Help for talking to my doctor about Estradiol/Cortisol

January 29, 2008

Hi all,

If you've followed my other posts you know that I'm a 23-year-old with

what looks like secondary hypogonadism.

On Monday I had tests of FSH, LH, and Testosterone. When I get the

results I'm to call my doctor. He's already written a prescription for

Testosterone, wanting to try it for a short time in order to see if I

feel better before getting into more detail of what's going on.

Because my particular problem is mysterious and complex, I can

understand this approach. I'm truly not sure that my problems are

isolated to testosterone alone. This would help us determine that.

I know a lot of folks here have bad feelings towards endocrinologists,

but I trust this fellow, and due to my circumstances have little if

any other options for treatment. I simply cannot afford to alienate

this man.

That said, I've read a bit of Dr. 's " TRT: Recipe for Success " and

it suggests two chemical levels which may explain my problems on their

own and be much easier to manage: Erstradiol and Cortisol. While my

doctor has ordered just about everything else on Dr. 's list,

these two have not been tested.

I'd really like to get these tested before considering TRT, as this

seems awfully drastic to me, but so far he hasn't wanted to do this. I

haven't asked him about Cortisol, as I wasn't previously aware of it.

But in the past when I suggested an Estradiol test, he asked if I was

experiencing breast enlargement or tenderness (I'm not) and then

shrugged it off.

Is it possible to have elevated Estradiol without these symptoms? If

so, how can I win my doctor over to this possibility?

Even if problems with these specific areas are unlikely or proven to

be non-existant, it would do a lot for my peace of mind.

Thanks a million

~

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