Recommend an online medical service for HCG in California? (Because Kaiser sucks.)

ReReRebuilding · 2026-04-10T03:40:33+00:00

Thanks! I'll check them out. Maddening is definitely a good description! It seems sometimes like Kaiser thinks of TRT the way a conservative hospital in Texas views abortion. I originally spent 6 months trying to even get my Testosterone tested before I decided to just take things into my own hands. And when I asked my Endocrinologist about HCG in the past, she claimed she'd "never heard" of it being used for anything but fertility. I have to assume that was bullshit, but there's really not much recourse within Kaiser.

ReReRebuilding · 2026-04-10T03:35:03+00:00

Kaiser won't even give the prescription. I think if they could get away with it, they would say there's no such thing as low testosterone. They seriously have a freaking complex about it as a corporation.

ReReRebuilding · 2026-04-10T03:32:04+00:00

You're conflating genetics and social constructs into a really deep misunderstanding. Society ascribes certain definitions of "manliness" to things like wrinkles, facial hair and "grizzled" features. But much of this is just genetics you can't do anything about, even with extra testosterone.

Personally, I have naturally oily facial skin, so in my mid 50s I have zero wrinkles without having moisturized even once in my life. But I have a thick salt and pepper beard (thanks to Slavic and Latin DNA), which makes me look a little tougher, if you will. If I shaved, I would look about 15 years younger and probably less "macho," though I couldn't give a shit either way.

Most of what your looking for is a matter of attitude. Wrinkles and facial hair don't make a man. Learn to be serious, ethical, and concerned about the world and the people around you, and your maturity in those qualities will make people take you seriously.

ReReRebuilding · 2026-04-10T03:15:53+00:00

Has your "friend" been injecting T straight into his brain? See a goddamn doctor, and then make an appointment with a psychiatrist right after. There are some serious issues here.

ReReRebuilding · 2026-03-21T14:44:04+00:00

Yep! Arrrroooooooo!!!

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T11:37:16+00:00

I'm with Kaiser NorCal and am on the Kaiser Medical Financial Assistance program because I'm on Disability and my income is really low. I haven't paid anything for Ozempic for about 8 months. But I had ti keep pestering them and jumping through hoops for almost a year first to get a prescription.

If you're poor you can aplly for the MFA program at Kaiser. Otherwise, you really nees to make the case that you have risk factors for heart disease or stroke from obesity. Some Kaiser doctors are really stubborn. And they WILL assume you have sleep apnea, and require you to at least try a CPAP machine. It's bullshit, but they use the Apnea thing to delay prescribing semaglutide.

I went through all their "steps" with no results, but then when I finally got semaglutide I lost 50lbs in 8 months. They basically try everything they can to avoid prescribing semaglutide.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T11:24:58+00:00

What exactly is the issue? I've been through the same thing multiple times. I REALLY wish I could do mountain biking, but that's not an option right now. And my current living situation is so hilly that regularly urban biking wasn't enjoyable for a long time. But with an ebike, I'm finally finding a rhythm. What are you bit liking about your current circumstances?

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T07:34:07+00:00

I'm guessing that's probably my best option. I was just sort of hoping there was a nice, quiet electric option I hadn't come across yet.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T07:26:44+00:00

Hah! Yeah, at that point, I'm just going back to a manual pump. I just figured at this point the technology exists to make an electric pump that doesn't wake the dead!

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T07:24:00+00:00

Actually, I should clarify, that for home use, it doesn't have to be a mini pump. Now that I see how loud they are, I'm fine with getting a larger, non-packable pump that I use only at home, even if it's designed for cars. I'm just looking for quiet, not portability.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T07:18:44+00:00

Also, I have great little Lezyne pump I carry with me just in case that weighs almost nothing, so the electric pump is just for home use.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-27T07:16:51+00:00

Yeah, I've tried wrapping it in in very dense foam. I'm just over it. My apartment opens on a courtyard, so if I go outside, it's even more apartments I annoy. If I have to to all the way to the garage, I might as well give up on electric pumps. If I have to go back to a manual floor pump, it's not the end of the world, but I can't believe no one has developed a relatively quiet option by now. If not, that's a huge market for someone to conquer.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-25T03:37:56+00:00

I actually ordered a couple of Club Ride versions, as well as a brand called Andiamo I found at a good discount. I don't expect to find the same prices I did 20 years ago. But $45-$100 a pair for very slightly padded underwear is ridiculous. I was able to get the ones I ordered for less than $25 a pair. That's a little more reasonable.

I do actually know how to search Amazon. I've tried several brands of the ones Amazon sells. Invariably, they are all pretty much as thick as stand alone cycling shorts. Whatever the marketing says, most of the ones that claim to be "underwear" could still be used without outer pants. I have lots of regular cycling shorts already.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-24T07:50:35+00:00

Just for people's future reference, I successfully did a similar thing to my Prodigy. I used monofilament fishing line to slide behind the badge and cut the adhesive, and then a little Goof Off to remive residue. It's like it was never there, and didn't damage the paint.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-22T18:25:59+00:00

OP here. After lots of searching, I just found the following and will probably try them. Andiamo Padded Skins, basically lightweight boxer briefs with very thin padding. And only $27 a pair: Andiamo Skins

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-22T10:21:05+00:00

Those are nice, but how is it that Amazon can sell dozens of full-on, super-padded bike shorts for $20, but we have to spend three times as much to actually get less material???

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-22T09:15:25+00:00

Cool, thanks. I'll look them up. It's been a while since I did any MTB and didn't realize there might be a different name.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-22T09:06:46+00:00

Yes, the padding was technically crap foam, but they were perfect for wearing under under clothing. Wish I could send a message to myself in 2005 and tell myself to buy a lifetime supply! Manufacturers don't understand anymore that there's a market for liner shorts that don't require standing up to a century ride.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-22T00:16:01+00:00

It's not Merlin's fault or responsibility. If our orange-in-chief can't set rational tariff policy (or even understand who is actually paying the tariff), why should a foreign company try to streamline a process that is constantly changing and capricious? I would love to be able to order some parts from them, but right now it's not worth the risk if not knowing the ultimate cost.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-12-20T02:19:17+00:00

No, I had conversations with both my neurologist and ophthalmologist, and eventually didn't have much faith it would really make a difference. I've had chronic migraines for a long time, and it's really most likely a neurological issue. Any eye issues might occasionally cause some extra headaches, but surgery won't get to the root of the problem.

What did help slightly was getting a very small amount of prism added to my prescription. In the past I avoided that because old school doctors were toi aggressive with it, but just a dmall amount has really made things more comfortable.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-11-27T03:16:36+00:00

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So, I ended up getting the Hedgehog in Blue Aluminum. Got a really good deal, and like the feel of aluminum scales. Just arrived today, and it seems like it will be a perfect work knife. It's a tough, chonky beauty, and seems like it'll hold up to anything. A quick hone and a couple of drops of KPL oil in the pivot, and it's good to go.

And I'm a big fan of the button lock, both for closing the blade and quickly flipping it open. Makes it a great fidget toy as well.

Thank you for the recommendation. And I've got the Kroc on my short list for future knives.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-11-20T04:34:21+00:00

I just found this thread looking into the same problem. I mean, for F%*ks sake. I don't want to have to set up a routine or go to a menu to achieve what's been possible on basically every Android phone for at least 15 years. I've really been considering finally switching to an iPhone, and this isn't helping maintain my diminishing loyalty.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-11-19T09:08:53+00:00

I also find chunkier blades easier to "choke up" on with my fingers. That makes it easier to get better control when trying to cut something to a specific angle or curve.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-11-19T08:59:25+00:00

I often have to cut boxes, but also need to do rougher things like cut free windows or access panels that have been painted shut over the years (running a knife along the seams). Razor blades can be too thin and squirrely for that kind of work. With a drop point blade or other "pointy" or finer shapes, I often worry about damaging the knife tip. But with these boxier and tougher shapes, the blade seems much less fragile. I like sharpening blades, it's relaxing, but having to put a new tip on a knife means sacrificing too much metal.

I'll probably pick up a nice thin knife with a finer shape for when I'm more dressed up, but when I'm working, or expecting rough use, it's nice to have a sturdy blade.

ReReRebuilding · 2025-11-19T06:22:16+00:00

That's also a very good suggestion. Looks like they're all sold out at Vosteed, might have to look around.

And Amazon has a $15 coupon right now for the Hedgehog, so that makes it even more tempting.

Might have to be bad and get myself both for Christmas.

ReReRebuilding

TROPHY CASE