145 dys on AndroGel

[Guest guest]

Gayman, HIV+ for ~21 yrs 64 yo; generally I have blood work done quarterly

mainly for HIV viral load and CD4 counts. PCP put me on shorter

leash....viral load on 3-11-02 was 2400. PCP always looks for " trends " .

Viral load on 4-28-02 was 207. So we'll be back on quarterly blood work

now.

I was pleased with sex hormone values. In contrast to my initial experience

with AndroGel (AG) Jan thru Mar '01, my T levels remain relatively constant

where I like them to be. I've been on TRT since Feb '99 and have lost no

discernible nut mass....so it's not necessarily a given that your nuts will

atrophy when you're on TRT.

Since I don't have to worry about transfer of AG to female/children I do AM

and PM application of 5 gms...using bottom of Gerber's baby food jar.

Biweekly I shave ~4 x 7 " areas on inner thighs and I also shave my abdomen.

I think my estradiol and estrogen levels are more realistic. Arimidex, 1

mg/dy brought my values down too low IMO. Current values reflect two days

on Arimidex and one day off. I tried 1 mg eod....allowed Es to rise too

much.

I do this myself....my PCP is very knowledgeable in HIV/AIDS but his

knowledge about sex hormones, particularly balancing them. Most of what I've

learned have been from posts here and reading some of Shippen (out of date

unfortunately); and post at this

site.... .

For those of you that have been around here for sometime...you may remember

my saga using ChryDim gel for lowering Es. I would b the first too

recommend ChryDim as first line of approach....but monitor your E levels

frequently i. e. monthly and if after a reasonable time you see you

results.....seek out another anti-aromatase/estrogen management agent.

My erections for cyber sex are very hard; not uncommon for me to have two

cyber orgasms/dy.....for partner sex I still use Trimix.

12-5-01 3-11-02 4-29-02

29 dys 96 dys 145 dys

Tests Serum 750 704 791 (241- 827)

%Free & Weak 47.7 37.6 39.6 (18.3 - 62.3)

F & W bound 357.7 264.7 312.4 (66.6 - 276.3)

Estradiol* 50 16 27 (0-54)

Estrogen* 124 44 73 (40 - 115)

T/E2 ratio 15 44 29

________________________

*Controlled with Arimidex - Rx

Just my experiences...

OR eon