ExcelMale
Menu
Home
What's new
Latest activity
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Videos
Lab Tests
Doctor Finder
Buy Books
About Us
Men’s Health Coaching
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Forums
Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Testosterone Side Effect Management
Personal experiences with both HCG Monotherapy and TRT?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Sakuraba39" data-source="post: 70414" data-attributes="member: 15636"><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">newguy,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">There's a lot to go over, so I hope that I get to it all. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Yes, I was/am definitely low-T (secondary hypogonadism, but the VA doesn't even know what that means...low-T = low-T). Many times, even on the highest amount of they can Rx (200mg a week), I would still be borderline. After several low labs, my PC finally put me on it. I wasn't even really looking for it because I was there for a different reason.</li> </ol><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">2. Yes, the VA mails me my T every month. They used to mail me a 5ml vial of 200mg/per, but that changed a few years back. Now it's 4 1ml vials. They change suppliers every so often. I've had many different companies supply it and every now and then it switches between cypionate and enanthate. I have not noticed a difference. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">3. I do my own shots, but they would do it for me if I chose. HINT: never choose that. The less they interfere with your care, the better. Their protocol is ancient. They'd be injecting me once every two weeks with 20g needles if I let them. It wasn't until I found a Yahoo group specifically dedicated to secondary hypogonadism that I got stable levels. Now, I'm on 80mg E3D&#8230;.sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">4. They will not Rx HCG to a man unless you are of a certain (reproductive) age. Don't even bother. I'm 50+ and they're not giving a guy my age HCG. I tell them that I do it, but it ends there. That's another story, too. You sometimes have to be selective as to what you tell them. I see a specialist outside the VA that has his own opinions and they will often not be in concert with VA practices. I learned this the hard way. I once had a consult with an Endo at another VA and once she found out I was taking Cytomel she threatened to pull all my meds. I had to file a complaint with the <u><strong><em>Patient Advocate</em></strong></u> (remember that as it may come in handy in the future).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">5. Arimidex&#8230;I don't know as I've never had issues with E2. It's been a few years since I've had a sensitive test, but I've never had a troublesome lab in the past and never suffered from any of the symptoms of elevated E2. My experience has been that if anything is off-label, good luck convincing them. As far as i know, they don't have the sensitive E2 test for men in their system. You would have to have it tested privately and bring in the labs and make your case. Knowing the VA, instead of providing it, they would want to take you off T entirely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">6. If you have legit low-T on multiple labs, they have to provide it for you. Not symptoms of low-T, but documented physiological issues (primary or secondary). Seriously, it took me a while to understand how they work&#8230;.because it's not always rational. I've had endos want to take me off because I once (once!!) got a normal T lab (400-something). I've never had an elevated PSA in 15 +/- years of TRT. Some Docs tell me that I metabolize this stuff quickly (or whatever).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">7. Your PC CAN prescribe T. Every one of mine has. They may tell you that they can't, but this is false. Your specific VA may have a preference, but by their own by-laws, PCs can, if you have clear evidence via your labs, Rx you damn near anything.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">8. “Borderline” or high/low-normal will get you nothing at the VA. Most times, it's not the Drs fault as they have protocols they must abide by. Private Drs can whatever they want, but not the VA. They have to answer for the things they prescribe (in your chart).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">9. The VA can be very helpful in certain instances, I agree. They will do my labs at least twice a year, no questions asked. They will often do labs that my private Dr requests. They will honor some Rx he requests, assuming I have a lab to back it up and the med isn't off-label. They will x-ray or MRI just about anytime I need it. I've been to the ER a couple of times in the last 2 years for bursitis and cellulitis and gotten antibiotics within 20 mins. I have gotten physical therapy there, too. They have a library with a printer/fax machine I use to make copies of my records and fax results to the private Dr. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">10. From what I have hear, VA dental is bad. I'm not saying that I would never go there, but, fortunately, I have not needed their services (yet). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">11. They will call security on you for any type of display of anger. I've seen many things there (I'll get to that shortly). The VA is full of PTSD vets with all sorts of issues and they don't often know the difference between “quit picking at my access, you crazy b#$ch” and a guy from &#8216;nam or OIF/OEF about to lose his shit. Especially the women&#8230;and the VA is run by women.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">12. Waivers and discounts. This is an issue directly related to whatever Tier/classification you are in. It's based upon your income and/or need. If you have a full-time job and can support yourself, the programs available to you are limited (unless, of course, you have a Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, were a POW, etc). I am (non-SC) disabled and live only on SSI and the good graces of family. I qualify for everything but dental (perhaps Vision, too. I'm unsure). I don't have a co-pay for Rx. I'm eligible for a one-time dental appointment, so I've been told to make it count (as opposed to a cleaning). Beyond that I can get discounted care.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">A fair amount of my disability $ goes to private medical expenses. Stuff that the VA either refuses to do or simple cannot do (yet).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">NOTE: At one time, I “worked” at the VA in a program for disabled vets. It's was through the Social Work department. They give you a couple bucks an hour, but it gets you out of the house.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Most of the guys in the program are/were substance abusers, shiftless and/or scammers looking for the free stuff available at the VA (beyond medical care&#8230;like food, clothes, toiletries, etc). Having no substance baggage, an advanced college education and a better work ethic than 99% of government employees (it isn't difficult) it didn't take long to gain the trust of a few department heads.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">I worked in a number of areas, but mainly in the mailroom. I delivered both packages and letters. When you work in a mailroom, you interact with a lot of people and departments throughout the entire VA campus. You see things&#8230;.like crazy vets that threaten employees dragged away by VA police&#8230;.just walking through the halls I've seen people die, seizures, fights, &#8230;and this is just in the hallways! I went every where that campus had &#8230;and you hear things, like people getting waivers for certain care, among other things. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">One thing I learned is that there are rules for everything at the VA and that there are exceptions to every one of these rules. They will not advertise these things. You have to find out for yourself. Every department has discretionary funds that they use for &#8230;well, whatever they want. There's a LOT of waste going on. That's for another post.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Our Director had a philosophy of never turning anybody away, which is why that guy I mentioned with a Dishonorable and a weeks worth of “service” was able to get 50k a year of free healthcare. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">I hope I covered what you asked. If there's anything else, please let me know. I will do what I can to help a fellow vet.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sakuraba39, post: 70414, member: 15636"] [FONT=Verdana]newguy,[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]There's a lot to go over, so I hope that I get to it all. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [LIST=1] [*]Yes, I was/am definitely low-T (secondary hypogonadism, but the VA doesn't even know what that means...low-T = low-T). Many times, even on the highest amount of they can Rx (200mg a week), I would still be borderline. After several low labs, my PC finally put me on it. I wasn't even really looking for it because I was there for a different reason. [/LIST] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]2. Yes, the VA mails me my T every month. They used to mail me a 5ml vial of 200mg/per, but that changed a few years back. Now it's 4 1ml vials. They change suppliers every so often. I've had many different companies supply it and every now and then it switches between cypionate and enanthate. I have not noticed a difference. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]3. I do my own shots, but they would do it for me if I chose. HINT: never choose that. The less they interfere with your care, the better. Their protocol is ancient. They'd be injecting me once every two weeks with 20g needles if I let them. It wasn't until I found a Yahoo group specifically dedicated to secondary hypogonadism that I got stable levels. Now, I'm on 80mg E3D….sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]4. They will not Rx HCG to a man unless you are of a certain (reproductive) age. Don't even bother. I'm 50+ and they're not giving a guy my age HCG. I tell them that I do it, but it ends there. That's another story, too. You sometimes have to be selective as to what you tell them. I see a specialist outside the VA that has his own opinions and they will often not be in concert with VA practices. I learned this the hard way. I once had a consult with an Endo at another VA and once she found out I was taking Cytomel she threatened to pull all my meds. I had to file a complaint with the [U][B][I]Patient Advocate[/I][/B][/U] (remember that as it may come in handy in the future).[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]5. Arimidex…I don't know as I've never had issues with E2. It's been a few years since I've had a sensitive test, but I've never had a troublesome lab in the past and never suffered from any of the symptoms of elevated E2. My experience has been that if anything is off-label, good luck convincing them. As far as i know, they don't have the sensitive E2 test for men in their system. You would have to have it tested privately and bring in the labs and make your case. Knowing the VA, instead of providing it, they would want to take you off T entirely.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]6. If you have legit low-T on multiple labs, they have to provide it for you. Not symptoms of low-T, but documented physiological issues (primary or secondary). Seriously, it took me a while to understand how they work….because it's not always rational. I've had endos want to take me off because I once (once!!) got a normal T lab (400-something). I've never had an elevated PSA in 15 +/- years of TRT. Some Docs tell me that I metabolize this stuff quickly (or whatever).[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]7. Your PC CAN prescribe T. Every one of mine has. They may tell you that they can't, but this is false. Your specific VA may have a preference, but by their own by-laws, PCs can, if you have clear evidence via your labs, Rx you damn near anything.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]8. “Borderline” or high/low-normal will get you nothing at the VA. Most times, it's not the Drs fault as they have protocols they must abide by. Private Drs can whatever they want, but not the VA. They have to answer for the things they prescribe (in your chart).[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]9. The VA can be very helpful in certain instances, I agree. They will do my labs at least twice a year, no questions asked. They will often do labs that my private Dr requests. They will honor some Rx he requests, assuming I have a lab to back it up and the med isn't off-label. They will x-ray or MRI just about anytime I need it. I've been to the ER a couple of times in the last 2 years for bursitis and cellulitis and gotten antibiotics within 20 mins. I have gotten physical therapy there, too. They have a library with a printer/fax machine I use to make copies of my records and fax results to the private Dr. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]10. From what I have hear, VA dental is bad. I'm not saying that I would never go there, but, fortunately, I have not needed their services (yet). [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]11. They will call security on you for any type of display of anger. I've seen many things there (I'll get to that shortly). The VA is full of PTSD vets with all sorts of issues and they don't often know the difference between “quit picking at my access, you crazy b#$ch” and a guy from ‘nam or OIF/OEF about to lose his shit. Especially the women…and the VA is run by women.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]12. Waivers and discounts. This is an issue directly related to whatever Tier/classification you are in. It's based upon your income and/or need. If you have a full-time job and can support yourself, the programs available to you are limited (unless, of course, you have a Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, were a POW, etc). I am (non-SC) disabled and live only on SSI and the good graces of family. I qualify for everything but dental (perhaps Vision, too. I'm unsure). I don't have a co-pay for Rx. I'm eligible for a one-time dental appointment, so I've been told to make it count (as opposed to a cleaning). Beyond that I can get discounted care.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]A fair amount of my disability $ goes to private medical expenses. Stuff that the VA either refuses to do or simple cannot do (yet).[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]NOTE: At one time, I “worked” at the VA in a program for disabled vets. It's was through the Social Work department. They give you a couple bucks an hour, but it gets you out of the house.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Most of the guys in the program are/were substance abusers, shiftless and/or scammers looking for the free stuff available at the VA (beyond medical care…like food, clothes, toiletries, etc). Having no substance baggage, an advanced college education and a better work ethic than 99% of government employees (it isn't difficult) it didn't take long to gain the trust of a few department heads.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]I worked in a number of areas, but mainly in the mailroom. I delivered both packages and letters. When you work in a mailroom, you interact with a lot of people and departments throughout the entire VA campus. You see things….like crazy vets that threaten employees dragged away by VA police….just walking through the halls I've seen people die, seizures, fights, …and this is just in the hallways! I went every where that campus had …and you hear things, like people getting waivers for certain care, among other things. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]One thing I learned is that there are rules for everything at the VA and that there are exceptions to every one of these rules. They will not advertise these things. You have to find out for yourself. Every department has discretionary funds that they use for …well, whatever they want. There's a LOT of waste going on. That's for another post.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Our Director had a philosophy of never turning anybody away, which is why that guy I mentioned with a Dishonorable and a weeks worth of “service” was able to get 50k a year of free healthcare. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]I hope I covered what you asked. If there's anything else, please let me know. I will do what I can to help a fellow vet.[/FONT] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Share this page
Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
WhatsApp
Email
Share
Link
Sponsors
Forums
Testosterone Replacement, Low T, HCG, & Beyond
Testosterone Side Effect Management
Personal experiences with both HCG Monotherapy and TRT?
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top