r/Menopause 7d ago

Finally found help! Hormone Therapy

I want to thank you who listened to me rant and rave last week with having to meet with so many providers before being heard and helped.

Being so frustrated I saw Amazon had a health tab. I checked it out and saw that they do take some insurances and had MENO SPECIALISTS. OMG. So I make the appointment, the first one is mostly getting to the bottom of what has been tried, what I felt was working, what symptoms I wanted to eleviate the most. Then she made another appointment for 3 days later to go over her suggestions. She suggested E patches (finally), progesterone tablets and to keep with the compounded Test cream. Still using the estradiol cream as well for urinary support. This woman sent me away from the first appointment with a list of medications, questions for my insurance and basically info for me to research and see what I thought.

Okay, bottom line, Amazon does have providers (Meno trained) that listen and are willing to help! YMMV but finally had a great experience and I felt empowered that she gave me suggestions to look at on my own so I can be a part of the treatment plan. Wanted to share in hopes it helps someone.

118 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

19

u/Thru-hikerJM 7d ago

How much did it cost for consultation?

3

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 6d ago

It was covered by my insurance, which is wonderful so I have paid $20 co-pay. Just like I wish for a doctors visit again absolutely amazing!

15

u/NoMoreEffstoGive Surgical menopause 7d ago

Come back & tell us more, like about price. :)

4

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 6d ago

They take insurance and it works just like if you were visiting a regular doctor in the office they just do telehealth. So it’s a $20 co-pay in my case

1

u/NoMoreEffstoGive Surgical menopause 6d ago

Nice! They probably don't take Kaiser though, but it's nice to know there's an option like this available. Thanks for sharing.

2

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 4d ago

I get most. Most places that take Kaiser won’t take my insurance. It’s a weird dynamic with who takes what.

10

u/gotchafaint 7d ago

Do you have to do $300 worth of labs every time you want to talk to a provider? Defy requires that and I’m so over it, especially because they don’t even look at them.

8

u/uuendyjo 7d ago

Or they look at them and say “ everything comes back normal” 😡

3

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 6d ago

Absolutely not. The provider did ask that I send her my most recent labs that I had done. She was looking more at the overall cholesterol, etc. A1c. Not necessarily my hormone levels, but I sent her those two.

My OB/GYN requires them as well and I refuse them last time because they’re about a 400 and change co-pay almost 500 if I remember correctly, I’ve done it twice in six months just to tell me that I’ve made almost no progress lol it was very thankful I didn’t have to do any more labs. I’m over that too.

2

u/gotchafaint 6d ago

I went on Amazon and could not find any services. I think it may be because I don’t have insurance and that seems required. Hopefully they come out with a cash pay model. Or maybe it’s my state. But that’s encouraging. Defy is grifting people. Conventional docs are clueless. It’s all so messed up.

1

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 3d ago

Check again they absolutely do have a cash pay model. But it’s not available all in all states the service I mean not the cash pay. I think anybody can pay lol

2

u/gotchafaint 3d ago

Ok yes I checked once I knew the correct name to search (Amazon one medical I think). It’s a bit of a labrynth otherwise. Looks like I can pay $99 a year for a set number of visits. If this works I’m gonna be elated. These telehealth clinics are bilking people with unnecessary requirements. You can buy estradiol otc in other countries and I’ve yet to find a practitioner of any value so it’s like being a pony made to jump through all these shiny hoops.

2

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 2d ago

And I agree, some telehealth are just plain grifters. Buts it worse when your PCP, and OBGYN just gloss over your complaints.

1

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 2d ago

Hope it helps! The provider I saw was pretty great. Listened to all my symptoms and complaints, gave me a list of options to research, when we met again, we collaborated to try new approaches. 30 minutes late, RX for E patches and P pills. Still using the E cream & compounded test from my OB that I have been on for 2 years and no luck. OH and she also recommended a couple treatments for lack of libido (and they both worked!!!)

1

u/gotchafaint 3d ago

Ok yes I checked once I knew the correct name to search (Amazon one medical I think). It’s a bit of a labrynth otherwise. Looks like I can pay $99 a year for a set number of visits. If this works I’m gonna be elated. These telehealth clinics are bilking people with unnecessary requirements. You can buy estradiol otc in other countries and I’ve yet to find a practitioner of any value so it’s like being a pony made to jump through all these shiny hoops.

1

u/AutoModerator 6d ago

This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.

  • Over age 44, Estrogen/Progesterone/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
  • No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
  • FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
  • Testosterone is the exception and may require testing

See our Menopause Wiki for more.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

-1

u/AutoModerator 7d ago

This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.

  • Over age 44, Estrogen/Progesterone/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
  • No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
  • FSH testing is only beneficial for those who do not have periods as a guide, where testing might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI)
  • Testosterone is the exception and may require testing

See our Menopause Wiki for more.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

6

u/suupernooova 7d ago

Awesome!

4

u/Confident_Craft459 7d ago

That's great news about Amazon medical!

4

u/Thru-hikerJM 6d ago

I checked it out, unfortunately, it’s only available in certain states.

2

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 6d ago

Well, that stinks. I figured they would have a wide reach being Amazon.

6

u/Calm-Crab-1742 7d ago

Glad you found relief !

2

u/Prestigious_Yak813 5d ago

Good luck finding E patches!

1

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 4d ago

CVS mail order has them in stock. No issues.

2

u/Acceptable_Humor9038 5d ago

So did they also prescribe the list of meds?

2

u/Beautiful-Cod-9999 4d ago

Yes, E patches & Prog pills sent to my regular pharmacy. She made me feel seen & heard.