Well I've been taking these bios (generic testosterone 0.5 cream) and half doses of Estorgel for about a week and I'm feeling much better. I was excited about the testosterone, expecting a high surge in energy (any 70s girls remember black beauties?) I didn't get the surge of energy that I was hoping for nor would I say that my libido has changed much (must to hubby's disappointment)... but I do have a sense of 'well-being' . I no longer feel quite as anxious and I feel more capable, more ready to do things.

I suspect I will get the generics of the estradiol and progesterone later this week and I hope to be better able to tweak the dosage of them. Right now I'm trying to take equal doses of the E both am and around 3pm. I find it hard to get an even dose with the estrogel pump but I think the estrogen I'm getting is quite sufficient. I'm not really taking any P. just the OTC progest so that may be to my benefit too. So I think the E & P symptoms are doing well but could use more T.

So ladies, you who take T in a compounded cream, could you tell me where you apply it? I've been applying it on my forearms and even tried once behind my knee. Also... do you think I can double the dose to 1. or even 0.5 in the am and 0.5 in the pm? or does is accumulate in the fat over time and maybe I should give it more time and then see?

On the negative side.. it does look like I've picked up 4 pounds... But I feel more like working out so I guess I can be one of those fit fat peoples.

Hi Carol,
I'm glad you are feeling better! If you have only been taking the testosterone for one week I don't think you would be feeling the full effect yet. I think it could probably take at least a few weeks. I don't think testosterone is the only hormone involved in increased energy and libido so you would probably want to wait awhile to see how you are reacting to the estrogen and progesterone too. Also, you probably shouldn't increase your T without talking to your doctor. I apply my compounded testosterone on the back of my thigh--near the top of my leg. I alternate sides every day. I'm not sure if this is the best site or not so I'd be interested in hearing what others say.

Thanks Skier, I was wondering if it takes a while to notice. I'll be patient.

Carol,

I use Testosterone Cream and apply it to my forearms. I'm not regular with this although my dosage states I need to apply it twice daily. Sometimes I forget or simply don't bother with it. I can't say I noticed a big jump in my libido either. But it did seem to settle my jitters. I don't think it's so very powerful that one would notice a huge difference. The pharmacist states that if I need a "real boost" to apply it directly to the clitoris, but I can't say I've ever wanted that kind of jolt.

I'm glad you're feeling better tho!

I have read that it takes about a month of daily use to reach the full effect from testosterone. I have a script for testosterone 0.3% (3mg daily) but I was only using a partial dose and using it sporatically, maybe twice a week if I remembered. If I tried to use more at a time or more often, I would have an acne breakout &/or get quite b*tchy within a couple hours of using it. I would only use it in the morning or early afternoon because it was harder for me to fall asleep at night if I used in the evening.
I had the script changed from a cream to a gel at my last appointment and I like this much better, the absorption seems to be more even, a gentle and longer acting release. The full month supply is in a little syringe - 0.1cc daily and is still equal to 3mg per dose. The pharmacist suggested using it on my inner wrists as it gets into the bloodstream better in a thin-skinned area. It is easy for me to see exactly how much I am delivering from the syringe onto the wrist and then I rub my wrists together so I never actually touch the medication with my hands or fingers.
I use my Estrogel this way also, I place it a little higher up on my inner forearm and rub my forearms together to spread it from mid forearm to antecubital area on both arms. This way I receive the entire dose without losing any by spreading with my hands/fingers which would then be washed away afterwards.
I am on my 3rd week of using the testosterone daily and so far I've stayed pleasant & even-tempered. I can't really say that it has significally increased my libido or energy level much yet but I'm using it as much to help prevent further bone loss too. My doc is willing to increase the dose but I think I will give it a few months and see how it goes before adding more.

Thanks Nightowl, Mine is in a syringe also and makes it easy to see what dose I'm getting. And I guess it is my inner wrist, lower forearms where I'm applying it so I'll stay the course and see what happens in a month. Actually I go for more blood work in 2 months so I may wait and see what the blood work says.

Thanks,

Hi Carol,

I'm also new to the bios. I started taking bi-est/progesterone/testosterone in a capsule 2x a day last week. I haven't noticed much change in libido either, my moods are a bit more stable though my aches and pains are still around but my tolerance of them is better. But I also go for acupuncture now for the back problems. I have no other side effects except for a few days my left breast felt tender and achy, that's it so far. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Thanks Corky, I will. I went to an acupuncturist when all this first started. He gave me some Chinese herbs... tasted nasty but I did get accustomed it after awhile and began to almost like it. It didn't seem to help my symptoms though. He also put the needles into my legs, at different points trying to find my yin and yang, then he twisted the needles..... Ouch... that hurt. I didn't go back after that. I'm a coward and a very low tolerance for pain. I hope yours isn't as painful.

I wouldn't expect to see a huge jump in anything with a dosage of .5 mg. I noticed the libido increase within 48 hours at a 2 mg dose. (But I suppose it is important what the blood test revealed. My testosterone started at 9 and jumped to 58 over a 3 month period. I understand the ideal range is between 50 and 70.)

As for application, my doctor -- a Cenegenics endocrinologist-- said once a day and was very specific about where, behind the knee. Definitely no where near the face or neck or chest. (I don't want to think about why she stressed this--hirsutism?)

Gynos (as opposed to anti-aging docs) are conservative. My gyno winced when she saw that I was taking 2 mg of testosterone. And she really winced when she saw I was taking 2 mg of estradiol. (My sister has breast cancer.) She wanted me to go down to .5 mg with the estradiol, and "go easier" on the testosterone. I tried to do as she asked, but I felt the hot flashes and all the rest coming back again. I am now at 1.5 mg with both these elixirs and am chomping at the bit to go back to full dosage. Unbelievable to me that anyone would forget to put their hormone creams on. I can't wait to put those creams on. They make me feel so great! Do I sound like a drug addict?

It is so odd that my gyno treats hormones, especially estrogen, like they are poisons. And my endocrinologist, while understanding the problems of overdosage, thinks of them as remedies, definitely good for you.

My problem right now is that I had to fire my endocrinologist because she cost so very much, (the cost of a small car, no kidding). And I am finally realizing that I probably won't get the kind of dosages I think my body needs from a gynecologist. (When they see a woman at midlife, they think cancer, cancer, cancer.) So at this point, I have my eye out for a great endocrinologist or antiaging doc in NYC or Westchester. Why is there no one like Dr. Vliet in New York?

wordsmith

Thanks Wordsmith,

Dr. didn't take my testosterone at last visit but about 6 months before total T was 8 and Free was 0.6. So I probably could increase to at least one and then back off but right now I'm having another issue. Up until this morning I've been using the estrogel pump (0.5 per gram-not sure how many grams to a pump) and now I have my generic cream estradiol so used that this morning 0.75mg and I also took the progesterone cream 0.45mg last night. Now I'm feeling bloated. I think I'll back off the progesterone and see how I do tomorrow.... and I felt so good this morning! I hope it wasn't a fluke.

I hear you on the finances... with our baby boom generation getting to this age, the whole medical establishment is wanting to cash in on it leaving us with fewer and fewer choices. Makes me wish I had gone to medical school.... Would love to be in the driver seat of my own health. <sigh> But the doc who prescribes for me is an aging doctor and my co-pay is the same as a gyn or GP..so I'm lucky there. Now if I were just as lucky with the parmaceuticals.

Am I never content?