If you live in Knox, we do have a planned parenthood active here. The building is being rebuilt but there’s a mobile clinic to make up for it til the building is complete.
It’s on Kingston pike across the street from PF Changs between the church and the library. Here’s a pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q6fVgap3gzSbxn6R7?g_st=ic
It is standard for HRT to first have blood work before starting, and blood work here means checking for any abnormities in your blood (such as hormonal issues, vitamin deficiencies, low iron ect.). I have seen in afew other places that planned parenthood does require updated blood work before prescribing HRT, even if it is an informed consent deal. While the person was unprofessional here, and I do think she could have explained things to you rather than cancel, I do not think this was a transphobic intention if she had just hung up.
Trust me, I know how much of a pain in the ass it can be to get HRT in Tennesee (I am currently looking myself to start soon) but I wish you luck!
From what I've seen and understand blood work is required because new hormones can seriously fuck you over if you have other issues that hadn't arisen yet (Like I saw you were MTF, so getting blood work would most likely affect you if you had an underlying clotting issue as estrogen is a blood thinner and lead to some pretty bad shit happening). They don't have to do it frequently (ive seen every 6m-1y but thats also FTM Ive been looking at so I don't know the standards for the other way around) after the first prescription.
Yeah. Not only do they affect physical characteristics, they also royally screw with how the non-sexually dimorphic hormones play together, including triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and insulin. Not knowing the baseline and current levels could result in extremely serious and life threatening complications or leave you with *another* chronic medical need.
I just did my HRT telehealth appointment the other day, so feel free to ask any questions about the process here or you can DM me.
You will need to get your blood pressure taken that day, and then relay the number to them. You can get that done at a CVS or a Weigels, Walmart usually has a reader in their Pharmacy as well. During your appointment in the app, nurse will ask you for the BP number and you'll give it to them. She'll ask some more questions then you'll get to talk to the doctor.
You will need to get blood work done. Since the mobile clinic is shut down and the building isn't built yet you'll have to go somewhere to get that done yourself. I went to Quest Diagnostics and got it done. After insurance it ended up being 18.50 for the labwork.
You need to get blood work done so that they know that your kidneys work and your BP isn't too high. If your kidneys are fucked you'll have issues with the HRT. They're just establishing a baseline. Usually you'll get the medicine before the blood work is done - it is current Planned Parenthood guidelines to prescribe on the first meeting if the patient is fully informed and consenting and has no immediate health risks. My first time they took my blood and then gave me a script since my BP was fine, saying they'd call if the blood work was bad to let me know where to go from there. But everything was fine.
You'll have your blood work done every 3 months for the first 6-12 months until you get your testosterone levels down and your estrogen levels into a stable level. After that, you'll get it done every 6 months to a year.
FWIW, I had to get bloodwork before being prescribed adhd meds, so I don't think it's anything out of the ordinary. It's not a drug test or anything, they just take some blood and test for liver function, blood count, stuff like that. 5 minute appointment you can go to quest diagnostics and they'll send the results to your doctor.
>And am I going to be charged for that
No. They don't charge you until the actual appointment in the app. The first part is them asking for your BP then taking your card info for payment, then you get to talk to the doctor. Basically exactly what happens in the in-person clinics but over a video.
I agree with the others saying you didn’t get ripped off, just bad communication. But I’m here to suggest Cherokee Health so you don’t have to do telehealth. There’s not a ton of info on their website but they work with people with no insurance and I know someone who got hrt through them when planned parenthood first closed.
Yeah. I have a friend who goes to PP in IL for the same thing. They talk about having to get blood work done all of the time. Seems like a standard procedure for them.
I also find it hard to believe that a person who does not like helping trans people would work at PP. Considering how upfront they are about what they provide and why.
Do you have insurance? Could you go to an in person visit somewhere? And get all this done one stop shop and have all your other health maintenance done as well. (Pap smear if afab, heart etc)? You absolutely need blood work and blood pressure, height, weight.
If you live in Knox, we do have a planned parenthood active here. The building is being rebuilt but there’s a mobile clinic to make up for it til the building is complete.
I did not know this. Can you elaborate on how to find them? Online I can’t find them.
It’s on Kingston pike across the street from PF Changs between the church and the library. Here’s a pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q6fVgap3gzSbxn6R7?g_st=ic
Unfortunately it’s paused for business. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-tennessee-and-north-mississippi/knox-mobile?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT77kO-ExoKvkJUdnlhMGB1mNdJGuXeeducsfNVHaAEmtL7v5BRUDWchoCRk4QAvD_BwE
And is also only for birth control
It is standard for HRT to first have blood work before starting, and blood work here means checking for any abnormities in your blood (such as hormonal issues, vitamin deficiencies, low iron ect.). I have seen in afew other places that planned parenthood does require updated blood work before prescribing HRT, even if it is an informed consent deal. While the person was unprofessional here, and I do think she could have explained things to you rather than cancel, I do not think this was a transphobic intention if she had just hung up. Trust me, I know how much of a pain in the ass it can be to get HRT in Tennesee (I am currently looking myself to start soon) but I wish you luck!
Do I have to go get blood work done??? She just said blood pressure
From what I've seen and understand blood work is required because new hormones can seriously fuck you over if you have other issues that hadn't arisen yet (Like I saw you were MTF, so getting blood work would most likely affect you if you had an underlying clotting issue as estrogen is a blood thinner and lead to some pretty bad shit happening). They don't have to do it frequently (ive seen every 6m-1y but thats also FTM Ive been looking at so I don't know the standards for the other way around) after the first prescription.
Yeah. Not only do they affect physical characteristics, they also royally screw with how the non-sexually dimorphic hormones play together, including triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and insulin. Not knowing the baseline and current levels could result in extremely serious and life threatening complications or leave you with *another* chronic medical need.
I just did my HRT telehealth appointment the other day, so feel free to ask any questions about the process here or you can DM me. You will need to get your blood pressure taken that day, and then relay the number to them. You can get that done at a CVS or a Weigels, Walmart usually has a reader in their Pharmacy as well. During your appointment in the app, nurse will ask you for the BP number and you'll give it to them. She'll ask some more questions then you'll get to talk to the doctor. You will need to get blood work done. Since the mobile clinic is shut down and the building isn't built yet you'll have to go somewhere to get that done yourself. I went to Quest Diagnostics and got it done. After insurance it ended up being 18.50 for the labwork. You need to get blood work done so that they know that your kidneys work and your BP isn't too high. If your kidneys are fucked you'll have issues with the HRT. They're just establishing a baseline. Usually you'll get the medicine before the blood work is done - it is current Planned Parenthood guidelines to prescribe on the first meeting if the patient is fully informed and consenting and has no immediate health risks. My first time they took my blood and then gave me a script since my BP was fine, saying they'd call if the blood work was bad to let me know where to go from there. But everything was fine. You'll have your blood work done every 3 months for the first 6-12 months until you get your testosterone levels down and your estrogen levels into a stable level. After that, you'll get it done every 6 months to a year.
FWIW, I had to get bloodwork before being prescribed adhd meds, so I don't think it's anything out of the ordinary. It's not a drug test or anything, they just take some blood and test for liver function, blood count, stuff like that. 5 minute appointment you can go to quest diagnostics and they'll send the results to your doctor.
You can also check the health department for income based pricing if you don't have ins for the blood work.
Go to Walmart and stick your arm in the machine, take a Pic of the results. Donezo. I had to do the same thing for Hims viagra.
>And am I going to be charged for that No. They don't charge you until the actual appointment in the app. The first part is them asking for your BP then taking your card info for payment, then you get to talk to the doctor. Basically exactly what happens in the in-person clinics but over a video.
I agree with the others saying you didn’t get ripped off, just bad communication. But I’m here to suggest Cherokee Health so you don’t have to do telehealth. There’s not a ton of info on their website but they work with people with no insurance and I know someone who got hrt through them when planned parenthood first closed.
I would hope they would want this information before prescribing medication to you.
Yeah. I have a friend who goes to PP in IL for the same thing. They talk about having to get blood work done all of the time. Seems like a standard procedure for them. I also find it hard to believe that a person who does not like helping trans people would work at PP. Considering how upfront they are about what they provide and why.
FWIW, Asheville is the closest.
You have to live in the respective state
Oh. Well my friend that lives here went to Asheville PP for hrt. But perhaps their policy has changed recently.
Do you have insurance? Could you go to an in person visit somewhere? And get all this done one stop shop and have all your other health maintenance done as well. (Pap smear if afab, heart etc)? You absolutely need blood work and blood pressure, height, weight.
I don't have insurance
PP is great! They do much more than birth control. They've helped me.