Yet another loss of libido, impaired memory, and stress intolerance.

[chip douglas]

Hi all,

I'm not quite new on here, as I've posted in the past (round last fall). I have to tell you this forum is no less than awesone ! I've never ever bumped into such a place for reliable information with the presence of Dr. Marianco--I'm thrilled to have found this place.

Now onto the reason of this post. I've met with Dr. Eric R. Braverman in October 2005, had quite a few blood tests, then had more test done by my local PCP once I returned from New york, and had some more a month ago when i met with an endocrinologist. It cost me $5000 in all to meet with Dr.Braverman...quite expensive isn't it ! Worst of it all is it didn't help much. The diagnosis i recieved from my meeting at Pathmedical was one of : Dysthymia and ADHD. He said though that the ADHD was not actual ADHD as evidenced by the P300 wave amplitude. Now, I'd like to know if it's ok that I post all of the personal info that I have so some hear can comment. At this point i feel I'm within an inch of finding what's wrong.

I'll wait for the go-ahead, cause my post will obviously quite a long post, as i've gathered much labs and other information.

I'd very much like to meet with Dr. Marianco, however money doesn't grow on trees, and I'm moving into a new house this fall, which means much expenditure ahead. By meeting with Dr. Braverman I may or may not have made a mistake, but I have a feeling it's much money without the desire end result. Anyway it's too late now, and that money I had spared to meet with a specialist is no more, yet I need to know what is wrong with me.

As far as i can see it looks like adrenal fatigue. With regards to meeting with Dr. Marianco, like I told him it's not the cost of the consult that bothers me, but the plane boarding passes, as i'm in Canada, in addition to the hotel room rental. Anyway, if I aint' got no choice, that's what I'll do, but I'm tight for money at present. I wasn't aware of Dr. Marianco at the time I made the decision to make an appointment with Dr. Braverman. Looking back, I sure wish I'd known about him, as that's him that I'd have met with. Being a psychiatrist as well as an endo is what i see as quite complete medicine, as most issues we encounter nowadays can be addressed by both or either.

Kind regards
Marc

[1cc]

If you have any lab results, post them with ranges and perhaps we can help. Also post symptoms.

[chip douglas]

Hi 1cc,

I have to leave now, but when I'm back later on this evening I'll start composing this post--however I may only post it later on this weekend, as I'm helping my mother move in tomorrow and on Sunday.

Many thanks in advance--I'm the appreciative type of guy, so any help provided with definately be appreciated.

Marc

[GymJim]

This may sound simplistic but a rigorous weightlifting program, plus cardio exercise and a healthy diet to lose weight and fat and get in tip top physical shape coupled with compounded gel testosterone have solved all my libido and energy problems. I look and feel better and also handle stress better.

I say this because I suspect that some of the guys looking to TRT and HCG and other solutions and those who are being diagnosed with ED, adrenal fatigue, depression, restless leg syndrome and whatever else really need what I suggested above. It's easy to get lab tests and take medicine. It's quite another thing to change your lifestyle and work to get yourself healthier, which is most effective, in conjunction with TRT, to possibly solve your ED, your fatness, your lack of energy, your depession and every other problem you have. It worked for me and only took a year to make a complete transformation from 190 lbs., 30%+ body fat, with repeated ED, ill heath, a big gut and feeling weak and depressed to 142 lbs., <6% body fat, ripped all over with washboard abs, feeling great and can f*ck like a beast now.

[chip douglas]

I agree with a good part of what you suggested Gymjim. That's what I've been doing, that is changing my lifestyle--I'm usually a very disciplined type of guy. However some things need sorting out like whether or not I have hypothyroidism, neither the endo nor any of the doctors i've seen to this day have ordered free T4 and free T3 to be performed....I wonder why, really. I had a bunch of blood tests--you'll see when I post this weekend.

I'll have to split my post into parts as I there's much info to be posted with reference range of the lab in questions.

Thanks for your input btw.

[chip douglas]

Now that I have some time, I'll list the symptoms I still have :

Low, or non-existent libido + some erectile difficulty though it is not due to poor circulation as I had a penile ultrasound performed.
anxiety
short term memory lapses
inability to concentrate/focus
restlessness
irritable, grouchy, snappy, impatient.
low blood sugar episodes (though very rarely)
inability to sustain stress
Very often, I find I have difficulty thinking.

I started having these at age 26. My condition has very slowly but surely improved over the years, most especially in the last two years. The libido has only improved for about 6 months though. I'm now 34, I'm 5'7'', 170 Lbs. I'e always struggled with stress as far as I can recall. My father has passed away a year and a half ago from Multiple Myeloma, he was the nervous type, and my mom is still alive and well, but the nervous type too--I definately have some genetic predispositions, though it doesn't have to be predeterminations. Before the onset of my health issues, I had a really severe bout of psychological stress, both at work and at home with the girlfriend.

I'll add more when I have time this weekend, that is posting all of the blood work with dates they were performed.

The above is only preliminary information. The diagnosis of Dr. Eric Braverman : dysthymia and some ADHD--ADHD being from dysthymia based anxiety he said. Dysthymia I find is a vague term, that doesn't necessarily point to a specific cause...it could be hypothyroid, adrenal fatigue, neurotransmitter imbalance. It looks as though adrenal fatigue could be the culprit, as my potassium came in within the low normale of the range, plus my BP is always in the lower range. My BP is higher when standing than sitting.

I won't add any more for now.

[chip douglas]

Come to think of it I don't and have never taken any steroids. I'm not really weight lifting for now, and I've been off weight lifting for 2 years, since slightly before the passing of my father. I plan on resuming lifting this up coming fall, as I'll be settled in the new house.

I have a very sweet tooth btw. I've eaten tons of sugar for years, though now I've cut back to a large extent for a while. I don't smoke nor do I drink.

[1cc]

From your symptoms, it's already starting to sound like Adrenal Fatigue. Especially the sweet tooth, low BP, "inability to sustain stress", "low blood sugar episodes ", "severe bout of psychological stress".

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

I agree with a good part of what you suggested Gymjim. That's what I've been doing, that is changing my lifestyle--I'm usually a very disciplined type of guy. However some things need sorting out like whether or not I have hypothyroidism, neither the endo nor any of the doctors i've seen to this day have ordered free T4 and free T3 to be performed....I wonder why, really. I had a bunch of blood tests--you'll see when I post this weekend.

I'll have to split my post into parts as I there's much info to be posted with reference range of the lab in questions.

Thanks for your input btw.

Go to this link and read about Adrenal Fatigue and Thyroid in this link you can get a Saliva Test that checks your Thy., hormone and Cortisol levels for $140.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/
The test you want is at the Canary Club.

[chip douglas]

Ok, I'll post more detail as as I have time to--I have some right now.

I'll post my saliva tests results first. They're ZRT and Great smokies tests. Those tests go back to 2 years ago--at that time my overall state was not as good as it is now.


Hormone results status range
Estradiol 3.6 pg/ml within range 2-7 pg/ml
Testosterone 129 pg/ml above range 30-85 pg/ml

Then comes DHEA/cortisol 4 points :

Cortisol :

Between (1 hour after rising) 7-9 AM : 1.01 mcg/dl range : 0.27-2.06 mcg/dL
Between 11 AM-1PM : 0.44 mcg/dl range : 0.03-0.77 mcg/dL
Between 3-5 PM : 0.20 mcg/dl range : 0.03-0.56 mcg/dL
Between 10PM-12AM : 0.06 mcg/dl range : 0.03- 0.50 mcg/dL

DHEA sampled between 7-9 AM : 547 pg/ml range : 14-277 pg/ml

It is important to note that I was not taking DHEA at the time, in fact I took 1 pill of DHEA years ago, and haven't taken any since then.

DHEA was a good way above range on this test. As far as those test results go, I don't know what to think at all regarding adrenal fatigue.

Later this weekend, I'll post my various very recent blood work. It was all the time I had this morning.

Thank you very much all.
Marc

[chip douglas]

With regards to blood pressure, It's 12:06 noon now. I got up 20 minutes ago--I slept in. i'll take my BP now and post it :

113/70 and 60 BPM Ordinarily my BP is much lower than that. Usually it's more in the range of : 106/66 with BPM about the same as above. I had 1000 Mg vitamin C yesterday, so maybe it made a difference. For a good while now, I haven't taken any supplements.

I can tell you that my Potassium came out low on my last blood work, and that taking high potassium foods like oranges helps with the libido. Initially I thought it was the Vitamin C content of oranges, but then I decided to try and take 50 Mg Potassium on it's own as a test, and then take vitamin C on it's own as well. I spaced the taking of both with days in between, and found that it is the Postassium that has the most bang on the libido thingy. I however do not take any Potassium supplements now. I prefer to eat Potassium rich foods.


I've just took my BP again, but this time standing, and the reading is higher at : 128/78 with BPM at : 68. Both the sitting and standing BP were taken while been completely still. I took them 6-7 minutes apart.

Best
Marc

[1cc]

Your BP is not low. Your Saliva Cortisol is not low. For everything else it is best to go with blood tests for reliability. Saliva is best only for cortisol. Since your potassium is low, perhaps if that is treated you will feel better.

[chip douglas]

Thanks 1cc. As soon as I post the blood test results (hopefully tomorrow) you'll have a much better idea of the whole picture.

Thank you
Marc

[chip douglas]

Thanks 1cc. As soon as I post the blood test results (hopefully tomorrow) you'll have a much better idea of the whole picture.

Thank you
Marc

[chip douglas]

Sorry for the double post....I got sidetracked and hit the send button twice.