Testosterone monitoring?

[bc67]

I'm a middle aged man and have been taking testosterone for approximately 5 years at therapeutic doses. I have not, however, been prescribed since I started taking it. I am currently finishing "treatment", PHP with housing for a relapse on alcohol while in monitoring, and they found that my testosterone levels were lower than normal. This raised suspicion because I'm a rather muscular guy. What happened was I stopped taking testosterone before I came here and my endogenous production had stopped. Now they are recommending that I see an endocrinologist when I restart monitoring. 

Now that's all good and fine, but my question is this. Can IPN randomly test my testosterone levels to see if my levels are therapeutic? That seems to be the entire point of seeing an endocrinologist since they will monitor those levels and complete the necessary reports as required. I feel like this is overboard with respect to IPN's scope of monitoring.

The treatment center has mentioned making this recommendation to IPN on discharge. I wonder if IPN will go so far as to do this. Has anyone ever heard of someone's testosterone levels being monitored by IPN?

Here's the kicker. If I were prescribed, it would be called "testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)”, but without a prescription, I'm positive that it's considered as "anabolic steroid abuse".

I can't help but think of all sorts of ethical dilemmas when considering other scenarios involving hormone replacement therapy or hormone monitoring by IPN (if there's such thing). For instance, what if a female was taking testosterone to transition to male? Would IPN intervene? I'm sure they wouldn't dare cross that line in today's political climate.

So to be clear, it's OK for a woman to be allowed to take testosterone to transition to male in order to enjoy the benefits of developing more masculine qualities. I highly doubt she would not be required to have those values monitored by IPN, but for a man to enjoy the benefits of increased testosterone levels, that would require monitoring? And what? If my testosterone levels happened to be supratherapeutic then I'm no longer deemed to be safe to practice?

I know this is a unique situation, but I wanted to introduce it for discussion. Because something is wrong here, terribly wrong, in my opinion. 
 

 

 

 

[Nursejackie201]

It sounds like you are stuck at FRC. I feel for you and this situation is unique to FRC.

They will absolutely include that in your recommendation unless you fight it. IPN will then monitor it for"therapeutic levels" and they will consider it drug abuse and send you back to FRC if your levels fluctuate. There was a member of the special forces at FRC that had an identical issue. They put "anabolic steroid disorder" in his discharge and he HAD a prescription coming in. 

It's funny that you still think FRC cares about "ethics". Dr. T cares about his image to IPN and not much else. 
 

Your options are not great, but you could:

1) Discuss it in your process group and get your therapist to argue on your behalf to Doctor T. 
2) Call Dr. T out on this in the professionals meeting. This is risky. I called him out after he violated my HIPPA rights. He clearly broke the law in my case and it changed the power dynamic he tried to hold over me. 
3) Not discuss it at all and hope it slips under the radar. 

I feel for you. Most importantly, play the game, get out of FRC and find something that works for you to stay sober. 
 

 

[bc67]

WOW...I would love to be able to speak to this guy you're talking about who went through this. I was looking for a way to private message you but didn't see a way to do so. Thank you for your input. I just don't know if I can do this for 5 more years 😞

 

Nursejackie201 said:

It sounds like you are stuck at FRC. I feel for you and this situation is unique to FRC.

They will absolutely include that in your recommendation unless you fight it. IPN will then monitor it for"therapeutic levels" and they will consider it drug abuse and send you back to FRC if your levels fluctuate. There was a member of the special forces at FRC that had an identical issue. They put "anabolic steroid disorder" in his discharge and he HAD a prescription coming in. 

It's funny that you still think FRC cares about "ethics". Dr. T cares about his image to IPN and not much else. 
 

Your options are not great, but you could:

1) Discuss it in your process group and get your therapist to argue on your behalf to Doctor T. 
2) Call Dr. T out on this in the professionals meeting. This is risky. I called him out after he violated my HIPPA rights. He clearly broke the law in my case and it changed the power dynamic he tried to hold over me. 
3) Not discuss it at all and hope it slips under the radar. 

I feel for you. Most importantly, play the game, get out of FRC and find something that works for you to stay sober. 

[crazin01]

but, if you WOULD have a valid script/medical condition documented by your PCP, or specialist, wouldn't they have to accept that??  you have to be allowed to maintain your own health and I don't see how they could argue against you, with a valid script.... perhaps I'm missing something? 

 

[bc67]

They will accept it, but it sounds like they will recommend that IPN also random test my testosterone levels to make sure I am not taking too much. this seems over the top, like they are out of their element. That's the whole point of seeing an endocrinologist, so they can monitor my levels and turn in their report to IPN. This is essentially double monitoring.

 

[Nursejackie201]

bc67 said:

WOW...I would love to be able to speak to this guy you're talking about who went through this. I was looking for a way to private message you but didn't see a way to do so. Thank you for your input. I just don't know if I can do this for 5 more years 😞

This individual I'm talking about ended up surrendering his license.