Talking to a new doc about my testosterone use.

[HHertz]

Ok, Hello all. Registered to ask about this, but I see a wealth of knowledge here. I'm 39yo.

So' I've been employed without insurance for a couple years, but now have a good job (union) with full benefits including, of course, health. Now to make this short, I realized through self paid bloodwork that my test was on the lower end of norm and I will readily admit, as a person who has found weightlifting, I went ahead and did a cycle of testosterone. Loved it, great gains, will do it again most likely. Now, considering I felt that there was no way my natural levels were going to ever be where i want them to be (mid-high normal) I've stayed on a self prescribed TRT for some time now. Feel great. Don't plan on stopping, ever.

My question is how do I broach the subject with a new doctor and what should I expect. I am of course wanting my insurance to pay, have a legit prescription, and most importantly have my health monitored by a professional.

Any knowledge or advice on this would be much appreciated, but, please do not lecture or judge me for my decisions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ERO]

Just my 2-cents - I would definitely find and use a true TRT specialist and not have that conversation with a regular GP or Endo, for a couple of reasons. 1) Docs that are not TRT experts nearly always provide very poor TRT (and almost all the guys on here with issues and side effects are using a "regular" doctor), and 2) Regular doctors are often very paranoid about AAS usage. I would call Defy Medical although they like almost all of the TRT expert docs are cash-only providers.

 

[HHertz]

Thanks. Anyone else have input? I don't plan on telling the doc about my one cycle of test, just that I have been taking a trt dosage and that I don't want to, or feel I would be able to come off it. My main concern is whether insurance can deny covering me for this because I put myself on trt without a doctor.

 

[CoastWatcher]

Thanks. Anyone else have input? I don't plan on telling the doc about my one cycle of test, just that I have been taking a trt dosage and that I don't want to, or feel I would be able to come off it. My main concern is whether insurance can deny covering me for this because I put myself on trt without a doctor.

Are you using a doctor in your local community or working with Defy? If a local doctor, what is your relationship like? Insurance shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Henry]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. You don't know how the doctor would react. What if they put in your chart, "Patient admits to drug abuse." Some docs see taking any prescription meds, without a script, is drug abuse, no matter the dose.

Then it goes in your charts, and one day, your insurance company changes and they want to check your chart. Then they see, "Patient admits to abuse of controlled, prescription drugs." Then they might not want to cover you. Or, one day, you try to get a job with a security clearance or a background investigation and they see that.

If you know the doc and can trust that he won't label you a drug abuser, then tell him. Me personally, it's too great a risk for me.

 

[HHertz]

Yeah, most likely have to do what I want to avoid doing. Once I have a PCP, I will drop my dosage to a point that I know my labs will come back way low, and just complain to the doc.

Doctors aren't usually stupid though. I wasn't lying when I said that I did just one test only cycle, but have been lifting seriously for a few years. I'm 5'7 and 185 lbs with pretty low bodyfat. How is he going to believe that a guy my age with really low testosterone is able to have that kind of muscle mass? These docs must see it all the time nowadays. The "juicer" trying to get trt.

 

[hdrider]

If you read through the forums, you'll find that most doctors are uninformed and won't prescribe T, in spite of guys having low levels, and symptoms. So the likelihood of getting it prescribed by a non-TRT doc is low, regardless of how you try to play it.

i'd suggest going with a TRT specialist, and coming clean with everything. They deal with this situation all the time, from what I understand. Places like Defy are surprisingly affordable, and use up-to-date protocols. Although TRT clinics typically don't take insurance, if your insurance normally covers such treatment, you can gather the paperwork, and submit the claim yourself. The insurance company will then reimburse you directly, rather than the clinic.

 

[testlar17]

Perhaps you can use the forum to find recommendations for a local doc near you who is known to be TRT educated and supportive - then confide to that doc. You may more success going this route vs. talking to a GP whose perspective on TRT is unknown

 

[Re-Ride]

HHertz, you didn't "do a cycle". You began self administered TRT.

You could do a restart/PCT before asking your new PCP for a hormone eval. Your FSH and TSH at -0- would be the red flag not your state of conditioning.

I agree with Henry: Tell the new PCP nothing. If he scripts you then your stated goal is met. As others note you can ( and should ) seek care from an informed provider which might be a cash paid and used as a second opinion. Your new PCP might gradually see the light. The day will come however when you have complications and you might regret not having received quality HRT care early on.

 

[Vince Carter]

There's no reason to divulge your past use. Call Defy. Most certainly you'll need to quit cold turkey for 10-14 days and retest so you can establish a baseline T # but otherwise, you'd be good-to-go.