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~*~Fill out our survey!~*~Sometimes doctors don't listen, or patients may live in a 'medical desert' where it's difficult to get in to see a doctor, or they may be uninsured and unable to access a physician without great expense.
In those situations, private lab testing may be an option. You pay out-of-pocket for the lab test, but it's much cheaper than going to the doctor. At the moment, it costs about $130 to test for primary aldosteronism.
The key is to know your medications. Many medications can interfere with the blood work for primary aldosteronism. If you take prescription medications and/or over-the-counter medications regularly, check with your pharmacist to see if any would affect testing for renin and aldosterone.
Note: Do not discontinue any prescription medication without your doctor's advice. If a medication conflicts with blood work for primary aldosteronism, ask your doctor for the next step.
Once you know your medications and how they might affect blood work, you can then search for a private lab or private blood work in your area. There are national companies that will order the testing for you at various national labs. Some even offer a package for 'Conn's Syndrome' which is another name for primary aldosteronism.
The following should be tested at mid-morning after you've been awake for two hours:
Aldosterone
Renin
Aldosterone: Renin Ratio
Once you have the test results, you can take them to the doctor to, hopefully, give them more insight into your health. Results will also help you know when to keep pushing or if you should travel to see specialists...especially for patients who live in areas with few specialized medical resources.
It's a simple blood test. There's no reason not to know.
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