Hey, people! I am a new member, but have been reading these forums as a non member for quite some time. I have my first visit with the endocrinologist next Tuesday and was wondering what to expect. Everybody has a different story, but I'm just trying to figure out what the average is. Dr. Edward Condon was recommended to me by the Donna Riley from the Freedman center because he was close to me and trans friendly. I haven't had blood work taken in a long time, but give blood fairly regularly. I usually have blood pressure on the slightly higher side, but am changing my diet anyway. I know testosterone effects blood pressure, so will that be a problem if it is not extremely high, just slightly higher. Will I get my first shot then? Is this the time to pull out my food themed boxers? I'm just an excited trans guy who's looking for some wisdom from some more experienced trans people. Thank you!

Welcome to Susan's Place. Doctors have different policies for treatment. If you are in good health, sometimes you will get your prescription before leaving the office but they may want to see the lab results before they commit to treatment. The blood draw for me is 3 vials of blood and it takes several days for the lab to run all the tests. If you are injecting, you will need training in the process so you can do it yourself and that may require another appointment.

As for blood pressure, there are a number of factors that can cause it. The Endo will take it all into consideration and might suggest diet changes or some other treatment to help control it. You will be asked a bunch of health questions but the appointment should go pretty quick and you should be on T soon enough.

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My first visit was just filling out forms, reviewing my medical history, going over the HRT fact sheet, and asking questions. I had labs done after meeting with the doctor. I didn't get my prescription for T until my second visit. I started on gel, but when I switched to injections I had to make a separate appointment with a nurse to learn how to inject myself. I've never had anyone else do my shot for me, but did have to drop trousers to do my shot with the nurse there the first time.

My blood pressure wasn't bad pre-T but it wasn't great either. It improved on T.

The first visit is usually going over your medical history, you handing in letters, signing forms and going over testosterone and how it affects you.
After, you'll get your blood drawn to check your levels out and then your next visit will be getting the shot or getting the prescription.

I had to have my dr do the shot for about 2 months before they started to teach me how to self inject.

Yeah first visit was forms then a basic physical exam. He took some measurements around my stomach and my hips, checked my weight and height. He had me lay down on the table and felt around my legs, back and pressed around my abdomen. I also sat in a chair and he felt around my throat. He took my blood pressure, heart rate and then took blood. I also had slightly high blood pressure at the time, as well as finding out I had a goiter and thyroid condition. Didn't get put on T until my second visit.

I hated doctors and tried every bit to avoid ever going. I also hated needles too. BUT I like my endo he's a very nice guy and extremely respectful. So I've gotten use to it and don't mind anymore.

I was sat in a small room and asked a thousand questions about my family history/medical history/mental well-being/expectations/etc. After about an hour, he gave me a very basic physical exam and sent me down the hall to have a ton of bloodwork done. My endo at the time was very popular and, much to my dismay, my follow-up appointment wasn't scheduled until almost two months later. That's when I finally got the greenlight for the testosterone prescription. He gave me some basic instructions on how to inject myself and I did it almost as soon as I walked in the door that night after picking it up at the pharmacy.

I had one of the easiest visits ever...
urine test and the general intake (weight, height). Followed by seeing the doctor who briefly went over the therapist letter and my own history. Then explained the three medications (Estradiol, Progesterone and Spiro) and what they do, quick chat about side effects. Then got my prescription and two lab slips. One for the same day, the other after a month.

That was it :-)

Quote from: sarah1972 on January 14, 2017, 09:50:13 PM
I had one of the easiest visits ever...
urine test and the general intake (weight, height). Followed by seeing the doctor who briefly went over the therapist letter and my own history. Then explained the three medications (Estradiol, Progesterone and Spiro) and what they do, quick chat about side effects. Then got my prescription and two lab slips. One for the same day, the other after a month.

That was it :-)

Sounds exactly like my first trip.
I loved that staff, they were so kind to me. 

Only issue I had right up front was them thinking I was lying about being 20....