Re: Larry and Androderm patches

[Guest guest]

Hi Larry

My experience with patches hasn't been bad - you might want to stay

with it a bit longer to see if you get used to it.

My testosterone level has improved with 2.5mg patches - it's now at the

bottom of the normal range and I feel good (it was 2.9 nmol/l or less

beforehand, with a normal range of 11-35 nmol/l). My libido has

improved, and I didn't have any impotence anyway. I probably should

increase my dosage, but it doesn't feel necessary yet, and my endo

wants to wait until/if I ask.

I run 20km a week, and cycle probably about the same, too, so I sweat a

fair bit. I've only had problems with patches coming off a few times -

usually on the 2nd or 3rd shower of a very active day.

The gel never leaks, although I do get the same wrinkling in the foil

that you get.

Usually, the patches go on my back. The skin is flat and you just need

to stay away from shoulder blades. You'll need help for this, though.

I've never bothered with cleaning the area with alcohol beforehand. But

I do use a small amount of a cortisone cream ( " Aristocort "

triamcinolone cream) to prevent the itching and rash that I'd otherwise

get.

The temperature here in Sydney (Australia) regularly gets over 25C (the

max on the patch packets I have), and I don't put the air conditioning

on until it gets much hotter. No problems yet - although it was late

summer/early autumn when I started with patches. I don't know what

it'll be like next summer.

The gel sounds good, but it's more expensive. It might be available

where you are, but it's not available here.

later

On Tuesday, June 17, 2003, at 08:12 am,

wrote:

> Subject: hi guys

>

> Well, I was recently diagnosed with low testosterone (126). After

> much bloodwork and a MRI of my brain (no tumor... woo-hoo!), my doc

> started me on Androderm (5mg). I'm on my second day of wearing one

> of these things and I have a couple of questions.

>

> First, I've noticed that while wearing it, the " sticky " edges tend

> to wrinkle up which leaves little " tunnel " shaped gaps between the

> patch and the skin. The gel center won't leak out of there will

> it? The foil part of the patch seems impractical. It makes a

> crinkley sound and doesn't seem to stick too good (I clean the area

> with alcohol and allow to dry before application). I feel like I

> need to baby the patch to keep it from pulling off.

>

> Second, I like to work in the yard and canoe. I've read that these

> patches tend to come off when you sweat. I think they are suppose

> to be ok in the water, but during both of these activities, I'll be

> sweating a lot. Is there some way to keep these things on any

> better (some sort of sweat proof tape over the top of them maybe)?

>

> And as far as storing these things... I like to primative camp (out

> in the woods or swamps with no facilities... far away from

> civilization). If you are going to be out away from everything for

> a few days, and it's during the heat of summer or in the cold of

> winter, how can you take these things with you and still keep them

> around room temperature like the package insert says you must do?

> Do they become useless if they go outside of that temperature

> range? Would it be best to stop using them for those couple of days

> that I'm out in the woods and resume using them when I return?

>

> Thanks for your help and advice. I'm just starting to learn about

> all of this low testosterone stuff, so bear with me. I may be back

> with more dumb questions.

>

> ...Larry

>

[Guest guest]

Neil,

I think that the patch is the part with protective foil. I put the the " flesh

coloured "

aluminium-foil backed patch on my skin, and discard the other part, which is

clear

plastic with a shiny metal circle in the centre.

Are you trying to open up the area where the gel is, somehow?

> I also had a question, when you peel the patch apart from the protective

> foil should the gel be exposed or is that thing plastic-like film supposed

> to remain? Thanks.

>

> Neil.

>

> Re: Larry and Androderm patches

>

>

> > Hi Larry

> >

> > My experience with patches hasn't been bad - you might want to stay

> > with it a bit longer to see if you get used to it.

> >

> > My testosterone level has improved with 2.5mg patches - it's now at the

> > bottom of the normal range and I feel good (it was 2.9 nmol/l or less

> > beforehand, with a normal range of 11-35 nmol/l). My libido has

> > improved, and I didn't have any impotence anyway. I probably should

> > increase my dosage, but it doesn't feel necessary yet, and my endo

> > wants to wait until/if I ask.

> >

> > I run 20km a week, and cycle probably about the same, too, so I sweat a

> > fair bit. I've only had problems with patches coming off a few times -

> > usually on the 2nd or 3rd shower of a very active day.

> >

> > The gel never leaks, although I do get the same wrinkling in the foil

> > that you get.

> >

> > Usually, the patches go on my back. The skin is flat and you just need

> > to stay away from shoulder blades. You'll need help for this, though.

> >

> > I've never bothered with cleaning the area with alcohol beforehand. But

> > I do use a small amount of a cortisone cream ( " Aristocort "

> > triamcinolone cream) to prevent the itching and rash that I'd otherwise

> > get.

> >

> > The temperature here in Sydney (Australia) regularly gets over 25C (the

> > max on the patch packets I have), and I don't put the air conditioning

> > on until it gets much hotter. No problems yet - although it was late

> > summer/early autumn when I started with patches. I don't know what

> > it'll be like next summer.

> >

> > The gel sounds good, but it's more expensive. It might be available

> > where you are, but it's not available here.

> >

> > later

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Personally, I never had a problem with erectile dysfunction, alhough my libido

was

very low before starting TRT.

The latter is not surprising, as my T level was under 2 nmol/l (normal range:

11-35

nmol/l). On 2.5mg AndroDerm, my T increased to 6.7 nmol/l by May, and 12.2 nmol/

l earlier this month.

By normal standards, this is probably still too low, but it's enough for me - so

far.

And my libido has definitely increased.

Incidentally, my endocrinologist says that most erectile dysfunction is

" probably in

the head " , which is why it wasn't a problem for me. My partner - we've been

together

for 5 years so far - probably has a major impact

all the best

> I would like to know if the patches increased your ability to get erections

> and your desire for sex.

>

>

>