Getting Tests Done From An Endocrinologist

[Wanheda]

Hey. I'm in the UK and want to get tests done to check testosterone and anything else that might be related to my hairloss but ive read some endocrinologists specialize more in this when it comes to hair loss. Apart from receding hairline I also have excessive sweating and difficulty losing weight so I figured has something to do with the endocrine system or thyroid.
Going to go through my GP for a referral which takes around 6 weeks to be referred but Idk if there is a particular type of specialist in this field. If so might be worth going private. Has anyone got any experience or can recommend one?

 

[Wanheda]

Your normal GP doctor should be able to do the testing just fine. It is labs that do the testing anyway not the doctors.

Thanks for clarifyinh that. Just a bit puzzled though as i had a chat with the doctor over the phone and she said i would need to be referred, she didnt mention anything about having tests done there.

 

[Maddy17]

Hey. I'm in the UK and want to get tests done to check testosterone and anything else that might be related to my hairloss but ive read some endocrinologists specialize more in this when it comes to hair loss. Apart from receding hairline I also have excessive sweating and difficulty losing weight so I figured has something to do with the endocrine system or thyroid.
Going to go through my GP for a referral which takes around 6 weeks to be referred but Idk if there is a particular type of specialist in this field. If so might be worth going private. Has anyone got any experience or can recommend one?

Make sure they run T, both total and FREE T, andro, DHEA/DHEAS, DHT, SHBG, and 3-adiol (DHT metabolites) from an androgen perspective.

Get the thyroid tests, as both hypo and hyper can cause hair loss, but if weight gain is problem hypo possible. T4, T3, free for both and reverse T3 and TSH.

Get your A1C, glucose AND FASTING INSULIN tested. fight for the insulin to be tested. It can be high when the other two are perfectly normal. Insulin speeds up the 5-alpha reductase enzyme.

 

[Wanheda]

Maddy17 thankyou, that's a ton of knowledge you have! I'm not sure what most of those mean but hopefully my GP will. Either that or she's gonna look at me really really blank lol

 

[shulk]

If the GP suspects thyroid issues and/or other stuff based on your symptoms they will draw blood and send it to the lab. The lab will (according to what the GP ordered) check the blood values.

For thyroid they will probably only order TSH, and T4 when the values are off. If you want everything Maddy lists tested u probably have to order it via a private instance (expensive). U could try to nag a bit for more though.

The weird thing is excessive sweating belongs to hyper and and difficulty losing weight belongs to hypo, the two polar opposites. The glucose tests do sound like a good idea because of this.

I personally don't really care about the andro tests. I'm not sure which conclusions u could draw from them, even if u have a low DHT, it could still mean it is too much for you. You would have to know your follicles sensitivity to give it meaning.

Do you have crown loss? Do you have itching/burning/pain on the scalp? Is ur digestive system functioning normally?

 

[Wanheda]

Thanks! Interesting stuff I must say, had never really looked at it this in depth before. Mine is a little crown but mostly receding hairline and all over slight thinning. Yes I do get itching on the scalp especially worse after sugary food or alcohol. Digestive system is not great tbh. Been taking herbal meds for this but no difference even many months later.

I do get extremely oily skin and scalp, cold hands nearly year round and as mentioned I don't lose weight as easily as other guys. I wonder if all this has a connection somehow...

 

[shulk]

Are you on DHT inhibitors? For me it seems that wheat (also beer) makes my scalp itch worse.. I have quite a few food intolerance's which i only started dealing with recently. They may or may not contribute to my normal hair loss.

 

[Wanheda]

I'm not on any DHT inhibitors nope. Food intolerances not as far as I know although dairy gives me a lot of phlegm build up the next day (gross I know sorry) so I limit dairy when and where I can but a life without pizza....noo way.