Blood / Lab Work?

[ElioAyla]

Um, so I have maybe a weird question.
I want to start T, but I am wondering how much they take your blood, how often they take it, and if the blood level testing is absolutely obligatory. I hate having needles drawing up blood in me, the nurses can never hit my veins and they always end up messing me up for weeks.

Does anyone at all get their T script without having the blood work?
I'm genderqueer, transitioning to more ambiguous, not quite male, so I wouldn't need any exact numbers.....

[aleon515]

Well you sound pretty upset by needles, do you want to use topical, I would recommend going that way.
As for blood tests, they are more common initially. I think before you start for a baseline and then after a month. After that it's going to be more or less up to your doctor. There are medical problems to catch-- liver problems, high red blood count, and high cholesterol for instance, that they need to catch. Also for levels. Typical tests-- testosterone and estrogen levels; blood count; liver enzymes; cholesterol; etc.
You can't take them without doing them. Perhaps hypnosis would be helpful. Or just some relaxation type exercises.

BTW, imo, nurses are terrible at taking blood and doctors are worse. In the lab they have people who this is all they do all day. They are much better at it. If my PA came in trying to take my blood, I'd say WFT are you kidding?! Normally you go to a lab for such things. (In the US anyway.)


--Jay

[MacG]

I have trouble with getting blood drawn. I've passed out before while donating. I get woozy if I look. So... I just turn away and don't look. That helps me.
For your veins, make sure you're hydrated.

[adrian]

Have you tried letting them take blood from your hand (wrist area) or ankles? This can be easier for some people.

[Bimmer Guy]

Um, so I have maybe a weird question.
I want to start T, but I am wondering how much they take your blood, how often they take it, and if the blood level testing is absolutely obligatory. I hate having needles drawing up blood in me, the nurses can never hit my veins and they always end up messing me up for weeks.

Does anyone at all get their T script without having the blood work?
I'm genderqueer, transitioning to more ambiguous, not quite male, so I wouldn't need any exact numbers.....

For me, it was baseline and then it won't be for 3 months.  After that, it isn't often.  As Jay said, the blood work isn't just for T levels, it is for the other negatives that T can cause.  Subsequently, my guess is that they will still be interested in taking your blood, even if the focus isn't on T levels.  You'll get through it.  Think about the end goal.

[CursedFireDean]

For me it was day 1, then 3 months, then 6, then a year. I found that I HAVE to get my blood drawn from somewhere like LabCorp that does it all day, because nobody else could get my veins. I actually developed a fear of getting blood drawn because of the nurses where I first went, but for me at LabCorp it was so quick and easy. We were done before I even knew blood was coming out, and she took like three vials. If there is somewhere like that available to you, I'd highly suggest going to them right off the bat.

[ErinWDK]

My veins are a major challenge for a tech to draw blood from.  I will second the idea of having someone who does this all the time do your draw.  The "experts" can find them almost all the time.  Proper hydration has been mentioned.  I find this vital to having a good outcome with a lab blood draw.  This is not drinking a bit before goign in - I need a good liter of water, or more, starting a few hours before I go to the lab so the veins have time to plump up.  This really, really, helps and makes it not so much of an ordeal.

Hope this helps!


Erin

[makipu]

When I got my first T prescription, the doctor said it wasn't necessary when I was the one who suggested having bloodwork. So I got it without it and then checked it after being on it for a month.

[ElioAyla]

When I got my first T prescription, the doctor said it wasn't necessary when I was the one who suggested having bloodwork. So I got it without it and then checked it after being on it for a month.

If you don't mind me asking, do you live in the USA? I do, so maybe it depends on the city/clinic you go to....hmmm....

For me it was day 1, then 3 months, then 6, then a year. I found that I HAVE to get my blood drawn from somewhere like LabCorp that does it all day, because nobody else could get my veins. I actually developed a fear of getting blood drawn because of the nurses where I first went, but for me at LabCorp it was so quick and easy. We were done before I even knew blood was coming out, and she took like three vials. If there is somewhere like that available to you, I'd highly suggest going to them right off the bat.

Yeah, I have a fear of having them try to take blood.  It's horrible. It makes me physically ill, nauseated and I have panic attacks over it. My arms are scarred up and I have low blood pressure. So there's no reason for them to worry about my red blood cells (since I actually need more!).  I don't have insurance, so I don't know about LabCorp or anything like that, I assume it would be pricey.

My veins are a major challenge for a tech to draw blood from.  I will second the idea of having someone who does this all the time do your draw.  The "experts" can find them almost all the time.  Proper hydration has been mentioned.  I find this vital to having a good outcome with a lab blood draw.  This is not drinking a bit before goign in - I need a good liter of water, or more, starting a few hours before I go to the lab so the veins have time to plump up.  This really, really, helps and makes it not so much of an ordeal.

Hope this helps!


Erin

I think I am probably dehydrated. I drink alcohol often as well, and I probably have 2 glasses of water a day anymore...I used to drink way more water....thanks for the reminder on that front.

Have you tried letting them take blood from your hand (wrist area) or ankles? This can be easier for some people.

Ouch....my veins aren't any better in those areas. I once had a wound the size of a golf ball on my ankle from a nurse's needle going through and puncturing my vein. I'm pretty sure if they tried to hit my jugular or femoral they might kill me. 

Well you sound pretty upset by needles, do you want to use topical, I would recommend going that way.
As for blood tests, they are more common initially. I think before you start for a baseline and then after a month. After that it's going to be more or less up to your doctor. There are medical problems to catch-- liver problems, high red blood count, and high cholesterol for instance, that they need to catch. Also for levels. Typical tests-- testosterone and estrogen levels; blood count; liver enzymes; cholesterol; etc.
You can't take them without doing them. Perhaps hypnosis would be helpful. Or just some relaxation type exercises.

BTW, imo, nurses are terrible at taking blood and doctors are worse. In the lab they have people who this is all they do all day. They are much better at it. If my PA came in trying to take my blood, I'd say WFT are you kidding?! Normally you go to a lab for such things. (In the US anyway.)


--Jay

Yeah, I don't mind the thought of T injections. It's not like the T gets injected into my blood stream, lol. I'm fine with a leg jab (or butt or hip), and I'm fine with doing it myself. It's the act of someone trying to find the vein that makes me lose it. I really wish I didn't have to be so freaked out by it, but I've been injured multiple times already, and I don't know, it just bothers me.  I didn't really wanna use topical because my dog, mainly. I don't want it to rub off on my partner, but I have no idea what would happen if my dog licked it, so that's not gonna fly. The injections are my best bet.

For me, it was baseline and then it won't be for 3 months.  After that, it isn't often.  As Jay said, the blood work isn't just for T levels, it is for the other negatives that T can cause.  Subsequently, my guess is that they will still be interested in taking your blood, even if the focus isn't on T levels.  You'll get through it.  Think about the end goal.

The end goal does keep me motivated. I gotta work out more.....


Thanks for all the feedback guys. It means a lot to me that you took the time to respond. 

[TinaVane]

I wish it was a sticky on the girls hormone levels. Eeekkk thought I  was in the m2f forum

[CursedFireDean]

Oh if you don't have insurance, be careful with LabCorp then. My tests (without hormone tests!) were like $640 but luckily my insurance covered it. But maybe you can find a place that is much more affordable?

[makipu]

If you don't mind me asking, do you live in the USA? I do, so maybe it depends on the city/clinic you go to....hmmm....

Yes, I live in the USA. I went to an LGBT health center for it.

[Bimmer Guy]

Oh if you don't have insurance, be careful with LabCorp then. My tests (without hormone tests!) were like $640 but luckily my insurance covered it. But maybe you can find a place that is much more affordable?

He should call his insurance company and they will tell him what lab companies are in his network. 

[CursedFireDean]

He should call his insurance company and they will tell him what lab companies are in his network.

He said he doesn't have insurance :/

[Bimmer Guy]

He said he doesn't have insurance :/

Ah, I see.  I assumed that based on your post, but I didn't see that on my subsequent scan of his posts.  Missed it. 

ElioAlya, I would call the different labs when you have blood work orders in hand and ask prices.