SS Radio #94: TRT, PSA, and You with Kieth Nichols and Scott Howell
My Wacky Experience With A Jay Campbell-Recommended TRT Doctor
I contacted the hormone optimization (TRT) doctors Jay Campbell recommended when he was a guest on the SS podcast, chose one, and started the process of working with the doc. Is it me, or was my experience wacky and one gigantic red flag? Serious question, and thank you in advance for your thoughts.
First step in working with this doc was to get a blood test, for $277. When I was sent the lab requisition, my address was incorrect, and my name wasn't quite right (first and last were correct, middle was not). That made me cock my head sideways and furrow my brow, but I waved it off because I was excited to work with the doc.
I took the test (5 full vials), but when the labs came back, guess what result wasn't listed. I'll give you a hint: it starts with T and is typically measured as "full" and "free."
How could that be? I again cocked my head sideways and furrowed my brow, but I waved it off again, thinking the doc must know what he's doing. But I got "weak" and emailed the doc's assistant who emailed me the lab requisition and asked her if my testosterone was supposed to be checked.
She said yes it was (DUH), blamed the lab (LabCorp) for missing it, implying that the T test was ordered, just not done. Not by the requisition she sent me, though. Five tests were ordered. Each was written on the form apart below where it said, and I quote, "TEST ORDERED (TOTAL 5)": DHEA-Sulfate, Pregnenelone, Estradiol, CBC with Differential/Platelet, and Prostate-Specific Ag.
Here was the real kicker, though: she said (essentially), "But we can still do your appointment (with the Doc, for $697, scheduled for the end of the week). He starts everybody out on the same dosage and assesses after 30 days. We'll include the testosterone then. You won't have to pay for it."
Huh?
A doctor who makes his living prescribing injectable and rub-on testosterone doesn't need to know my T levels beforehand? HTF could he possibly know I even need it? By taking my word for it about my symptoms? "It's not a problem-he'll check it next time. You can still have your appointment."
Is that not stunningly unprofessional and irresponsible? I get the whole treat-the-symptoms-not-the-number thing. But there's always a number! A doctor's going to prescribe a patient potent hormones to inject and to rub on the patient's balls without knowing the hormone levels existing in the patient at the start?
I admit I was going to go along with this, but I thought about it overnight, woke up, and asked myself if I was really that stupid and crazy. I sent a politely-worded email to the doc's admin (the one who waved off the no T test and said it doesn't matter) stating that I am unwilling to proceed without knowing, and without knowing the doctor knows, my testosterone levels to start. And I nicely stated they should pay for it (since it was 100% their fault, and "only" $50-70 or so per my research), and that I would go be tested (again) and then have my consult. And I nicely stated that if that could not be accommodated, I would take it as a sign that this is just not meant to be with this doctor, which would be terribly disappointing.
She did not respond to me.
Is this not a crazy experience? Does the starting T number matter so little that IT DOESN'T EVEN NEED TO BE KNOWN, as it's the symptoms that are to be treated, not the number? That seems absurd to me. My T might be adequate, and my fat-in-the-middle problems could conceivably be that I simply leave the feed bag on too long each night. Morning wood is a thing of the past, but the wonderworm performs splendidly with my girlfriend with no issue whatsoever (and no pills). Maybe my perceived lack of focus is in my head and or because I don't meditate or pray every morning. You know? I could guess that my T is low, but how could I or anyone know without actually testing it first?
It's them...right??? (I bet at least one of you educated folk will think, if not write, "Actually, no; it is THEY.")