Last year, I was 39 and coming off of a broken ankle and after several months I topped my weight at 304 lbs (at 6’2"). Closing in on my 40th birthday and having issues sleeping at night, I decided to make a change. On 4/1/2015, I quit caffeine completely (1-3 sodas/day), I started working out (weights/cardio) and eating cleaner (limiting breads, noodles, dairy and red meat).
A couple months later, I dropped a few pounds but a few symptoms started. I’m a side sleeper and I would wake up very sore, especially my the outside of my deltoids. I also started having bathroom issues. I would normally have a bowel movement 2-3 times a day and was having them 5-6 times a day. I also suddenly had some vision / brain fog / vertigo issues. I noticed an increase in fatigue but thought it was from working out and not having caffeine anymore.
Then during a routine dermatologist apt in mid September, she discovered I had a swollen lymph node at the base of my neck near my collarbone. Needless to say I started to freak the hell out, thinking I had something majorly wrong with me. I thought all my symptoms together ment something bad. I was referred to an ENT who ordered a CT scan of my neck and by the time I went back in to have my scan read, he preformed a physical examination saying my Lymph node was already normalized, CT was clear and it was probably just an infection and that was normal. Unfortunately, I was unable to recover from my mental slide and I had a period of high anxiety that started mid Oct/2015. This is VERY uncommon for me, as I am usually described as mild manner, even tempered and I would not consider myself as stressed. Looking back, I wonder if the anxiety was a symptom since it was so unlike me? I finally worked my way out mentally in March 2016 but the high Cortisol wrecked me (I think). Fatigue and digestive issues were very bad during these times.
I had a bad chiropractor visit on 3/9 that left me with muscle spasms and a sore neck. My Dr. ordered a MRI of my head and neck to rule out MS and other similar disorders. All clear. My Dr suggested that I may have fibromalgia but he ordered a Testosterone test which came back low. He’s referred me to a uralogist for a vasectomy and low T consult. Apt is scheduled in July.
Over the last 2-3 months, I’ve also noticed increased sexual issues with keeping erections, noticed some testicle and member shrinkage, erections not as hard and lower desire.
I stopped working out in January but lately I’ve been trying to get back into it. Energy levels are starting to improve a little. I bottomed out at 273lbs in March but I’m back up to 282lbs. I went over a year without caffeine but now will occasionally (once in a few weeks) have a soda.
I got glasses in February for the first time but feel like my prescription has changed and my eyes have gotten better. Feel like this was sudden but hey I am 40 now I guess.
So I’m thinking I had boarder-line T levels, working out took me to the low side. Anxiety and high cortisol really pushed it down? At one point, I thought I had Lyme disease since the symptoms are similar. Thyroid issues run in my family with two Aunts and my grandma.
Thoughts? Am I off? What did I miss? What do I ask for at the Urologist in a few weeks?
Symptoms:
- Frequent BMs, Drs tell me “take fiber”, which I have started (hemorrhoids too, I think) Worried about colon / rectal cancer.
- Fatigue (I’m not waking up feeling refreshed)
- Muscle soreness and joint pain (very stiff if I’m in the car for 45min or at my desk)
- Brain fog / clarity / focus
- Vision issues
- Decrease sense of smell or taste
- Start of sexual issues
Testosterone:
01/25/2013: Serum 396 Free 10.7
02/09/2016: Serum 322 ng/dl (348-1197 ng/dl normal)
02/09/2016: Free 7.2 pg/ml 6.8-21.5 normal
Thyroid:
12/10/2012: TSH 2.34 (.45-4.5 normal)
3/11/2016: TSHR 1.36 (.32-5.0 Normal) TSH w Reflex Free T4
Prolactin:
3/11/2016: 4.6 (1.6-18.8)
Urinalysis- 2/09/2016:
Color/Clarity Yellow,clear
Leuk neg
Nitrite neg
Urobili norm
Protein neg
pH 6
Blood neg
Sp. Gr. 1.005
Ketone neg
Bili neg
Glucose norm
Blood Work - 2/09/2016:
Glucose, Serum 101 H 65-99 (mg/dL)
BUN 9 6-24 (mg/dL)
Creatinine, Serum 1.04 0.76-1.27 (mg/dL)
eGFR If NonAfricn Am 89 >59 (mL/min/1.73)
eGFR If Africn Am 103 >59 (mL/min/1.73)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 9 9-20
Sodium, Serum 142 134-144 (mmol/L)
Potassium, Serum 4.5 3.5-5.2 (mmol/L)
Chloride, Serum 103 97-108 (mmol/L)
Carbon Dioxide, Total 24 18-29 (mmol/L)
Calcium, Serum 10.0 8.7-10.2 (mg/dL)
Protein, Total, Serum 7.1 6.0-8.5 (g/dL)
Albumin, Serum 4.7 3.5-5.5 (g/dL)
Globulin, Total 2.4 1.5-4.5 (g/dL)
A/G Ratio 2.0 1.1-2.5
Bilirubin, Total 0.9 0.0-1.2 (mg/dL)
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 108 39-117 (IU/L)
AST (SGOT) 21 0-40 (IU/L)
ALT (SGPT) 24 0-44 (IU/L)
WBC 6.8 3.4-10.8 (x10E3/uL)
RBC 5.21 4.14-5.80 (x10E6/uL)
Hemoglobin 14.9 12.6-17.7 (g/dL)
Hematocrit 42.9 37.5-51.0 (%)
MCV 82 79-97 (fL)
MCH 28.6 26.6-33.0 (pg)
MCHC 34.7 31.5-35.7 (g/dL)
RDW 13.0 12.3-15.4 (%)
Platelets 256 150-379 (x10E3/uL)
Neutrophils 59 (%)
Lymphs 29 (%)
Monocytes 10 (%)
Eos 2 (%)
Basos 0 (%)
Neutrophils (Absolute) 3.9 1.4-7.0 (x10E3/uL)
Lymphs (Absolute) 2.0 0.7-3.1 (x10E3/uL)
Monocytes(Absolute) 0.7 0.1-0.9 (x10E3/uL)
Eos (Absolute) 0.1 0.0-0.4 (x10E3/uL)
Baso (Absolute) 0.0 0.0-0.2 (x10E3/uL)
Immature Granulocytes 0 (%)
Immature Grans (Abs) 0.0 0.0-0.1 (x10E3/uL)
BP 3/11/2016: 120 over 80
Never smoked
No medications
I take 1000iu of Vit D on average 5 days/week. I was low on a blood test in 2013.
I usually drink 4-5 drinks at a time about twice to three times per month
