[The First Aria]

Well I had my visit with the clinician today, she told me all sorts of stuff I already knew, took my weight and blood pressure ,  drew a vial of blood. Results in next Tuesday or so and she will write my prescription then after reviewing the results.
She did verify that I will be on the estrogen patch due to my age, which is fine with me.  Her goal is testosterone between 10-20 ( last year it was 580)  , and estrogen around 200,( less than 5 last year- and this was while taking herbals) but no higher, at least initially. I'm aware this is the safer way to go, waiting for the bloodwork, but i was hoping to get my meds today. Oh well, ive waited this long, what's another few days?

   As I understand from my GD, the reason they wait till after your blood panel results is to not only get a baseline on where you are at with hormones, but to make sure your kidneys , liver enzymes and general health can tolerate HRT.   Patches seem like a let down, but I'll tell you they did a great job for me. I just wished my new Medicare Complete would put them on a lower tier so I could afford them over pills.

Aria

Yea, I get the baseline stuff, and i even brought in a previous print out of my blood work from 8 months ago, which she looked at. I pretty much knew I was going to get patches due to my age, and less chance of clots as well,  and i see that pills are much cheaper. I'm more worried about the patches staying on when i shower or workout and sweat. I guess I shouldn't complain just yet, at least im doing what i should have been doing all along, only 40 years later than i should have started.

Totally get it, about the patches.  I didn't have many problems with early failure.  I think the 2 years I was on them, I might of lost 4.  So, the odds are pretty good.  It really depends on the brand you or your insurance allows.