HRT Clinic Question...

**BrysZ** · 01-07-2011, 08:03 PM

I am investigating a new HRT clinic...the same one Boss is using. Seem like great people and in today's phone interview I was on speaker phone with three of them at once. Two were nurse practitioners. They were very thorough and its funny hearing them tell me everything I already found out from you guys on this forum. They are very sincerely concerned about my health and not just making a buck.

One issue I do have though is they strongly urged taking an AI and I know they expect me to buy their amiridex. I told them I had Liquid-dex and they seemed bothered by that and remarked that it is only a research chemical, not intended for human consumption which I already knew. They said all of their patients are on their AI regardless of dosage. They felt my SHGB was way high and that I produce to much estrogen. How do you feel about these statements? I already have the liquid-dex, but have never opened it.

A good point they made was that everyone turns some of the test to estrogen...some very little and others more. So taking the AI is helping you to more effectively utilize the test.

I don't know where to go with this one. I really can't afford the AI since their test prices are so high. I would like to go with them since I am having trouble finding a domestic source (help).

**frawnz** · 01-07-2011, 11:05 PM

As long as you have a baseline for your estrogen and periodically check it, you may not even need an anti-E, and even if you do, the liquidex should be sufficient.

As an aside, if price is a huge concern, you may want to seek out an endocrinologist if you have insurance.

**Termin8r27** · 01-07-2011, 11:20 PM

Monitoring your blood levels of your various hormones will be key. From what you say, you'll want to keep an eye on Estrogen as well. Generally speaking, what they are saying is pretty accurate...but the goal of true HRT is to maintain a natural level of your hormones - Testosterone as one of the primary. If you dose correctly, to keep in the say 700-800ng/dl range...you should have less aromatization than if you take more T and maintain higher levels. Your body is just trying to balance things out and maintain homeostasis.

It sounds like you may be like me however and be prone to more aromatization naturally. I naturally had high estrogen levels before HRT and they shoot up anytime I take exogenous T and no AI so I must consistently take 1mg of Arimidex 3 x per week to stay around 20 - 30ng/dl of Estrogen (which works good for me).

On the Liqui-Dex, for many reasons they are going to say that and have that stance. You're telling them you want to use a 'research chemical' that is also not technically legal for human consumption. If I were you and you want to try to save, you can tell them you get it from your Dr. already and your insurance covers it or something like that.

Hope that helps

**flatscat** · 01-08-2011, 03:54 PM

Generic A-dex is CHEAP, once again.

**flatscat** · 01-08-2011, 04:07 PM

Which is why if you are still getting a compounded rx, they r screwing you because they cant make it as cheap as they can buy it now.

**zaggahamma** · 01-08-2011, 05:19 PM

all good advice..

especially with the post specially mentioned about if u cant afford their arimidex then prolly gonna be best to just go thru a endo, uro, any other doc that will eventually give u the test script and then use all the l-dex u wanna use

**BrysZ** · 01-08-2011, 09:11 PM

Well there is one endo I will call on Monday. Cost is always a concern but my main question is why I can't use the liquid dex I already have purchsed. Will an endo provide the dosage I want...especially when I want to blast a little extra once or twice a year? Also it isnt necessarily a guarantee that insurance will cover the script even with a endo....correct?

**Karo** · 01-09-2011, 08:26 AM

personally i don't trust any type of liquid oral. I just don't trust that you're getting whatever the dose is per ml. How would you know? what if you shake it up? are you supposed to? I'd rather just go with pills and no for sure that you're getting the correct dose.

**zaggahamma** · 01-09-2011, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by BrysZ

Well there is one endo I will call on Monday. Cost is always a concern but my main question is why I can't use the liquid dex I already have purchsed. Will an endo provide the dosage I want...especially when I want to blast a little extra once or twice a year? Also it isnt necessarily a guarantee that insurance will cover the script even with a endo....correct?

what insurance usually covers is prewritten...some insurances have their own websites with THIS exact info

**BrysZ** · 01-10-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by flatscat

Which is why if you are still getting a compounded rx, they r screwing you because they cant make it as cheap as they can buy it now.

Sorry for my ignorance but what exactly is a 'compounded' Rx?

**SlimmerMe** · 01-10-2011, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by BrysZ

Sorry for my ignorance but what exactly is a 'compounded' Rx?

A compounded pharmacist is someone who mixes up doses specifically for you with the exact measurements as opposed to taking separate doses for the same effect.
They are more times than not, linked into the system with the AA doc who gets a kickback. Plus they rarely take insurance. It is a cash cow business.

For example: I got compounded t3/t4. So the pharmacist merely crushed up the synthroid /cytomel and put it in one capsule. I probably could have taken both separately but the doc made my script a compounded one for the "exact" dosage. And this cost much more than simply taking pre-made armour with the exact ratio of t3/t4. Maybe this is what he meant when he said this about compounded pharmacist.