how long should I come off for?

**Sicko** · 09-06-2011, 07:26 AM

I am coming up on my next set of bloodwork for my clinic.
After these tests, I want to go to my GP to try and get trt prescribed so insurance will pay partial or all of treatment.
I am currently prescribed 200mg ew tes thru clinic.
My question is how long must I come off trt so that bloodwork taken for GP reflects my natural tes levels and not elevated by trt dose.

**zaggahamma** · 09-06-2011, 08:18 AM

imo, 3-4 weeks ..

what were you guessing

**steroid.com 1** · 09-06-2011, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by jpkman

imo, 3-4 weeks ..

what were you guessing

^^^^+1 Agree.

**Fred40** · 09-06-2011, 10:07 AM

That's going to be a loooong month.

I might be in the same boat down the road though.

**Sicko** · 09-06-2011, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by jpkman

imo, 3-4 weeks ..

what were you guessing

Really had no idea.. I know it takes approx three weeks from last injection to leave system, but I dont know how long it takes for levels to fall back into "normal" operating ranges.

**bass** · 09-06-2011, 10:59 AM

for level to get back to normal is allot longer than 3-4 weeks, but what JPK was referring to is for the test you shoot to clear your system is 3-4 weeks. your natural levels may not come back to its normal levels without a proper PCT! thats why they say TRT is for life, meaning your natural production will shutdown!

**Sicko** · 09-06-2011, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by bass

for level to get back to normal is allot longer than 3-4 weeks, but what JPK was referring to is for the test you shoot to clear your system is 3-4 weeks. your natural levels may not come back to its normal levels without a proper PCT! thats why they say TRT is for life, meaning your natural production will shutdown!

yeah I think you are miss understanding my question. I am not trying to go on and off trt for the hell of it. I want to get bloodwork done for my GP to look at so I can have her prescribe trt for me, instead of using a clinic. The prices are high and I have insurance so why should I pay for it if I dont have to.
I would have to come off of trt in order for my GP to see what levels I actually have right? If she looks at my bloodwork while I am currently on trt dose then how would she decide whether or not she would be able to prescribe because my levels would be elevated due to trt... Right? or Wrong?

**Fred40** · 09-06-2011, 12:23 PM

So 3-4 weeks might be perfect then.......your natural production will be in the crapper and your extrogenous testosterone will have cleared. Bonus.

**subnet** · 09-06-2011, 01:00 PM

sicko - do you have any bloodwork from before you started with your AA clinic, that shows low levels?

**bass** · 09-06-2011, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Sicko

[/B]
yeah I think you are miss understanding my question. I am not trying to go on and off trt for the hell of it. I want to get bloodwork done for my GP to look at so I can have her prescribe trt for me, instead of using a clinic. The prices are high and I have insurance so why should I pay for it if I dont have to.
I would have to come off of trt in order for my GP to see what levels I actually have right? If she looks at my bloodwork while I am currently on trt dose then how would she decide whether or not she would be able to prescribe because my levels would be elevated due to trt... Right? or Wrong?

i was just trying to make a point with that statement! for sure your levels will be way at the bottom! and your doc should put you on TRT!

**GotNoBlueMilk** · 09-06-2011, 02:23 PM

Do you have your original baseline blood tests? Show them to the GP and maybe you don't have to come off HRT for new tests.

**HitIt** · 09-06-2011, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Sicko

I am coming up on my next set of bloodwork for my clinic.
After these tests, I want to go to my GP to try and get trt prescribed so insurance will pay partial or all of treatment.
I am currently prescribed 200mg ew tes thru clinic.
My question is how long must I come off trt so that bloodwork taken for GP reflects my natural tes levels and not elevated by trt dose.

is it impossible for you to tell your GP your situation so that she can prescribe you what you're already on and just go from there, or is your bloodwork way above range due to 200mg/wk or what? Why not just take your existing BW in to your GP (unless, like i stated it's way above range and you're worried she'd underprescribe you now). In other words, why not just level with her so you don't have to go through 3 to 4 weeks of no T. Surely she wouldn't want you to suffer....or would she?

**steroid.com 1** · 09-06-2011, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by HitIt

In other words, why not just level with her so you don't have to go through 3 to 4 weeks of no T. Surely she wouldn't want you to suffer....or would she?

Hmmm....are you suggesting the OP be honest and upfront with his GP?

What do they say about honesty being the best policy...

Nice suggestion HitIt and somthing to think about Sicko.

**subnet** · 09-06-2011, 03:33 PM

I think that's what gnbm and myself were also saying - if you have previous bloodwork that shows low levels, then take that in, tell your GP what you've been doing, and you should be good to do. I did that earlier this spring and my GP was totally cool with that. He asked me what dose I was on, and then wrote me a prescription for that and Arimidex . Easy peasy...

**JD250** · 09-06-2011, 03:38 PM

Chances are that if your doc cant see that your protocol is working with current blood tests then he/she probably doesnt know squat about HRT and wouldn't be worth the hassle of trying to work with.

**Fred40** · 09-06-2011, 05:28 PM

My insurance will not cover until my total is below 300. I was assuming Sicko was saying the same thing.....low T but not low enough before starting TRT for insurance to pick up the cost.

I would have to stop TRT and get a blood test that shows a total below 300 in order to get coverage. At some point down the road I may do that.

**Vettester** · 09-06-2011, 08:21 PM

Agree with what others are saying on the timeline. I've seen close to baseline numbers at/around 21-24 days. Also agree that being up front and honest with your GP could potentially backfire on you. I used to think that was the route to go, but learned the hard way that what you say to the GP can and will be used against you if needed.

**THINKBIG** · 09-06-2011, 09:17 PM

I pay 6k a year for my healthcare benefits. I get the run around from them everytime I have to use it. I called and they said my test and hcg would be covered this was by 3 different morons on the phone submitted the paperwork 3 times and always comes back rejected, spoke with a manager and they said to resubmit it again that 10k plus had been rejected and they are working on it. well just got it back again. The wife is calling and cancelling the insurance tomorrow they will be out 6k from me so ****ing tired of the way our country is going.....

**steroid.com 1** · 09-06-2011, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by THINKBIG

I pay 6k a year for my healthcare benefits. I get the run around from them everytime I have to use it. I called and they said my test and hcg would be covered this was by 3 different morons on the phone submitted the paperwork 3 times and always comes back rejected, spoke with a manager and they said to resubmit it again that 10k plus had been rejected and they are working on it. well just got it back again. The wife is calling and cancelling the insurance tomorrow they will be out 6k from me so ****ing tired of the way our country is going.....

That totally sucks TBig. I hear your pain loud and clear. Keep us posted on your outcome man.

**Sicko** · 09-08-2011, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by subnet

sicko - do you have any bloodwork from before you started with your AA clinic, that shows low levels?

My clinic has a my original chart..I never filled out the release form they required to send it to me, but I can get it..

Originally Posted by bass

i was just trying to make a point with that statement! for sure your levels will be way at the bottom! and your doc should put you on TRT!

ok, ok Bass stop yellin at me with all those exclamation points...heheheh..

Originally Posted by GotNoBlueMilk

Do you have your original baseline blood tests? Show them to the GP and maybe you don't have to come off HRT for new tests.

I dont think a GP will accept someone elses bloodwork..general rule is they(GP) will want to preform their own test/send you to their place for bloodwork..

Originally Posted by HitIt

is it impossible for you to tell your GP your situation so that she can prescribe you what you're already on and just go from there, or is your bloodwork way above range due to 200mg/wk or what? Why not just take your existing BW in to your GP (unless, like i stated it's way above range and you're worried she'd underprescribe you now). In other words, why not just level with her so you don't have to go through 3 to 4 weeks of no T. Surely she wouldn't want you to suffer....or would she?

I dont know how high it is now, but I feel so much better than I used to, so I have to assume that it is high enough to warrent out prescribing trt while currently on trt.

Originally Posted by gdevine

What do they say about honesty being the best policy...
Hmmm....are you suggesting the OP be honest and upfront with his GP? MMmm... I dont think its about being honest, I dont want the numbers to be clouded by elevated numbers due to my present treatment..

Nice suggestion HitIt and somthing to think about Sicko.

Nahh I stopped going to church a long time ago, I am looking to improve the way I feel not my morality level

Originally Posted by JD250

Chances are that if your doc cant see that your protocol is working with current blood tests then he/she probably doesnt know squat about HRT and wouldn't be worth the hassle of trying to work with.

I think she as with most doctors are not influenced by other people/clinics to make their diagnosis.They make them from their own studies/tests.

Originally Posted by vetteman08

Agree with what others are saying on the timeline. I've seen close to baseline numbers at/around 21-24 days. Also agree that being up front and honest with your GP could potentially backfire on you. I used to think that was the route to go, but learned the hard way that what you say to the GP can and will be used against you if needed.

She is already aware that I am was looking to get on trt, as she gave me my physical required for the clinic to start trt.

**Sicko** · 09-08-2011, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by THINKBIG

I pay 6k a year for my healthcare benefits. I get the run around from them everytime I have to use it. I called and they said my test and hcg would be covered this was by 3 different morons on the phone submitted the paperwork 3 times and always comes back rejected, spoke with a manager and they said to resubmit it again that 10k plus had been rejected and they are working on it. well just got it back again. The wife is calling and cancelling the insurance tomorrow they will be out 6k from me so ****ing tired of the way our country is going.....

Is this a problem with anytime you try and use your insurance or just with trying to get trt covered?

**bd50** · 09-10-2011, 10:17 PM

as stated above a couple times,,, get copies of your INITIAL LOW T bloodwork.

yes, normally docs want to do their own bloodwork, and bill your insurance some more.

however, in this case the new doc would have to be more flexible, and understand that you are CURRENTLY on trt.
To make you come off would not only put you on an emotional/physical rollercoaster,, but the tests would not be very accurate anyways.

new doc should take the initial results and go from there. she can always test you 3 months down the road and see your "normal trt levels" and adjust as needed.

good luck