This is a familiar story I think but....

I was the fastest thing on two legs round a tennis court until eight years ago. But then, I really began to have increasing fatigue and difficulties, until one day this spilled over into a complete panic attack. I thought that was it. I was about to die.
I barged my way into a chemist and got hold of some Aspirin, If I was going to have a heart attack I wanted to ensure I gave myself some chance of surviving. Quite literally I KNEW i was probably going to be dead in a few minutes. Anyway I didn't die, least I think I didn't, perhaps I did and this is heaven, in which case I'd like to try hell instead.
The Doctor diagnosed me with Panic and Anxiety, prescribing beta blockers and antidepressansts and eventually Counselling.
I took up psychology out of interest and tried self hypnosis. Then I had hypnosis and counselling of a variety of sorts as the NHS counselling had no effect.
I knew that Anxiety caused chest pains, but I reasoned that my Anxiety must be real severe, because NOTHING would relieve my chest pains. In my case it felt like a vice gripping round my upper torso. No amount of therapeutic unwinding the vice could loosen its grip.
Eventually my Ex-wife told me she had seen an article in a magazine, which said some Beta Blockers can cause chest pains. I told my Gp. We swapped Beta Blockers and the chest pains disappeared.
After a about two years of this, I thought Id start researching myself.I eventually found out how easy it is to jump to conclusions by looking stuff up on the web. I joined several web chat groups on panic attacks etc.
I was slowly coming to the conclusion that this wasn't in my head, I was not imagining this. I then discovered the Life Extension Foundation, and tried their stuff on Anxiety. I found some relief, but nothing dramatic. What I learned from them, was the importance of blood testing, to find out what the real problem is. As an engineer I liked this idea. Anything else is just guess work

I got some funds together,and went off to Harley street.I saw Dr P who told me I have Hypogonadism and that treatment is available on the NHS.
I took the results to my Doctor who said she did not trust his results so we had them redone. Guess what! The tests had exactly the same result, surprise surprise.
I was then given an appointment to see an Endocrinologist. "Where have you read this Rubbish on Hypogonadism Mr P?" I could see I was on a sticky wicket here.
After several appointments I simply had to have some treatment so I went to another private clinic. I was offered implants or patches I accepted patches because I reasoned that I could discontinue them for NHS investigations.
The NHS, in the shape of the Endocrinologist was not impressed!
"This is not really my field, I'm passing you on to another doctor, but you will have to wait for another appointment", were her final comments. I felt like I was being punished.

After several more months I went back to the Clinic and was given ten 200mg pellets of Testosterone. I have since discovered that this was a mistake, because I was doomed to endure an overdose for the next few months.
I have hypoglycemic attacks and didnt realise before, but some of my 'panic attacks' were in fact hypoglycemics. I mean if 6 doctors tell you you are having panic attacks, then they are panic attacks. But they seemed to coincide with food. The extra T gave me a ravenous appetite. I was eating everything In sight, then having hypoglycemic rebounds!
I ballooned up to 15st of muscle. I felt better except for the Hypoglycemic attacks, but the Muscle Bulk was not me. I felt too bulky.

I then saw another endocrinologist, told me he was a conservative endocrinologist, and did not believe in tinkering with the body. I clean forgot to ask what prompted him to become a f*cking Doctor. The implants meant he cound not do any investigations, we calculated when they would end and remade an appointment.
At the appointment I was met by a another doctor, who asked about my symptoms.I cant recall the details but my notes notes say I have discussed with the patient the prospect of lifelong T therapy, but before comitting him to this, I wish to carry out some stimulation testing (I presume HCG)
Soon after this the previous Endocrinologist intervened & Wrote to my Gp.
"The patient shows no sign of Androgen Deficiency. He has clearly defined psychological problems." He concluded,
"PS. as I am shortly to leave my post, he should receive no more appointments!"

Throughout all this I sent a lot of relevant information to my GP and the Endocrinologists, to help them understand my problem.

My ex-wife then informed me, our doctor said I had psychiatric problems. She became thoroughly unsupportive,telling me how much money other contractors earned, compared to me taking time off work through illness. I was called all the lazy bastards under the sun.....
The one person who ought to be on my side, was no longer there to help me regain my health. I initiated divorce proceedings. After two years I eventually won shared residency with my boys and got my divorce

After discovering a reputable forum on the web and seeing this illness is widespread, I realised it's not through lack of evidence, that we fail to get treated, it's through stubborn, conspiratorial stupidity.
One day, I had severe physical & psychiatric diusturbances in a local shoppping centre, I remember looking at my little boy, he could see I was in trouble.. I remember thinking, for the sake of my life with my two boys I'm going to get this sorted

I obtained all my medical records and was astonished to see a letter from the Endocrinologist to my GP, confirming what my wife had said. She even used my "laziness" during my divorce to highlight why she'd become contemptuous of me.
I fought then, with my local NHS Trust to have this error corrected.

I started off a complaint to the local hospital, After several exchanges over six months pointing out their errors. They wrote back saying they are sorry but the new Endocrinologist says the clinical picture does not warrant treatment. The hospital said I should refer further enquires to my Gp. My Gp said she knew nothing of this condition, I should take it up with the hospital !!!!
Remember that 70's electronic game of Ping Pong?

After pointing out that the new endocrinologist has never even met me, and that this diagnosis was therefore against medical guidelines, they relented and invited me back for an appointment. I write to my Gp who booked me an appointment but told me, she has done everything she can and that I should contact my MP, or a solicitor.
I reasoned I could lose a court case much cheaper than a solicitor could, so after leaving the surgery I went straigh to the courts and initiated a small claim summons against my local NHS Trust, seeking the return of money outlaid on the new Testosterone therapy I am on, which is a gel.

I have to say I am feeling better on the gel, which was prescribed privately. I'd been proved to have a Pituitary gland malfunction, which causes me to produce too little Testosterone. My boys are now seeing a Dad that is able to enjoy their company sometimes, instead of sleeping all the time. I am back at work again, closer to living a life, closer to the one I used to live. I don't expect to be a kid again, just have enough energy to live a life. My anxiety is diminishing and I can look to the future with some optimism once more.

The summons to the NHS for the return of one month's therapy cost hadn't been answered by the NHS. So, I applied for summary judgement, which was granted by the court. The NHS suggested they might appeal, but didn't. I have won a hollow victory against the NHS and know it was only their mistake that gave me the ruling. However, should I be forced into legal action again, I will have my case ready.

There, in a nuthsell, goes the last eight years of my life. I've travelled to hospital in an ambulance about twenty time and been to Accident and Emergency a similar number of times. Had I been tested properly to begin with, my Pituitary problems would no dounbt, have been discovered.
Perhaps then, I would have been able to work.
Perhaps then, my boys would have known a normal Dad.
Perhaps then, my marriage would not have collapsed.
Perhaps then, I wouldn't have been such a burden on this country's health budget.
My NHS file is large, not because I have psychological problems, as some doctors notes in my file indicate, but because I knew I had an illness. Now I know what it is, I can deal with it and become a useful member of society once more.

Editor's Note

It would be easy to offer criticism of the doctors concerned in this story. However, to do so would mask the real issue, which is that the medical world is in desparate need of globalisation. There must also be an overhaul of concepts based on old science, especially with regard to the importance of male hormones. This requires re-education of doctors from top to bottom.

In order for this to be achieved, money, which is now being spent on drugs, must be diverted to ongoing education of doctors. A global drug approval authority would reduce the cost of drug production, and therefore drugs, enormously, providing savings to health budgets across the world.

It is unfair to expect a General Practitioner to absorb good science from another country, when his own authority remains oblivious to excellent research carried out in foreign parts and refuses to update its testing methods at GP level. Such is the situation the UK patient finds himself in.

Ade has a problem with his Pituitary gland, not his testicles. If he had been tested as advised by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines, he would have been diagnosed and treated in 2003, at the latest. The earliest suggestion that LH and FSH were necessary in detecting Hypogonadism came from the same body as early as 1997!
That the NHS Trust concerned, chooses to pay the costs of losing court cases, whilst still refusing to treat such an obvious case, merely highlights the absurdity of the current position on Testosterone Deficiency within the UK.

A note of caution:
Always get legal advice on your case before launching litigation.

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