What should I do?

[Glaim]

I suppose I need some advice. I had some issues with my endo manipulating blood work in order to tell me I don't need TRT.

I would like to go see see Dr. Ron Rothenberg, but I simply can't afford the 6000-8000 a year quoted to me. Should I just get referrals and live through the misery of trying endo after endo? Or should I just save my time and wait until a later time when I can afford to see a good TRT specialist?

I've read that some of you guys have had success with reimbursement through expense accounts with insurance...how would one go about doing this?

[HeadDoc]

my wife had the option to set up a medical savings acct thru her work. We set it at $10K. This amount is withheld out of her pay in uniforms amount each pay period. However, we can use it as if the total amount is available to us at the beginning of the year. We paid for her lasik surgery a few years back with this. Now it covers our HRT and anyother noncovered medical expense. As we pay out of pocket for different medical costs, we submit receipts and get reimbursed. Has come in handy for HGH purchases.

[Kroms_laugh]

Originally Posted by Glaim

I would like to go see see Dr. Ron Rothenberg, but I simply can't afford the 6000-8000 a year quoted to me.

6 to 8k for hormone replacement therapy? That's not right. That can't be right.

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by Kroms_laugh

6 to 8k for hormone replacement therapy? That's not right. That can't be right.

Oh yes, these high-profile age management docs cost.

[Glaim]

The price skyrockets if you add in HGH...I believe it was an additional 8k or so. He has been the only doctor reccomended to me that lives nearby....and apparently he's one of the best according to SWALE.

[cpeil2]

I only know of his reputation from another message group that I read, but Howard Elkin's patients speak really highly of him. He's in Whittier CA. And I don't think his fees come anywhere close to Dr. Rothenberg's. But as Headdoc said, SoCal is bristling with age management docs. Just keep asking around.

[Kroms_laugh]

WTF, over!? You mean to tell me that basic hormone replacement can cost 6 to 8k, with an additional 8k if you add hCG to your protocol!?!?!?!?!?

lol... does the AACE know about this shit!?

[BigRagu]

dam for that price i would buy the gear from teh streets and just get your doc to run your tests (not that u should do it),,,,,,,,,, i would just find another endo and talk to him on the phone b4 going to see him................will save u the time and trouble of going in to see him and having him be an idiot............

[Kroms_laugh]

Originally Posted by BigRagu

dam for that price i would buy the gear from teh streets and just get your doc to run your tests (not that u should do it),,,,,,,,,, i would just find another endo and talk to him on the phone b4 going to see him................will save u the time and trouble of going in to see him and having him be an idiot............

I can't count how many of my buddies do this. They run their own (very conservative) testosterone protocol, and do their own tests at a walk-in clinic.

They spend pocket change on their HRT... but the difference between gear and pharmacutical steroids can mean your health.

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by Kroms_laugh

WTF, over!? You mean to tell me that basic hormone replacement can cost 6 to 8k, with an additional 8k if you add hCG to your protocol!?!?!?!?!?

lol... does the AACE know about this shit!?

The age management docs do all kinds of extra stuff to justify their fees . . . nutrional advice, supplement advice, fitness advice. Generally, their patients have a lot more access than in a typical physician/patient relationship. It's like concierge medicine. A lot of age management docs don't want to do just HRT. They want to do a whole program. Sometimes, the initial visit is an all day affair with a whole battery of tests, all the usual blood tests, plus cognitive, bone mineral density, allergies, food sensitivity, etc. etc. The one day evaluation can cost 2K or more. They call this "executive health care."

[1cc]

Originally Posted by cpeil2

The age management docs do all kinds of extra stuff to justify their fees . . . nutrional advice, supplement advice, fitness advice. Generally, their patients have a lot more access than in a typical physician/patient relationship. It's like concierge medicine. A lot of age management docs don't want to do just HRT. They want to do a whole program. Sometimes, the initial visit is an all day affair with a whole battery of tests, all the usual blood tests, plus cognitive, bone mineral density, allergies, food sensitivity, etc. etc. The one day evaluation can cost 2K or more. They call this "executive health care."

"executive health care." = BS, these are the new snake oil salesmen. They take you for what they can get.

[mranak]

Originally Posted by Glaim

I suppose I need some advice. I had some issues with my endo manipulating blood work in order to tell me I don't need TRT.

Then you need a new physician, pure and simple. Make certain to get a copy of all your labwork from him, however.

I recommend that you either:

1) Keep trying general physicians in your area.
2) Take a flight and go see SWALE. After that, he can do all the work remotely. This is the best option for treatment. SWALE's fee are resomable. As for labwork, call up your insurance company and ask them about getting labs covered when you see an out-of-network physician. At the same time, ask them about the coverage of an out-of-network physician himself.

[Glaim]

I've considered doing my own treatment, but it was strongly reccomended I don't.

I have a very good relationship with the doctor at my student health center at my university. The only problem is he only knows how to treat colds and STDs and I know more about HRT and the endocrine system than he does. I can probably get him to write the prescriptions and I can have the labwork done there at a discount though.

[pmgamer18]

Glaim then do that if you can afford it go on Testim 5 grams to start and do a blood test frist use the sticky on SWALE's treatment print it and give it to him. Post your test results here and go from there. If you can't afford it do shots start at 100 mgs. a week. Hell it's not Rocket Sci. and he is a Dr. he is 90% there. I would go for it.
Phil

[Glaim]

That sounds like a plan. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

Glaim then do that if you can afford it go on Testim 5 grams to start and do a blood test frist use the sticky on SWALE's treatment print it and give it to him. Post your test results here and go from there. If you can't afford it do shots start at 100 mgs. a week. Hell it's not Rocket Sci. and he is a Dr. he is 90% there. I would go for it.
Phil