T refill questions

[onebody]

So I just had my very first cycle of T (about 5 mons) , got a vial for injecting one at Stroheckers, so what do I do now? Do I need to go back to my doc to get a prescription? , I asked the lady at the pharmacy but seemed like she had no idea, also wondering if you guys insurance covers for it, I have Regence Bluecross Blueshield I tried to call them but gave up on the hope of reaching an actual operator. thanks guys appreciate it

[Arch]

I'm a little confused by your wording--can you rephrase? Sounds like you have already filled the scrip, so I'm puzzled about why you would go back to the doctor for...scrip.

[onebody]

Yah, its a long story, I got in a terrible car crash and felt like I wanted to stop taking T. Plus dont want to go back to the doc I had before, so I would have to go see someone new in case a prescription is needed. And I'm kinda shy to call ppl up and talk about these matter ya know Ive never got a refill..
yah so my question is simple . wat to do when you guys run out of T?

[Kreuzfidel]

It depends on the original prescription and whether or not it had refills.  My doctor gives me a prescription that has 3 refills (in other words, 4 rounds of T including the original dispensing) - after that, I go back and see him and he gives me a new prescription.  In total, my entire prescription gives me a supply that lasts for about 5 months.

[onebody]

It depends on the original prescription and whether or not it had refills.  My doctor gives me a prescription that has 3 refills (in other words, 4 rounds of T including the original dispensing) - after that, I go back and see him and he gives me a new prescription.  In total, my entire prescription gives me a supply that lasts for about 5 months.

sorry if I'm slow to catch it, 3 refills for 5 mons so your doctor gave you smaller doses and divided them up?

Haven't run out of T because I maintain contact with my doctor every 3 months for blood work... she's always willing to refill the prescription.

Try and get in touch with your old doctor or find a new one to refill the prescription!

blood work every 3 mons? wow you really like to have your bod monitored 

thank u guys 

[onebody]

It has nothing to do with liking "to have my bod monitored," my doc requires it...
Blood work every 3 months for the first year, second year is every 6 months, and after 3 years it's done annually.
Without monitoring levels, you're just playing a guessing game... and when it comes to my body, yes, I like to play it safe.

No offense man, I was curious cuz my doctor didnt require it when I was still seeing her.. yah so I lost a bunch of weight I gained after stopped taking T. Idk why T makes you gain weight cuz I've pigged out my whole life, my appetitite remained the same as before T. knowing the side effects, I'm willing to trade off though. I'm sick of hiding my body behind my clothes and sure did love the energy boost while I was on T, and with that I can protect my girl and do the heavy stuff around the house

[ErinWDK]

In the US Testosterone is considered a controlled substance (body builders abuse it).  So the procedure for getting a new prescription is a bit arcane.  You need to get a written script from your doctor - none of this modern new prescription via Internet.  So you do need to see a doctor.

Blood work every three months at first is VITAL.  My doctor put me on T a good while ago and didn't do any checks for like six months - and at that didn't check E.  From my symptoms E sort of went out the roof.  You want a doctor that will keep track of things to keep you out of trouble.

HTH


Erin

[Kreuzfidel]

sorry if I'm slow to catch it, 3 refills for 5 mons so your doctor gave you smaller doses and divided them up?

No.  They come in pre-filled syringes, all the same (normal) dosage in each syringe.

One packet of three syringes is a refill.  So I get 12 syringes over 5 months.

[onebody]

No.  They come in pre-filled syringes, all the same (normal) dosage in each syringe.

One packet of three syringes is a refill.  So I get 12 syringes over 5 months.

thats cool, I got one big chunk in a vial. Thanks for the advice guys. So I was watching Thomas Beatie on youtube last night, and he said stopping T made his voice go up a little bit, so thats why I thought his voice was still womanly
I wonder if you've had bottom surgery and not taking T then your period still comes or not 

[Arch]

Did you decide what to do? I often get one vial of T with the option for one refill, but I have to get the refill within six months of the original scrip. At least, that's what I've been told. If your original T came with a refill, you could always call up the pharmacy and ask--or ask the pharmacy to call your doctor and request a refill. But don't hold your breath; most doctors will want to see you again first.

[onebody]

@Arch: There is a guy and a lady doctor near where I live, I guess I can go see the lady. Its kind of hard to choose a doctor. From what I remember my vial didnt come with a refill, does your doc want to see you back everytime though?

[Arch]

Right now, I'm going through the clinic. They like to keep close tabs on us regardless of whether we need a refill. If I get the job I'm up for, I'll have regular health insurance and can go through my regular doctor. He's not as obsessive as the clinic.

[onebody]

@Arch: hm... obsessive, what about costwise? how does going through a clinic compare to a family doctor? thats why I'm worried about the refills cuz those doctor visits aint cheap, I'd have to plan ahead in case one day I'll be without insurance and another thing is saving what little coverage I have not just using it all on T and then something hits me hard... btw good luck on your job..

[Arch]

The clinic I use is for people who are financially disadvantaged and costs almost nothing for the visits and blood work. The T I have been paying for out of pocket--anywhere from $50-60 for a ten-cc vial.

But with my insurance, a visit to my family doctor involves a simple co-pay, so I wouldn't be paying much more than I do at the clinic. I'm not sure how much my pharmacy co-pay is, but it must be cheaper than the T usually costs. I plan to have my insurance cover the T from now on.

Seriously, I hate the clinic. The scheduling does not fit my schedule well--I have nights free only a few weeks a year and have to plan my appointments carefully during those times. The wait time is unacceptable even when I have an appointment. I rarely get to see the same doctor I saw the time before, and I'm subjected to scare tactics on a regular basis. In addition, the clinic refuses to code us as male. That's a real slap in the face that causes me a great deal of dysphoria despite my best efforts.

My GP is awesome and worth a little extra money. He didn't bat an eyelash when I came out to him. He is very supportive and personable. He personally saw to it that his medical group classified me as male, and then he even left me a message to tell me that he had taken care of it.

But it really depends on what your insurance will cover.

[onebody]

You can get coverage for the T? I have Regence blue cross&blue shield, wondering if they do cover T

[Simon]

I think it also varies by State. In NC I can have refills on the original script that last up to six months (so basically one refill per prescription). Then my script runs out. The pharmacy then wants another hand written Rx for the T...so I can't just have my doctor call or fax it in. It's a expensive pain in the rump because I pay my doctor out of pocket and getting the Rx requires me going in to see her in person.

[Arch]

Onebody, you will have to check with your provider and see if there is a trans exclusion. Even if there is, you can sometimes get around it. In California, insurance providers can no longer exclude trans stuff, but that's not true of all other states.

Simon, that sure sound like a PITA. Can you call your doctor and have her fax in your scrip without your having to make an in-person visit?

[Hex]

I currently get my T from my family doctor and she wrote me my first script in Feb. And the paper says 2 more refills before August. I'll be picking up a new vial soon so I'm guess I just call the pharmacy I brought the original script to and they will refill there ect.
I also see my dr every 3 months for blood work ups to check on my T and E levels, liver levels ect since T can actually do some things to your liver.

As far as insurance goes, give them another call or go onto their site and try to find information there. My insurance doesn't cover T so I pay out of pocket and use goodrx.com for discounts on it. So I end up paying around $45 for a 10ml vial.

[onebody]

thank you so much, wow its $9 cheaper than Stroheckers at walgreens, dont know if comes with needles. Some insurance only covers for sick males who are low in T. well, I think its not much if you do the math right 

[David27]

Usually you have to have a separate prescription for needles/syringes for pharmacies. Also make sure they give you the right amount of syringes. Safeway always gives me half as many as I need because the needles and syringes come together. They will give me 12 syringes. 6 syringes on drawing needles and 6 syringes on injecting needles, which leaves me with 6 shots worth of sterile materials. Overall I paid about $15 for about 10 months of T and $9 for supplies (6 shots). So I guess the total is about $65 for about 10 months.