Holidays without T

[EzraIz]

Hi, I am a new member. I often come to Susan's place when I have general questions about the administration and effects of testosterone. However, it's time I made an account, and what better time to do so than now, as I'm having a bit of a crisis.
I've been on testosterone cypionate (idk if that's how you spell it but I'm too lazy to go find the label) for a little over a month now. I went to do my weekly shot of .5 ml and saw that my vial was empty. I thought I'd have another dose left in there, but oh well, so I went to get a refill as I had already. It's usually easy and they get it to me in 10 minutes or less. However, my prescription ran out. I was not aware that it would ran out since my doctor told me about a week ago that she would be adding a new prescription with a bigger vial for the next time I needed a refill. I spent hours at the pharmacy and on the phone with the clinic trying to get my refill, but I couldn't. They recommended that I go to urgent care and talk to them about what my withdrawal symptoms will be like and what I can do to help. Of course, they knew nothing. Turns out I have to wait until the break is over to SCHEDULE an appointment, and I need a ew appointment for the new script. (which I was told I would only need to come back if I was experiencing unusual symptoms)
So I'm wondering. Is the rest of my fall break gonna suck? What is withdrawal like? What will it do to my transition process over all if I miss these few days?
Thanks,
Ezra

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. Unfortunately I don't have any great ideas for solving this problem however it may not be as bad as it seems. If I recall correctly the half life of injected testosterone is about 6 days. While your levels may  get a little low, they aren't going to totally crash. One of the tricks you might be able to use is bumping your appointment a couple of weeks earlier each time until you have a months reserve. This trick comes in handy when the doctor is booked up or unavailable for some reason.

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[TK9NY]

Urgent care? Withdrawal symptoms? Really? They make it sound like you're going to be horribly sick and uncomfortable if you miss this dose, and that's just not the case from what i've been told (or from what i've read).

Missing doses happens. And keep in mind that some guys take their shots every other week (IE two weeks between shots). Your levels may drop a bit if you miss this dose, sure, but not a huge amount if you're planning on getting that refill by the next injection... and the "symptoms" of dropping levels are varied and usually not going to make you too miserable. You might be a bit tired, maybe moody, etc but nothing to run to the doctor over IMO. Certainly nothing that's going to ruin your fall break - it isn't like you're detoxing!

Chances are, your body won't even notice the missed dose. Again - some guys take their doses every other week. Nothing major is going to happen with one missed dose. I think the real problem is if you're constantly missing doses over long periods of time - that yo-yos your levels, which can result in more urgent symptoms. NOT something to be concerned about, i don't think, if you miss one dose. It certainly shouldn't effect your transition. 

"I was told I would only need to come back if I was experiencing unusual symptoms" - Really? My initial consult, when i got clearance to go on T, the endo told me to expect to come in for bloodwork to check my T levels every 2-3 months until they stabilize and we reach a dose that works for me. Might want to check on that....

I've never had an issue in getting my script filled. Ever. It sounds like whoever you go to has crappy service. Not having your doctor's notes on changing the script? Not being able to fill it without seeing you even though they never told you they've have to see you to fill it? I would also be concerned if they aren't keeping track of your levels via bloodwork....

Call back when the clinic is open again and try to talk it through with someone when you're not waiting at the pharmacy. Maybe ask to speak directly to the doctor who prescribed the T initially. Or to someone higher up. It's honestly not a huge deal, but i would definitely get it figured out ASAP so you don't miss more doses than you need to.

[widdershins]

I second TK9NY. Since you're only one month in, your body probably hasn't even adjusted to being on T in the first place. Your ovaries are most likely fully functional and pumping out your own homegrown sex hormones. And so you're really unlikely to notice anything.

Guys who are on T for awhile can get irritable and low on energy after missing a dose. Maybe some migraines. It feels kinda like being on your period except without cramps, basically. But health-wise, it's no huge deal. The main issue with not having sex hormones at all is osteoporosis, which obviously takes way longer than a few weeks to develop, and isn't even a concern for you as someone still making your own estrogen.

[EzraIz]

Urgent care? Withdrawal symptoms? Really? They make it sound like you're going to be horribly sick and uncomfortable if you miss this dose, and that's just not the case from what i've been told (or from what i've read).

Missing doses happens. And keep in mind that some guys take their shots every other week (IE two weeks between shots). Your levels may drop a bit if you miss this dose, sure, but not a huge amount if you're planning on getting that refill by the next injection... and the "symptoms" of dropping levels are varied and usually not going to make you too miserable. You might be a bit tired, maybe moody, etc but nothing to run to the doctor over IMO. Certainly nothing that's going to ruin your fall break - it isn't like you're detoxing!

Chances are, your body won't even notice the missed dose. Again - some guys take their doses every other week. Nothing major is going to happen with one missed dose. I think the real problem is if you're constantly missing doses over long periods of time - that yo-yos your levels, which can result in more urgent symptoms. NOT something to be concerned about, i don't think, if you miss one dose. It certainly shouldn't effect your transition. 

"I was told I would only need to come back if I was experiencing unusual symptoms" - Really? My initial consult, when i got clearance to go on T, the endo told me to expect to come in for bloodwork to check my T levels every 2-3 months until they stabilize and we reach a dose that works for me. Might want to check on that....

I've never had an issue in getting my script filled. Ever. It sounds like whoever you go to has crappy service. Not having your doctor's notes on changing the script? Not being able to fill it without seeing you even though they never told you they've have to see you to fill it? I would also be concerned if they aren't keeping track of your levels via bloodwork....

Call back when the clinic is open again and try to talk it through with someone when you're not waiting at the pharmacy. Maybe ask to speak directly to the doctor who prescribed the T initially. Or to someone higher up. It's honestly not a huge deal, but i would definitely get it figured out ASAP so you don't miss more doses than you need to.

Sorry for the late reply. So far I haven't experienced any awful symptoms, but I think the pharmacists were under the impression that 1. I had been taking T for more than a month and 2. I had come there before to get various hormone related prescriptions filled (for past medical problems.) and that's where the alarm came from.
I go to Planned Parenthood, which is not like an endo in the slightest from what I've heard. You go, they talk to you for a half hour, do your bloodwork and give you your script and you're out in an hour. You don't gotta come back, do therapy, anything like that.  I wanted it to be easy and affordable since I don't have adequate transportation...
But yeah, headaches, irritability, big appetite.... That's the most extreme it's gotten so far. Looks like I will be expecting a call from them tomorrow.
Thank you for your response!

[TK9NY]

I go to Planned Parenthood, which is not like an endo in the slightest from what I've heard. You go, they talk to you for a half hour, do your bloodwork and give you your script and you're out in an hour. You don't gotta come back, do therapy, anything like that.  I wanted it to be easy and affordable since I don't have adequate transportation...
But yeah, headaches, irritability, big appetite.... That's the most extreme it's gotten so far. Looks like I will be expecting a call from them tomorrow.
Thank you for your response!

I'm not a fan of PP, or informed consent for that matter, even though i know it's more convenient and/or cost effective for some guys. By not going to a specialist you do run the risk of not getting good information which can negatively effect your health.

Case in point: Your PP is clearly not well versed in HRT if they're freaking you out over "withdrawal symptoms" over missing a dose. And no follow ups? Really? Do they not care about your levels, your blood cell counts, your liver?

Did they at least go over the risks associated with HRT? Did they help you understand what your body is going to be going through over the next year or so? Doesn't sound like it if you where led to believe you can suffer worrisome "withdrawal symptoms" for missing a dose, after only being on it for a month, or where told you don't need follow up work. Yikes.

Please, when you talk to them, ask about bloodwork to monitor your T levels. Too much T reverts to estrogen which can cause it's own problems. You also need to keep an eye on your blood cell counts, your liver, and of course the hormone levels. I was told every 3 months to start, then yearly after that.

You mention "past medical problems" which you where taking "various hormone related prescriptions" - makes me nervous that they aren't monitoring you a bit more closely than it appears they are. I have a genetic clotting disorder that doesn't effect my day to day life but makes taking medications and going through surgeries risky - i had to get clearance from my hematologist before my therapist would write me a referral, and i see an actual endocrinologist so they can keep an eye on things for me just to be cautious.  Can't imagine going through PP or doing informed consent with pre-existing medical conditions.....

PS - the appetite thing is normal for being on T, it's not a "symptom" of any kind of withdrawal from it. Most guys get hungry when they start taking T and tend to have a bigger appetite in general - men's bodies need more fuel. The first month i was on it i was like a black hole, i wanted to eat everything all the time. I had to actually bring food with me to work (i'm on my feet all day and usually work through my lunch break, take small snacks to tide me over etc). It stabilized the past few weeks, though i still bring food to work, and now it's more of a "i can eat, sure" than "i have to eat NOW".

[EzraIz]

I should've been more clear, the pharmacist showed concerns about withdrawal, not my doctor. And I won't get my new script until a week from Wednesday, but I've been fine so far.- irritable, hot flashes, light nausea, but it's not as bad as I thought. I  know Planned Parenthood isn't the best for HRT, but I really can't afford anything else. I'm not gonna go into what my pre-existing medical condition was, but I discussed it with the doctor and she told me it shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for your help!