is my endocrinologist withholding info, or just a bit useless?

[Gettingstronger!]

Hi all,

Recently got diagnosed with Hypopituitarism, and after being consulted by 4 different endicrinologists (at the same time!) I was told that I would need hormone therapy, likely for the rest of my life.

My main Dr is a registrar, nice enough bloke but a little condescending and always appears to be in a hurry to get me out of the door.

I've lurked on this forum a fair bit now, learning here and there. One thing I've noted is that when taking TRT, people use HCG to stop their own gonads from atrophying.

I asked my endocrinologist about this, and he gave me a very shifty "there are some things we do, but only when necessary", this Dr never seems to give me a straight answer. I can't decide whether or not he's with-holding, or he simply doesn't know.

Several question I've asked him about my fertility were met with similar fuzzy answers.

What's everyone elses experience with endos? Do they deliberately withhold information for the patients' sake? Or is there a knowledge gap there?

[dreadnok89]

Depends on who you ask. Doctor's in general are jerk off. I can read study a book too. But majority of these endos don't care if you recite cold hard facts to them. They just get offended. And forget about the man hating female docs too. They are the worst.YOur doc sounds like a doosh. I would dump him fast. Endo's are a diabetes doctor anyway. I like internists for hrt. I met2 who are really knowledgeable in hrt.

If you study hrt a lot and start to know your shit and you meet a good doc, don't be pushy in what you want to do either . Its hard enough to find a good one, you don't wanna get them mad haha

[Novice489]

Not all endocrinologists/urologists are knowledgeable about HRT. Some of their training is decades old and they may have done little to keep it up to date.

Either case is he really the person you want to be seeing? Do you trust someone who's going to deliberately withhold information from you and keep you in the dark about your own care? Or do you trust someone who hasn't been keeping up with the literature in HRT protocols?

[kelkel]

If you're not happy, find a new doc. You need to develop a long-term, healthy relationship that's built on trust.

[APIs]

IDK, I wouldn't generalize & say that a majority of Endos are bad. I think they have a lot on their plates treating more routine conditions day in & day out. Combine this fact with a lack of basic knowledge on men's TRT and that's where the problem begins. Of course, their own egos may only compound it when faced with the reality they don't know shit about treating the condition. In the end though, I don't know if we can really blame them as individuals when they haven't been properly trained to treat it in the first place. I'd say that fault lies squarely @ the university/training level...

[Beethoven]

Well you have come to the right place to learn. Find another Doc. I went through that myself. Not that he was withholding info but he just wasn't as knowledgeable. But with a little luck and a lot of info picked up here, I found a good one. Good luck.

[Back In Black]

The UK is a little behind in terms of TRT and you'll be very lucky to find an expert on the NHS. I might have been lucky my endo was fully understanding and responsive and did whatever blood tests I asked for. I didn't discuss HCG as I am pretty certain they won't prescribe it for me or most other people.

However, at your age, it's definitely worth asking and pushing. (For fertility reasons if nothing else). I was offered an appointment at the fertility clinic so this is something you should request as it might be they who assist in a decision on HCG. If not, then it isn't that expensive to get your own.

[dreadnok89]

IDK, I wouldn't generalize & say that a majority of Endos are bad. I think they have a lot on their plates treating more routine conditions day in & day out. Combine this fact with a lack of basic knowledge on men's TRT and that's where the problem begins. Of course, their own egos may only compound it when faced with the reality they don't know shit about treating the condition. In the end though, I don't know if we can really blame them as individuals when they haven't been properly trained to treat it in the first place. I'd say that fault lies squarely @ the university/training level...

sure you can blame them. if you don't know shit , don't act like you do! i went to a "really good" urologist for hrt. this "really good" doctor said andro gel is the only answer and shots are barbaric. and hcg doesnt do anything. and what does it matter if your balls stay inactive? Alot of trash for hrt.

[imnotnatty]

I hate doctors like this, look for a more down to earth guy, he sounds like a prima-donna.