What are you looking for in a HRT Doc?

[coonhunter]

So I am helping my buddy set up a HRT clinic. He has been a Dr for years but I have convinced him he could do a lot of good in preventive medicine. I just wanted to get some feed back from you guys about what you are looking for or would like to see in a dream clinic. I have noticed in this section it is about treatment more than getting legal steroids and a lot of you are getting the run around from primary providers. I hope to make it better by getting input from as many people as I can that have gone through the process.

[bigbossofdariver]

nice, confident, funny, big chin, nice body, humongo wang.

[JohnnyVegas]

I want (and have) a clinic that isn't run by sales people that obviously work on commission. Their need to sell me products is in direct conflict with doing what is right for my health. I also want someone knowledgable enough to not just hand out scrips for Test to anyone demanding it, and then not demand the patient get followup tests to make sure HCG, AIs etc aren't needed as levels change. TRT is more than just Test injections.

My two pennies.

[coonhunter]

Johnny
those are some good thoughts. I know I hate it when a doc wants to sell me vitamins or even worse join some MLM to get product. One of the biggest things to realize is that if the guys coming in to get treated just wanted test it is a lot easier and cheaper to get it black market and you can take as much as you want.
so tell me if you were going to your dream clinic can you explain what it would be like from walking through the door to seeing the dr to leaving his office. I would like to know about the experience.

[zaggahamma]

if i were shopping for a clinic i would look for price(s), customer service, etc. because imma take only what i want anyway i dont NEED a doctor per say

[rebel70]

#1 would be a clinic that is actually there to help you.
#2 is availability to answer all my ?'s and concerns
#3 not some cookie cutter protocol across the board for everyone
#4 price...if your charging obscene amounts for meds make them non generic versions
#5 if even possible able to accept insurance

[coonhunter]

This is all very good feedback.
Jpkman are you just saying you want somewhere you can tell the Dr what has worked for you and he gets it for you or are you saying it doesnt matter because you will not use a Dr and are going to just take UGL meds?
Rebel70 2 Would you feel slighted if someone could answer all of you questions buy they were a nurse or PA not the DR?
4 I have been told we can only wright scripts and patients would get them filled at what ever compounding pharmacy they wanted so we would have 0 markup on the actual medication.
5 Insurance is a trade off and if it is accepted it is more expensive to get treated because the overhead goes up to collect from your insurance and they only cover things like office visit and blood work anything else or other test are are on you any way so its a trade off between paying less over all or having insurance maybe cover some but paying more for the items they dont cover becaues your dr's overhead is too high when he is collection from insurance carriers.

[JohnnyVegas]

How I think a relationship with a good doctor should go:

1. Go for a free consultation, meet the actual doctor that you will deal with in the future. Take their survey about symptoms and other medical info. Have blood taken. Ask questions and get info about options (gels, implants, injections). Get prostrate checked (increased testosterone levels speeds existing prostrate cancer). My doc didn't check mine or send me somewhere to have it done, maybe because I didn't have insurance at the time. I just got insurance again and will have it checked on my own.

2. Go back a week later and see the same doctor. Get blood results. Discuss treatment and get scrip that can be filled at the pharmacy of your choice so you can shop for price.

3. Get tested a couple of months later to see if adjustment needs to be made, or if HCG, AIs etc. are needed. Is BP up? Is it affecting anything else? How is it interacting with any other drugs being taken?

I don't think it should be a pain, but it should be a medical process with the express goal of being healthy. Not just FEELING healthy, but BEING healthy. It took me a couple of months to think this. I think most of us are excited when we first start and it is hard to see past the muscles and libido increases.

[rebel70]

Getting the rn to answer ?'s is fine with me.Just as long as they are very well informed.As far as filling my scripts locally.That is a huge bonus to me.And I understand with the insurance.Just thought I would bring it up.

[JohnnyVegas]

Getting the rn to answer ?'s is fine with me.Just as long as they are very well informed.As far as filling my scripts locally.That is a huge bonus to me.And I understand with the insurance.Just thought I would bring it up.

I struggle with the nurses at my docs office because the deal almost exclusively with their weight loss clients. I agree that it wouldn't be a problem if they were well informed.

I wish my insurance covered this stuff. My doctor told me many insurance plans are cutting back on TRT benefits. My guess is the insurance companies see more people getting prescriptions for things they don't need. Sure, half the people on anti-depresents don't need them either, but that is acceptable.

[zaggahamma]

I want/need a doc for rx scribbling ONLY I've been diagnosed already and no ugl for me

[The Toad]

One of the main things for me would be a knowledgeable Doctor. The people on this board have more knowledge of HRT than my Doc and that shouldn't be the case. Price would also be a consideration, as would putting the patients needs first over just making the sale.

[JohnnyVegas]

I want/need a doc for rx scribbling ONLY I've been diagnosed already and no ugl for me

Yeah, it is the beginning that I think is important. After that it is just testing and adjusting.

[zaggahamma]

Yeah, it is the beginning that I think is important. After that it is just testing and adjusting.

yes if you arent schooled or have a clue then having a doctor would be advantageous but to me trusting a doctor whole heartedly would be like being your own lawyer

[JohnnyVegas]

yes if you arent schooled or have a clue then having a doctor would be advantageous but to me trusting a doctor whole heartedly would be like being your own lawyer

Ha! I would think being your own doctor would be more like being your own lawyer.

I don't think many people know as much about this topic as we do (and I don't know a ton). The average person that goes to a doctor because they feel like crap hopefully gets a good doctor.

[Honkey_Kong]

if i were shopping for a clinic i would look for price(s), customer service, etc. because imma take only what i want anyway i dont NEED a doctor per say

I don't put too much weight on price. There are tons of quack doctors in this field (much like every other field of medicine), but not so many who really know their shit. When I go to the doctor, I want the best care and not some dingbat trying to just sell me gear. If I just wanted gear, I'd get my shit off the black market at a fraction of what I pay to see the doctor

[layeazy]

You don't want a love hate relationship

You want someone whos there for you who you can call chat too reminisce have friendly banter and hug. lol

[zaggahamma]

I don't put too much weight on price. There are tons of quack doctors in this field (much like every other field of medicine), but not so many who really know their shit. When I go to the doctor, I want the best care and not some dingbat trying to just sell me gear. If I just wanted gear, I'd get my shit off the black market at a fraction of what I pay to see the doctor

funny thats how i feel when i hear about a lot of the doctors that are practicing medicine currently...

i'd sooooooo way much rather make sure my gear is from a pharmacy and no trust these doctors as far as i can throw em....i see ones that want to push their anti d's on people or whatever the latest meds that come out that line their pockets...if i've been diagnosed and know how to read my bloodwork why would it be more important to me for a doctor to know as much as me?

i respect your opinion but dont know why you quoted me...i gave my opinion for the op to look at and let him decide..

as stated by johnn v...yes, if you dont know jack about whats wrong with you, a good/great doctor would be wonderful....but dont hold your breath

my .04

[flatscat]

My Doc charges a nominal monthly fee which includes all visits needed - whether for hrt, or the flu. I have access to him any time I need him. Now, I think a good HRT doc should be there to help educate about hormones, get you on the right path, teach you how to learn your body and then be there for support, monitor your levels. and let you have mucho input on your protocol as long as the levels are at an acceptable range. Mine says he is all for and open to treatments to help with our goals and well being as long as they are not dangerous.

And where doc's make their money on scripts is when they contract with a pharmacy to make the meds and stock them at the office, or contract with a pharmacy, and you pay the doc for the meds and the pharmacy sends the meds to you. This is unacceptable to me.

[Old_usmcgrunt]

How I think a relationship with a good doctor should go:

1. Go for a free consultation, meet the actual doctor that you will deal with in the future. Take their survey about symptoms and other medical info. Have blood taken. Ask questions and get info about options (gels, implants, injections). Get prostrate checked (increased testosterone levels speeds existing prostrate cancer). My doc didn't check mine or send me somewhere to have it done, maybe because I didn't have insurance at the time. I just got insurance again and will have it checked on my own.

2. Go back a week later and see the same doctor. Get blood results. Discuss treatment and get scrip that can be filled at the pharmacy of your choice so you can shop for price.

3. Get tested a couple of months later to see if adjustment needs to be made, or if HCG, AIs etc. are needed. Is BP up? Is it affecting anything else? How is it interacting with any other drugs being taken?

I don't think it should be a pain, but it should be a medical process with the express goal of being healthy. Not just FEELING healthy, but BEING healthy. It took me a couple of months to think this. I think most of us are excited when we first start and it is hard to see past the muscles and libido increases.

^^^Bump! Sounds like ideal scenerio!

[SlimmerMe]

Get your priorities lined up for ex: if you want to inject, call around and ask if they do this or if only androgel or compounded test......this would be something to find out before stepping into the clinic if, that is, you want injections....

[Honkey_Kong]

funny thats how i feel when i hear about a lot of the doctors that are practicing medicine currently...

i'd sooooooo way much rather make sure my gear is from a pharmacy and no trust these doctors as far as i can throw em....i see ones that want to push their anti d's on people or whatever the latest meds that come out that line their pockets...if i've been diagnosed and know how to read my bloodwork why would it be more important to me for a doctor to know as much as me?

i respect your opinion but dont know why you quoted me...i gave my opinion for the op to look at and let him decide..

as stated by johnn v...yes, if you dont know jack about whats wrong with you, a good/great doctor would be wonderful....but dont hold your breath

my .04

I mostly quoted you for the part you said on price.

[SlimmerMe]

Note to OP: many anti-aging docs are in a huge cash cow business.....they are prescribing stuff all over the place and get kick-backs from the compounded pharmacist. They go to seminars and meet the pharmacist and then your script is flown into you from all over the country. Some of them have no morals. Some do. It is your homework to find one who you think is on the up and up. Someone who is smarter than you....which is hard to find if you hang out here long enough and know what to ask for which bugs the heck out of them. The AA docs are laughing all the say to the bank in a big way. They rarely take insurance.

But all that being said, try to find a good one and get your BW done and while there try to get an idea of what you need to do and hear their presentation which they ALL have and then go from there....my .02