When you use a transdermal with two steroid hormones, they are competing for absorption and you are in the world of 10% at best in any case. You could get the “KAL” OTC 2% progesterone cream.
Non absorption still takes me back to body temperatures, iodine status, thyroid function and rT3 [which is up there].
thyroid basics sticky
The progesterone in the cream was intended to be the primary AI in the protocol. This proved to be completely inadequate, and liquid aromasin was added as well. Since then, I have switched to a testosterone only compounded cream. Aromasin @ 12.5mg/day as AI. Time will tell if it’s working. I don’t have access to my T Cyp right now because I have been on the road for quite some time.
I’ve been taking 37.5mg IR/day for probably a month, so iodine should be good. I haven’t checked temps in a while, but they improved once I started IR a few months ago. Haven’t checked them since.
I had them throw rT3 on the last test because I hadn’t had it checked at all until now.
Kaynon311 - just now read through your threat - really interesting - thanks for sharing. I was just wondered what has happened since as far as what you are using. Have you stayed with gels or have you since went back to injections?
I’ve been off TRT since November 2013. I corrected every single lab abnormality related to the endocrine system via medication and supplementation and did not have any real lasting increase in my quality of life, so I began searching elsewhere. After they found the prolactinoma in 2011, endocrinologists were CERTAIN that once the prolactin levels were lowered, my testosterone levels would increase.
That wasn’t the case, and that’s when I began TRT. Fast forward to last November, my new endocrinologist (now old endo) prompted me to discontinue TRT to see where the cards would fall. I was reluctant, but abided because I was also curious to see what would happen. I used the “testosterone taper method”, and on the next test my numbers fell to an abysmal mid-100.
Since then, paying special attention to diet (I’ve been eating Paleo), losing weight, and proper nutritional support via autonomic response testing, my last test two weeks ago showed that my TT was 586.
To answer your question, I honestly preferred androgel over injections. I know we here at T-Nation generally suggest injections, but it’s all personal preference. For whatever reason, I felt better on gels than patches, troches, pellets, injections, or creams. Everyone’s mileage varies.