GYNO wont give me a post op blood test for my levels CONFUSED!

I am a bit freaked out right now and very confused.. I am doing HRT for over a year now and not sure if I am balanced or too high or too low you know? I had a total HYSTER in July 2007. After trying a few different estrogen replacements pills I settled on an estratest HS tab for about eight months now. I think I need to get a better balance I have not been myself since surgery and I am tired of Dr trying to put me on anti depressants!!! I tired it before surgery and only gained weight and turned into a zombie! Anyway I wanted to see my hormone levels especially my testosterone levels since the estratest is 1.25 in Testosterone while the estrogen is .625 its a mixed HRT pill..

SO I called my DR today asking for some blood tests ( I have never had one post op) so I can see where I stand with what I have been taking the past year or so and she told me NO, can you believe it? She is my GYNO and she was the one who did my surgery.. she says even if she got the numbers back from the Lab she wouldn't know what to do with them???????????? OMG I am telling you no matter what I told her she wouldn't do it. I told her I want the numbers FOR ME then cuz I am doing research to help me feel better and I need to compare the numbers I am at now with normal levels and my past levels and see if what I am taking is not over doing or under doing so I can get myself in balance.. she still refused. She did agree to getting my thyroid levels checked my Vitamin D and B12 and blood count why the heck cant she just humor me? isnt that bizarre? Sorry for venting but this is totally different from what I have always read about doing HRT.. anyone shed some light on the subject for me, because as of right now I am totally LOST!!!

I understand your frustration completely. My GYN told me that he would not check my hormone levels either! I had a hyst when I was 24 yrs old back in 1995. Then had my ovaries removed May 2007. Dr. put me on Climara patch .05 mg after ooph. I went to see him again in Dec. and after being on Climara for just over 1 1/2 yrs. I asked to have my levels tested, as I feel the Estro. is too low. He said that it wouldn't do any good to test the levels, as they would show up as normal since I am on estrogen already - regardless of dose. Due to my symptoms, he incresed my patch to .1 mg.

So far I see very little improvement of my symptoms. Honestly, I feel like I am a mess. Hi suggestion was that I go to counseling. Why won't he test the levels? Wouldn't that explain if it is my hormones being out of whack or something else?

I'm thinking of going for a second opinion and looking into bio-identicals. I'm at such a loss and want my life and emotions back to normal.

I wonder how many of us have been told no on testing the levels and if it is even valid that the levels would show up as normal just because there is some estrogen being taken? Hope someone has some answers because I'm lost right along with you!!

Hi!

(((Presouz))), your doctor has been honest with you and told you that she won't test the levels and that even if she did, she wouldn't know what they mean. You can either go along with that or, since you don't agree, you can seek another medical opinion.

Many women find that the surgeon isn't the best person to prescribe hormones. Not all doctors have expertise in all areas. It really is best to accept that for what it is and move on to another doctor for this important part of your well-being. You aren't going to get her to change her mind but you can be proactive and seek the help of someone who does have the experience you would prefer.

One way to find a doctor knowledgeable about hormone therapy is to call a compounding pharmacy and ask for the names of doctors who use their services. If you don't know where the nearest compounding pharmacy is, you can try the free locator feature on this site: www.iacprx.org. A doctor who is at least aware of compounded hormones can be a very good person to have on your team.

I've never found hormone testing to be helpful to me as both times I've had it done the results said I was in the normal range. Well, normal on paper and normal in me aren't the same. It's important to know that having that information may or may not help. Finding the right balance of hormones is largely a trial and error, hit and miss process even when working with someone who is knowledgeable about prescribing hormones. If you're hopelessly lost with your symptoms and don't know which way to turn, hormone testing may provide some clues.

For years we've been stressing the importance on these message boards how important it is to pay attention to symptoms. Keep a symptom journal to share with whichever doctor you choose to help you find your balance. Referring to this link can be very helpful as well: Too Much/Too Little.

Focus your energy now on finding the help you want. Let us know what you decide, okay?

s

At least she was honest about it. My GP did the tests but I had to tell her which ones I wanted and when the results came back she said I was in normal range which I wasn't. I was a horrible wreck at that point. I just went to another Dr. with the results and got the help I needed -- well, not right away. I've been to many Dr.'s trying to get the help that I need. It's sad and frustrating to say but you have to do your own research and then find a Dr. that you can work with and a good pharmacy.

Thank you everyone for the replies. My Surgeon is my GYNO so I thought she was able to help me hormone wise. She did mention getting some help from my endocrinologist who I went to for my Thyroid last year, he says its with in normal range, though it is 2 times the size of a normal one.. how can that be? Thats a worry. I can ill afford my 615.00 a month insurance payment much less his office visit of 235.00! That is why I turned to her she cost less to see. I was going to do the research all myself and tell her what I wanted her to call in to the Bio ID pharmacy I have started to use for my 1% Estradiol cream for bladder and Vaginal health from a BIO ID pharmacy and it was only 13.00 at Wal-Mart it was 93.00 with insurance cuz it was name brand!! I am going the bio route too. I am switching my daily meds to a BIO ID version with the help of research and Pharmacist information and my Dr input I will say she is good about that. I will keep plugging away. Thanks again Sisters

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Can you go through a saliva testing lab and find out which drs in your area use them? My gyn dr will not even look at hormone blood tests (except thyroid and she orders T3, T4 and TSH). She claims they're just not accurate in determining the AVAILABLE hormones in your system. She prefers saliva. I bet if you contact ZRT labs and ask about drs in your area that use them, you could get more help. I know many people claim they don't like reflect how they feel, but I trust my dr and am listening to her opinion on this one.

Good luck. Makes sense to have a record of your levels plus a diary of symptoms that coincide if you choose to seek help with another dr.

I agree with the other ladies that if you are not happy, find another doctor. My suggestion would be to find a doctor that specializes in women's mid life issues, such as menopause.

The thing about being in the normal range as I learned from the Oprah show is that normal doesn't mean right. What I think doctors should do is do the blood work before the surgery so that you have a baseline for where you were and try to get you back to that level as much as possible. While it hasn't been long since my procedure, it will be interesting to see what my doctor's thoughts will be on this.