Digging up Some Information - Blood Work

[Ryan B.]

Disclaimer: Possibility of rambling ahead. You have been warned.

I decided to start a simple blog to gather up resources for those in my state (Indiana) who want to start informed consent. So I have been doing some digging... which I've technically already done in the past, multiple times. Anyways, I'm working on a post now regarding blood work and comparing prices. Only issue I'm running into is which tests are supposed to be taken for blood work.

I've posted a very similar topic to this before. Someone in the previous thread said this is one of the required tests to start hrt: http://www.anylabtestnow.com/tests/testosterone-total/
What I'm trying to find out is if that test is the equivalent to this? http://www.personalabs.com/test-more-information.aspx?CatName=Hormone&PanelId=38421&PIndex=31

All I'm trying to do right now is compare prices. Would love some help.

Also, if you want to check my blog (only has one post right now) it's http://icindiana.blogspot.com/. Don't think it will help most of you; I don't think there are that many folks in Indiana on this forum to be honest.

[Mal]

Some doctors, at least in the U.S., will require checking testosterone levels before they will consider starting you on T.

[Felix]

I've still never had my testosterone levels checked. I don't think that's a standard requirement to start T in most states and I can't imagine why it would be. Afterward and ongoing with treatment makes some sense but also isn't standard.

I am not in Indiana, but I'm glad you are putting together resources for locals.

Those two links look like they are the exact same test. The price differences are distracting, though.

[Mal]

I've still never had my testosterone levels checked. I don't think that's a standard requirement to start T in most states and I can't imagine why it would be. Afterward and ongoing with treatment makes some sense but also isn't standard.

Maybe it's a Southern thing then, but even the LGBT centers, with informed consent, around here require it. Because you know it must be that you have too much testosterone already.

[Charliedogist]

I started T without having them checked previous to getting my script. They pulled blood that same day they wrote the script, but that was to have a baseline. They pulled everything plus some again after two months on T as well, and I'm in the South as well. I drive all the way to Atlanta to see my Endocrinologist who is incredibly LGBT, especially the T, friendly. It's worth the drive to me.

My clinic is not informed consent though. That wasn't an issue for me, as I'd already been seeing a therapist for more than a year before going and she had no problem writing a letter for me that served for both starting T and will serve for getting surgery when I can afford it.

[Ryan B.]

@chipper: Huh, I guess I just assumed that it was a requirement no matter what. Though, as pointed out by a couple of the others in the thread it does seem pointless. I'll just have to make a note when I write up the post concerning blood work that T levels may not be a requirement to start informed consent.

That's a lot of stuff to have checked... o_O You don't happen to know what blood test they would all fall under, do you? In one of my previous threads someone said they had to be tested for:

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Total Testosterone
Lipid Panel
Liver Function Panel

I'm just wondering if that's the norm.

@Felix: Well, if I'm honest, it's not just helping others but also helping myself. Writing everything out helps organize my thoughts and form a solid plan of action. I do enjoy the thought that I may be helping others who stumble across the website too though.

Yeah, those two look like the same tests; though I wasn't certain. The price differences are pretty crazy. I guess I know where I'm going if I do need to have my t levels checked.

@Mal: What I'm probably going to have to do is try to contact the doctors that perform informed consent and find out which ones require that T levels are checked to start hrt.

@Charliedogist: Did you have insurance that covered the blood work? Mine won't, so I've been digging around for some alternative places that will perform the blood work for cheap(ish). I don't know if all of the doctors are okay with that, but I've read that a couple of them do not mind if you bring in the results of blood work you had done very recently.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Maybe it's a Southern thing then, but even the LGBT centers, with informed consent, around here require it. Because you know it must be that you have too much testosterone already.

I think it's just a doctor by doctor thing.  I'm in the south and have never been required to have my levels tested.  I only got them tested last year because I wanted to know if they were normal.

[Charliedogist]

I do have insurance. They did cover most of it, but not all. I could have probably had it pulled by my GP, and she could have sent it to my endo because my GP does it all in house and there's no lab charge. But I ended up letting my endo pull it, and had to pay a little bit when they sent me the bill.