Testopel and Post-HRT Testosterone Levels

[LowerT51]

As many of you who regularly read this forum know, I'm a proponent of testosterone supplemention via Testopel pellets.  I have progressed over a two year period from barely being a sexual entity to now having sex as a regular/frequent mainstay in my life.  My marriage has benefitted from our newly found intimacy (though not so new any more - meaning it is still great but isn't new anymore) and things are just going well.  I'm not on Testopels's payroll but Peak T thinks I'm their poster child!!

Was wondering if other guys out there have had similar Testopel experiences to mine or different experiences for that matter?  It's not a topic that we can bring up at a cocktail party or on the golf course, etc. with our buds.  So would like to hear what you all have to say!!

[PeakT]

I think you might be the Mr. Testopel on this board. 

So what were your testosterone readings after they put you on Testopel and how many pellets did you get?  Did they tweak that the second time around?  I know you've put some of this out there before, but I think it might help this thread if you put that info down...

[LowerT51]

I initailly received ten pellets.  At the time my T level was ~325 ng/dl or so.  No more than that.  That first time I never had a follow up to assess new levels, but in three months my levels were 330 ng/dl so twelve pellets (size of rice grain) were inserted.  I did follow up after that second insertion to assess the increase and I was in the upper 600 range.  It is my understanding that post insertion T levels rise to their maximum potency in the bloodstream within a day or so.  Subsequent readings for me have been in the 800-900 range and the results for me have been phenomenal.  The T very gradually lessens post insertion, but for me, between insertions I'm still in the upper 400's, so I don't usually notice much of a slackening in my performance!  Time between insertions is usually 3 1/2 months.  Insertion site is slightly sore and bruised for a week post insertion then it's just forgotten. No daily gels and fear of transmitting T to folks around me.  It's been great! 

[PeakT]

between insertions I'm still in the upper 400's, so I don't usually notice much of a slackening in my performance!  Time between insertions is usually 3 1/2 months.  Insertion site is slightly sore and bruised for a week post insertion then it's just forgotten. No daily gels and fear of transmitting T to folks around me.  It's been great!

I would guess that this is enough time for the tissues, esp. inside the penis,  to rebuild.  So has this allowed you to get off the PDE5 Inhibitors?

Also, it would help if you gave your age and how many years you think you were low testosterone. 

[LowerT51]

Was never taking Viagra or Cialis, etc.  I've been low since my early thirties and didn't notice any issues till I hit my late fourties.  I'm now 52.  However, my libido and performance is now where it was when I was in my twenties!  That is the truth.....

[PeakT]

That's a great testimony there to the power of youthful testosterone.  You feel you were low testosterone for literally decades and now you're back with a vengeance, eh?  So how does the wife feel about you making up for last time?

Here is an important q:  so how healthy were you living before?  What were your typical blood pressure and cholesterol readings for the last few years for example?  How much did you exercise?  sleep?

I'm asking for a reason...

[nw2lwT]

I am interested in this type of HRT.  How much are the procedures?  Does insurance pay for such a thing.

I have been on Axiron for about 5 weeks and have little to no improvement. 

Thank you.

[PeakT]

I am interested in this type of HRT.  How much are the procedures?  Does insurance pay for such a thing.

I have been on Axiron for about 5 weeks and have little to no improvement. 

Thank you.

5 weeks is a little early to go by feel:  it can take months.  And I'll state the obvious:  depending on your age, history and current lifestyle, testosterone is not necessarily a miracle cure.

Also, you really need to get tested.  It is very difficult to guess what your testosterone is, so I urge you to push your doc for retest if you can possibly afford it. 

Testopel appears to be a good option at this point and many urologists are now offering it.  But, to answer your question, it is often not covered by insurance.

If you want to know some basic info, here is an interview that LowerT did awhile back:

http://www.peaktestosterone.com/Interview_Testopel_Testosterone_Pellets

[LowerT51]

My wife mostly likes it though my libido and urges do surpass her needs.  Even though we are a bit older I got a vasectomy over a year ago as she is not through her changes yet so this combined with the Testopel has made sex unbelievable. 
I don't notice any changes in my sleeping patterns and my BP and cholesterol have always been in the normal ranges.  Of note though is the fact that I walk/jog nearly every day now.  Picked up doing this after twenty years.  I'm extremely motivated to get  into better cardiovascular shape. 
Since on Testopel I have gained 5 to 10 pounds but now since exercising regularly i've dropped 5 pounds.  I find it extremely difficult to lose weight since on the pellets (I'm 5' 11" and 180 lbs now).

[PeakT]

My wife mostly likes it though my libido and urges do surpass her needs.  Even though we are a bit older I got a vasectomy over a year ago as she is not through her changes yet so this combined with the Testopel has made sex unbelievable. 
I don't notice any changes in my sleeping patterns and my BP and cholesterol have always been in the normal ranges.  Of note though is the fact that I walk/jog nearly every day now.  Picked up doing this after twenty years.  I'm extremely motivated to get  into better cardiovascular shape. 
Since on Testopel I have gained 5 to 10 pounds but now since exercising regularly i've dropped 5 pounds.  I find it extremely difficult to lose weight since on the pellets (I'm 5' 11" and 180 lbs now).

Well, the fact your blood pressure is good in your early 50's and you've never had to use the PDE5 Inhibitors is also a great sign.  My point was this:  you're a guy with some extra pounds but apparently fairly reasonable lipid/blood pressure numbers and HRT into the youthful (age 25) range has completely restored you.  So this is one success story at least for HRT.

Now men with lousy lipid numbers and higher blood pressure may struggle a bit more than you is my guess.  So, hopefully, some other men will chime in.

So no side effects obviously with the HRT, eh?

[LowerT51]

Nothing notable as side effects.  I do notice that my body is more solid in my upper arms and chest - hence the slight gain in weight.  Also, there is some increase in body hair but nothing out of control.  There is no shrinkage of my testes.

[PeakT]

So libido and E.D.-wise, would you estimated you are where you were at in your 20's?  30's?  16? 

[LowerT51]

Libido and frequency could be teens but to be conservative let's say easily 20's.

[Quincy]

I initailly received ten pellets.  At the time my T level was ~325 ng/dl or so.  No more than that.  That first time I never had a follow up to assess new levels, but in three months my levels were 330 ng/dl so twelve pellets (size of rice grain) were inserted.  I did follow up after that second insertion to assess the increase and I was in the upper 600 range.  It is my understanding that post insertion T levels rise to their maximum potency in the bloodstream within a day or so.  Subsequent readings for me have been in the 800-900 range and the results for me have been phenomenal.  The T very gradually lessens post insertion, but for me, between insertions I'm still in the upper 400's, so I don't usually notice much of a slackening in my performance!  Time between insertions is usually 3 1/2 months.  Insertion site is slightly sore and bruised for a week post insertion then it's just forgotten. No daily gels and fear of transmitting T to folks around me.  It's been great!

I'm currently using a 10% compound cream, 1 gram/day, for the past 2 1/2 weeks. Which means if I'm absorbing at the average rate of 10%, I'm getting 10mg of T/day. Will do another blood test in 1 1/2 weeks. My base level natural production was about 240 and I'm hoping the cream gets me to a reasonable level. If not, I'm interested in possibly trying the pellets.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your natural T production before any treatment? If you are getting 12 pellets every 100+ days, do you know how many T mg there are in each pellet? Seems like I've read the dosage of the pellets vary.

[LowerT51]

My T levels prior to pellets were ~ 325 ng/dl.  Post pellet T levels have consistently been in the 800 - 900 ng/dl range dropping to just below 500 ng/dl just prior to receiving a new insertion.