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[NuclearScientist]

Bobidy we said we would compare and I've been taking testosterone since 13August so over a month now. Brain fog has cleared and I feel I have more energy and confidence. I am going back to see NHS consultant in 2 weeks.

 No issues with area where I apply the cream top of thigh alternating sides each day. I used your advice about pea size blob and measure by sight rather than using syringe. How are you getting on.

[Bobidy]

Hi NS, great news about you. It's very reassuring.

I'm on holiday at the moment so going to start the Androfemme when I land back. I'll probably wait until 1st Oct now so I can remember the start date. I wanted to get my oestrogen levels up a bit before I started as they were still a little low apparently at 270ish. I've gone up to 3.5 pumps (split am and pm) of estrogel and feel pretty good on that.

I'm looking forward to starting the Androfemme as hopefully that will be my missing link fingers crossed.

It's great that you can see improvement so soon as I think it can sometimes take 6 months.

I'll report back with an update, please still let me know how you get on xx

[Sheanie]

I've also just started taking Androfeme, hoping for more energy and clearer thinking mostly. I'll try to report back on any improvements/issues too.

[Ljp]

Hi,
 I use 3 pumps oestrogel daily, I have mirena coil and estring for VA, using all for almost 4 years, but only upped to 3 pumps oestrogel as of January this year.
I also see a private gnoses for Mona Lisa laser which has taken time, and money!, but improved things considerably, now maintenance is the key to continued success.

Bladder frequency and urgency/urge incontinence, low libido and energy are my residual issues, and my private gynae has prescribed me tostran gel 2% to try.

Having read hundreds of posts on forum 😊 I started a week ago Wednesday, using a petite poi's sized amount daily.
I had some heavy head days and felt a bit agitated/more foggy, so thought I might be best to do one pump three times a week instead.... I applied one pump Wednesday and felt great all day, I teach dancing (7 classes a week) and had lots of energy, a really good day.
Thursday I didn't use any, still felt ok.
Yesterday I applied another pump, and initially felt ok, but by mid afternoon I felt very foggy, agitated, almost shaky, like I had pent up energy, a bit like having too much caffeine, not a nice feeling at all 😟., and I've just had a terrible night, first time in a long time, restless, I woke a 3 for a pee and couldn't get back to sleep, laid there listening to hubby snore, tossed and turned until 4:30 then went to spare room, managed to get back to sleep eventually, don't know what time, and woke at 7:30.

Any advise please? I feel the tostran has helped already in some ways, like frequency appears to have improved, and definitely improving energy, but too much so like yesterday and last night.
Without wanting to give too much info, intimacy was great the other night too, desire not improved, but response definitely! 😊

Wondering whether it's best to try two pumps a week maybe monday and Thursday? Or whether due to my response I'd be better to try petite poi's sized amount three times a week? Say mon, wed, fri?

I know it takes time to get individual dosage right, and I'm happy to give this a good try, but I'm scared of feeling how I felt yesterday again 🤷‍♀️

Thanks in advance x

[Ladybt28]

My approach to any of the gels is start slow and build up to let the body get used to it.  Sometimes the body reacts and you feel a bit worse to start with because it's a bit of a shock to the system, that it didn't have this before and oh now I've got a chemical I thought I'd lost.  I did every other day to start but then everyone reacts differently.  Just think about the advantages until it settles which should be or maybe about 3 weeks. I'm on Tostran too.

[Sheanie]

Hi Ljp,

It does sound like you're reacting to the Tostan. I can't see agitation/nervousness, etc. as a known side effect of Tostran on the patient leaflet, which I assume you've looked at https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/332/pil The top ingredient in Tostan is propylene glycol, which I personally avoid whenever possible. It's claimed to be safe and is in everything from food to cosmetics. Agitation is cited as one of the consequences of PG toxicity, but I can't imagine a few small blobs of Tostan being toxic. Maybe one of the other ingredients isn't sitting well with you?

The consultant I see was prescribing me Tostran and recommended a pea sized blob every other day, so 3x a week sounds about right. But have you thought of reducing the dose to see if you can tolerate that better?

I ended up getting Androfeme because it's designed for women and because I MUCH prefer the carrier ingredients - no propylene glycol! I'm taking the lowest dose every day. Day 3 and I haven't noticed anything good (understandably) or bad. 

S x

[Hurdity]

The advice from the Chelsea and Westminster clinic is to start Tostran at two pumps per week rising to max of 3 but the BMS guidance says alternate days - which gives 35 mg the same as Testogel sachets if the latter are made to last 10 days.

However my sachets of 1 % gel last longer than 10 days (more like 2 weeks) and that is enough for me, so I would be tempted like Ladybt says to start low and slow with the T and my gynae said it can take 4-5 months for the effects to be felt fully throughout the body so don't be in a hurry to increase!

I'm not sure how the progestogen levonorgestrel relased from the coil interacts with or affects Sex Hormone Binding Globulin and with added testosterone.

Hurdity x

[karenc1900]

Hi Ljp,

I was prescribed Tostran privately but had the same side effects as you with only very small doses, palpitations, headache, anxiety and feeling very ‘wired' and unable to sleep 

I also have a mirena coil and as Hurdity said I am unsure how the progesterone in it effects the use of testosterone ? it could be that we are sensitive to something in Tostran or that 2% is too strong even used in small amounts for us. The doctor who prescribed it said it was unusual to have these side effects but I have read on these forums that it does happen for some.

I no longer use it and am I undecided if I want to try again with a different testosterone...

[Perinowpost]

I reacted to something in testogel and had similar symptoms, but found I can tolerate testim in very small doses. Like the others have said It's a trial and error thing really x

[NuclearScientist]

I have not noticed any adverse effects with Androfemme Testosterone.  I apply to upper thigh alternating each morning. The only impacts I have seen are positive in terms of drive, energy and cognitive function. I am going back to see NHS Consultant this Friday.

[Ljp]

I've reduced my tostran to a petite pois sized amount every other day this week, and feeling good so far 🤞

[Bobidy]

Hi, just checking the petit pois pea sized amount. When I've used the Androfemme syringe for 0.5ml of this 1% gel it is definitely much more than x1 petit pois. More like x2 peas.

But I think as Dr Newson advised a pea sized amount I'll just do it by sight and then ask again at my next appointment. I think I'd rather err on the side of caution than be using too much.

I don't want to use the syringe each time as it wastes some of the cream and as we know it's ridiculously expensive!! x

[Sammiejane]

Annie0710

Hi Annie can u just ask what estrogen you take ?

What testosterone you take ?

Have you experienced hairloss on your regime ?

[Annie0710]

Annie0710

Hi Annie can u just ask what estrogen you take ?

What testosterone you take ?

Have you experienced hairloss on your regime ?

Hi Sammiejane
I use oestrogel - 3 pumps daily
Tostran - 3 pumps weekly
Vagifem - once daily

I suffered sudden and severe hair thinning prior to this regime (I was on patches and no testosterone) so I figured I didn't have much to lose but so much to gain by testing out testosterone.  It has actually helped my hair, it's more manageable and healthy looking and seems thicker x

[Sammiejane]

Annie0710

Hi Annie

What patches were you u on prior to the gel and was it the patches that caused your hair loss ? I briefly came off the gel to try Estradot patch but was instantly shedding more hair and only did this because I wasn't obsorbing the gel well but I have gone back on it and increased to 2.5 pumps and hopefully will get testosterone of gp Tuesday which I hope will help my hair shedding ?