno consultants are open to prescribing testosterone as they are familiar with all the research and the NICE guidelines, it's the GP's who are more cautious. My GP refused to test my testosterone levels as she said she wouldn't know what to do with the result. I was also having problems with progesterone so asked to be referred to the menopause clinic. She didn't have a problem with this at all. I had to wait 2-3 months for an appointment. At my first appointment I mentioned testosterone to the consultant.... he was very open to it and agreed it might be helpful but wanted me to increase my oestrogen first.
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As more women are being prescribed testosterone and many with great results I really hope that the day comes soon that GPs have the confidence to prescribe. It's not all about libido (although that's lovely) but the energy and wellbeing that it gives too x