[quote]hakrjak wrote:
Hey HiredGun – Can you share with us how long it took for the gel to work for you? I’m wondering if it’s a very gradual build up like the patch, or if it will just hit you 12 hours after the first application like a shot?[/quote]
It depends on how long someone’s untreated.
I was untreated for a year and it took a few months to feel “OK” and a year to feel like my old self again.
I used gel for NINE years and am getting Testopel next Friday.
Why don’t you pick something and stick with it already?
My Endo is kind of wierd. She doesn’t like the shots very much it seems, and has nobody self injecting – so she wants me to rule out the patch and the gel before she puts me back on the shots. I agreed since it would be nice to find something easy and safe to use from home. (I don’t really want to self inject…)
Another one who just likes striking up conversation.
I have used the patch for about 3 months and it did take awhile to absorb, but it is a more even, continouis dosage. You get use to wearing them after a while (I hardley notice them anymore)–much less invasive that injections. Sometimes they leave an adhesive residue, but it is easley removed with a dab of rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. The little red “bulleyes” dissapear in about an hour or right after a shower. I think they are a great alternitive over injections.
the patches were great for me… at least while they worked.
while using 2 patches at the same time 1 5mg patch and 1 2.5mg patch - I was great on them for 3 months (800 levels), then had 3 months of a continuous decline (down to 400-500) then I tried other medications and came back to the patches for a bit and had levels around 300.
some people just can’t absorb or stop absorbing.
hmmm… new theory for those that can absorb and then stop.
- your body absorb the T initially
- the extra T stresses other systems that were able to limp along in the past, but now can’t keep up with the new demands the extra T is placing on them.
- your cortisol production (due to pregnenolone or 17-hydroxyprogesterone maybe??) gets screwed up (because of LH/FSH/ACTH suppression maybe??)
- the cortisol issues then cause problems with your thyroid (and/or Aldosterone levels).
- then something about being hypothyroid and/or low on Aldosterone interferes with the absorption of medications through the skin (maybe because of possibly a build up in the water layer just under the skin?? or some other mechanism)