Here's a little story for you all. This a serious section, so here's some humor with something that happened to me today:
Went to a doctor today (this is in New York City. The method in the stickied thread cannot be used in NY/NJ/RI).
Let me just say, this will be the LAST TIME I will visit a doctor over the age of 35 to request bloodwork. Next time, I'm either asking the doctor's age when I call to make an appointment (prefer not to use my regular doc to ask for bloodwork regularly) or I'm just going over to Connecticut (30 minutes by train) to use the method above.
I walk into her office and take a seat. Have to wait half an hour for her to come to the room (note this is one of those fancy big expensive practices with like 6-7 doctors, and I'm not using my insurance for this, paying full price). I check out the view from the window, play with my phone, rearrange some papers in my briefcase. Sitting around like this guy:
She asks me how I'm doing and what she can do for me. I ask for a complete blood test: "
I just wanted to get a full blood panel done, so RBC count, cholesterol, liver enzymes, testosterone, the hormones, all that jazz" I ask her.
Almost immediately, an eyebrow was raised. "
Why do you want to check hormones?"
She looked at the new patient form I had filled out (where I was asked how often I drink, allergies how many partners I'd had in the last 6 months, etc.)
Immediately, the doc asks "
You've clearly been very sexually active, is it a sexual issue?"
Me at this point:
Me: "
Ehh...no, I just would like to have a complete picture of my health"
Her: "
But we don't normally do hormone tests like that for people under 45. Is it ED (erectile dysfunction)? If you're having some erectile problems with your torpedo, we can test for that without a blood panel."
Me:
"
No. I don't have ED. I just-"
Her: "
We can test for STDs too without a blood panel"
Me: "
That's fine, but I don't have any STDs (she's about to jump in here and I don't let her)
and everything works just fine. I'd tell you if it wasn't; I just wanted to get a picture of my health, and I do this every 3-4 years. I would really love for you to write me up for a blood test."
Her:
Blah Blah Blah (same as above, bullshitting me about why a blood test isn't "necessary," but I could still get one if I wanted) I also mention to her that even though my insurance pays for it, I'd like to pay it
from my own pocket (
practices make more from private patients than insurance) because I'd like to keep it off of my records. (she goes on for about 10 minutes.)
Her: "I still don't think it's necessary, but well, here you go, I've just put it into the system. The receptionists can forward it and you can just walk into any labcorp and get it done."
Me: Thank you SO much for your time. I appreciate all your help, doctor. Good afternoon, and see you again.
Ladies and Gentlemen, appreciate the fact you don't have to deal with this bullshit (if you're not in NJ, NY, or RI). Use the method in the sticky and get it done without going into your doc (or find a doc under the age of 40).
I'm firmly of the belief that old doctors have outdated knowledge (which a weekend of continuing education every 5 years won't fix), have little awareness of issues that effect men (such as andropause and TRT), and know little about AAS (except those with residency in Endocrinology). Docs who have graduated in the late 90s and 00s have more awareness of these issues, and better yet, they know not to bullshit you when you ask specifically for a test, say you're healthy, and want to pay for it from your own pocket.
/End Rant
-Rainier