Dr. Paul Kaplowitz
Pediatric Endocrinology
DC
47 years experience male
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Pediatric Endocrinology
Specialty
Licenses
United States: District Of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
191 Answers
9 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
How high?: High prolactin by itself does not cause weight gain but in some cases requires treatment, especially if due to a pituitary tumor. I need to know how... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Preferences vary: There is no medical answer to your question. People differ greatly in their temperature preferences for reasons we do not understand but there is no ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Yes: The timing of the growth spurt in teens is delayed in "late bloomers". I don't know your age or what the genital exam shows but it is likely you stil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Hard to predict: If you are overweight or obese you could develop type 2 diabetes at any time and a fasting BG of >100 would indicate a need for further testing. F... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not thyroid-related: If your thyroid levels are fine your rapid heart rate is not related to your taking thyroid medication. There are many many many cause of tachycardia ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not likely: Most women with PCOS are not ovulating but in your case it is very unlikely you are ovulating because BCPs work by suppressing ovulation
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
See a dietitian: The types of foods you are eating have a big effect on how soon you feel hungry again. Meals with lots of fiber and protein are more likely to keep y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
They do not interact: As long as you take your thyroid hormone consistently and have your levels checked yearly, your thyroid problem should not affect you in any way, and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
In the blood: FSH is made in the pituitary gland, released into the blood and carried to the ovaries where it is needed for development of follicles into mature egg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
No: Vitamin D can be very helpful for maintaining healthy bones and a normal Calcium and may have other beneficial effects as well but improving erections... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
It is probably fine: As you see there is a broad range of T levels in healthy men and being at the low end of normal should not cause any symptoms such as low libido or en... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Common side effects: You are having typical GI side effects of metformin which affect 20% of people in the first week or 2 of treatment and about 5% long term. If you ha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not a problem: It is very unlikely that taking B-12 and levothyroxine together is making it difficult for your body to absorb either one so I see no reason you canno... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Need a biopsy: I would not be concerned about the 3 mm nodule but you should have the doctor who ordered the ultrasound refer you to someone who could do a fine need... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Would not worry: While many people believe a healthy vitamin D level has to be >30, I and others believe that >20 is fine. Some people seem to get more of a boo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Probably OK: While it is not clear why your fasting BG has changed so much in 8 months, 72 is a good level which should not concern you. It's important to know wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Need to follow it: You probably don't have any thyroid-related symptoms because T4 and T3 (liothyronine) are normal but your elevated TSH suggests your thyroid may be st... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not a problem: The amount of radiation used in a thyroid scan is small and not enough to affect you and your chances of getting pregnant. Also if you have multiple ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not your thyroid: If your TSH (and your T4 or free T4) are normal than whatever symptoms you have are not related to your thyroid levels. There are MANY reasons for d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
You certainly could: You did not reveal the nature of your thyroid problem but only severe (not mild or moderate) hypothyroidism will interfere with your periods and getti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Check free T4 & TSH: Central hypothyroidism is much less common than primary hypothyroidism and is most often associated with disease in or near the pituitary. It is susp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not possible: Except in rare cases of very delayed puberty, growth is complete in men by the time they reach 18 or 19 as growth plates have closed. There are no ex... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Probably OK: Shoe size is not an accurate way of diagnosing growth disorders. It would be helpful to know what her height percentile is and if she is tall for age... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Could be a problem: I doubt this has anything to do with the partial hysterectomy but leakage from the nipples in a woman who has not recently had a baby may be a sign of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Doubtful: The T3 (liothyronine) test is not as reliable as the free T4 test and it is not rare to see patients with somewhat low or high T3 (liothyronine) level... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Probably your weight: It sounds like you may have acanthosis nigricans which causes dark skin under the arms but also around the neck. It is usually associated with being ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Depends on weight: The major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is weight or more accurately BMI. Eating fresh fruit (e.g. an apple) is healthier than drinking ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Look fine: The doctor who ordered the tests should have informed you that they are normal and that your reproductive hormones seems to be healthy though there is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Looks normal: A testosterone of 414 ng/dl looks fine and suggests that your symptoms are not due to hypogonadism. Testosterone treatment would be of no benefit for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
You are on target: There is a formula we use to estimate your genetic height potential based on parental height: The average of your parents' height which is 5 ft 6 inc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Keep it up!: Once people lose weight for a few months there is a tendency to regain it, particularly if they go off their diet. I would stay on your diet and if y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Nothing will help: You probably stopped growing about 2 years after your first menstrual period due to normal fusion of your bone's growth plates. Once they are fused t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Already checked: While you did not have an oral glucose tolerance test done in a lab, the fasting and post-lunch testing you did should convince you that you do not ha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
No: DHEA is a naturally occurring hormone made by the adrenals and is has weak male hormone activity but can be converted to testosterone in the body. W... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
No: You may have read that flavonoids can act as a weak estrogen in the body and estrogens can shorten the period of bone growth in teenage boys but there... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not enough info: Without knowing which hormone you are concerned about it is difficult to answer your question. Also would need to know what symptom(s) you think migh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Sleep and exercise: Please don't spend money on products you can buy online which are billed as GH releasers. Most of the GH you make is secreted while you sleep so gett... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Thyroid is fine: Since your TSH is normal you are on the correct dose of thyroid hormone. A1c of 5.9% does not mean your glucose is elevated as it is borderline and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not useful by itself: Thyroid antibodies such as TPO and TgAb do not tell you that you need treatment but that your risk of developing autoimmune hypothyroidism somewhere d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
? Androgen excess: If the excess hair is in the beard area, your ovaries may be overproducing testosterone, which also tends to make your periods irregular. There are t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
No simple answer : For most people 1000-1500 units of vitamin d is sufficient to keep your vitamin d level in the normal range. People with a low level of 25-hydroxyvit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Delayed puberty: It is not uncommon for 15-18 year olds to have low t if their puberty is delayed, and with time the problem may resolve, but if you are concerned abou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
No: A TSH of 6.5 is borderline but is not associated with any symptoms such as sleep issues. your doctor might adjust your dose to lower to TSH to <4 ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Possible but rare: Once puberty starts it rarely stalls. A problem with the testes or the pituitary gland could explain this or it could be a normal variation. If you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
No: Most endocrinologists feel that it does not matter if you take your thyroid hormone on an empty stomach or with a meal or morning vs evening since eve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Not the thyroid: A TSH of 4.38 with a normal total or free T4 would not cause constipation and I doubt tapering your Lexapro would have such an effect either
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
292 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
It varies: In many boys pubic hair (pubarche) and testicular growth (gonadarche) occur around the same time but in my practice I have seen many boys whose pubic ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
On testosterone?: Most men with Kallmann syndrome do not go through puberty normally and have a defective sense of smell. Were you just diagnosed or have you known abo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 67-year-old male asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Yes: A fasting BG of >126 is considered diabetes. A1c of 6.5% or greater is also very likely to be diabetes so you have both. Time to see someone who ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Paul Kaplowitzanswered
Pediatric Endocrinology 47 years experience
Borderline: A1c of 6.0% is on the fence - could be diabetes or prediabetes or nothing. If you are very overweight you are at increased risk of diabetes and your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
163
Thank you notes
Jul 18, 2018
Dr. Kaplowitz merits my greatest respect and admiration. His advice is sound, and he is not swayed but treatments that do not have good scientific evidence. I am so lucky that he is on Healthtap, and...Read More
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Kaplowitz is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Kaplowitz is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! But...I feel completely exhausted, could sleep ALL day. Often dizzy immediately after meals & periodically after runs-just don't like way I feel & wondered if synthyroi...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you very much, although my testosterone hormone level was normal on the blood tests and I haven't had my period since march after copper IUD removal, but I have al...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you for your quick reply, but my result was in ng/ml and the normal range for ng/ml is between 4.79-23.3.and ine was 49 so do i need medication ?
regards.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, IL
Graduated 1976MD
Awards
Top Pediatric Endocrinologist, First Place, National - Fall
2014
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