Guest guest Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 > > I took my husband to the Endo today, it was our first visit. > After asking him many questions and examining him, the dr. decided to > remove from ALL his replacements for 5 weeks, draw labs and see > what his baselines are. (havent we done that already?) Then he stated > he would be able to determine if the problem is terticular or > pituitary. He agreed with me that we need to find out why this > happenned, although, he stated it could be idiopathic with no cause. > He stated that if the problem is Pituitary, he will have to have > an MRI to make sure he does not have a tumor of some kind. I asked > him, as well as my husband, about the Estroidial (spelling) or E2 test > that we have heard so much about here. He said that he does not run > that test unless the patient is developing breasts. (ok) so he will NOT > run it. > I just feel like it had been about 1 year and we are constantly > playing the waiting game. I am getting frustrated and so is . > You need to stick to your guns, there is no reason they cant request a $6 test, we called Quest and according the person we spoke with the E2 test was only $6.00 so what is the big deal? I have been to five doctors so far and had to write the test in my self then question my Endo on the results when they came back high. She finally gave in and agreed on me trying Arimidex and I had enlarged breast already. I have only been at this for six months but have been sick for over five years and been put through the ringer by doctors and have no patience for those who won’t work with you, keep looking until you find one that is willing to listen and work with you and learn new things, I think many of these doctors are stuck on what they learned fifteen plus years ago and are unwilling to accept new ideas. Your husband shouldn’t have to suffer because they don’t keep up on the latest information, find one who does. Best wishes to you and your husband, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I am sorry to hear you got sucked into this by some dam Endo. I was went down this road 7 times off meds for 2 to 12 weeks and they never found out what was wrong with me but how dam sick they made me. And last yr. I got my Dr. let me add HCG to my TRT and his is how I found out I have a Pituitary Problem. The Endo's never found it they will not see anymore then his first tests and being on TRT and stoping is not going to show the picture because he has been on TRT and his HTPA is shut down. And any Dr. that only tests Estradol if one has breasts is not up on TRT. If your husband just did a HCG stim. test this would tell if he is secondary the do an MRI way make him suffer. On the bottom of page 12 in this link is this test. http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf I am sorry but this is a waste of money and time Endo's are just not good Dr.'s for TRT. Phil longsally1112 <longsally1112@...> wrote: I took my husband to the Endo today, it was our first visit. After asking him many questions and examining him, the dr. decided to remove from ALL his replacements for 5 weeks, draw labs and see what his baselines are. (havent we done that already?) Then he stated he would be able to determine if the problem is terticular or pituitary. He agreed with me that we need to find out why this happenned, although, he stated it could be idiopathic with no cause. He stated that if the problem is Pituitary, he will have to have an MRI to make sure he does not have a tumor of some kind. I asked him, as well as my husband, about the Estroidial (spelling) or E2 test that we have heard so much about here. He said that he does not run that test unless the patient is developing breasts. (ok) so he will NOT run it. I just feel like it had been about 1 year and we are constantly playing the waiting game. I am getting frustrated and so is . --------------------------------- Cheap Talk? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:41:21 -0000, you wrote: > I took my husband to the Endo today, it was our first visit. >After asking him many questions and examining him, the dr. decided to >remove from ALL his replacements for 5 weeks, draw labs and see >what his baselines are. (havent we done that already?) Then he stated >he would be able to determine if the problem is terticular or >pituitary. He agreed with me that we need to find out why this >happenned, although, he stated it could be idiopathic with no cause. > He stated that if the problem is Pituitary, he will have to have >an MRI to make sure he does not have a tumor of some kind. I asked >him, as well as my husband, about the Estroidial (spelling) or E2 test >that we have heard so much about here. He said that he does not run >that test unless the patient is developing breasts. (ok) so he will NOT >run it. > I just feel like it had been about 1 year and we are constantly >playing the waiting game. I am getting frustrated and so is . It's sad so many doctors start people on T replacement without running the necessary tests first. But they are doing the right thing. DOn't fear the tumor talk. They are exceedingly common, virtually always benign if they are there and most respond to medication and don't need treatment. ly lots of us would be happier to be taking the med to suppress a benign tumor than a lifetime of testosterone injections with all of the balancing issues, etc. But you need to get this doctor to test for E2. It is essential. He's talking 1950s medicine with waiting for breast nonsense. You need to take him this article: http://www.endotext.org/male/male17/maleframe17.htm There are also studies showing that some men can get a 200-300 point boost in total T when they simply control their estrogen levels. No T replacement at all involved. (Can someone supply that link again?) You need to insist on the E2 test. It also has to be sensitive assay. (Most labs use less sensitive methods because they test only women who's levels are very much higher. ) Insist. Educate the doctor. This can be tricky. But medical studies are usually something they accept. Mine listens to me some when I note this group has several thousand patients who are seeing doctors around the world including some of the best in the field. As a group they know a lot . Then present the studies. For your own piece of mind read http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf This book helps : http://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Syndrome-Eugene-Shippen/dp/087131858X/sr=1-1/\ qid=1164223634/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5934762-2171036?ie=UTF8 & s=books] And http://www.endo-society.org/quickcontent/clinicalpractice/clinical-guidelines/up\ load/AndrogensMenGuideline053006.pdf Once you get test results come back (sooner if you need it.) E2 needs to be tested before T therapy - but then it needs to be tested for after starting also because T converts into E2 with lots of problems if there is too much conversion. ----- " Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities. " - Voltaire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 It is apparent to me that this doctor is not up to date on the latest treatments. He is asking you to crash - you will feel like crap for 4 weeks and for what - to see you are low on T. I would really consider staying on my treatment and seek the help of another Dr. If he won't test for estradiol (until you have breast) what good is that. Call around and find a Uro or a GP and discuss your situation with them prior to making an appointment. If you take in the proper documentation to support your request, a good doctor (that does not have a God complex) will help you out. As long as I can support my request with medical studies or documents, both my URO and GP have been willing to let me try what I think is appropriate for me - after all its your life not theirs. Arkansas longsally1112 <longsally1112@...> wrote: I took my husband to the Endo today, it was our first visit. After asking him many questions and examining him, the dr. decided to remove from ALL his replacements for 5 weeks, draw labs and see what his baselines are. (havent we done that already?) Then he stated he would be able to determine if the problem is terticular or pituitary. He agreed with me that we need to find out why this happenned, although, he stated it could be idiopathic with no cause. He stated that if the problem is Pituitary, he will have to have an MRI to make sure he does not have a tumor of some kind. I asked him, as well as my husband, about the Estroidial (spelling) or E2 test that we have heard so much about here. He said that he does not run that test unless the patient is developing breasts. (ok) so he will NOT run it. I just feel like it had been about 1 year and we are constantly playing the waiting game. I am getting frustrated and so is . --------------------------------- Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with the Search weather shortcut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:01:42 -0000, you wrote: >You need to stick to your guns, there is no reason they cant request a >$6 test, we called Quest and according the person we spoke with the E2 >test was only $6.00 so what is the big deal? That seems incredibly low. Color me skeptical. Especially for a sensitive assay. ----- " Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities. " - Voltaire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I would ask his doctor " why " one would think it prudent to wait until a male develops breasts. At that point is it not too late? As in thousands of dollars of liposuction then being needed? After the fact? Too high or too low estrogen WILL kill a male's libido. To take him completely off testosterone replacement is irresponsible, and cruel. I advise you to tell this doctor to read the ACE guidelines, in fact print them out and highight the estrogen testing guidelines, and then tell him that it is your husbands body AND your money, and you want his estrogen blood tested. Period. Demand it. That is what I had to do with my endocrinologist, who took the same uneducated, moronic, position initially. Norton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I took my husband to the Endo today, it was our first visit. After asking him many questions and examining him, the dr. decided to remove from ALL his replacements for 5 weeks, draw labs and see what his baselines are. (havent we done that already?) Did you have your husband's previous lab tests sent to this endo? Also, I had to go off of all exogenous T inorder to have a fertility work up and to have my pituitary tested. I am secondary which means that I have very low LH levels and practically no FSH. Then he stated he would be able to determine if the problem is terticular or pituitary. He agreed with me that we need to find out why this happenned, although, he stated it could be idiopathic with no cause. If the determination of whether your husband has primary (testicle failure) or secondary hypogonadism has not been made, the doctor should have ordered the MRI upfront. Also, if this endo is worth a hill of beans, he should have ordered a bone scan as well. Men with long term low levels of T often develop osteoporosis. He stated that if the problem is Pituitary, he will have to have an MRI to make sure he does not have a tumor of some kind. I asked him, as well as my husband, about the Estroidial (spelling) or E2 test that we have heard so much about here. He said that he does not run that test unless the patient is developing breasts. (ok) so he will NOT run it. Any good doctor or endo who works with TRT knows that you any time you add T to the system you have to watch out for aromatase activity. This is done by an enzyme that breaks Testosterone down to estrogen. If the doctor will not run the sensitive estrogen test up front and when your husband is on exogenous T, get a new doctor. From experience it is far easier to prevent gynecomastia that treating it once it starts to develop. A popular treatment is to use tamoxifin which blocks the estrogen receptors in human breast tissue, and as a result, estrogen can not lock on the the E receptors in the breast tissue. I have dealt with three different endocrinologists, and to be honest I like working with my GP as he is open to reading the articles and ACCE handbook that I gave him. If you do not have a good T/E ratio, adding additional T will often be a waste of time or even make a man feel worse. Also one key is that if a man's E levels are even approaching the higher or mid high levels, he runs the risk of becoming impotent. I just feel like it had been about 1 year and we are constantly playing the waiting game. I am getting frustrated and so is . Let us know how things work out. One key thing to remember is that TRT is not about just being in range. It is about fine tuning a man's hormone levels to achieve the best quality of life. If the doc just goes by lab ranges, he is missing half of the picture, and there are more than a few endocrinologists who do not really know what they are doing with TRT, and they are often very arrogant if you bring some of the medical journal articles and treatment protocols found on this web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Arrongance and contempt among endocrinologist and eurologist hs been a staple in my search for proper practicioner. I have a new apintmnet with new eurologist who knows about Hypo. I cant wait to talk to a real pro. Tthe sky will be the limit for all treatment options and results ! sbryant511 <sbryant511@...> wrote: I took my husband to the Endo today, it was our first visit. After asking him many questions and examining him, the dr. decided to remove from ALL his replacements for 5 weeks, draw labs and see what his baselines are. (havent we done that already?) Did you have your husband's previous lab tests sent to this endo? Also, I had to go off of all exogenous T inorder to have a fertility work up and to have my pituitary tested. I am secondary which means that I have very low LH levels and practically no FSH. Then he stated he would be able to determine if the problem is terticular or pituitary. He agreed with me that we need to find out why this happenned, although, he stated it could be idiopathic with no cause. If the determination of whether your husband has primary (testicle failure) or secondary hypogonadism has not been made, the doctor should have ordered the MRI upfront. Also, if this endo is worth a hill of beans, he should have ordered a bone scan as well. Men with long term low levels of T often develop osteoporosis. He stated that if the problem is Pituitary, he will have to have an MRI to make sure he does not have a tumor of some kind. I asked him, as well as my husband, about the Estroidial (spelling) or E2 test that we have heard so much about here. He said that he does not run that test unless the patient is developing breasts. (ok) so he will NOT run it. Any good doctor or endo who works with TRT knows that you any time you add T to the system you have to watch out for aromatase activity. This is done by an enzyme that breaks Testosterone down to estrogen. If the doctor will not run the sensitive estrogen test up front and when your husband is on exogenous T, get a new doctor. From experience it is far easier to prevent gynecomastia that treating it once it starts to develop. A popular treatment is to use tamoxifin which blocks the estrogen receptors in human breast tissue, and as a result, estrogen can not lock on the the E receptors in the breast tissue. I have dealt with three different endocrinologists, and to be honest I like working with my GP as he is open to reading the articles and ACCE handbook that I gave him. If you do not have a good T/E ratio, adding additional T will often be a waste of time or even make a man feel worse. Also one key is that if a man's E levels are even approaching the higher or mid high levels, he runs the risk of becoming impotent. I just feel like it had been about 1 year and we are constantly playing the waiting game. I am getting frustrated and so is . Let us know how things work out. One key thing to remember is that TRT is not about just being in range. It is about fine tuning a man's hormone levels to achieve the best quality of life. If the doc just goes by lab ranges, he is missing half of the picture, and there are more than a few endocrinologists who do not really know what they are doing with TRT, and they are often very arrogant if you bring some of the medical journal articles and treatment protocols found on this web site. --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Answers Food & Drink Q & A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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