You make an appointment with your doctor, ready for some relief.

You arrive on time, but sit in the waiting room for 30-minutes—the doctor is behind schedule. When you climb onto the table in your private room, you wait for another 20-minutes—she’ll be right with you.

Finally, the doctor walks in. You pull out your list of ailments, but she spends another 5-minutes typing on her tablet. After she runs through a list of generalized questions, she snaps the tablet closed. Your 15-minute session is complete.

The nurse ushers you out and says she’ll call if the insurance approves the treatment—it could take 2-3 weeks. While you’re eventually approved, you repeat this process every few months, just to get a small dose of a generic-brand solution for your not-so-generic ailments.

Sound familiar?

Quick, insurance-driven driven health care is has become the norm.

But physicians are now changing the patient experience with a direct pay care model. Direct pay primary care isn’t a new service. Before the rise of employer-based insurance in the 1940’s, people paid cash to their family doctor for health care.

The concept of my doctor knows me, has time for me and has a relationship with me is on the rise. And one-size-fits-all health care is on a descent.

Yearly insurance upheavals, huge deductibles and copays, prior approval for medications and surgery and “big business” care in doctors’ offices are driving patients to seek something different.

Direct pay care offers flat, reasonable rates to all patients. It puts important, health care decisions back into the hands of the doctor and the patient.

According to The Physicians’ Foundation 2014 survey, 7% of physicians now practice some form of direct pay medicine, while 13% are planning to transition to this type of practice.

You can learn more about direct pay specialty care here and here. But, we’ve created a quick overview of the key benefits of choosing a direct pay specialty physician below.

You get more, one-on-one time with your doctor

Eighty-one percent of physicians say they are over-extended or at full capacity. And 20% of their day is spent on non-clinical work, like completing insurance claim forms and negotiating payment rates.

With a direct pay model, physicians can spend less time at the desk and more time getting to know you.

Direct pay specialists also see fewer patients, so they can spend more time with each one, while still providing all the resources needed to run a high-quality clinic. Patients spend less time in the reception area. And the physicians are more available for appointments convenient to you.

You get care that’s customized to you

With direct pay, your physician can select the treatment that’s best for you, not the one that’s covered by your insurance.

For example, at Exceed Hormone Specialists, our approach to hormone therapy, uses the highest quality, bioidentical hormone pellets. Your dose is unique to you, based on your treatment goals, medical history, weight, height, lab results and level of activity.

You get a lifelong solution

Because your hormone therapy plan is customized, you get access to a life-long solution without experiencing the negative side effects that come with synthetic hormones. Bioidentical hormones are safe and effective for years.

On the other hand, insurance companies who work with pharmacy benefit managers, choose medications for you based on cost, not quality.

To get the best treatment, or bioidentical hormones, you go through an obstacle course of higher prices, prior approvals and restricted quantity.

With direct pay specialty care, you develop a close, personal relationship with your physician. We maintain that relationship far into the future and give you personal care every day. In addition, you have easy access to your physician for on-going advice.

Want to learn more about our pricing structure or see if you’re a good fit for our personalized care? Give us a call to schedule your visit.

At 16, you could earn your driver’s license, and at 18, you could graduate high school.

When you turned 21, you could upgrade from a virgin strawberry daiquiri to a sophisticated whiskey on the rocks—although you probably went for the cheap beer instead.

Other than going over the hill, it may seem there are few age-related milestones left in life. But, after years of helping men and women age with vitality, we’ve learned that’s not the case.

There are several reasons you could embrace 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and all the years in between. Here are just a few we love the most.

1. You have mental strength and control of emotions

As you mature, you have a clearer understanding of what’s important or not important in life. You find confidence, happiness, and motivation from within yourself instead of those around you. Mental strength gives you freedom from social pressure and the ability to act without caring what others may think. From control of emotions to self-worth, mental strength takes time and dedication, two things you’ve refined over the years.

2. You’re more passionate and focused at work

Whether you worked since you were 15 or 22, you’ve shown what you’re capable of doing. You’ve taken risks, proved naysayers wrong, and made your mark in your industry. You know your strengths and weaknesses, and you no longer set boundaries or sell yourself short. This mindset increases your job satisfaction and decreases stress at home and in the office (trust me, we’re all jealous of this).

3. Your sex life is adventurous

As testosterone or estrogen levels drop, you may experience a lower sex drive. But that doesn’t mean your sex life isn’t up to snuff. One survey showed men and women reported sex was better after 60 than it was in their 40s. Because you have mental strength, your inhibitions lower, and you have more confidence to explore new sexual experiences or refine the ones you’ve always loved. So, go crazy, and shake it up a bit!

4. Your sleep cycle is peaceful and consistent

A recent study found people in their 80s had the fewest complaints about sleep disturbances and daytime fatigue. While there is still debate on why this is the case, many say it could be related to retirement and less exposure to technology. Whatever the reason, you’ve got your sleep down to a science and experience more rest than younger generations.

5. You learn new things from unexpected people

Did you know National Grandparents Day is September 11th? While your grandchildren are celebrating you, you could also celebrate them. You may think you’ve learned it all at this point, but our world is rapidly changing (especially when it comes to technology). And to fill in the gaps, we could look to our grandchildren to teach us how to navigate this new version of our lives.

Contrary to old beliefs, our brain continues to grow neurons as we age, which means as long as you exercise your mind, you can learn a new hobby, grow your vocabulary, or figure out how to annoy your grandkids on Snapchat.

We may not be able to control all the physical changes to our body, but we could embrace getting older and value the benefits that come along with it. If you’re ready to get some zest back in your life, so you can fully appreciate aging, give us a call.

People often spend hours researching their symptoms to find out what’s wrong with their health.

But they’re quicker to the punch when it comes to finding a physician to treat those symptoms.

Knowing who to seek help from is just as important as knowing why you need treatment in the first place.

So, if you’re ready to start your hormone replacement therapy plan, here are a few questions you should ask to before choosing a physician.

1. What are your qualifications?

Like dentists and general practitioners, you have options when it comes to deciding where you go (or who you go to) for hormone replacement therapy.

To narrow down that list, invest time and energy in learning more about the skills and training of each doctor.

You can ask these questions directly or find the answer on the clinic’s website.

2. Do you keep up-to-date with the latest medical advancements?

Hormone replacement therapy is a steadily evolving science. Your doctor should stay up-to-date on news, alternatives and recent research studies so that she can provide you with the right treatment.

You can find out by asking if he attends conferences, seminars or pursues further education in her field.

3. Do I need hormone replacement therapy? If so, why?

You may not need hormone replacement therapy, and that’s okay. But what’s not okay is if your physician or clinic can’t explain the specific details of why you qualify or don’t qualify for it.

Your doctor should take the time to get to know your medical history, eating habits and lifestyle.

If the physician or clinic seems to give everyone a stamp of approval, you may need to get a second opinion.

4. How will you find the right dose of hormones for me?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to hormone therapy.

A knowledgeable physician will show you the steps they take to decide what dose is right for your body. And this goes back to the question above—that dosage will depend on your overall health and medical history.

If the doctor skips the getting-to-know-you session and goes straight to lab work and trials, you may not be getting a custom therapy plan.

5. What do you expect from me as your patient?

As you may have noticed, we can’t stress enough that hormone therapy is most effective when you evaluate your life as a whole.

A good physician will give you suggestions on how much you should exercise, what you should eat, and any other factors that may be contributing to your low testosterone or estrogen levels.

They should expect you to take an active role in this therapy, so, be ready.

6. What type of hormones do you use in your practice?

The right answer to this question is simple—bio-identical hormones.

You can learn more about bio-identical hormones here, but, in short, they’re hormones that are identical to the ones naturally existing in your body, which means your body recognizes and uses them just as it would your real hormones.

Synthetics hormones offer only partial, temporary fixes to your problem. And you experience more side effects with the potential for serious health issues.

It’s also important to consider how well you connect with a physician. If a doctor hits all the right marks, but you don’t feel comfortable being honest and open about your health, then he might not be right for you.

Many reputable clinics, like our own, offer a free initial consultation, so you have an opportunity to ask these questions. If you’re ready to learn more, you can contact us here.

So, you’re experiencing perimenopause, menopause or andropause. Now what? You know this is simply par for the course. The effects of aging include mood swings, low libido, night sweats, daily fatigue and weight fluctuations.

But, the question is, where do you go from here? How do you ensure you don’t lose quality of life as your body begins to undergo those changes?

In this article, I’m going to answer those questions and more. If you are willing to invest in a customized hormone therapy plan and consult with an experienced, board-certified physician, you’ll have the chance to feel energized, happy and hopeful again.

1. A custom plan is a life-long solution.

Like any medical treatment, there isn’t a “one-size fits all” solution. But many testosterone and other hormone clinics use that approach.

Your symptoms, lab work and lifestyle aren’t the same as those of an Ultimate Fighting Championship contender. And taking “standard” doses of testosterone on its own, without a clear understanding of your medical history, weight, height, blood work and level of activity can wreak havoc on your body.

Many men and women give up on hormone therapies because of the highs and lows that come with synthetic treatments.

But, if your therapy plan is designed to work with your unique physiology and is evaluated often, your natural (bioidentical) hormones will be restored, with minimal side effects.

2. A custom plan treats the whole body, not just the chemical.

Hormone therapy is just one piece of the aging puzzle. To reap the full benefits, you also need to invest in yourself through diet and exercise.

Custom plans address these issues. Your doctor discusses what other changes in your life can help boost your testosterone or estrogen. Do you need to significantly reduce your sugar intake? Lose 10 pounds or 100? Is your vitamin D too low or your blood pressure too high?

Aging affects your whole body, not just your hormones, and these factors should be considered to ensure your quality of life is at optimum level – in all areas.

3. A custom plan uses hormones that return your body’s natural functions.

As mentioned above, many hormone clinics use synthetic hormones. The molecular structure of those hormones is different from what naturally occurs in humans, and the dosages are a predetermined few. Those hormones are manufactured and imitate estrogen and testosterone, which can lead to undesirable side effects.

Bio-identical hormones are chemically identical to those your own body has made during your lifetime and function the same way. One of the best ways to administer these hormones is in tiny pellets placed under the skin. As blood flows around the pellets, the correct amount of hormone is released, so your body gets what it needs, at the time it needs it.

When properly administered, these pellets give you sustained, steady relief. The dosages can be customized and safely changed as your body and lifestyle change.

Don’t let aging stop you from enjoying life. Hormone therapy can help manage the problematic effects of perimenopause, menopause and andropause, not just temporarily, but for the long haul. To learn more about creating a custom hormone therapy plan, you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with us here.

How many fruits and vegetables did you eat this past month?

Most people would say not enough. In fact, a recent study published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in January 2015, found that 40 percent of adults are deficient in vitamins A, C, D and E, not to mention calcium and magnesium.

Sure, living in Memphis, makes it hard to turn down a plate of barbecue nachos for steamed broccoli.

So, unless you’re one of the few who eats a well-balanced, organic diet, your body may be depleted of the nutrients it needs to sustain a fulfilling life.

Take Vitamin D, for example. Studies show it’s a strong stimulator of calcium deposition in bones, which makes them stronger and healthier.

And, here you thought it was just the sunshine vitamin.

Below are a few more vitamins you should consider taking if you’re over 50.

Remember, it’s important to first discuss your intentions with a medical professional before changing your diet or adding supplements.

1. Calcium

Bone density declines after 50, especially for women. To keep your bones and teeth strong, add calcium to your daily routine. While you know calcium is found in milk, you may not know you can also get it from kale, broccoli, spinach and other leafy green vegetables.

Calcium is also needed for muscle contractions, which helps you get more out of your workout.

2. Magnesium

Sometimes overlooked, magnesium keeps your heart steady, your immune system healthy and your nerve function normal. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels and promote normal blood pressure. Many tout its helpful properties in improving sleep as well.

You can find magnesium in spinach, almonds, cashews, quinoa and pumpkin seeds. Or, get it all at once with this summer spinach and quinoa recipe.

3. Fiber

Fiber regulates your digestive system, lowers your cholesterol and helps control blood sugar levels.

If you’re trying to lose weight, adding fiber to your diet keeps you fuller, longer. Try eating oats, peas, beans, apples, carrots, whole-wheat flour, wheat bran or other veggies to increase your fiber intake.

You can also talk to your doctor about taking a fiber supplement, like this one by Benefiber.

4. Fish Oil

Many diets are lacking in healthy fats, including fish oil, which aids in depression, Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol, arthritis and heart health—just to name a few.

Most of the benefits are attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids found in oil extracted from the tissue of deep-sea oily fish, such as trout, tuna, sardines and salmon.

You can add fish oil to your diet by consuming a high amount of fatty fish, but keep in mind that many fish varieties contain higher levels of mercury.

If you’d prefer to stay on the safe side, fish oil capsules can meet your needs. Just consult with your doctor to determine the type and amount of fish oil you should take.

5. Whole Food Multivitamin

For best results, studies suggest you should change your diet and establish an exercise routine at the same time. But, if you need to start with just one, focus on exercising first.

In the meantime, you can fill in the nutritional gaps of your diet with a multivitamin.

Try a whole foods multivitamin, which is made from real food instead of synthetic ingredients. For women who are no longer menstruating, you should first discuss with your doctor whether or not you need a multivitamin that also has iron.

In addition to supplementing your diet with vitamins, hormone therapy can give you the vitality and energy you need to tackle your day. Schedule a free and private consultation today.