Re: women, hormones, and the diagnostic processs

[Guest guest]

3. It may be worse for a man, because as I feel I have to say all the time that "men have hormones too!" but they will more often consider hormones in a woman, and women tend to demand that theirs gets checked, I agree with everything but this statement - try being a child-free by choice woman in the medical system you describe. Even harder than being a man!My PCOS (mis?)diagnosis came pretty early on in the diagnostic process, but it was only ever a best guess, never something that was tested. I had doctors flat out refuse to test anything because they knew I had no interested in getting pregnant. I had insurance companies refuse to pay for tests that would have been covered if I was being treated for infertility, rather than polymenorrhea.Even now, after learning to negotiate the system like an expert and get a PA diagnosis and treatment, I *still* can't get the darned polymenorrhea resolved. I drive an hour each way to see an OBGYN who actually *will* run tests that I ask for, but in the end, he admits that he knows just about everything there is to know about getting a woman pregnant, but not a darned thing about what could be causing my problems.So, maybe they'll more readily consider hormones in a woman if an infertility complaint is part and parcel of the whole package. There's a hell of a lot of money to be made in infertility. Not so much when it comes to stopping problem menstruation!Just had to set the record straight there. The grass ain't always greener > > > >> > > > I have low potassium (3.1 at onset) (for about 5 months now), and am currently taking 4 tabs of k tabs/daily to deal with that.> > > > > > > > I also have very high blood pressure since around the same time. I am taking 100mg of Losartin and Norvasc as well. They are bringing it down to 145-165 over 100-110. Lisinopril didn't work at all, but HCTZ did a little, but tanked the potassium and makes me feel dizzy.> > > > > > > > I was taken off all BP meds for 5 weeks and took 4 grams of salt for four days then had labs drawn. Three doctors have looked at the following results and have all said different things about them.> > > > > > > > Plasma Renin activity .17> > > > Plasma Aldosterone 15.2> > > > Potassium 3.8 (supplemented with 4 kclor/daily)> > > > > > > > Doctor 1 calculated the ratio to 89.4 and said that I am borderline for hyperaldosteronism and referred me to a nephrologist to manage the blood pressure. And to repeat the same blood test (salt loading) again in 3 months.> > > > > > > > Doctor 2 said that the labs absolutely confirm secondary hypertension and hyperaldosteronism and referred me to doc 3 for further testing to determine the rest of the story...(adenoma, pheo, AVS, etc)> > > > > > > > Doctor 3 took more blood, had me do a 24 urine sample, and when he saw the above salt loading labs from doc 1, said I did not have hyperaldosteronism, and they will let me know what the rest of their labs reveal as to what I should do about the blood pressure or any next step.> > > > > > > > I have lots of the symptomology that a lot of you have written about; brain fog, thirst, flank pain, when I exercise I crash and have to take breaks, etc. > > > > > > > > How is it possible for all three to have different takes on the same labs? Anybody here know what these labs mean? Any suggestions? I am sooo confused!> > > > > > > > Also, I am wondering...(obviously a newbie, here) why, if you have an ademoma or nodule/tumor that produces too much aldosterone, why do they take the whole adrenal gland? Why not do a lumpectomy type of thing and just take the nodule/tumor?> > > > > > > > I feel for all of you who have suffered and dealt with this stuff for so long and quite frankly, this is a club I don't really want to belong to, but I am grateful that you are all here and have generously blogged, written, and shared your experiences so that all of us newbies can learn and hopefully benefit. Oh, wise ones, I beckon you!> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

There are ALWAYS exceptions, like yours, but i disagree with your disgreement, as in terms of hormones, mens are more often ignored and even a man's moodiness is "bipolar" while a womans is often hormonal and the man should be understanding of her hormonal moodiness.

Read about what fluctuations in testosterone do to a man in the emotional sense. Seriously look it up. A womans "time out' and bad mood, and migraines, and rudeness is excusable because she has periods. A mans moodiness/bad moods etc. is often felt to be verbal abuse, that he's a jerk, a bad husband, hard to live with, and typcally while he may tolerated by some (when women sit around and are talking about how so and so's man is treating her bad do the women often say "maybe it's hormonal?"....you know they don't and they often encourage her to leave him because it "only get's worse" or "you deserve better" and so on. When was the last time you excused a rude or anxious man because he may be on his period?

I am referring to the grand scale, not just your specific situation (and large families like ours get as many looks and rude comments as empty wombers do). Even medicaid will pay for hundreds of womens hormone replacement choices, but testosterone requires special approval if at all.

So your experience aside, men are far less likely to have their woes viewed hormonaly.

From: msmith_1928 <janeray1940@...>Subject: Re: women, hormones, and the diagnostic processshyperaldosteronism Date: Saturday, January 14, 2012, 11:21 PM

3. It may be worse for a man, because as I feel I have to say all the time that "men have hormones too!" but they will more often consider hormones in a woman, and women tend to demand that theirs gets checked, I agree with everything but this statement - try being a child-free by choice woman in the medical system you describe. Even harder than being a man!My PCOS (mis?)diagnosis came pretty early on in the diagnostic process, but it was only ever a best guess, never something that was tested. I had doctors flat out refuse to test anything because they knew I had no interested in getting pregnant. I had insurance companies refuse to pay for tests that would have been covered if I was being treated for infertility, rather than polymenorrhea.Even now, after learning to negotiate the system like an expert and get a PA diagnosis and treatment, I *still* can't get the darned polymenorrhea

resolved. I drive an hour each way to see an OBGYN who actually *will* run tests that I ask for, but in the end, he admits that he knows just about everything there is to know about getting a woman pregnant, but not a darned thing about what could be causing my problems.So, maybe they'll more readily consider hormones in a woman if an infertility complaint is part and parcel of the whole package. There's a hell of a lot of money to be made in infertility. Not so much when it comes to stopping problem menstruation!Just had to set the record straight there. The grass ain't always greener > > > >> > > > I have low potassium (3.1 at onset) (for about 5 months now), and am currently taking 4 tabs of k tabs/daily to deal with that.> > > > > > > > I also have very high blood pressure since around the same time. I am taking 100mg of Losartin and Norvasc as well. They are bringing it down to 145-165 over 100-110. Lisinopril didn't work at all, but HCTZ did a little, but tanked the potassium and makes me feel dizzy.> > > > > > > > I was taken off all BP meds for 5 weeks and took 4 grams of salt for four days then had labs drawn. Three doctors

have looked at the following results and have all said different things about them.> > > > > > > > Plasma Renin activity .17> > > > Plasma Aldosterone 15.2> > > > Potassium 3.8 (supplemented with 4 kclor/daily)> > > > > > > > Doctor 1 calculated the ratio to 89.4 and said that I am borderline for hyperaldosteronism and referred me to a nephrologist to manage the blood pressure. And to repeat the same blood test (salt loading) again in 3 months.> > > > > > > > Doctor 2 said that the labs absolutely confirm secondary hypertension and hyperaldosteronism and referred me to doc 3 for further testing to determine the rest of the story...(adenoma, pheo, AVS, etc)> > > > > > > > Doctor 3 took more blood, had me do a 24 urine sample, and when he saw the above salt loading labs from doc 1, said I did not

have hyperaldosteronism, and they will let me know what the rest of their labs reveal as to what I should do about the blood pressure or any next step.> > > > > > > > I have lots of the symptomology that a lot of you have written about; brain fog, thirst, flank pain, when I exercise I crash and have to take breaks, etc. > > > > > > > > How is it possible for all three to have different takes on the same labs? Anybody here know what these labs mean? Any suggestions? I am sooo confused!> > > > > > > > Also, I am wondering...(obviously a newbie, here) why, if you have an ademoma or nodule/tumor that produces too much aldosterone, why do they take the whole adrenal gland? Why not do a lumpectomy type of thing and just take the nodule/tumor?> > > > > > > > I feel for all of you who have suffered and dealt with this stuff for so long

and quite frankly, this is a club I don't really want to belong to, but I am grateful that you are all here and have generously blogged, written, and shared your experiences so that all of us newbies can learn and hopefully benefit. Oh, wise ones, I beckon you!> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

As I've often noted here, at one point my PA was dismissed as " middle aged woman

problems " - in other words, hormonal! So, there's a HUGE downside to the whole

stereotype of a woman's " time out " being excusable/dismissable/what have you.

Perhaps at first gender needs to be taken out of the equation entirely when a

medical professional is diagnosing something that is not related directly to the

reproductive system. It doesn't make sense that the path to diagnosis for a man

and a woman presenting with the same symptoms - let's say HTN, palpitations, and

anxiety - would be different for one than the other. Yet clearly you and I have

both had experiences in which gender created a bias on the part of the medical

practitioner.

And, ugh, sorry to hear it - large family or no family, neither choice should

have to be subjected to looks and rude comments. It's really nobody's business.

> > > > >

> > > > > I have low potassium (3.1 at onset) (for about 5 months now), and am

currently taking 4 tabs of k tabs/daily to deal with that.

> > > > >

> > > > > I also have very high blood pressure since around the same time. I am

taking 100mg of Losartin and Norvasc as well. They are bringing it down to

145-165 over 100-110. Lisinopril didn't work at all, but HCTZ did a little, but

tanked the potassium and makes me feel dizzy.

> > > > >

> > > > > I was taken off all BP meds for 5 weeks and took 4 grams of salt for

four days then had labs drawn. Three doctors have looked at the following

results and have all said different things about them.

> > > > >

> > > > > Plasma Renin activity .17

> > > > > Plasma Aldosterone 15.2

> > > > > Potassium 3.8 (supplemented with 4 kclor/daily)

> > > > >

> > > > > Doctor 1 calculated the ratio to 89.4 and said that I am borderline

for hyperaldosteronism and referred me to a nephrologist to manage the blood

pressure. And to repeat the same blood test (salt loading) again in 3 months.

> > > > >

> > > > > Doctor 2 said that the labs absolutely confirm secondary hypertension

and hyperaldosteronism and referred me to doc 3 for further testing to determine

the rest of the story...(adenoma, pheo, AVS, etc)

> > > > >

> > > > > Doctor 3 took more blood, had me do a 24 urine sample, and when he saw

the above salt loading labs from doc 1, said I did not have hyperaldosteronism,

and they will let me know what the rest of their labs reveal as to what I should

do about the blood pressure or any next step.

> > > > >

> > > > > I have lots of the symptomology that a lot of you have written about;

brain fog, thirst, flank pain, when I exercise I crash and have to take breaks,

etc.

> > > > >

> > > > > How is it possible for all three to have different takes on the same

labs? Anybody here know what these labs mean? Any suggestions? I am sooo

confused!

> > > > >

> > > > > Also, I am wondering...(obviously a newbie, here) why, if you have an

ademoma or nodule/tumor that produces too much aldosterone, why do they take the

whole adrenal gland? Why not do a lumpectomy type of thing and just take the

nodule/tumor?

> > > > >

> > > > > I feel for all of you who have suffered and dealt with this stuff for

so long and quite frankly, this is a club I don't really want to belong to, but

I am grateful that you are all here and have generously blogged, written, and

shared your experiences so that all of us newbies can learn and hopefully

benefit. Oh, wise ones, I beckon you!

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I know lack of testosterone made this Whore Moan!

On a serious note, look at the trouble I had getting epler approved, 2 denials

and a F2F by the Head of the Endo department before they approved it! It's

apparent to me that they don't value the hormonal system or value the almighty

dollar more than your good health! (BTW, this comment applies to both genders.)

If this reduced my testosterone and increased my estrogen to the point of

starting a gender change, what is it doing to the ladies? Yes, it's great you

got rid of those chin whiskers but wait, what do you mean you don't like having

your period every 2 weeks. How about seeing a specialist and s/he will get it

figured out. WTH, it only affects ?10%? of you! Maybe I can fix it with a

hysterectomy! And man what do you care about libido, haven't you heard about

Viagra? Remember, you are not a teenager anymore!

God, I'll be happy when they develop a medicine that doesn't have these

unpleasant side effects!!! (Now aren't you happy got me all cranked up? Guess

I'd better go take my Midol!)

- 65 yo super ob., fastidious male - 12mm X 13mm rt. a.adnoma with

previous rt. flank pain. Treating with DASH. Stats w/o meds = BP 175/90 HR 59

BS 125. D/C Spironolactone 12/20/2011 due to adverse SX.

Other Issues/Opportunities: OSA w Bi-Pap settings 13/19, DM2, Gynecomastia, MDD

and PTSD.

Meds: Duloxetine hcl 80 MG, Metoprolol Tartrate 200 MG, 81mg aspirin and

Metformin 2000MG. Started washing Spironolactone 12/20/11 to prepare for AVS.

> > > > >

> > > > > I have low potassium (3.1 at onset) (for about 5 months now), and am

currently taking 4 tabs of k tabs/daily to deal with that.

> > > > >

> > > > > I also have very high blood pressure since around the same time. I am

taking 100mg of Losartin and Norvasc as well. They are bringing it down to

145-165 over 100-110. Lisinopril didn't work at all, but HCTZ did a little, but

tanked the potassium and makes me feel dizzy.

> > > > >

> > > > > I was taken off all BP meds for 5 weeks and took 4 grams of salt for

four days then had labs drawn. Three doctors have looked at the following

results and have all said different things about them.

> > > > >

> > > > > Plasma Renin activity .17

> > > > > Plasma Aldosterone 15.2

> > > > > Potassium 3.8 (supplemented with 4 kclor/daily)

> > > > >

> > > > > Doctor 1 calculated the ratio to 89.4 and said that I am borderline

for hyperaldosteronism and referred me to a nephrologist to manage the blood

pressure. And to repeat the same blood test (salt loading) again in 3 months.

> > > > >

> > > > > Doctor 2 said that the labs absolutely confirm secondary hypertension

and hyperaldosteronism and referred me to doc 3 for further testing to determine

the rest of the story...(adenoma, pheo, AVS, etc)

> > > > >

> > > > > Doctor 3 took more blood, had me do a 24 urine sample, and when he saw

the above salt loading labs from doc 1, said I did not have hyperaldosteronism,

and they will let me know what the rest of their labs reveal as to what I should

do about the blood pressure or any next step.

> > > > >

> > > > > I have lots of the symptomology that a lot of you have written about;

brain fog, thirst, flank pain, when I exercise I crash and have to take breaks,

etc.

> > > > >

> > > > > How is it possible for all three to have different takes on the same

labs? Anybody here know what these labs mean? Any suggestions? I am sooo

confused!

> > > > >

> > > > > Also, I am wondering...(obviously a newbie, here) why, if you have an

ademoma or nodule/tumor that produces too much aldosterone, why do they take the

whole adrenal gland? Why not do a lumpectomy type of thing and just take the

nodule/tumor?

> > > > >

> > > > > I feel for all of you who have suffered and dealt with this stuff for

so long and quite frankly, this is a club I don't really want to belong to, but

I am grateful that you are all here and have generously blogged, written, and

shared your experiences so that all of us newbies can learn and hopefully

benefit. Oh, wise ones, I beckon you!

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>