Since the andro gel isn't working the doctor need to put me on something else, something that my insurance will cover. 

Do creams work better than gels? I want to explore every option I have so I don't have to go back on shots.

Though, if nothing else worked and I had to go back on the shots, would I have to start all over again at a low dosage or could the doctor give me the dosage that was finally the right dosage for me? Just wondering about that. I wouldn't want to start all over again and build up to the correct dosage after just finding it at a year and a half on T.

my friend was on gel then cream because the cream is alot cheaper but he said they were basically the same thing but he preferred the cream because the gel dried his skin.

Thanks for letting me know.

A lot of the guys here use a cream that is from a compounding pharmacy. Apparently it is a lot more concentrated.

OTOH, i am wondering if you are absorbing the gel. There are people who do not absorb the topical at all.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on December 14, 2012, 11:06:40 PM
A lot of the guys here use a cream that is from a compounding pharmacy. Apparently it is a lot more concentrated.

OTOH, i am wondering if you are absorbing the gel. There are people who do not absorb the topical at all.

--Jay

The doctor told me before the gel wasn't working, so I don't think I'm absorbing the gel at all. I can't read my blood work. I got a copy of my T levels and I can't even read it. I don't understand what I'm looking at. I know my levels are not in the normal male range though. I wish I could use a cream or anything so I don't have to go back to the shots. And the thing about the shots are, since I can't inject myself, a nurse has to do it for me, and if I get a job it's going to be hard to get my shot b/c of my work schedule. This is what happen last time I had a job. I had to switch to the gel b/c getting the shot interfered with my work schedule. The nurse was gone by the time I was out of work.  I don't want to be dependent on someone to give me my shot forever. Though, I can't see myself on shots forever, only short term.

Maybe you should be reading "How do I get a shot given to me for free" or something like that. I wouldn't worry about getting someone else to do it if that person was reliable. I understand you have a lot of anxiety. I have heard that it can raise cortisol levels in some people quite a lot. Perhaps that's a problem with you.

--Jay

I've been on cream since august. I never tried the gel, but the gel seems messier. The cream dries very quickly and doesn't irritate my skin. My cream is compounded though so I'm not sure is that makes it stronger than the gel or non compounded creams. The changes aren't aren't as fast but definitely happening. Maybe you should look into compounded cream as I refuse to do the shots aswell.

I know you don't want to have to do your shots yourself, but if you want the changes that you want to come quicker, you probably need to. It's a sacrafice you're going to need to make in order to look how you want to look. I'm curious, what is your aversion to shots? If you don't mind me asking.

There are just people that can't get results without injecting, even though I think perhaps most people could. I think there are differences which make some people have trouble with absorbing thru the skin. OTOH, if you take finistreade it might effect your results. Maybe you have to decide if you want to look male and bald or female and have hair. I know that's a bit blunt, but some guys have gone thru this. (You might look at uppercase chase on youtube. Don't know if he was really going to be bald though.)

Seems like somewhere someone should be experimenting with subQ for people with needle phobia. Some guys are on it and have had good results. You use a type needle and go under the fat. There's no pain from what I have heard. I don't know if you could use an autoinjector.

The compounding cream doesn't change the fact that if you can't absorb things thru the skin you are still using something to absorb thru the skin. I think that they tend to be more powerful but after all are concocted by the pharmacy. The one people use here, they like it and it is a lot less messy than Androgel.


--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on December 15, 2012, 01:52:10 AM
Maybe you should be reading "How do I get a shot given to me for free" or something like that. I wouldn't worry about getting someone else to do it if that person was reliable. I understand you have a lot of anxiety. I have heard that it can raise cortisol levels in some people quite a lot. Perhaps that's a problem with you.

--Jay

I was getting my shots done free but then the nurse who gave them to me found a better paying job so in order for me to get my shot it's going to be hard to see who's available to give the shots to me and if I get this job I don't know how were gonna make a scheduled work for us, b/c no one there is gonna work out a schedule with me. It's, "if I'm here you get your shot, if not, no shot, you'll have to wait until I'm available." That's what makes me nervous, no one to give me my shot when I need it, and then my work schedule (if I get the job)will be an inconvenience. Another reason why not doing the shots are not good for me. With the gel I was independent and didn't have to rely on anyone.

Quote from: DreadLOX on December 15, 2012, 03:46:55 PM
I've been on cream since august. I never tried the gel, but the gel seems messier. The cream dries very quickly and doesn't irritate my skin. My cream is compounded though so I'm not sure is that makes it stronger than the gel or non compounded creams. The changes aren't aren't as fast but definitely happening. Maybe you should look into compounded cream as I refuse to do the shots aswell.

Glad the cream is working for you. What changes have you had so far?

I can talk to my doctor about creams and see if she thinks they will work for me.  As for the gel, I was fine with it. I didn't think it was messy. I just wish it would have worked for me.

Quote from: KyleXX on December 15, 2012, 05:37:58 PM
I know you don't want to have to do your shots yourself, but if you want the changes that you want to come quicker, you probably need to. It's a sacrafice you're going to need to make in order to look how you want to look. I'm curious, what is your aversion to shots? If you don't mind me asking.

I have a very low tolerance for pain. I just can't handle it. But if I have to go back on shots then I'll do it, it just brings me a whole lot of anxiety.

Quote from: aleon515 on December 15, 2012, 06:24:55 PM
There are just people that can't get results without injecting, even though I think perhaps most people could. I think there are differences which make some people have trouble with absorbing thru the skin. OTOH, if you take finistreade it might effect your results. Maybe you have to decide if you want to look male and bald or female and have hair. I know that's a bit blunt, but some guys have gone thru this. (You might look at uppercase chase on youtube. Don't know if he was really going to be bald though.)

Seems like somewhere someone should be experimenting with subQ for people with needle phobia. Some guys are on it and have had good results. You use a type needle and go under the fat. There's no pain from what I have heard. I don't know if you could use an autoinjector.

The compounding cream doesn't change the fact that if you can't absorb things thru the skin you are still using something to absorb thru the skin. I think that they tend to be more powerful but after all are concocted by the pharmacy. The one people use here, they like it and it is a lot less messy than Androgel.


--Jay

I stopped taking the finastride the last few weeks so I could try and grow my facial hair back but still the andro gel wasn't working. I'm not taking finastride right now. I'm waiting to get my dosage corrected and grow back my facial hair and then start finastride back up again.

Never heard of SubQ. I'll look into that.

SubQ (actually subcutaneous) is not a specific type of T, but a way of injecting. Instead of injecting into the muscle which takes a great big needle and tends to hurt as the stuff is going into muscle, you use a small thin needle like they use for insulin and shoot under a big layer of fat (like in the stomach). It isn't typical to do this with T, but a number of doctors are doing this I think more so on the coasts in the US and in the UK. There is another advantage in that you use less T to get the same effects but you do have to inject weekly. However, it is MUCH less painful, and some people claim not to feel anything at all.
If I can't use cream, i will be finding out how to do this one.

This is a pretty good article about it and a reference if you wanted to try this since it relates to a place that actually uses this. You would need to do research.

http://->-bleeped-<-yeahftms.tumblr.com/post/24168019163/subcutaneous-t-injections



--Jay

Thanks, so far the changes have been good. My voice has dropped well in a males range, Fat is definitely redistributing, i'm building alot of muscle, great growth downstairs, and my hands are much meatier and stronger. I've had body and facial hair growth, but with my family it takes a while for it to get to its full potential. Its finally starting to come in but I know its going to be awhile. Only negative is I have thinning hair on the top of my head. Its not bad, but seeing the males on my mothers side with the same hair line I know I'm in for some balding but it is what it is I guess lol. All that matters is I'm passing all the time now.

Like the other guys said maybe your skin isn't up for the absorbtion cause honestly I'm having that issue as well, but I'm giving it spittle time to see if it just needs to build up. I with you man with the needles, i will do whatever to avoid them. Even if that means my.changes are slower.

SubQ shots do sting. I'm taking Lovenox (blood thinner) injections SubQ currently. The liquid is like water (T is much thicker as you know) and it stings. What I have found that helps is freezing a bottle of water the night before. Once the injection is over I place the bottle of ice over the injection site and it numbs it instantly. Yes, I am doing the cold bottle method when I start T on Tuesday. I hate needles too...but I hate not being happy with myself more.

I don't want to scare you about the SubQ shots but I don't want you going into something else just to be disappointed with your choice again.

Re: SubQ, I don't have any experience with SubQ T (or t for that matter). I have seen a few youtube videos re: subQ and T and the guys taking it are very happy with it.
But no I have no experience either way.

--Jay

@DreadLOX: Glad they changes have been good and that your voice had dropped into the male range. Yeah, that sucks about the thinning of the hair on top. Glad your passing all the time now.

@aleon515 and Simon: Thanks guys.