I'm thinking about getting testosterone gel. I will probably end up ordering it online.
So I'm wondering if this is the safest route to go. I don't plan on seeing a doctor for a prescription (because I couldn't even if I had to at this point, not to mention it seems like it would be a tedious and costly effort since I'd probably have to see all these specialists before I could get a scrip) but if I can order it online without a prescription knowing it will work, I probably will.
So... Adractim? Has anyone tried it?
Does anyone else have a suggestion or testimonial for a similar product? I could really use the input. Thanks.
-Edit-
Okay, well thanks for letting me know about the self-medicating thing.
I've got no health plan to speak of and no job so it'll be pretty difficult. I suppose I'll have to do it the hard way then. But I won't like it. I doubt I'll get past the psychiatric evaluation stage. I've been very depressed and I'm afraid it will affect the psychiatrist's opinion of me or they'll think I'm crazy or something.
I've never heard of Adractim.
Gels and creams are going to cost you significantly more than injectible T.
FYI, talk of self-medicating is prohibited here.
Yes, I must be the killjoy here. Scratch that, the mods will.
Oh, and I've never heard of it.
SilverFang
The only way to get the results you want without risking harm to yourself is to go through the proper channels, complete with it's hurdles.
If you are determined to take your chances with self medication, there's very little we can do to stop you, but this site does not support self medication, so you'll have to look for advice on it somewhere else.
If it's of any consolation, most good psychologists who specialize in gender identity disorder will recognize your depression as related to GID, if it indeed is. If it is due to that, they won't let it affect their judgment of when, or whether you should be given a prescription. Some people are given hormones because it is a life or death matter. You can imagine that they would be very unstable at the time, and yet, doctors see it as the only thing to do, the only "cure" for their depression. If your therapist thinks the depression should be, or can be managed somewhat, they'll be able to work on things with you. How to cope, how to change your thinking. They want the patient to be able to cope with all the stresses of transition, but they don't want to deny HRT when it could mean something as drastic as suicide. Basically, if GID is holding you back from living your life completely, it's a big problem that needs to be addressed, and any good, experienced psychologist/psychiatrist will know that there is only one way to truly address GID.
Quote from: Miniar on September 08, 2009, 10:27:25 AM
The only way to get the results you want without risking harm to yourself is to go through the proper channels, complete with it's hurdles.
If you are determined to take your chances with self medication, there's very little we can do to stop you, but this site does not support self medication, so you'll have to look for advice on it somewhere else.
Seconded :)
Thanks guys. I'm a little more at ease now with the idea of seeing a shrink for this matter. There's still the problem of not having a health plan, but I will look for one that specializes in GID.
Quote from: Khrist on September 09, 2009, 09:27:05 PMThere's still the problem of not having a health plan, but I will look for one that specializes in GID.
They don't exist. Pay cash.
Quote from: Mister on September 09, 2009, 09:52:50 PM
They don't exist. Pay cash.
Oh, I meant the psychiatrist. The health plan would just assist me paying for it.
Try your local Planned Parenthood. Some of the county's PP's have a grant for services for transsexuals. Counseling and hormones and blood work, oh my.
Quote from: Alex_C on September 11, 2009, 01:38:48 AM
Try your local Planned Parenthood. Some of the county's PP's have a grant for services for transsexuals. Counseling and hormones and blood work, oh my.
Wow! Thanks so much, this is certainly news to me. I will call them up and see about it.
Go to their web site, it states right on there that they provide hormones for transgender ppl but not all PP's do it, for instance the one here in my town doesn't, the one in another town 40 miles away does.
And by "provide" in my own case for instance, I get the counseling, endo tests, and prescription for free, I have to pay for the T and needles only.
They welcome payment on a voluntary basis, but living on half the poverty line income and my money going into survival and EMT school, well, I'm not paying for anything I don't have to now.
I know someone else who used the YMCA/YWCA for therapy to get letters for T and such.
Myles
YMCA? YWCA???
Again, a place I'd NEVER think to look.
You gotta network, network, network, with local FTMs if you can, it's not easy, people are NOT very social due to the Internet, getting them to leave their chairs and go out into the Big Blue Room is hard. But it's worth it, the FTM meeting that got me the info that PP does this stuff, has consistantly THREE people there and that's counting me. And the actual info was gotten from a gal using the bathroom when I was, the motorcycle helmet I was carrying sparked the convo, and turns out HER husband is an FTM and they knew this "secret" source of help.
Sheesh!!
And guys don't chat in the bathrooms at all lol.
This is a lot of really great info! I live in a retirement town in South Florida, so there's not a whole lot of resources for FTMs, and therefore probably not a whole lot of FTMs here. With the average age here being something like 90 and most being conservative Christians I'm frankly not surprised. But hey, there's a PP and YMCA not too far from me!
Thanks so much, myles and Alex_C!
I use testogel and prefer it still get the same results other than the anger that I got from the injection..
Jay
Anger from an injection?
There have been serveral studies that included by trans and cisgendered men, wherein they were given injections of increasing amounts of testosterone. Aggression or anger were not shown until they were given many thousands of mg at a time. It is a horrible myth that testosterone causes anger and one that the trans community needs to stop spreading.
I'm going to guess, Jay, that your anger came near the end of your cycle & close to your next shot. This is common and happens because of the flux in your hormone levels, similar to PMS. Typically, shots are given in smaller doses at closer intervals. In the 10+ years I've been participating in the trans community online, I have never read where this strategy was ineffective.
Yep I shoot every week instead of every two weeks, and have had no problems.
Quote from: Mister on September 12, 2009, 10:38:34 AM
I'm going to guess, Jay, that your anger came near the end of your cycle & close to your next shot. This is common and happens because of the flux in your hormone levels, similar to PMS. Typically, shots are given in smaller doses at closer intervals. In the 10+ years I've been participating in the trans community online, I have never read where this strategy was ineffective.
It came either on the day or a few days in never at the end of the week I used to shoot two weekly and changed it to once a week but I got so damn angry that I changed to the Gel. The only way I could describe it was a mass of adrenaline going through my system and it could be over nothing.. I would feel extremely stressed and would have to take time out to calm down. I would be shaking and everything. It was scary stuff..
But I don't have no problem with the gel. We all have different reactions from different medication.
Jay
Quote from: Jay on September 12, 2009, 03:25:30 PM
It came either on the day or a few days in never at the end of the week I used to shoot two weekly and changed it to once a week but I got so damn angry that I changed to the Gel. The only way I could describe it was a mass of adrenaline going through my system and it could be over nothing.. I would feel extremely stressed and would have to take time out to calm down. I would be shaking and everything. It was scary stuff..
But I don't have no problem with the gel. We all have different reactions from different medication.
Jay
Testosterone doesn't cause a rush or adrenaline-like response. It's psychosomatic.
I agree. I'm pretty "sensitive" and I can tell ya, I feel nuttin.
Or it's simply a case of the exception that prooves the rule.
Oh I feel the changes, boy do I. But I don't feel a "rush" from my shot.