Re: I need a referral to Dr Skinner

[Guest guest]

HI Joe

Yes you do need a referal from your GP to see Dr Skinner. I swear by this doctor, he made me well after I was diagnosed with ME by both GPs and Endocrinologists. I was in a terrible state of health at that time and no one would listen and it turned out I was Hypothyroid, but Dr S listens and cures.

Good luck and I hope you start feeling better soon.

Regards

Ina

[Guest guest]

I didn't realise that Dr Skinner was not working within the NHS now. I have

found a fairly promising Endocrinologist working within the NHS that says that

he is happy to see me if I get a referral. Can I visit a private doctor and get

them to refer me?

Also, I don't particularly find the questionnaires very useful. They seem quite

generic and I can point out my main symptoms easily.

[Guest guest]

that's only going to be a private referral private though isn't it? i don't see

how a private dr can refer to an NHS dr ? Where's the money going to come from

as GP's are fundholders etc etc and buy in services?

chris

>

> Hello Joe - yes, if your GP refuses to refer you to an endocrinologist, you

> can get a private GP to refer you instead. Good luck, I hope you get the

[Guest guest]

> I didn't realise that Dr Skinner was not working within the NHS now. I have

found a fairly promising Endocrinologist working within the NHS that says that

he is happy to see me if I get a referral. Can I visit a private doctor and get

them to refer me?

I'd have thought they could refer you privately, yes, but not within the NHS.

They could write to your dr and recommend that you be seen by a specialist, but

your GP isn't obliged to accept their recommendation.

" If you wish to see a private specialist, you are still advised to get a letter

of referral from your GP. However, if you see a private specialist without a GP

referral, your GP is not obliged to accept the specialist's recommendations "

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1094.aspx?CategoryID=68 & SubCategoryID=158

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2572.aspx?categoryid=96 & subcategoryid=226

You'd be better off getting a referral from your GP. Can you change drs or

practices.

With regards to the endo, i hope he is not Dr D in the birmingham area.

There are also urologists and i believe some of these are members of the British

Society of Sexual Meidicne.

> Also, I don't particularly find the questionnaires very useful. They seem

quite generic and I can point out my main symptoms easily.

Well I can see why you think that but i don't think it's as simple as

'testosterone > ED'. Different deficiencies cause different symptoms and the

hormones work together. High and low cortisol can cause sexual dysfunction, as

can hypo and hyper thyroid.

You mention prostate problems: progesterone is involved in that

http://www.hertoghe.eu/nl/samenvattigen/abstr/progesterone-therapy-in-men-crucia\

l-for-men-over-40/

" The production and levels of progesterone progressively decline with age,

slowly installing in men a progesterone deficiency syndrome. The progesterone

deficiency syndrome in men is dominated by the consequences of excesses in

estradiol and DHT. Worth mentioning are the gynoid aspect of the body with

gynecomastia, benign prostate hypertrophy and excessive stimulation of

(ortho)sympatic nervous system, attributable to hyperestrogenemia. Possible

other signs and symptoms are hirsutism with male pattern baldness in men and

possibly some degree of excessive genital sensitivity, consequences of excessive

levels of dihydrotestosterone in comparison with testosterone. "

if you google progesterone and prostate you'll find a lot of information.

[Guest guest]

I want to be referred to a Endocrinologist in Sheffield, he sounds like he may

genuinely be useful in my case and I could discuss my concerns about propecia.

So I plan to book a private appointment somewhere just so that they can refer me

to him, he is working under the NHS.

Also, I have managed to get hold of some armour thyroid to trial along with

pregnenolone. Could armour possibly mess me up even more if it goes wrong?

I am very desperate, and I don't have the money to just get nowhere with tests

that cost a fortune. If you go on propeciahelp.com there are men that have spent

thousands and got nowhere with there condition.

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe

I know how you feel I have an underactive thyroid and have felt terrible for

over a year have now got my doctor to refer me to Dr Skinner and have just had

an appoitment confirmed will let you know what happens you need to go back to

your doctor and request a referal good luck

Kim

>

> Hello

>

> I am a 20 year old male student that has been suffering with thyroid symptoms

for over a year now and I am reaching breaking point. I am not entirely sure if

thyroid is my issue but I absolutely want to see a doctor that will properly

assess. I have been told that I require a referral from my GP to see Dr Skinner.

Can I do this by making a private booking just to get a prescription? the two

local GP's that I have seen so far have been useless and I think getting a

particular referral will turn out to be very tricky.

>

> Thanks, Joe

>

[Guest guest]

Could anybody tell me how much it costs for an initial consultation? and first

series of tests? I am student and my parents are not very sympathetic about my

ED troubles. I am really at breaking point.

[Guest guest]

>> Jo, can you have your own tests done privately though one of the labs in the

> files (cant remember name off hand), and get a discount as well.

I think that might be too expensive - the genova tests aren't that cheap, and

they may not show anything - also i don't believe the genova testosterone test

is discounted - correct me if i'm wrong. are there other labs listed in the

files? also the 'normal' range is wide for testosterone, and it doesn't

necessarily mean anything if you are 'normal', ideally it'd be good to see LH,

FSH, SHBG, DHT as well as testosterone. Remember that Joe has developed

problems after taking propecia, which can cause problems in men.

i think if dr skinner asked for tests, they may be cheaper than paying genova

prices (i may be wrong).

Joe, can you push to see a different GP? or even just try to find a private gp

locally who can refer you (I'm not sure that you can be seen on the nhs from a

private referral but if you can then all well and good). i have been guilty of

letting gps bully and obstruct me before and it's very easy for me to say this

but i think you shouldn't put up with this. Can you get PALS or the local PCT

involved?

Anotehr card up your sleeve - can you produce an email from the endo who's said

he'd be happy to see you and that you should be seen with your symptoms? write

to the practice maanger and gp and ask for a referral and ask for a copy of the

letter to go in your files? your gp would then have to explain why he's going

against the opinion of an expert?

also you could produce a copy of the BSSM guidelines on ED treatment:

http://www.bssm.org.uk/downloads/UK_Guidelines_Androgens_Male_2010.pdf

I would give your gp hell over this. for all they know you could have too much

prolactin or something and they are just not testing you, and it's not on! you

said you didn't have any recent tests, but do you have any at all? Sometimes i

get the feeling we don't have the full picture here?

You really shouldn't be having to pay for this privately. I am sorry you are

suffering so much. as i mentioned previously, there's a urology clinic at Good

Hope in Birmingham who might help. I would push to get this on the NHS if you

can and not let these awful drs oppose you. is there anyone at the gp surgery

who's more likely to listen?

have you tried testosterone like Testogel or anything like that, and if so did

it help you?

did you decide to take Armour and pregnenolone in the end?

in the meantime , is there anything you can do to cope day to day while you get

help?

chris

>

> Jo, can you have your own tests done privately though one of the labs in the

> files (cant remember name off hand), and get a discount as well.

>

[Guest guest]

Also, the 2007 guidelines from the BSSM talks about ED caused by drug use,

including finasteride (propecia).

http://www.bssm.org.uk/downloads/BSSM_ED_Management_Guidelines_2007.pdf

Did you tell your GP you had taken propecia?

[Guest guest]

Joe

I 've been googling for you and found a urologist who is in doncaster. is that

close to you?

i believe he's private and NHS.

might be worth checking with his clinic see if he can help?

http://www.legerclinic.co.uk/consultation

Mods - hope you will allow me to post the clinic name, since Joe is in dire need

and no discussion of the doctor is made. If not please mail Joe the clinic

details prviately

Chris