I made an appointment with Dr. Shippen. It'll cost me, but sees to be the best choice

[anyman]

After much research and more I've finally made an appointment with Dr. Shippen. It was between him and Dr John. The tipping factor was that I can drive to Shippen, but would have to fly to Dr. John. Both men are highly regarded. Unfortunately, the appointment isn't until mid July, but it was the best I could get.

I am still not sure where this will go, but before I embark on what could be a lifetime of treatment I need to make sure I've exhausted every realistic option and have at least tried to restore my body's natural function. I'll still heed the suggestions of the reproductive endo. specialist at Mass General and check my blood sugar, up my cardio, etc but cannot escape the feeling that these steps, while important, are not dispostive.

Prior to my appt I'll continue to share my research and thoughts with all here. Should be interesting to see what'll happen in July. Before I go I was instructed to send a synopsis of my history and copies of recent tests.

 

[engival]

i just called yesterday to get an appt. its June 20

 

[anyman]

Wow- You get in over a month before me. I called around 1pm.

i just called yesterday to get an appt. its June 20

He must fill up FAST. I'm going to start on my synopsis shortly. Please keep me and us posted.

 

[hardasnails1973]

He must fill up FAST. I'm going to start on my synopsis shortly. Please keep me and us posted.

Besure to call shippens office when you send first payment so to make sure you receieved it or you will be up the creek with out a paddle. My freind send a check in and never heard back from them. He checked his account 10 days later it was never cashed and they never called him back to verifed they did not recieve it so his appointment for may was cancelled 3 days after they never recieved the check with out a courtesy call to let him know they never recieved payment. This did not leave a good taste in his mouth, but has appointment in july instead. So make sure your payment has been verifed and best to send ups or registered mail or overnight..

 

[engival]

ahh , i was going to mail a check in, but i personally dropped the cash off myself : )

i called at 9am last monday on the april 30

 

[hardasnails1973]

ahh , i was going to mail a check in, but i personally dropped the cash off myself : )

i called at 9am last monday on the april 30

Hes a great dr, but buisiness wise that is poor business eduquete and they will drop you like a rock with out any notice.

 

[engival]

well i got my letter back from dr. shippen with recommend lab work, so im assuming they got everything.

 

[hardasnails1973]

Maybe I need to do that, too. I've had some guys make appointments, so I was here to see them, and they just never showed up, and did not call.

YOu know the postal service these days. Maybe when you tell them to send money that they may want to over night it to make sure it was recieved or like I suggested just a polite courteousy call to say " Our records have indicated that your money was not recieved. If we do not recieve your payment in x days we may cancel your current appointment. To ensure that your payment arrives on time you may want to fed ex. ..yadadad LOL

 

[SufferingEd]

Funny how the postal service keeps increasing their rates yet their service continues to go down. Myself and about three or four neighbors are always trading mail becuase the mail man always puts our mail in the wrong box. I would diffenilty Fed Ex.

 

[SufferingEd]

well i got my letter back from dr. shippen with recommend lab work, so im assuming they got everything.

Does he give you a lab order you take to your lab? Just curios how this works becuase if I come up with some money I will be making an appt.

 

[hardasnails1973]

Funny how the postal service keeps increasing their rates yet their service continues to go down. Myself and about three or four neighbors are always trading mail becuase the mail man always puts our mail in the wrong box. I would diffenilty Fed Ex.

But people with hormone related problem do lack mental clarity some times and it slips there mind to think of something so simple. I used to work at mutual fund company and people sending in 10 million dollar checks and wondering where they are at. How stupid can you be..They all be potential clients for dr john thats for sure :rofl:

 

[hardasnails1973]

Does he give you a lab order you take to your lab? Just curios how this works becuase if I come up with some money I will be making an appt.

When making appointment they notify you of biography to write about your self and then when you send in and they recieve there money he will come up labs based upon your biogrpahy and past. So all the work is there when you goto see him. It makes things alot less time consuming and can get to heart of the matter..

 

[SufferingEd]

When making appointment they notify you of biography to write about your self and then when you send in and they recieve there money he will come up labs based upon your biogrpahy and past. So all the work is there when you goto see him. It makes things alot less time consuming and can get to heart of the matter..

But when he sends the lab work is he just telling you want he wants you to have checked and then you go to Quest/Lab one or is it an actual lab order you can just take into the lab and have blood drawn. I know he does not take insurance this is why I am asking so I can call my insurance to see if I can get them to cover my labs.

And I agree my memory is shot so I would have to FEd Ex so I would have a receipt but I will forget where I put said receipt.

 

[hardasnails1973]

But when he sends the lab work is he just telling you want he wants you to have checked and then you go to Quest/Lab one or is it an actual lab order you can just take into the lab and have blood drawn. I know he does not take insurance this is why I am asking so I can call my insurance to see if I can get them to cover my labs.

And I agree my memory is shot so I would have to FEd Ex so I would have a receipt but I will forget where I put said receipt.

He reads over your letter and then gives your labs he wants done based upon that before the visit. For $ 550 a pop..I would want that dr to have all information in from of him he hav a clincal picture of what is going on before that visit..

 

[JanSz]

But when he sends the lab work is he just telling you want he wants you to have checked and then you go to Quest/Lab one or is it an actual lab order you can just take into the lab and have blood drawn. I know he does not take insurance this is why I am asking so I can call my insurance to see if I can get them to cover my labs.

And I agree my memory is shot so I would have to FEd Ex so I would have a receipt but I will forget where I put said receipt.

Administrative details are interesting part of the treatment.
Specially when doctor does not want to deal with insurance and requires full payment.
Patients are usually ill equiped to deal with something that is too compilcated for a doctor to deal with.

If you do not get proper ICD-9 diagnose code on you script you are most likely screwed even before you made first step.

Just so you know, the codes that I am about to post (for you to peruse) were good enough for LabCorp.
My current test at Quest was with those codes.
I already got a letter that that may not be enough.
I given that letter to my (wonderfull) doc.
Will post how he is going to deal with that.
==============
This was on my script:
257.2
272.4
601.9
780.4
780.79
788.41
253.3
255.8
===============
This is what the numbers mean:
ICD9Data.com - Free 2007 ICD-9-CM Medical Coding Database
257.2 Other testicular hypofunction 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 257.2 - Other Testicular Hypofunction
272.4 Other and unspecified hyperlipidemia 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 272.* - Disorders of lipoid metabolism
601.9 Prostatitis unspecified 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 601.* - Inflammatory diseases of prostate
780.4 Dizziness and giddiness 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 780.4 - Dizziness And Giddiness
780.79 Other malaise and fatigue 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 780.79 - Other Malaise And Fatigue
788.41 Urinary frequency 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 788.41 - Urinary Frequency
253.3 Adult Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency
255.8 Other specified disorders of adrenal glands 2007 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis 255.8 - Other Specified Disorders Of Adrenal Glands
===========================================
When you get new numbers, be kind post it so others may have a fighting chance.

 

[SufferingEd]

My appt did not go well either anyman. I will be seeing either Shippen or Crisler also. Hopefully we will get better soon.

 

[anyman]

That stinks, but it's what I expected. Seems the "mainstream" is clueless.

My appt did not go well either anyman. I will be seeing either Shippen or Crisler also. Hopefully we will get better soon.

What happened? Total cluelessness?

For me Shippen was an easier solution. I can get there in back in a day, although I'll stay overnite as I have a morning appt. Crisler would have involved expnsive and time consuming airline flights, etc.

 

[engival]

anyman did shippen have you do the Clomiphene Stimulation test?
what other test is he having you do?

 

[anyman]

I can't answer this as I have not yet seen or heard from him.

anyman did shippen have you do the Clomiphene Stimulation test?
what other test is he having you do?

Just sent my packet of personal info to him a few days ago. My appt isn't until July, although I hipe to hear from him sooner than this so we can test something before I go.

 

[JanSz]

Just sent my packet of personal info to him a few days ago. My appt isn't until July, although I hipe to hear from him sooner than this so we can test something before I go.

How do you create the bold highlited top line.
It does not show as part of the message.

 

[anyman]

All I did was fill in the "Title line

How do you create the bold highlited top line.
It does not show as part of the message.

I filled in the "title" line at the top of the reply to thread section.

 

[SoMdHunter]

Maybe I need to do that, too. I've had some guys make appointments, so I was here to see them, and they just never showed up, and did not call.

I have my appointment with ya 6 June. You can bet your last dollar I will be there. Only an act of God will stop me from showing up!

 

[JanSz]

Thank you anyman!

I filled in the "title" line at the top of the reply to thread section.

Just like that!

 

[anyman]

Update: Got a scrip and requested blood work from Dr. Shippen. Interesting...

Got a request for blood work and scrip back from Dr. Shippen. My appointment is in July.

He wants me to to the "clomid" test for a week and then be retested for T, FSH, LH, Cortisol, DHEAS serum, Estradiol, DHT and IGF-1 on the eighth day. The diagnosis written is hypogonadism, adrenal hyperplasia and somatrophin deficiency. Never heard of the last 2.

Lets's see where this goes..... I'll keep all posted.

 

[engival]

yeah thats what shippen is having me do right now, the clomid test im getting my blood test at Quest on monday, but he only wants T,Cortisol, DHEAS, FSH, LH, estradiol, TSH, FT3, Vitamin D, SHBG tested.

 

[anyman]

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I already had my SHBG & Vit D tested before.

yeah thats what shippen is having me do right now, the clomid test im getting my blood test at Quest on monday, but he only wants T,Cortisol, DHEAS, FSH, LH, estradiol, TSH, FT3, Vitamin D, SHBG tested.

I sent him a melange of different tests. He must have picked out what I missed and what he wants to see after the clomid test.
Let's see- since I have to be tested on the 8th day I think I'll start on Tues AM and not on a weekend. Kinda hard to get blood work on a Sunday!

 

[engival]

what was your testosterone? my serum was 363

 

[anyman]

Hell, I wish I was that high. All of 200-250.

what was your testosterone? my serum was 363

My level blows. No wonder why I am stagnant at the gym. :frustrate This totally and utterly stinks.