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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chris O on April 5, 2005, at 15:18:05
In reply to Re: Thanks for the info, dude » Chris O, posted by Green Willow on April 5, 2005, at 14:24:56
Green Willow:
I took the test from a naturopathic doctor in San Diego named Mark Stengler. I did not use my insurance with him because I have an HMO and he is not on the list. So, I had to pay everything out of pocket. The saliva cortisol test I did was called a Split Panel Hormone Test and was done by a company in Beaverton, Oregon. It cost around $200, which they immediately asked for, before I had even done the test (called me on the phone when I got back from his office to ask for my credit card #). Anyway, stupid insurance companies, they will do anything to avoid paying bill. Ticks me off. Sorry I can't help you there. I can certainly empathize though. I had knee surgery in 2003 after a bad accident on my bike and for a while, my insurance company was saying they weren't going to pay my bill because I stayed overnight in the hospital, and the doctor had forgot to note that with the appropriate "code" at the time I was admitted. Sheesh. They only had to drill a hole through my tibia, put a bolt through it and attach a bone chip. I should be outta that hospital in a couple 'o hours, no problem, up and walking! Insurance companies suck, no doubt about it. I hope you can get them to pay, and sorry again, that I can't help.
Chris
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 18:14:40
In reply to I paid about $200 » Green Willow, posted by Chris O on April 5, 2005, at 15:18:05
What was the cortisol test for and how did it turn out? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Chris O on April 5, 2005, at 20:05:43
In reply to Re: I paid about $200 » Chris O, posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 18:14:40
Phillipa:
It was just a salivary cortisol test. It was done by a naturopathic doctor. You spit into two tubes a few times in the morning and a few times at night. They send it to a lab and the lab tells whether your cortisol is high or low. Mine came up high at night (no surprise there, I can't sleep worth a crap at night) and normal in the morning (also no surprise, as my best sleeping hours are 4:00am to noon). So, I don't know, I haven't really followed up with it, in terms of...getting it checked again or going into more tests or anything. I would like to get a whole battery of tests done on my chemistry because...I know it's messed up. Kind of funny, but not, the last time I got a blood test at the doctor's I felt like checking every one of the boxes on that blood test thingy you bring to the lab, just to, you know check things out. I'm sure my doctor would not have been happy if I had done that. The insurance system owes me though. I've paid more than share of pay into insurance to get some good use out of it. Guess insurance companies do not feel the same way.
Chris
> What was the cortisol test for and how did it turn out? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by jerrympls on April 5, 2005, at 20:53:07
In reply to Morning cortisol, night cortisol » Phillipa, posted by Chris O on April 5, 2005, at 20:05:43
> Phillipa:
>
> It was just a salivary cortisol test. It was done by a naturopathic doctor. You spit into two tubes a few times in the morning and a few times at night. They send it to a lab and the lab tells whether your cortisol is high or low. Mine came up high at night (no surprise there, I can't sleep worth a crap at night) and normal in the morning (also no surprise, as my best sleeping hours are 4:00am to noon). So, I don't know, I haven't really followed up with it, in terms of...getting it checked again or going into more tests or anything. I would like to get a whole battery of tests done on my chemistry because...I know it's messed up. Kind of funny, but not, the last time I got a blood test at the doctor's I felt like checking every one of the boxes on that blood test thingy you bring to the lab, just to, you know check things out. I'm sure my doctor would not have been happy if I had done that. The insurance system owes me though. I've paid more than share of pay into insurance to get some good use out of it. Guess insurance companies do not feel the same way.
>
> Chris
>
> > What was the cortisol test for and how did it turn out? Fondly, Phillipa
>
>
Chris- I saw an endocrinologist over a year ago. He only did the cortisol urinalysis with me - found out my cortisol was LOW - I couldn't believe it! Also found that my testosterone levels were low and I'm only 33.
Posted by ed_uk on April 6, 2005, at 14:34:20
In reply to Re: Morning cortisol, night cortisol » Chris O, posted by jerrympls on April 5, 2005, at 20:53:07
Hi Jerry!
I wonder if a testosterone supplement would help your depression.
Ed.
Posted by jerrympls on April 6, 2005, at 19:14:42
In reply to Re: Morning cortisol, night cortisol » jerrympls, posted by ed_uk on April 6, 2005, at 14:34:20
> Hi Jerry!
>
> I wonder if a testosterone supplement would help your depression.
>
> Ed.Interesting you should mention that. The doc did put me on Androgel 5% and I was on it for quite a while. Finally he took me off it becuase it wasn't doing anything. Then my pdoc said that I may not have been on enough of it - but then never persued it further. ?
Posted by ed_uk on April 7, 2005, at 8:55:12
In reply to Re: Morning cortisol, night cortisol » ed_uk, posted by jerrympls on April 6, 2005, at 19:14:42
Hi Jerry!
>The doc did put me on Androgel 5% and I was on it for quite a while. Finally he took me off it becuase it wasn't doing anything.
Perhaps you should try a higher dose, especially since opioids can lower testosterone. Have you had your testosterone measured since you've been on the hydrocodone?
Ed.
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