RE: Re: Which way?

[Guest guest]

I would add to that estradiol (E2) an E2 value is needed to calculate T/E2

ratio.

My PCP uses http://www.labcorp.com/ and he knows with my

subscription/reading/posting to Alt.Support Impotence - NewsGroup....he lets

me tell him which sex hormone tests I want him to order. Periodically I

peruse the above site and I found this description for.....

" " Use Free and weakly bound testosterone (FWBT), also referred to as

bioavailable testosterone, is thought to reflect an individual's

biologically active, circulating testosterone. FWBT includes free

testosterone and testosterone that is bound to albumin. FWBT does not

include sex hormone binding globulin-bound testosterone. The SHBG-bound

fraction is biologically inactive because of the high binding affinity of

SHBG for testosterone. The rapid dissociation of " weakly bound " testosterone

from albumin results in the availability of essentially all albumin-bound

testosterone for steroid-receptor interaction.1 "

That was Dec '01....I've not requested a free T since then as stated above

FWBT is more sensitive for what you're wanting to measure.

Just my experiences....

OR eon

65 yo HIV+ gayman

Re: Which way?

IF I were you, I'd call the Endo's office and ask for a referral for

the blood work to test for both Estrogen and Free-T BEFORE going in

for my next appointment. That way, all the info will be there for

the doctor and you won't be going in and paying a twenty-dollar co-

pay just to have him say he's sending you for blood work and to come

back. Meanwhile, if he has cancelled TWICE on you and is NOT working

you in right away, then I'd say it's time to consider getting an Endo

with a more considerate set of office practices. Under NO

circumstances should you simply change your meds at this point

without getting those test results, because it will make it

impossible to tell if the results were from the dosage you were on or

because you changed. Besides, he may give you something else to

lower the Estrogen if that is the problem--and it might not be. The

need for a nap could be any number of things.

Troy

> I was to see my Endo next week except he has canceled my last 2

> appointments with him. I saw my GP last week, and he wanted to run

a

> blood test being it has been a while for him to run one and because

> of my delay in seeing my Endo. The results were sort of good. T was

> 1149(260-1000) and my prolactin was 16.6(3-17.3). The T was high so

I

> contacted my GP. He told me if it was him he would cut me back to 1

> patch a day, but I should clear it with the Endo before I cut back.

I

> have been on 2 a day for the last 2 months and have felt much

better.

> I have noticed the need to get a nap in the afternoon and I am sure

> this is Estrogen creeping up on me. Well I called the Endo and he

was

> not available till next week and the Dr filling in said to stay on

2

> a day till my Endo contacted me next week.

>

> My GP said to do what ever the endo says and it might be that he

> wants to run another blood test before he cuts me back or makes any

> changes. The thing is that it will be another week or so before i

> would get the results back. Should I be worried of my estrogen

level

> going up or should I be considering some way to lower it?

> It is great having the high T, but with the side effects of the

> higher E makes me wonder which way to go. Any suggestion?