Doctor, telehealth, or self led TRT/HRT???

[sensaispike]

By a show of hands who is working with a GP/Endo, a telehealth/online provider, or taking a self led approach to TRT/HRT?

I ask as I always seem to be fairly underwhelmed by the competency and knowledge of those in the profession medical industry.

That having been said, I will admit that I have never worked with a Endo, but GP's and online clinics always leave me at a loss..

[cad78]

Tried a Urologist, he just prescribed the test and said go look up how to inject it. That's how I found this website 7 years ago.

Did it myself using UGL and my own labs for 3 years then went cold turkey for 3 years.

Now using a monthly online service that actually prescribes daily SQ injections along with the needles. I like this setup as it is pharmacy legit, and will probably up my dose or AI if needed. It's more money, but less hassle, and better than UGL/DIY

[Beetlegeuse]

A Vet's Admin urologist put me on TRT but doctors in general are joined at the hip to AMA dogma (which is always extremely conservative), for malpractice concerns, among others. I suspect this is the rule rather than the exception for all doctors apart some sports medicine specialists. VA doctors are worse than most because they're the VA. All mine was concerned about was that my total T number was at least a certain arbitrary number. But I wasn't satisfied with that mindset because he already was exposing me to the side-effects from TRT (testicular atrophy, etc) but my overall physical wellbeing was not notably improved. There simply was no "up-side" to it. So I first added hCG and later started running a very small dose of UGL. I had opportunity to get injectable from the VA when they first prescribed it but out of sheer ignorance -- and because I wasn't thrilled with the idea if injecting myself -- I talked my way out of it. But I felt compelled to start doing hCG because my nards were shrinking and in that process I got comfortable self-injecting. Which was easy because hCG is water-based and you can use the tiniest needles available, so small I often didn't feel them go in in the slightest.

I came to this forum first for info on best use of the gel but two other things happened as well. First, I noticed that several members here were very competently schooled in the physiology and (safe & effective) application of AASs. And second, it makes no sense to do AASs -- even just TRT -- without also running hCG as part of your regimen. Searching old posts I found an overseas source that sells genuine pharmaceutical hCG by mail and I was off to the races.

That was when I realized that I was getting next to nothing from the gel and hCG (except it raised my total T to some arbitrary number), and since I already was injecting the hCG, I thought I would experiment with UGL. I started out with very small doses and found that I got a considerable boost in strength and muscle growth by adding just 0.1cc of UGL Test C Sub-Q per week.

And I can't accept that what my Dr prescribes is safe but I've significantly increased my risk adding that tiny dose.

So from that time on I have broken ranks with my VA urologist and done self-directed TRT based on the knowledge (I'd call it 'wisdom' but some of them might be listening, and I wouldn't want them to get swell-headed about it) that I have gleaned from the better informed senior members here.

And if the VA were to withdraw my TRT, I'd continue using all UGL and just up the dose to compensate for the loss of the topical.

[kelkel]

If you can't find a competent doctor, and title doesn't matter just that they understand hormones, consider something like Defy Medical.

[MILKMAN73]

My suggestion in dealing with the VA would be get a private Rx from a TRT doctor. One that includes injection test, hCG, and Clomid or whatever.

You'll have to pay out of pocket initially, but once you have the script, give a copy to the VA. A legit doctor says you need A, B, and C. If all three drugs are on their approved list (they are), then they've been pretty good about approving it.

From then on out you get your refills and blood work done through the VA and you are all good.

I'm assuming you are covered by the VA, so the point here is so this won't be out of your own pocket. Otherwise no reason not to just go to a TRT clinic.

Report back as to how it works. I work with a lot of vets and I'm always curious as to how things vary by region.

[sensaispike]

If you can't find a competent doctor, and title doesn't matter just that they understand hormones, consider something like Defy Medical.

Yeah, I talked to Defy, and a few other online clinics, most of them are 6 of one half a dozen of another. I ended up going with viking, but I am about take it on myself. I see no need to pay them more when I can get all the bloodwork myself and keep everything in range. Pluss, that will make it alot easier to blast every once in awhile.

[kelkel]

Yeah, I talked to Defy, and a few other online clinics, most of them are 6 of one half a dozen of another. I ended up going with viking, but I am about take it on myself. I see no need to pay them more when I can get all the bloodwork myself and keep everything in range. Pluss, that will make it alot easier to blast every once in awhile.

Just be sure to actually get the BW done occasionally. Many don't.

[sensaispike]

Just be sure to actually get the BW done occasionally. Many don't.

Absolutely, I am currently getting labs every 6 months and intend to continue to do so.