Re: What Blood Test should I order?

[Guest guest]

Hi Ed,

The best way to get tests is whichever way is most affordable and expedient for

you. You can either a) get the tests your insurance will cover or pay for

the tests yourself through 1) Life Extension

(http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Blood-Tests/) or 2) PrivateMDLabs

(http://www.privatemdlabs.com/). Some docs will respond positively if you show

them a respectable study from a medical journal indicating what you need (i.e.

protocol or recommendations from the American Association of Clinical

Endocrinologists Handbook for Hypogonadism- which is found in the " Files "

section of this group) and authorize the tests/action you request; some will

not.

The 3 tests you named (FSH, LH, and total T) will probably be the most hormone

lab requisitions you will get (at least the first time around) from most doctors

following an initial result of low total T. Results above the reference range

for LH, in conjunction with FSH, will show primary hypogonadism, whereas results

below the reference range indicates secondary hypogonadism.

Once you have these results, you may obtain the diagnosis of hypogonadism and

then pursue further tests for additional investigation (MRI of pituitary if you

have low FSH & LH; blood test for prolactin, blood test for estradiol) or for

maintenance. Hormones to track during hormone replacement therapy maintenance

(whether you're prescribed hCG or testosterone) include estradiol,

dihydrotestosterone (DHT), etc. Other hormones can affect and be affected by

testosterone, including thyroid hormones. These are worth testing too, but you

might not get docs to make additional lab requisitions once they've identified

low testosterone as the main problem.

Wasn't sure what you meant by this:

" ...what should I be asking them to give me in the results? "

~Xian

>

> So I am going into diagnosing myself and figuring out how to treat my low T. I

have cheap health insurance so I need to be efficient. Thanks to my low T

" insurance companies think I'm falling apart " . Thats a direct quote from my

agent lol.

>

> I'm 34 with 190T. From what I've learned so far I need to know my FSH, LH, and

Total T levels to find out if I am Primary or Secondary.

>

> What is the best way to get this blood test and what should I be asking them

to give me in the results? What other levels would you recommend I look at and

keep records of?

>

[Guest guest]

The best set of labs for this is at Dr. 's site www.allthingsmale.com read

TRT: A Recipe for Success in this are the labs one needs and why.

Do not try to do this without a good Dr. it's not a good Idea if you can't get

your health plain to cover costs do it your self pay a Dr. to test and treat

then go after your health plain.

If you can find a way to see Dr. or get a Dr. to work with him over the

phone this will get you on the road to feeling better.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: michaelgarin123 <no_reply >

> Subject: What Blood Test should I order?

>

> Date: Sunday, June 27, 2010, 1:00 AM

> So I am going into diagnosing myself

> and figuring out how to treat my low T. I have cheap health

> insurance so I need to be efficient. Thanks to my low T

> " insurance companies think I'm falling apart " . Thats a

> direct quote from my agent lol.

>

> I'm 34 with 190T. From what I've learned so far I need to

> know my FSH, LH, and Total T levels to find out if I am

> Primary or Secondary.

>

> What is the best way to get this blood test and what should

> I be asking them to give me in the results? What other

> levels would you recommend I look at and keep records of?

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>