Is it all related?

by | Oct 22, 2011 | hormones, metabolism, stress, weight gain

Hello, I am brand new to these forums and hope someone can give me some insight and/or feedback.  I am have had odd symptoms over my life; some treated and some “seemed” to correct themselves.  I know I have low T, but what concerns me is that I am receiving treatment and like usual; no reasoning as to why this has taken place (cause).  Reading your forums made me wonder if it is just low T or if it is a combination of things.  A little about me; I am male, just turned 40, slightly overweight and went from being an athlete to a work-a-holic with a semi-sedentary job.   I was diagnosed with low T (197) and received some treatment which helped moderately but now I am going two months without anything (medication) and I honestly can’t believe how bad it is.  Here is a list of current symptoms:

  • Depression, anxiety, anger and mood swings.
  • Absolutely no energy at all.  Literally, it takes effort to make a phone call and I am always tired.
  • Weight gain, primarily around my midsection and some in my breasts.  I am about as pear shaped as you can get.
  • Lately, can’t think straight, can’t remember simple names and places.
  • Significant loss of muscle, feeling weak and body aches like I am 40 years older than I am.  Getting off the couch is a chore.
Questions:  Can all this be attributed to low T or severe low T?   Will it get better with medication (typically)?
Now here is a condensed list of other issues I have had over the last 20+ years:
  • Inconsistent erections and lack of full erections.
  • Poor sleeper, go to bed at 1-2 and wake up at 7 or 8.  Can’t get comfortable, can’t shut off brain and always hot.
  • When I get hot, I RARELY sweat.  Instead, I feel like my insides are boiling and nothing can seem to cool me off once I get hot.  I just moved to Louisiana, so it like the worst place for me!
  • Extremely inflexible.  Even when I was playing sports competitively, it took forever to loosen up.  This lead to a multitude of pulled muscles, bad back, you name it.
  • Went from skinny 6’4″ 180 in high school to 280 in a few years after stopping sports.
  • I have been on medicine for ADD (adderrall) for 10 years and was given medicine for depression which was later discontinued.
  • I had an instance where where liver inflamed for no reason and my Billirubin (?) counts went to 6 times normal.   Nothing could be figured out as to the cause, but I remember feeling a lot like I do now.
The reason I am providing all this information is because I hope to quit treating symptoms and help my doctor find a cause.  I am tired of taking medications and remember what it felt like to feel good, think clearly and not be such a mental case.   Maybe it is all just low T or maybe these symptoms match something(s) else.   Either way, I just want to have hope that I will stop feeling this way.  Thank you for your time.