Re: Testosterone Test/Update

[Guest guest]

Is it low or below normal. Test increases BP in some. So keep us posted. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Mar 29, 2012, at 17:16, <jclark24p@...> wrote:

I spoke with one of the nurses at the VA yesterday and you will never believe it, the test I had the other day shows I have low testosterone, GO FIGURE! I don't have the actual numbers tonight but she said my PCP has written me a letter and is proposing treatment with either a patch or shot every 2 weeks. (I will defer the answer until my return from NIH. They may have some suggestions and I probably will not need any extra T down there! ;>) )

I need to "get on the stump" and ask again, Why do we continue using a medicine that impacts something totally irrelevent to the condition being treated when there is a medicine that doesn't have that side effect?

Should the protocol for treating with Spironolactone start with a testosterone test to establish a baseline? This would be valuable so you could use science to determine what is going on instead of the "I Guess" method. In my case the loss of body hair ws the first sign.

IMHO, a low test result should at least raise the question if spiro is appropriate. A follow up could see if testosterone had dipped too low and indicate a change was in order.

Hopefully I've started to make my point and there are many more situations to look at.

Before you ladies think you are immune you might want to Pubmed "female" and "testosterone" Then you can decide which of the 33,462 hits you find you want to look at! I stopped at #3, here check it out:

source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22449989

title: Androgen in postmenopausal women.

my take away: "Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by the presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and decreased sense of well-being. An appropriate level of androgen may play important roles in metabolic, psychological and sexual functions in women."

Does any of that concern you? (I can tell you that NIH made a special call to ask when I last had a bone denisity test and then added a "Bone density Dexa scan" as my first test! I plan to ask why!)

[Guest guest]

the bone scan is likely due to their concern about your cortisol levels and

possibly the spiro use, given it's had an effect on the cortisol and androgens.

High cortisol causes osteopenia and osteoporosis. The article you put up cites

that other androgens also have contributions to osteo issues. So, they are

assessing all of the target organs/body parts that are impacted by all the

disease processes they are evaluating. They will look at your bones, your

heart, your arteries, eyes anything that all these issues, unchecked will

damage.

I sent them 3 bone scans in my records, but now that they know I am weird, with

both PA and cortisol issues, they want me back to further assess the cortisol

issues and want to do their own dexa scan as part of that eval.

You are wise not to add a medication and mess with your testosterone before

Sunday. NIH will measure the testosterone and they will treat it for free.

They will look at it in relation to all the other issues they find and treat

them all. They will look at the entire system, the entire body, the big

picture. They can tell you if you take the testosterone, what it will do to

everything else. Just like they told me that if I took Spiro, it would elevate

my cortisol, and since they measured it, they knew that was a bad idea for me.

By the way, what's the difference between cortisol and androgens? What is

included in the group androgens? Does Spiro raise cortisol, but decrease

androgens? Or what? Did you know it's a black box warning drug?

>

> > I spoke with one of the nurses at the VA yesterday and you will never

believe it, the test I had the other day shows I have low testosterone, GO

FIGURE! I don't have the actual numbers tonight but she said my PCP has written

me a letter and is proposing treatment with either a patch or shot every 2

weeks. (I will defer the answer until my return from NIH. They may have some

suggestions and I probably will not need any extra T down there! ;>) )

> >

> > I need to " get on the stump " and ask again, Why do we continue using a

medicine that impacts something totally irrelevent to the condition being

treated when there is a medicine that doesn't have that side effect?

> >

> > Should the protocol for treating with Spironolactone start with a

testosterone test to establish a baseline? This would be valuable so you could

use science to determine what is going on instead of the " I Guess " method. In my

case the loss of body hair ws the first sign.

> >

> > IMHO, a low test result should at least raise the question if spiro is

appropriate. A follow up could see if testosterone had dipped too low and

indicate a change was in order.

> >

> > Hopefully I've started to make my point and there are many more situations

to look at.

> >

> > Before you ladies think you are immune you might want to Pubmed " female " and

" testosterone " Then you can decide which of the 33,462 hits you find you want to

look at! I stopped at #3, here check it out:

> > source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22449989

> > title: Androgen in postmenopausal women.

> > my take away: " Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by the

presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in

sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited

androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and

decreased sense of well-being. An appropriate level of androgen may play

important roles in metabolic, psychological and sexual functions in women. "

> >

> > Does any of that concern you? (I can tell you that NIH made a special call

to ask when I last had a bone denisity test and then added a " Bone density Dexa

scan " as my first test! I plan to ask why!)

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Maggie, they know some of my adverse effects from spiro and Dr. L. said I didn't

need to detail it, they would find it! I'm almost positive that is why he added

the bone scan. I know there was something you were supposed to watch if you

discontinued long term treatment with spiro (I found it in the transgender info)

and to be honest I was going to go back and look but it hadn't surfaced yet with

all that is going on! I'm quite sure it surrounded bone issues.

I'm going to answer your question as to what androgen is by referring you to

this link because it is specifically addressing the femle gender.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/273153-overview It is aimed at excess but

I think it gives a lot of good info.

> >

> > > I spoke with one of the nurses at the VA yesterday and you will never

believe it, the test I had the other day shows I have low testosterone, GO

FIGURE! I don't have the actual numbers tonight but she said my PCP has written

me a letter and is proposing treatment with either a patch or shot every 2

weeks. (I will defer the answer until my return from NIH. They may have some

suggestions and I probably will not need any extra T down there! ;>) )

> > >

> > > I need to " get on the stump " and ask again, Why do we continue using a

medicine that impacts something totally irrelevent to the condition being

treated when there is a medicine that doesn't have that side effect?

> > >

> > > Should the protocol for treating with Spironolactone start with a

testosterone test to establish a baseline? This would be valuable so you could

use science to determine what is going on instead of the " I Guess " method. In my

case the loss of body hair ws the first sign.

> > >

> > > IMHO, a low test result should at least raise the question if spiro is

appropriate. A follow up could see if testosterone had dipped too low and

indicate a change was in order.

> > >

> > > Hopefully I've started to make my point and there are many more situations

to look at.

> > >

> > > Before you ladies think you are immune you might want to Pubmed " female "

and " testosterone " Then you can decide which of the 33,462 hits you find you

want to look at! I stopped at #3, here check it out:

> > > source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22449989

> > > title: Androgen in postmenopausal women.

> > > my take away: " Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by

the presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in

sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited

androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and

decreased sense of well-being. An appropriate level of androgen may play

important roles in metabolic, psychological and sexual functions in women. "

> > >

> > > Does any of that concern you? (I can tell you that NIH made a special call

to ask when I last had a bone denisity test and then added a " Bone density Dexa

scan " as my first test! I plan to ask why!)

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I believe she said it is below the low end of the range which would make sense

if she is suggesting T-therapy. I don't know a lot about it so that will be one

of my next research project! (I just checked my online labs but it is not

downloaded yet or I don't know wnat to look for. They impose a 1wk delay to give

the doctor chance to discuss if necessary.)

>

> > I spoke with one of the nurses at the VA yesterday and you will never

believe it, the test I had the other day shows I have low testosterone, GO

FIGURE! I don't have the actual numbers tonight but she said my PCP has written

me a letter and is proposing treatment with either a patch or shot every 2

weeks. (I will defer the answer until my return from NIH. They may have some

suggestions and I probably will not need any extra T down there! ;>) )

> >

> > I need to " get on the stump " and ask again, Why do we continue using a

medicine that impacts something totally irrelevent to the condition being

treated when there is a medicine that doesn't have that side effect?

> >

> > Should the protocol for treating with Spironolactone start with a

testosterone test to establish a baseline? This would be valuable so you could

use science to determine what is going on instead of the " I Guess " method. In my

case the loss of body hair ws the first sign.

> >

> > IMHO, a low test result should at least raise the question if spiro is

appropriate. A follow up could see if testosterone had dipped too low and

indicate a change was in order.

> >

> > Hopefully I've started to make my point and there are many more situations

to look at.

> >

> > Before you ladies think you are immune you might want to Pubmed " female " and

" testosterone " Then you can decide which of the 33,462 hits you find you want to

look at! I stopped at #3, here check it out:

> > source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22449989

> > title: Androgen in postmenopausal women.

> > my take away: " Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by the

presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in

sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited

androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and

decreased sense of well-being. An appropriate level of androgen may play

important roles in metabolic, psychological and sexual functions in women. "

> >

> > Does any of that concern you? (I can tell you that NIH made a special call

to ask when I last had a bone denisity test and then added a " Bone density Dexa

scan " as my first test! I plan to ask why!)

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure that spiro has any direct effect on cortisol, at least I don't

remember any. I believe it is the relationship of the CYP11B2 and CYP11B1

genes. (They live and compete on the same channel and by antagonizing

aldosterone (CYP11B2)it eliminates the competition so cortisol (CYP11B1)

increases.) Barb Tatro gave a good summary on this site a month or so ago, you

might search for her as the author.

> >

> > > I spoke with one of the nurses at the VA yesterday and you will never

believe it, the test I had the other day shows I have low testosterone, GO

FIGURE! I don't have the actual numbers tonight but she said my PCP has written

me a letter and is proposing treatment with either a patch or shot every 2

weeks. (I will defer the answer until my return from NIH. They may have some

suggestions and I probably will not need any extra T down there! ;>) )

> > >

> > > I need to " get on the stump " and ask again, Why do we continue using a

medicine that impacts something totally irrelevent to the condition being

treated when there is a medicine that doesn't have that side effect?

> > >

> > > Should the protocol for treating with Spironolactone start with a

testosterone test to establish a baseline? This would be valuable so you could

use science to determine what is going on instead of the " I Guess " method. In my

case the loss of body hair ws the first sign.

> > >

> > > IMHO, a low test result should at least raise the question if spiro is

appropriate. A follow up could see if testosterone had dipped too low and

indicate a change was in order.

> > >

> > > Hopefully I've started to make my point and there are many more situations

to look at.

> > >

> > > Before you ladies think you are immune you might want to Pubmed " female "

and " testosterone " Then you can decide which of the 33,462 hits you find you

want to look at! I stopped at #3, here check it out:

> > > source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22449989

> > > title: Androgen in postmenopausal women.

> > > my take away: " Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by

the presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in

sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited

androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and

decreased sense of well-being. An appropriate level of androgen may play

important roles in metabolic, psychological and sexual functions in women. "

> > >

> > > Does any of that concern you? (I can tell you that NIH made a special call

to ask when I last had a bone denisity test and then added a " Bone density Dexa

scan " as my first test! I plan to ask why!)

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I've been off spiro for 3 months and a week! I bet NIH will know how to test it

and that will be the second test.

> > >

> > > > I spoke with one of the nurses at the VA yesterday and you will never

believe it, the test I had the other day shows I have low testosterone, GO

FIGURE! I don't have the actual numbers tonight but she said my PCP has written

me a letter and is proposing treatment with either a patch or shot every 2

weeks. (I will defer the answer until my return from NIH. They may have some

suggestions and I probably will not need any extra T down there! ;>) )

> > > >

> > > > I need to " get on the stump " and ask again, Why do we continue using a

medicine that impacts something totally irrelevent to the condition being

treated when there is a medicine that doesn't have that side effect?

> > > >

> > > > Should the protocol for treating with Spironolactone start with a

testosterone test to establish a baseline? This would be valuable so you could

use science to determine what is going on instead of the " I Guess " method. In my

case the loss of body hair ws the first sign.

> > > >

> > > > IMHO, a low test result should at least raise the question if spiro is

appropriate. A follow up could see if testosterone had dipped too low and

indicate a change was in order.

> > > >

> > > > Hopefully I've started to make my point and there are many more

situations to look at.

> > > >

> > > > Before you ladies think you are immune you might want to Pubmed " female "

and " testosterone " Then you can decide which of the 33,462 hits you find you

want to look at! I stopped at #3, here check it out:

> > > > source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22449989

> > > > title: Androgen in postmenopausal women.

> > > > my take away: " Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by

the presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in

sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited

androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and

decreased sense of well-being. An appropriate level of androgen may play

important roles in metabolic, psychological and sexual functions in women. "

> > > >

> > > > Does any of that concern you? (I can tell you that NIH made a special

call to ask when I last had a bone denisity test and then added a " Bone density

Dexa scan " as my first test! I plan to ask why!)

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

>