Friday, October 4, 2013

Testosterone update

I'm up to 3 pumps daily of 1.62% Androgel.

It is a lot of goop to spread on your shoulders, but it works out okay. I just have to time the application as I'm getting ready in the morning, so that the first layer has time to dry before the second layer.  My system will work for up to four pumps.  If I hit more than that I'm going to have to devise a new system. Or potentially apply T twice daily.

What's changed?

I am HAIRY.  That's a big change because I wasn't a particularly hairy person before; now almost every surface is covered in some sort of hair. Most of it is blond fuzzies, but much of it is on the darker side, and I anticipate that it'll just get darker.  Potentially I'll just be blond, though. How bad could that be?  It might be okay.  I'd rather have some darker hair, though.  But only time will tell what the T fairy will bring!

My upper register in my chest voice is GONE. I can still get there in my head voice (although it is tougher, and it cracks a bit) but I don't sound any different to myself with my every day speaking voice.  It is the singing voice that appears to have had the most effect from the T. I was a soprano to begin with.  I'll make a recording this weekend and see how it compares to the other two. Admittedly I have sucked at making voice recordings documenting the change to my voice.  I'm going to try to do a better job of that, making a recording weekly from now on. That may or may not get posted here. Haven't figured out how to do that yet.

I have gained weight.  This is due in part to my constant hunger. Not sure if that's related to T or not, but it is troublesome. Because I'm so hungry all the time, I'm not watching my caloric intake. And I haven't been exercising as much as I should be.  Those two things in concert, even without the T would make me gain weight.  But I do think the hunger has something to do with the T. That's just my experience, though.  I am not craving red meat like some people have claimed has happened to them. But, as in all things, Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV).

My weight has shifted around.  My face is a little squarer; my hip and butt fat has moved around. All my weight is carried in front now. That's not super different from where it was carried before, but the weight has shifted away from my hips and my butt and is definitely ALL in front now.  Fun stuff.  Makes it clear to me that I need to a) eat differently and b) get to the gym!

I think that covers most of the changes I've seen so far.  No issues with anger or irritation like I've heard from people who take intramuscular T, so that's nice. No hormonal/mood ups and downs, so that's great, too. I like where things are going. I'm a little impatient, but not TOO impatient!