testing GH levels [Archive]

phatkid77

04-20-2009, 01:17 PM

hey guys, i want to test my own GH levels since my DRs are unco-operative, and maybe show them they are infact low...

what lab can i use, and can i just get he GH and IGF-1 DONE, SHIPPED from canada... urine would be best im guessing,without involving a 3rd party to draw my blood...

actually, my mother in law can do it...

so, what the cheapest most accurate??

thanks guys

phats

phatkid77

04-20-2009, 02:59 PM

JanSz

04-20-2009, 04:43 PM

well, had some more search time...

looks like direct labs, OR LEF is the way to go... about $100 for HGH or IGF-1 test...

appears (atleast for direct) i can order myself, get the mother in law to draw the blood....mail it...then results available online in 48hrs..

opinions?

phats

Lattest and greatest is a separate Growth Hormone urine test from RheinLabs.

Drawback, requires prescription.

Without prescription you can have something with the same name, here:
http://www.privatemdlabs.com/lab_tests.php?view=all&show=671&category=24&search=#671

Growth Hormone, Urine 24 Hour $199.49
================================================== ====

Previously people were using IFG-1 to figure out their GH status.

Previously those who were more picky would in addition to IFG-1 use also IFGBP-3.

You can get IFG-1 using link above:
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) $69.49
I do not see them doing IFGBP-3.

same link also have

Human Growth Hormone $49.49 (it is serum test, I have no knowledge what that test is actually measuring, so, for now stay away from it).
================================================== =====

I do not know acceptable range for growth hormones in urine tests.
Usually it is something totally different than the range that lab is putting on test report.
================================================== =====

Growth Hormone
per Tierry Hertoghe MD Hormone Solution
supplementation required when
IGF-1<150mcg/L
IGFBP-3>4000mcg/L=4mg/L

These values are for the blood tests.
================================================== =======

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phatkid77

04-20-2009, 06:41 PM

thanks janz..

looks like directlabs would be the way to go... since up here the preferred method is blood testing, they MAY be able to interpret the values easier...also the $70-100 is my price range...fack the $200...lol, used to coverage up here....crikey..

phats

phatkid77

04-21-2009, 01:43 PM

well, thats a kick in the ass...direct labs eamiled me back...cant ship blood kits over the border to canada....fack

phats

lv 426

04-21-2009, 01:59 PM

Phatkid77

I had the same problem--unhelpful family doc.

I found a Naturopathic doc in my town. Went in for a free 15 minute consult.
I asked if she could do blood work etc. Yes!
Inital visit was $125 and $65 after that. Any testing she charges $15 on top
of all labs (so pile as many tests into that $15 as you can)

IGF-1 $104.85

Rhein 24hr urine (basic + T4,T3 + Aldosterone + GH) $580

Paul

phatkid77

04-21-2009, 03:24 PM

you just showing you get bang for your $15 buck there.... couldnt imagine paying that shit...wow..

PM me where she is located, im in kingston, may be worth the drive...

thanks
cory

phatkid77

04-21-2009, 03:40 PM

chilln

04-22-2009, 09:00 AM

screw it...they cant write scripts..not paying $200 so she can test it, but not do anything...

guess ill turn the charm on for my family doctor...actually, what i will do is just write GROWTH HORMONE on his nex requistion...way easier..

phats

Why don't you just make up a number ?

###

Or if you actually get serious for a minute, then you really can get your IGF-1 and your IGFBP-3 measured in the USA by Mayo Labs (Minnesota) and they will definitely accept your samples from Canada

They have all the international shipping and handling info on their site here:

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/order-tests/new-client.html

Their Canada contact number is specifically addressed:

"United States and Canada
800.533.1710"

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/specimen-transport/intltest/index.html

But I suspect that this is all too hard, or too expensive, or other such nonsense.

researchin

04-22-2009, 09:03 AM

screw it...they cant write scripts..not paying $200 so she can test it, but not do anything...

guess ill turn the charm on for my family doctor...actually, what i will do is just write GROWTH HORMONE on his nex requistion...way easier..

phats

believe it or not, that's how I found out many of my issues

my mom would write down extra tests as she saw fit. NO doctor in Canada will willingly test the thyroid or other hormones, unless they are some kind of specialist, fringe, or natural type Doc

phatkid77

04-22-2009, 10:09 AM

Thanks for the info, you can keep your side of sarcasm however

I'm sorry u don't like the fact I don't want to pay close to $500 just to have a test done...I've done my research...never came across the mayo option

anyman

04-22-2009, 11:03 AM

believe it or not, that's how I found out many of my issues

my mom would write down extra tests as she saw fit. NO doctor in Canada will willingly test the thyroid or other hormones, unless they are some kind of specialist, fringe, or natural type Doc

This, people, is why sometimes we end up taking matters into our own hands, even though such should always be done with great reluctance and hesitation. Almost every small measure of progress I've made has been by doing way too much research, chasing down the "right" doctors, pursuing scripts & more.

Canada's system doesn't say much for socialized medicine, does it? Another example of the dumbing down of society......

Greenie

04-22-2009, 01:31 PM

NO doctor in Canada will willingly test the thyroid or other hormones, unless they are some kind of specialist, fringe, or natural type Doc

This is the tragedy of socialized medicine. It is garbage care. Obama is taking us down that road. If we get it here, forget hormone therapy. Wait 2 years for a heart bypass, etc. Pray we get that doofus out in 2012 before he does too much more damage to health care...if it's not too late by then.

JanSz

04-22-2009, 02:46 PM

This is the tragedy of socialized medicine. It is garbage care. Obama is taking us down that road. If we get it here, forget hormone therapy. Wait 2 years for a heart bypass, etc. Pray we get that doofus out in 2012 before he does too much more damage to health care...if it's not too late by then.

Do not talk to me,

talk to Acorn.

chilln

04-22-2009, 06:47 PM

you can keep your side of sarcasm however

I was not being sarcastic. I was being sincere. In the same way that you were being sincere when you stated:

actually, what i will do is just write GROWTH HORMONE on his next requistion...way easier..

###############################

I'm sorry u don't like the fact I don't want to pay close to $500 just to have a test done...I've done my research...never came across the mayo option

There are docs in Canada who deal with Mayo.

If you don't like the cost options, then leave hormones well enough alone. Their costs don't reduce just because you want them to reduce.

researchin

04-22-2009, 11:03 PM

I was not being sarcastic. I was being sincere. In the same way that you were being sincere when you stated:

###############################

There are docs in Canada who deal with Mayo.

If you don't like the cost options, then leave hormones well enough alone. Their costs don't reduce just because you want them to reduce.

I don't know if he was joking about writing on the test script what he wants, but that's actually how we do it up here in Canada.

It's really that bad. So, he may have been serious.

He's concerned about costs because we already pay for medical coverage in Canada, it's an extra tax on top of taxation, AND we're taxed more heavily as a whole besides that. This supposed "free health care" never seems to cover much except hospital stays which are not cures. So, we try to seek an actual test that is actually covered. Unfortunately, never the case.

For example, it took me 1-2 years to get a MRI for a knee I couldn't walk on. If I had gone across the border, I believe it's $1000 or so in U.S and I can be seen right away. I was cash strapped at the time, so waited it out. Luckily, the MRI showed nothing later. If it was serious, I'd have been in trouble.

I used foods and natural medicine (natural anti-inflammatories, like ginger) to cure my knee.

medgerton

04-23-2009, 01:15 AM

I don't know if he was joking about writing on the test script what he wants, but that's actually how we do it up here in Canada.

It's really that bad. So, he may have been serious.

Thanks for posting about your health care in Canada. It provides a good reference point for us in the U.S.

As long as one has decent health insurance here we can get things (expensive things) quite easily. In the last year I had MRI of my knee, my knee scoped for cartiledge repair, MRI of the pituitary, MRI of my hip for osteo arthritis. I bet I spent more in the past year than the rest of my life combined. And I am 52.

I don't want to think what it would cost without insurance.

By the way, I just made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon no need to get referral from GP.

researchin

04-23-2009, 09:41 AM

Thanks for posting about your health care in Canada. It provides a good reference point for us in the U.S.

As long as one has decent health insurance here we can get things (expensive things) quite easily. In the last year I had MRI of my knee, my knee scoped for cartiledge repair, MRI of the pituitary, MRI of my hip for osteo arthritis. I bet I spent more in the past year than the rest of my life combined. And I am 52.

I don't want to think what it would cost without insurance.

By the way, I just made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon no need to get referral from GP.

I can't confirm, but since we have "free healthcare", I believe the government watches Doctors for how many tests they run.

So they're scared and have to keep the average number of tests per year down, or they have too many patients and don't want the government to crack down on them for running tests on all of them.

JanSz

04-23-2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks for posting about your health care in Canada. It provides a good reference point for us in the U.S.

As long as one has decent health insurance here we can get things (expensive things) quite easily. In the last year I had MRI of my knee, my knee scoped for cartiledge repair, MRI of the pituitary, MRI of my hip for osteo arthritis. I bet I spent more in the past year than the rest of my life combined. And I am 52.

I don't want to think what it would cost without insurance.

By the way, I just made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon no need to get referral from GP.

I hope that you did not voted for those who insist on "improving" our health care system.

.

medgerton

04-23-2009, 08:53 PM

I hope that you did not voted for those who insist on "improving" our health care system.

.

I liked Ron Paul.

I can see the steam coming out from Chilln's ears as we veer off topic.