worth it to get blood work?

[Rhinobolt10]

I've always avoided telling my Dr ANYTHING about my steroid use.

Yes, he's extremely old fashioned, and a dick... but I've always avoided admitting to anything just because once it's on the record, I know it will be a lot harder to get life insurance later on.

Even if it wasn't going to be a huge pain in the ass, and I had an understanding Dr, I'm not sure if I would want to do it just as later on I could really be screwing my family, and business wise I know you have to get life insurance if you're going to be getting loans and such.

However, I think I'm also retarded for not getting it done and finding out what's going on in there.

Just wanted to see what some other guys thought, and how they felt about the whole thing.

Thanks in advance.

[kloan]

I got bloodwork done and found out my cholesterol is pretty out of whack. Very important information to know that affects the choices I'll make in the future, and I never would have known.

I'd say it's essential if you plan on using AAS. There are some things you just wouldn't know is happening without seeing it in those lab results. Otherwise, if something's wrong the only way you'll find out is when it's too late.

In the US, you can order bloodtests online, where that company contacts the nearest lab in your area and makes an appointment for you to get the bloodwork done. Then you get the results, not your doctor. I'm not sure if the same thing exists in Canada, but it's worth looking into. Perhaps you can just go into a walk-in clinic instead, but they'll probably keep a record of the results.

What's more important to you? Possibly preventing an issue later on with life insurance, or possibly suffering from a heart attack or stroke, or suffering form some sort of liver or kidney damage?

..

[Rhinobolt10]

just a tough call for me man, I probably haven't even met my wife yet, so I don't know which one I'd feel guiltier about... possibly have some health problems later on, or possibly leaving her in a financial bind cause I couldn't get life insurance.

I know this may sound stupid to some people, but I'm asking cause I'm trying to figure it out for myself, and I'd like to hear from guys that are smarter than me and are maybe married and have life insurance and what not. Just guys with more life experience.

Like if there was anything wrong, the only thing I would change at this point is to stop using gear... everything else I do I would keep the same, I eat extremely clean, I do an ass load of cardio, I drink a lot of water, no orals really winny for 4 weeks, halo a week before a comp one time, no harsh compounds on a regular basis, just test, eq and deca.

I would very much like to know, but I feel better about things knowing that for the last year I've been covering my bases pretty well... but still... I don't know what's going on... and I can never get an accurate bp reading cause my arm is too big...

[kloan]

Call some insurance companies anonymously and ask them if steroid use will cause any issues with coverage.

Call a few random clinics, or visit a walk-in and ask the doctor if they're required to disclose that information with insurance companies.

?

[tiramisu]

Go to a walk in for a full physical and ask for the appropriate blood work. Low libido, tired etc. weight gain, weight loss... thyroid, testosterone.

[Talo]

I agree with Tiramisu . You don't have to tell your Dr. anything if your not worried about anything .

As for the life Insurance thing , I'm going through this right now . I'm not worried about anything , but being 31 it gets harder to get it. I would say get life Insurance as early as you can , doesn't have to be much because you can always increase it later .

[tiramisu]

I'm actually seriously considering telling my doctor, "I would never tell you that I was doing aas, as it might negatively effect my ability to get life insurance, and I certainly would never consider... details of my cycle.... nonetheless I would like a complete physical and thyroid/free testosterone/blood lipids/glucose/ general list of useful tests."

I've got a young doctor who appears to be close to completely indifferent who might react favourably.

[j-dub]

responsibility, its up to you.

my doctor is aware, and in being aware, is able to broaden the scope of my blood work. its your body, but to use insurance as a escape is a cop out. smokers get life insurance, don't sweat it.

[tiramisu]

You'll likely get the insurance but when it comes time to make a claim they will decline the claim and your beneficiary will be ****o. The insurance company will claim pre-existing causes and take your money and leave your family screwed.

[dremen]

You'll likely get the insurance but when it comes time to make a claim they will decline the claim and your beneficiary will be ****o. The insurance company will claim pre-existing causes and take your money and leave your family screwed.

Yup that's true.

If you smoke then you pay higher insurance rates, but if you're on AAS then they will try and **** you out of your money more then likely.

[Solo59]

You'll likely get the insurance but when it comes time to make a claim they will decline the claim and your beneficiary will be ****o. The insurance company will claim pre-existing causes and take your money and leave your family screwed.

Perhaps. But I have let my doctor in on my underground activities. "So where'd you get the steroids?" he asked me. "The Net. You can get anything on the Net," I told him. He's pretty ignorant on the whole issue but was definitely impressed with my physique at my age. Now I'm seeing a urologist about my prostate problems and it seemed just good sense that he knows the whole truth. Both docs made notes on my chart but promised not to put the information on public record.

To this point I have never had a problem getting any kind of insurance, including life, but if the shit hit the fan who knows what a driven insurance agent might come up with? I think they'd come up with nothing, I lead a kind of incognito life, but Tiramisu has made me nervous.

Solo

[tiramisu]

The first thing an insurance investigator will do in the case of a claim is check your medical records. They can drag shit out, screw with the settlement, and generally make life miserable. If you get hit by a bus I doubt there's an issue but die or become disabled by kidney/liver failure or odd cancer/heart conditions at an odd age and they'll certainly have a look see at your medical record before they even start the process of cutting a check.

Insurance companies are your friend when you are paying. When they are paying they check all the details and look to reduce their payout to the minimum possible level. Long Term Disability is far scarier than just being dead.

[LonelyBedouin]

Just go to a naturopathic, you pretty much just pay for whatever tests you want done.

[Danger]

I get mine done on a regular basis every 6 months, but I have been doing that since before I even considered AAS. I mean we live in Canada where they tax the shit outta everything I figure I might as well get my moneys worth outta the health care system since here in Alberta pretty much everything is covered.

Honestly EVERYONE should have regular blood work done, especially since your paying for it anyway with your taxes.

[Rhinobolt10]

Just go to a naturopathic, you pretty much just pay for whatever tests you want done.

Could you explain this one a little bit? I dont really know what a naturopathic is,... do you know of any in Ottawa?

thanks

[evoke]

I get mine done on a regular basis every 6 months, but I have been doing that since before I even considered AAS. I mean we live in Canada where they tax the shit outta everything I figure I might as well get my moneys worth outta the health care system since here in Alberta pretty much everything is covered.

Honestly EVERYONE should have regular blood work done, especially since your paying for it anyway with your taxes.

same here. I always got mine done regularly. I think it's important to always keep track of your body, regardless of AAS.

[LonelyBedouin]

Could you explain this one a little bit? I dont really know what a naturopathic is,... do you know of any in Ottawa?

thanks

A naturopathic doctor is one that believes the body is pure and you dont need conventional medicine. Rather herbs and crap. I dont really believe in it but its a easy way to get your blood tested and Im 99% sure that in the future insurance companies do not look at it because it is not provided in your medical record (as you never give your health card to whom ever you see).

As for any in Ottawa Im sure theres tons. Just google "naturopathic doctors in Ottawa" and theres tons man, Id post all the links but theres quite a few.

The one thing that sucks is they do a first visit fee and second visit fee which are usually like 100-150, so its pretty expensive, but in the long run it can save time and energy if you do happen to get sick. Then its like 50 bucks for any additional visit.

Just pm me if you got anymore questions, as Ive actually gone in once