Re: Re: How much of this can we do ourselves?

[Guest guest]

How much do the tests cost, and do you need a prescription to get the test done?

Do you have to have blood drawn or is it a finger prick? Thanks.

From: no_reply

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 21:20:56 +0000

Subject: Re: How much of this can we do ourselves?

Remember that if you're willing to pay for them, in the US lab tests may

be available through sites like LEF.org. I've been treating myself with

Arimidex for several years using the liquid version available through various

" research " sites. I continue to be tested through LEF, now every four months.

It's necessary to keep testing because the dose of Arimidex you need may drop

significantly over time, and you need to be sure your E2 doesn't go too low.

A significant reduction in E2 should by itself produce a significant increase in

T, which may mean T supplementation isn't needed.

But treating yourself isn't without risk. If you're going to do it, you have to

take it slowly and carefully.

>

> I'm learning that it is difficult to find a doctor who will treat all of my

symptoms. My PHP wouldn't acknowledge that I even had low T. He hesitated to

test me, and when my total T came back at 326 he said it was normal. He refused

my request to be tested for free T and estradiol, but said he would refer me to

a specialist if I wanted to pursue it.

>

> Then I found a urologist who would treat my low T. But he refused to add HCG

to the mix, and would only alternate between T and HGG, with 3 or 4 months on

each. He refused to treat my high estradiol (53), insisting that it wasn't a

problem. Also, he felt that my free T of 1.57 (range 0.65 to 4.3), one month

after receiving pellets, was good enough. The pellets barely kept my levels up

for even a month, but the doctor didn't want to see my until 3 months had

expired and wouldn't allow me to supplement with gels.

>

> Now I'm frustrated and am looking for a new doctor. But I feel I'm stabbing

in the dark. Perhaps I'll get lucky and will find a doc who will treat all my

symptoms. But what if there's no one around here who will? I see guys here

ordering HCG and Aridimex from ADC and other places. Are they self-medicating?

Are they working with a doc?

>

> Can one also order T from such places? In short, what is possible (and

advisable) to do by oneself, assuming one can't find a doc who is willing?

>

> And if none of this pans out, do I really need to travel to Michigan to see

Dr. Crisler? Can we just have a video chat or something?

>

[Guest guest]

If you use LEF they send you to Labcorp they take the blood and do the labs no

scrip needed.

http://www.lef.org/BloodTest/

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: Bill F <bfwl54@...>

> Subject: RE: Re: How much of this can we do ourselves?

>

> Date: Saturday, December 4, 2010, 5:28 PM

>

> How much do the tests cost, and do you need a prescription

> to get the test done?  Do you have to have blood drawn

> or is it a finger prick?  Thanks.

>

>

> From: no_reply

> Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 21:20:56 +0000

> Subject: Re: How much of this can we do

> ourselves?

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>       Remember that if you're willing to pay

> for them, in the US lab tests may be available through sites

> like LEF.org.  I've been treating myself with Arimidex

> for several years using the liquid version available through

> various " research " sites.  I continue to be tested

> through LEF, now every four months.  It's necessary to

> keep testing because the dose of Arimidex you need may drop

> significantly over time, and you need to be sure your E2

> doesn't go too low.

>

>

>

> A significant reduction in E2 should by itself produce a

> significant increase in T, which may mean T supplementation

> isn't needed.

>

>

>

> But treating yourself isn't without risk.  If you're

> going to do it, you have to take it slowly and carefully.

>

>

>

>

>

> >

>

> > I'm learning that it is difficult to find a doctor who

> will treat all of my symptoms.  My PHP wouldn't

> acknowledge that I even had low T.  He hesitated to

> test me, and when my total T came back at 326 he said it was

> normal.  He refused my request to be tested for free T

> and estradiol, but said he would refer me to a specialist if

> I wanted to pursue it.

>

> >

>

> > Then I found a urologist who would treat my low

> T.  But he refused to add HCG to the mix, and would

> only alternate between T and HGG, with 3 or 4 months on

> each.  He refused to treat my high estradiol (53),

> insisting that it wasn't a problem.  Also, he felt that

> my free T of 1.57 (range 0.65 to 4.3), one month after

> receiving pellets, was good enough.  The pellets barely

> kept my levels up for even a month, but the doctor didn't

> want to see my until 3 months had expired and wouldn't allow

> me to supplement with gels.

>

> >

>

> > Now I'm frustrated and am looking for a new

> doctor.  But I feel I'm stabbing in the dark. 

> Perhaps I'll get lucky and will find a doc who will treat

> all my symptoms.  But what if there's no one around

> here who will?  I see guys here ordering HCG and

> Aridimex from ADC and other places.  Are they

> self-medicating?  Are they working with a doc?

>

> >

>

> > Can one also order T from such places?  In short,

> what is possible (and advisable) to do by oneself, assuming

> one can't find a doc who is willing?

>

> >

>

> > And if none of this pans out, do I really need to

> travel to Michigan to see Dr. Crisler?  Can we just

> have a video chat or something?

>

> >

>

>

>

>

>

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>         

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[Guest guest]

I feel you only need the Sensitive Estradiol test is your on Arimidex and need

to know how low your levels are. My last test come back at 7 so if you order

from LEF and your on Arimidex you need to call them and order there Sensitive

test.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: wayback44 <no_reply >

> Subject: Re: How much of this can we do ourselves?

>

> Date: Sunday, December 5, 2010, 11:34 AM

> The standard test for estradiol (E2)

> is $33 for LEF members, or $44 for non-members.  A

> prescription is not required.  You order the test

> online, then they send you the lab order by snail mail,

> which you take to your nearest LabCorp lab where they draw

> blood in the usual way - a needle in the vein in your

> arm.  Then after a few days LEF emails or mails you the

> result.  LEF.org

>

> Some believe you want to use the " sensitive " test instead

> of the standard test, but I've always used the standard test

> and the results seem valid and consistent.  Also, if

> initially your E2 is very high, it might be above the upper

> limit for the sensitive test, so the standard test might be

> a good starting point at least until you know where you

> stand.  The sensitive test costs more, but I don't know

> the price.  They can do it, but it's not on their site,

> so you have to call them and ask for it.

>

> There are other online labs that work the same way, but I

> haven't found one less expensive than LEF.  The problem

> with doing it this way is that there's absolutely no

> insurance coverage for it, so it's all out of your

> pocket.  But as things go, E2 is not a particularly

> expensive test.  For example, the Total and Free

> Testosterone test is $99 for members, or $133 for

> non-members.

>

> Also, LEF does an annual blood test sale in the late

> spring, and you can stock up a bit then.  Lab orders

> are good for six months from date of purchase.

>

>

> >

> >

> > How much do the tests cost, and do you need a

> prescription to get the test done?  Do you have to have

> blood drawn or is it a finger prick?  Thanks.

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

I did a search on male performance clinics  (as suggested) and the number

associated with the website is not working anylonger...on the webpage, there

was

an email address...no reply to an email i sent (did they have some problems?

anyone know?)....i looked at the doc. associated with it and he is now in

another practice (that I was considering)...but they are not connected with

insurance, hospitals, and he doesn't do injections (which i'm on now)....any

other suggestions for the dallas fort worth area?

thanks

Bill

________________________________

From: jbbooks1901 <jbbooks1901@...>

Sent: Sun, December 5, 2010 12:41:26 AM

Subject: Re: How much of this can we do ourselves?

 

Hi,

around here those that are skittish about self medication (and/or don't have

access to labs... I get mine in the endo dept at the med school I work for

cheap) can go to the " male performance clinics " popping up all over...

that usually means they're a testosterone clinic and they'll handle the labs,

scripts, etc.

basically if there ads are about MEN and SEX give them a call and ask if they're

prescribing testosterone for hypogonadism.

and if your insurance won't cover your arimidex script order from All Day

Chemist... they're cheaper than my insurance!

> >

> > I'm learning that it is difficult to find a doctor who will treat all of my

>symptoms. My PHP wouldn't acknowledge that I even had low T. He hesitated to

>test me, and when my total T came back at 326 he said it was normal. He refused

>my request to be tested for free T and estradiol, but said he would refer me to

>a specialist if I wanted to pursue it.

> >

> > Then I found a urologist who would treat my low T. But he refused to add HCG

>to the mix, and would only alternate between T and HGG, with 3 or 4 months on

>each. He refused to treat my high estradiol (53), insisting that it wasn't a

>problem. Also, he felt that my free T of 1.57 (range 0.65 to 4.3), one month

>after receiving pellets, was good enough. The pellets barely kept my levels up

>for even a month, but the doctor didn't want to see my until 3 months had

>expired and wouldn't allow me to supplement with gels.

> >

> > Now I'm frustrated and am looking for a new doctor. But I feel I'm stabbing

>in the dark. Perhaps I'll get lucky and will find a doc who will treat all my

>symptoms. But what if there's no one around here who will? I see guys here

>ordering HCG and Aridimex from ADC and other places. Are they self-medicating?

>Are they working with a doc?

> >

> > Can one also order T from such places? In short, what is possible (and

>advisable) to do by oneself, assuming one can't find a doc who is willing?

> >

> > And if none of this pans out, do I really need to travel to Michigan to see

>Dr. Crisler? Can we just have a video chat or something?

> >

>