Worth is to try to get "free" TRT through my insurance?

[initialize]

So my doc knows I'm taking TRT but I currently pay out of pocket. I could potentially get it prescribed "for free" but he wants me to drop the testosterone for a month while taking Clomid to see if I'm truly low test.

Now obviously I wouldn't want to do that protocol-- I'd prefer just getting off test for the least amount of time possible to get my test levels as low as possible (ChatGPT says if I stop test, I could get "below reference range" levels in about 2-4 week?) but of course I wouldn't want to feel like absolutely crap for those few weeks.

So what should I do? I know a few people have replaced test with low dose MENT -- would that work for a few weeks to feel "normal" while being low test?

 

[bate]

You'll survive with no test for 4 weeks before feeling any real "sides" of no extrogenous test injections. Remember it's only temporarily. After drawing blood, start again

 

[Mfras]

I have IBX and 4 1ml 200ml vials with 2 anastrozole pills ends up costing like $35 (a month supply).

Let’s just say 10ml 2000mg is $50 for arguement’s sake. 2.5¢/mg, makes 800mg a month’s supply cost $20, And $2.50 for a couple arimidex pills.

So UGL TRT costs me $22.50/month, while pharma costs $35. If bloodwork is paid for by insurance it tilts things a little.

Really the value for me is legitimacy. I have a script and I can take gear on airplanes, get pulled over with it, etc. That makes it ‘worth it’. I’m not rich but the $ isn’t really a factor.

 

[Cman90]

To be able to legally travel with prescription T is definitely worth it. Also, free pharma test? No brainer.

You'll survive with no test for 4 weeks before feeling any real "sides" of no extrogenous test injections.

This is the way.

 

[Whistles77]

What about stopping the medium ester tests (Test C/E) so they gradually clear out of your system whilst propping yourself up with a short ester (Test Prop) with a few days half life with every day or e2d pinning? A week before lab tests stop that to let it clear out of your blood.

 

[dinfaralt]

You'll survive with no test for 4 weeks before feeling any real "sides" of no extrogenous test injections. Remember it's only temporarily. After drawing blood, start again

2 week no injection goodbye peepee.

dont mislead the guy

 

[adrenalytic]

So my doc knows I'm taking TRT but I currently pay out of pocket. I could potentially get it prescribed "for free" but he wants me to drop the testosterone for a month while taking Clomid to see if I'm truly low test.

Now obviously I wouldn't want to do that protocol-- I'd prefer just getting off test for the least amount of time possible to get my test levels as low as possible (ChatGPT says if I stop test, I could get "below reference range" levels in about 2-4 week?) but of course I wouldn't want to feel like absolutely crap for those few weeks.

So what should I do? I know a few people have replaced test with low dose MENT -- would that work for a few weeks to feel "normal" while being low test?

Free test? Sign me up. Oh wait, I already did. I pulled this off about a month ago with my doc. Was running e 300/wk, stopped for two weeks and tested ~120 ng/dL. Poof, doc writes script. It's only a small amount but it's free.

Protip: to avoid feeling shitty or losing progress in the gym grab some TNE and use it pwo. Run another compound even. I ran DHB, var and TNE pwo and didn't miss a beat in the gym and never suffered any E2 crash. My dick worked just fine too. Don't listen to the negative nellies. They didn't do it right. @dinfaralt

 

[hellerhiwater]

i was able to use propionate (daily small dose) for a few weeks, then stopped 5 days before my test and got my levels low enough for an increase in dosage.

 

[Flatriggerman]

Research Clomid. I wouldn't take for trt, Useless and dangerous in the long run IMO. Some members have reported severe eye issues.

 

[hellerhiwater]

Research Clomid. I wouldn't take for trt, Useless and dangerous in the long run IMO. Some members have reported severe eye issues.

i was prescribed clomid multiple times over a 3 year period for hypogonadism. each time i could only tolerate it for a few months.

permanent floaters in my vision, permanent (minor) blurriness in one eye, and bph-like symptoms that started on it and never went away and got worse every time i took it again.

my most recent stint, before saying cluck-it and hopping on the injections i was avoiding, i took it for about 6 months and started to feel like DEATH. i lost all will to do anything, had to drag myself to just get to the gym, felt weak as hell, anhedonia to the extreme, just a horrible horrible horrible time.

luckily, it cleared up within a week of stopping.

it did, however, increase my total test by 300-600 ng/dL each time i took it. and also gave me insane libido starting around week 2 and ending around week 4 (probably just the response to normal testosterone levels in my body)

editing to say, i wholeheartedly exhort you to stay the fuck away from it. i for sure will be.

 

[Liter O' Test]

imo there is a lag time with hormones, you wont feel like crap as soon as your levels dip like some on and off switch.
i tried to do this and fd it up and my levels came back perfect at 750 lol . so dont try to go from blast to nothing , start from TRT

 

[adrenalytic]

so dont try to go from blast to nothing , start from TRT

Yes, this for sure. In my example I was running 300 and was injecting daily, stopping for two weeks sent me down to 120 so plan accordingly for your own dose you'll be coming off of. And if you decide to use TNE, discontinue it 2 days before the test just to be safe.

 

[wp_375]

So my doc knows I'm taking TRT but I currently pay out of pocket. I could potentially get it prescribed "for free" but he wants me to drop the testosterone for a month while taking Clomid to see if I'm truly low test.

Now obviously I wouldn't want to do that protocol-- I'd prefer just getting off test for the least amount of time possible to get my test levels as low as possible (ChatGPT says if I stop test, I could get "below reference range" levels in about 2-4 week?) but of course I wouldn't want to feel like absolutely crap for those few weeks.

So what should I do? I know a few people have replaced test with low dose MENT -- would that work for a few weeks to feel "normal" while being low test?

Your doc is an moron.

Even if you DIDN'T have hypogonadism, if you've been taking exogenous Testosterone for any length of time your shit is gonna be bottomed out after a few weeks of no injections regardless if your balls worked or not before. So he basically wants to just make you feel like dogshit for an outcome that's already set in stone.

Dianabol doesn't show up as either testosterone OR estrogen on a blood test despite performing the functions of both. 10mg a day is around a replacement dose that would keep you feeling normal.

 

[Andrewthatguy]

You'll survive with no test for 4 weeks before feeling any real "sides" of no extrogenous test injections. Remember it's only temporarily. After drawing blood, start again

I have IBX and 4 1ml 200ml vials with 2 anastrozole pills ends up costing like $35 (a month supply).

Let’s just say 10ml 2000mg is $50 for arguement’s sake. 2.5¢/mg, makes 800mg a month’s supply cost $20, And $2.50 for a couple arimidex pills.

So UGL TRT costs me $22.50/month, while pharma costs $35. If bloodwork is paid for by insurance it tilts things a little.

Really the value for me is legitimacy. I have a script and I can take gear on airplanes, get pulled over with it, etc. That makes it ‘worth it’. I’m not rich but the $ isn’t really a factor.

Where can I get my blood work done that’s more lowkey, and wouldn’t have to use my insurance but it not be like a crazy amount of money.

 

[Cyp180]

How did you start on trt, you must have done a bloodtest before ?

And what dose your on now ?

 

[Mfras]

Where can I get my blood work done that’s more lowkey, and wouldn’t have to use my insurance but it not be like a crazy amount of money.

I use privatemd website to order tests through quest. The full ‘bodybuilder’ panel is like $250 I think but sometimes I’ll just order a few specific ones like e2 or lipids or hematocrit/rbc, which is cheaper. There is almost always some kind of sale price or code too.

 

[Mfras]

How did you start on trt, you must have done a bloodtest before ?

And what dose your on now ?

I asked my primary to order me a hormone panel- Test came back super low. Brought that to a men’s health clinic and they gave me another, decided I qualified. They had me up to 190mg test C/week

 

[initialize]

How did you start on trt, you must have done a bloodtest before ?

And what dose your on now ?

Yes I first went to a hormone clinic and when my test came back low they started me on 150/ week

 

[Cyp180]

Yes I first went to a hormone clinic and when my test came back low they started me on 150/ week

Does your MD not accpt that previous test ?

 

[Mfras]

I’m not initialize but maybe my experience can be helpful. My doctor was happy to order a hormone panel when I asked for it but suggested diet and exercise and wasn’t interested or knowledgeable about HRT.

When I went to a clinic that a powerlifting friend recommended they wanted to do their own test for my eligibility. Of course if came up low. They started me on a low dose and titrated up, doing biweekly bloods and dialing me in. Their goal seemed to be getting me to ‘high normal in range’ which is a sneaky trick to cheat you up into a higher dose because they inject weekly and take blood the morning before your injection it the hormone level trough.

They keep moving my dose up and watching bloodwork and pressure until a problem starts to develop or until they get you near top range. For me the hematocrit was the limiting factor. I was pretty fat and needed some AI too- half an amaridex on pin day. Once I was stable they backed off to checking bp and bloods every 6 months.

At that point I appreciated what they’d done for me and the great quality of life improvement, but $60 a week for a $5 shot started to seem like a ripoff. I asked them for printouts of my last bloodwork and treatment plan to share with my primary for my records.

So, armed with my bloodwork and scripts from the clinic I went to my annual physical and told my doc I had been on TRT, I felt great, felt like they had done a good job looking out for my health, but it was too expensive and could she write scripts so I can just do it myself? She said she still wasn’t comfortable but could give me a referral. “Endocrinologist?” I asked. No she said they’re always booked forever I’ll send you to the urologist.

The urologist nurse had me pee, checked with an ultrasound that my bladder was empty and not backed up with an enlarged prostate, which was wierd but good to hear I’m cool, then the doc came in, I told him my story and he wrote me scripts for test and AI.