Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Jasmine3234]

I have been taking this for 2 weeks now, one pump every other day and I actually am feeling worse.

I am on Oestrogel 4 pumps daily plus desogestrel x 2 daily.   I had just about settled on this after 10 months of hell on femoston, but started the Tostran as my testosterone blood levels were low.

I am now feeling really emotional / aggressive, sleep has gone worse and have actually been having very bad thoughts in the middle of the night.  Could this be down to the Tostran?  Should I stop altogether, cut the dose down or give it a chance?

x

[Annie0710]

I'd cut the dose to start with
Maybe try half pump 2 or 3x weekly ?

I actually started on a pump every day and that was when I felt my best but have settled on 3x weekly now but more tired, to be fair though I'm more active so I guess it kind of balances out x

[Hurdity]

I agree with Annie0710 - defo cut the dose. The Chelsea and Westminster recommend one pump twice a week and only increase to 3 x per week if no relief of symptoms. As some effects take 4-5 months to become apparent you don't want to start off my feeling side effects as it could mean too high a dose and after several months you might get androgenic side effects. Has the doc agreed to monitor levels after  a certain length of time? What were your symptoms of low T?

Hurdity x

[Jasmine3234]

Hi Hurdity  I am actually sitting here crying my eyes out.  I was so hopeful after finally stabilising on Oestrogel & desogestrel.   I thought the Tostran would be the final thing to make me feel much better, ie. fatigue, sense of well being and brain fog.

I can't be sure if it is adding in the Tostran, I've been on one pump every other day for 2 weeks, because things are tough anyway with other stuff.  It's just I was coping so much better and now I'm an emotional wreck... 

So, I don't know whether to just stop it completely as i've only been on it 2 weeks or cut down or what?

Sorry 

[Hurdity]

Jasmine3234 so sorry you are upset

In your position I would cut down perhaps to no more than twice a week. Problem with Tostran is it is concentrated so perhaps you could pump out a full pump but apply a bit less - eg a pea-sized blob might be less than a full pump? Alternatively I use a daily pea-sized blob of testim/Testogel (1%) and this would be less than that because a tube  lasts longer than 10 days. Also could some of your residual fatigue be down to the double dose of desogestrel ie progestogenic side effects?

Also when are you applying it? I put mine on in the morining so peak blood levels will occur during the day.

If you're feeling aggressive then sounds like it really is too much - I have never felt aggressive when using T (except when I want to throw something at my husband  ).

Hang in there - it will get better but cut down on the T first!

Hurdity x

[Jasmine3234]

I really am too upset to post much more tonight, but thank you xx

Is it ok if I PM you tomorrow?

 

[Annie0710]

Bless you.  Cut the T right down.
It really can take a few months to get the effect of T.   For me the biggest benefits have been:  low mood lifted, social anxiety greatly improved, wellbeing greatly improved.  And orgasms much stronger

Libido ironically is the least affected for me, I do get in the mood but nowhere as often as I'd hoped but I do respond to hubby's advances much better

T really has given me my life back, please don't despair, it's really hard working out what works for each individual and it's hard persevering when you feel rock bottom xx

[Perinowpost]

Jasmine3234 just to echo what the others have said, you are definitely using too much. I've had a similar experience to you when T has been too high and so have learnt by trial and error that less is more. I now use T (testim gel) 3 x a week, a petit pois size amount, and 1 tube lasts me a month. This works well and definitely improves fatigue + response (not so much libido), I wouldn't want to be without it. If I were you I would cut back immediately and hopefully you will soon get the benefits x

[Hurdity]

Hi Jasmine3234 - yes that's fine. Out all day but back this eve...hope you're feeling better today.

That's interesting Perinowpost - that's even less than I use ie half the amount (I use pea-sized blob of Testim daily) so good to  hear that very small amount is having an effect.  I think docs often seem to be prescribing too much too sonn and it's quite worrying! It's not an instant thing!

Hurdity x

[Jasmine3234]

Hi thanks for the replies, I thought I would give an update.

I should have taken my usual dose of Tostran last night, but because I was feeling so awful I didn't and also managed to contact my specialist today.  I explained how I was feeling (mood swings, irrational thoughts, depression, crying, anxiety and also suicidal thoughts in the night)  She advised to stop immediately and although these side effects are not common, she had no doubt it was the testosterone making me feel like that and that it was too high a dose for me. 
She also said that I may want to try it again in the future, but at a much lower dose and that each individual's reaction to hormones is very different.  So the last thing I want to do is to scare people away from it, but I thought I should at least post my experience.

The other thing I asked about was the breast pain 4 months on with Oestrogel.  To this, she said it was definitely worth riding it out because it will settle eventually.  I couldn't agree more because apart from this and some spotting it is the best I have felt after 10 months of hell on Femoston.

I hope this is ok to post, if not please do delete.  J x

[Campy]

Hi there,

I appreciate I am replying to a post written almost 6 years ago (which in many ways is ironic) as the issues are still very much present for us women today. Needless to say, I am reaching out about Tostran gel which I started taking in October and like many of you thought this was the ‘final piece of the jigsaw’ and thought I would have cracked my menopause struggle. But no!  This gel I do believe is making me feel worse and on the back of the last posts here (2018) I’m now considering stopping.

Is there anyone else out there still experiencing this and what are you doing to help yourselves.

Thank you 🙏

[Moog77]

I had a similarish experience on Tostran - I felt really not well on it.

Looking at my blood tests whilst i was on it my FAI actually went DOWN from 1.1 to 0.7!!!My Oestrogen at that point was 787 on 3 pumps of Oestrogel. I suspect my Oestrogen wasnt optimal and the T was converting to O and perhaps that level of Oestrogen was maybe too high for me. All a bit of guess work but regardless I came off the Tostran and felt much much better. Then of course the issues with Oestrogel bottles started and I had to switch to patches (deep sigh). Im OK but not as good as I was on the gel for sure.

In regards to T I suspect I could still benefit from some and as I am now on 100mcg patch perhaps my O is now optimal and I will get the benefits. One thing I did take note of was from an Instagram Live that Louise Newsom did the other night on Testosterone. She hinted that daily doses may be more beneficial instead of 2 or 3 x weekly to provide consistent levels and therefore a more stable experience. I think if I start T again - and it I will absolutely give it a try again - I will maybe ask for Testogel which is a daily smaller dose. Or if it is Tostran I will start off on a smaller dose but apply this daily.

I am sorry you feel so bad - I felt really pretty poorly when I tried T. Very depressed and spotty. In fact I only managed 6 weeks on it. I could not bear another day of feeling like I did.