Doctors Visit during cycle

[OT8268]

How often do you guys visit the doctor during a cycle? Or do you visit at all? Also how much does a doctors visit cost? and what stuff do you get checked when you go? Plus what are the legal issues that come up? I know that doctors take an oath so it should be a secret from the law

[KeyMastur]

How often do you guys visit the doctor during a cycle?

zero, zilch, zip, none, nada

Or do you visit at all?

nope

Also how much does a doctors visit cost?

don't know, sure it depends on what all you have done

and what stuff do you get checked when you go?

i dunno

Plus what are the legal issues that come up? I know that doctors take an oath so it should be a secret from the law

got me again

[bortort]

Damn KeyMastur, your a book full on knowledge on this one. LOL

[bronzebeefcake]

Well if it helps i just talked to mine about regular blood work...He looked shock ...agreed to do though and keep confidential,but in the same breath told me in no way was he condoning my actions..He also said i must feel pretty comfortable to be talking to him so openly....guess depends on your relationship with your doc....aqs far as the cost....My medical insurance is great and covers all that stuff ,regular physicals,blood, in fact just checked my blood yesterday,dont know results yet..

[JP1570]

A member pointed out in a similar thread a few weeks ago (I think it was TXlonghorns or something like that) that when you do go to a doctor and your insurance covers it, they get the results. Years down the road, if you have some kind of problem like high blood pressure, liver trouble, etc... They can look back and see how high your bp levels and test levels were. Then, they don't pay for your surgery and you're screwed.

[TNT]

OT8268: In a nutshell, Before, during, and after. Since you haven't done a cycle yet, your best bet will be to get your labs checked out before you start a cycle, as it will provide a "baseline" set of readings (where you are normally). Then get checked once mid-cycle to make sure nothing is too far out of whack, and get checked again about four weeks after your cycle ends so you have an idea of the overall impact of AS on your system. I recommend asking the doc for a copy of your actual lab results each time - they're a great tool for your own education.

As for the legal issues, there are none. You are fully protected by physician-patient confidentiality. However, I usually recommend that you ask your doctor not to note your AS use in your chart. While there may not be legal issues now, your medical chart could be subpoenaed in the event of, say, an accident that results in a lawsuit (in which you are either plaintiff or defendant). AS use would not necessarily be relevant to the suit, but it could be used by opposing counsel to cast doubts about your credibility.
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Next . . .
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Bronzebeefcake: Don't give up that doctor, bro! He sounds perfect - open about not condoning your decision to use AS, but cooperative when it comes to monitoring you. Clinically, that sounds like the kind of guy that will always give you an honest opinion, and that's a valuable doctor to have.
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And finally . . .
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JP1570: Bullshit. (That refers to Tex, not you.) There was quite a background discussion going on among the mods and vets regarding Txlonghorn's posts, especially his claim to be a physician. Suffice to say, I disagreed with his position in toto, and he ultimately removed his own messages and took leave of our merry little band of marauders. (It was Tex's own decision; he was not banned.)

I submit that insurers are not routinely informed about a patients AS use; moreover, an insurer would pay for a surgical procedure, even if they knew that it was peripherally necesaitated by AS use. You can read the rationale for my position as discussed in another thread by clicking here (the post that replaced the one Tex deleted).

[JP1570]

wow, that's a lot more informative. Thanks TNT, wouldn't wanna be spreading some crap.

[bronzebeefcake]

Thx TNT for the reassurance....Mostly thx to this board I got the seed planted and the courage to approach my Doc..Hes a former emer..room doc and has a very good rep..I figured with the confidentiality act and all what did I have to lose by asking him? I wanted to make sure Iwas nice and healthy before during and after...As for him saying he didnt condone my actions ,I love it and told him im glad and understood but just want him to make sure that I wasnt killing myself in the process...

[OT8268]

Yeah Thanks TNT, this will make going about my cycle (when I decide to d one) a lot easier and a lot safer. I think a lot of ppl on the board neglect to get doctor checks while on the juice. Also should you tell the doc straight up before you cycle? and what if you have no insurance? How much will it cost?

[TNT]

Originally posted by OT8268
Also should you tell the doc straight up before you cycle? and what if you have no insurance? How much will it cost?

By all means, tell the doc straight up. That will help him or her determine which lab tests to order. This has been discussed pretty comprehensively in the past - if you'd like a profile of which tests should be done, go to the search function and search the term "lipid panel" (in quotes) and enter my name (TNT, without quotes) in the author field. That will bring up some of the threads in which I provide a list and explanation of common lab tests.

What if you have no insurance? Get some. Seriously, I don't mean to be flippant, but having insurance never seems important at a young age, until you need it (like in the event of an accident or a major illness). In an emergency, you will always be treated, even if you can't afford it, but the lack of insurance will skew your judgment about seeing doctors when there is not an emergency. Health insurance is ridiculously expensive, especially if you have to pay for it on your own. (Because I like PPO's and think that HMO's suck eggs, I pay for my own, to the tune of some $375 per month - and yes, that's just for me. Of course, I milk it to the core. If I get a freakin' hangnail, I want a specialist . . . makes me feel like I'm getting more of my money's worth.)

And if uninsured, what will labwork cost? Probably a few hundred dollars if you get the full complement of AS-related tests done. The problem is that for people who have health insurance, a major lab like Quest (formerly SmithKline) may bill your insurer $100 for any given test. The insurer may say, "Okay, we'll pay you $10.95 for that test." And under their contract, Quest has to accept the $10.95 as payment in full. But if they're billing you as an individual, then you are liable for the entire $100.00. Ridiculous? Of course. But that's the way health care works - a lab will take an 89% loss and wait for 60-90 days to get their money, but even if you are willing to pay right away, they'll still charge you the total billed amount. (This principle also holds for other diagnostic tests such as X-ray's and MRI's, as well as physician visits, hospitalizations, surgical charges, etc.)

[Dancer]

I go once a cycle, unless its a hard cycle then more as warrented...

as for what to tell the doc> the first doc i was honest with, he treated me like a criminal " so how is your head SON"

from then one I've told the new doc I just want to make sure i am healthy Or I used to drink in school.