Office Visit

caos

New Member
After months of being dicked around by well intentioned, but ill equipped doctors I decided to set up an appointment to see SWALE. Before I did, I first tried to find a doctor who both UNDERSTOOD and was willing to follow SWALE’s protocol.

I have enough background in complex systems to know that there is no “cookie cutter”, “one size fits all” solution. These systems, like the endocrine system, are akin to a spider’s web – pulling on any part affects the rest. It didn’t seem to make sense to find a doctor who was willing to follow a recipe but who was without the understanding needed to fine tune it to specifically to me.

So, I called to set up an appointment. That’s when I got my first taste of just how unique SWALE’s approach to practicing medicine is. Instead of getting the typical know nothing receptionist, SWALE answered the phone. In the process of setting up my appointment, he spent more time asking me questions about my low T than my urologist and endocrinologist did during my office visits.

Because I have read everything I could about his protocol, scanned the posts here, read the AACE guidelines and did hours of medline research, I thought I knew pretty much what to expect at the office visit. I didn’t. First off, the office is more like a home than a doctor’s office. This is more important than it might sound, considering my visit was almost 2 hours long. During that time SWALE went through a detailed medical history, reviewed my prior labs with me and gave me a physical examination. He answered all my questions, and then he filled in blanks in my understanding that I hadn’t even thought to ask about.

Long story short, now I’m on weekly injections of 100mg T. Cyp and 500IU HCG the day before and after, right? Wrong! Because of what he saw from my labs and my history, he put me on some supplements and he wants some more labs. Truth be told I was a little disappointed I wanted decisive action. But, I didn’t go looking for off the rack medicine and for the first time in years it doesn’t look like that is what I’m getting.

I’ll update as my treatment develops.
 
Thats the sign of a very good doctor......He just doesn't throw meds at you.....he waits, gets more bloods and than makes a better decision on the course of action......

Some young guys on this board (ages 17-24) are on Test for the rest on their lives without knowing if there was something short term to fix their problem (clomid, A-dex, HCG, an infection, ect.)

Swale has given lots of guys hope that their problems can be fixed........weather it be short or long term treatment........
 
Vforcer2 said:
What supplements did he put you on?

First he asked for details about my diet and reviewed my blood work, then he recommended Vit. C & E, fish oil and melatonin. He also wants me to push a gallon of water each day, but that is in his protocol, I believe.
 
1 gallon of water a day? I'd have a hard time dealing with that. I already drink about a half gallon of raw milk a day. I did try it before and was off to the bathroom every couple of hours. It's a little difficult when at work in long meetings and dealing with long commutes.
 
Stop the milk and drink the water my Dr. has me drinking a lot of water most days it is a gallon. I am a retired Engineer have been in a ton of meetings and was able to go before them. I have been doing the wate for yrs.
Phil
 
Caos--

I am glad you did not mind the steady flow of traffic through my office while you were there--the IT stud, patients picking up meds, guys just hanging out in The Man Cave.

Thank you for leaving that box of protein bars in my 'fridge. They come in handy during these long workdays!
 
To me, this whole thing is an evolving process. The gallon part really isn't that difficult, I was already drinking more than that each day (just not water). Now, I'm just switching from tea and diet soda to water.

After a while your body gets used to the volume and you are not hitting the can every five minutes. I was a lawyer/lecturer with a 45 minute commute and I never had a problem with meetings, lectures or the commute (even when I was "lucky" enough to leave in time for NYC rush hour)

Phil, I don't know if I have the quote quite right but I believe Swale said the water was for "dilution of pollution". I assumed that a part of the supplementation is to offset the dilution of water soluable vitamins.

Earthdog, if your past experience with the medical profession is anything like mine, you are in for a very different experience. Swale has a totally different paradigm. It is more akin to the days when doctors made house calls than today's corporate, bottom line, fast food drive through practice. It would be great to hear about your visit when you get back.

Swale mentioned the flow of people at the "man-cave" while I was there. I am a pretty impatient and vocal guy (retired lawyer, remember), I didn't find it an issue. You just can't compare it to waiting in a traditional doctor's office: waiting for your doctor to come and give you his undivided 8 minutes; knowing that he will more likely than not be interrupted during that 8 minutes; and knowing that there is more to what is going on with you than he seems to be interested in learning before he decides on a course of treatment.

With Swale, you don't have any questions that you have his attention when he's with you. The only time I ever saw a doctor pay that kind of attention before was when one would come to me as a client. But more importantly, it is great to have a doctor with the commitment, knowledge and experience to provide proper HRT. There just hasn't been much interest by the medical establishment as a whole in male HRT. Funding for the first long-term study was cut after the cancer scares with female HRT appeared. Even the AACE guidelines (which are already out of date) aren't followed by many doctors.

Well, enough of my ranting. Like I said, I'll update as my treatment develops. I am located a good 10-12hrs from Swale, so I will be doing future visits as virtual office visits. I'll let you know how that works out, as well.
 
usufruct said:
1 gallon of water a day? I'd have a hard time dealing with that. I already drink about a half gallon of raw milk a day. I did try it before and was off to the bathroom every couple of hours. It's a little difficult when at work in long meetings and dealing with long commutes.
You are correct that you need to urinate frequently when you drink a lot of water. I drink a lot of water and it can be a little bit disruptive due to meetings, conference calls, even sleeping. But I put up with it because drinking lots of water is so clearly advocated by so many people.

The prostate makes it difficult to pee sometimes, but I'm not about to lower my DHT with finasteride because of that. There there is anything other than lowering DHT that can help with the prostate thing, then I would be happy to know about it.
 
For me it was getting my E2 Estradiol down I had a low pain in my prostate and slow voiding for yrs. I even had a ream job that I would not tell anyone to do. That only lasted one yr. Last yr. I read about high E2 in men and men on TRT. I got it tested and was high I took Arimidex 1/2 of a one mg. pill everyday for 4 weeks and I have never felt better. My ED got 80% better my low pain in my prostate went away and I void just fine now. On my last check up the Dr. said my prostart went down. I use a filter for the water I drink.
Phil
 
Well, during my next physician's visit I'll be sure to insist on getting the 'estradiol, sensitive' test done. That is exactly what I asked for previously, but the non-sensitive test got done instead.
 
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