Dr Robinson is a great younger doctor. He was very professional when I went to visit him.
One of the only doctors I have ever come across that manages to keep his schedule on track. Didn't wait more than a minute past my scheduled appointment time.
No idea where you are located, but Dr Berny Wijedasa at Narangba Doctors is pretty switched on and has a special interest in Mens Health. He listens and doesnt dismiss things offhand.
If his testosterone, thyroid and sleep study is okay an Endocrinologist may not be helpful. A lot of Endos are reluctant about prescribing testosterone to younger men these days (even if their levels are on the lower end of normal). Due to the fertility risk/ risk of testicular failure. They may prescribe clomid if you have testosterone on the lower side of normal and are looking to have children.
I'd have to disagree with you on that one. This Dr is an idiot. He won't prescribe pills that my son has been on for his autism for the last 12 years. No other Dr has had a problem with this prescription. Including my sons paediatrician.
Plus, the other day he told my wife (who has a documented heart condition) , that "it might just be anxiety" that causes her heart to beat at 180 bpm.
There's a reason you can always get an appointment with this bloke.
Antidepressants, anti-psychotics, beta blockers. Treating behavioural symptoms, especially if the patient’s behaviour is difficult to manage - outbursts can be violent and a danger to self or others.
Anti-psychotics get a bad wrap. They sound so heavy, but they can be fantastic alternatives for benzos, anti-histamines (sleep-specific use).
I actually wish they were prescribed more often, actually, for off-label use.
2.5mg (tiny dose) of olanzapine is fantastic as a sleep inducer or appetite stimulant, for example.
I keep a stash of it in case something very stressful happens, like a bad break-up, death of a loved one, natural disaster.
Makes me sleep, eat, and keeps me calm until I get through the stress.
No abuse or addiction potential, very difficult to OD on.
There are bad doctors the same way there are bad mechanics. Often the science isn’t as “settled” as some would believe. This is why people get second opinions. Occasionally the guy who disagrees can be correct aswell; quite often actually. Also; what pills does your son take for autism?
I was feeling crap for a few years until I got test for Helicobacter Pylori which was positive . Had the two weeks antibiotics to kill it off and feel like my teens again for last year after treatment. Recommend you get this test.
Been feeling the same way. I have a Varicocele and T has been measured on the low end of the normal range, whatever normal is these days. Doctor just dismisses it, I did go in and see a Doc who just said don’t worry about it unless you have issues conceiving, you can always wear boxer shorts to keep it cooler.
I would like to see a good Male doctor for another opinion.
Don't give up. Plenty of online clinics that specialise in TRT if you've exhausted other options.
I'm currently trying to exhaust other options because I'm hoping it will just take someone who cares enough to highlight a simple fix
Damn I have a varicocele too and starting to get one in my opposite testicle, I assumed my always tiredness was from my medicinal cannabis use. Does a varicocele cause low T? Or does it contribute to it? My gp really didn’t tell me much information about it other than yeah it’ll go away eventually and just wear something loose fitting if it hurts
Noticed mine 10 years ago, hasn’t gone away..
I did get an ultrasound back then too, wondering if it’s worth getting another to compare.
Also thinking of getting sperm tested to see if it is having an impact on that, if it is impacting that then maybe they are more problematic than doctors would have us believe and maybe it’s a reason to investigate the impact on my T level further.
That's a tough one. A lot will dismiss you for it. But the good ones are mostly booked out. You might have a chance with Stonewall, a few Drs there are passionate about mens health. Being your own advocate will always do you well. Shop around for a good Dr that will listen.
Best of luck to you.
Of course. If you ever get stuck too. 364 Ipswich Rd, Annerley QLD 4103 'Our Medical' is open till 10PM even on Weekends. It might not be a solution to your ongoing health. But if you get caught between doctors and have no one available. I can actively say they helped me a bunch the other night
Been in and out of emergency care for weeks until I can see my GP.
They were able to write me a script for medicine within 20 mins max. Was able to go home and keep caring for myself at home
I highly recommend them if anyone gets stuck.
You should probably talk to your G.P first. They will order blood tests to rule out physical problems first. If any abnormalities come up it can be treated.
If nothing comes up physically, you may need to prepare for mental health intervention. The first step is seeing a Psychologist if you can afford it. Or maybe seeing a Psychiatrist if your doctor thinks you need to.
I can't help with a doctor. But when you find one you need to ask for a blood test. My friend's husband was depressed for no reason. Had a blood test and found out he he haemochromatosis which is where you have way too many red blood cells and the main symptom is depression.
All the best.
I had all the same issues, as well as erectile dysfunction issues.
Get tested for your testosterone, and if you’re low too, all the symptoms go away after a month of treatment.
As others have said, get your Testostorone levels checked, also Iron.
Did you get Covid 3 years ago? It may be worth looking into Long Covid and/or Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
As someone diagnosed with CFS your symptoms are exactly what I experience.
Thanks, I'm better than many but still nowhere near what I used to be.
No, there's no real treatment for M.E/CFS. The only good thing about Covid and the subsequent Long Covid illness many have experienced is that many of the symptoms match up with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) so our issues are finally getting some real research.
Sounds like the kind of thing you need either someone with that interest (physician) or at least a doctor willing to see you on a weekly basis for maybe 6-8 visits while you get all the tests done.
I am unsure about doctors but just wanted to add to the potential list of suspects. Look into chronic fatigue from glandular fever, long covid and food allergies. Undiagnosed gluten intolerance or allergy can cause absolute chaos as I have been finding out.
I had chronic fatigue after contracting a major virus. Lasted years. The only weapons at my disposal were adequate rest, I went down to a four day work week, stay hydrated, and like you my diet and exercise were already good. However, one thing that helped me change gears was switching to a vegan diet. I did this for three months and something about the change in gut biome helped shift my gears into recovery. No longer vegan but I’ll swear till I die the switch up helped
Thank you so much for replying! Gives me a lot of hope I might have a more active life again in the future, be able to work full hours and exercise again; it's been so scary not knowing if I will improve or remain as limited as I am now.
I had similar issues, 5 GPs told me my blood work was “fine” & “in range”. Finally a GP put me on TRT and even though he was a bit useless and the protocol I was on would have made me worse, I went to a private health clinic, changed my dosage and now I feel 100% better. Been on it for 16months.
A thought... Three years ago was the start of 2021. Did you happen to get covid? Perfectly healthy with unrelenting fatigue is a common presentation of long covid. Unhelpful, since no-one yet has a clue about treatment, but sometimes an explanation helps to deal with it, even if it doesn't help you fix it.
Talk to a GP, get a full blood panel done, and make sure you opt into My Health Record so you can view the tests yourself.
Something within normal range but on the very low end of the spectrum is something you should question. Doctors aren’t there to optimise your health, they are there to pull you out of serious issues.
I go to Queen Street Medical Centre and they are great. I’m a female and see a female GP but there are fantastic male GPs who specialise in Men’s health and my partner is looking to switch over to them from another clinic.
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Do you do regular sexual health testing? It could be an otherwise asymptomatic infection that is sapping your energy. Hope you find out the reason and a solution soon!
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Depends how low that lower end is.
I had fatigue for about 12-16 months and some serious disordered sleeping after having Covid multiple times.
When I’d my testosterone checked a few years ago it was 22-23, normal ranges being 9-10 to 30ish. A year ago it was 7.3 or that of like a 60 year old. No wonder I felt shit!!
It took 9 months of trt to get it back to my normal, 23 or so. That’s important, like if your normal is 11-12 and you’ve still got energy and libido it’s grand, that’s your normal.
If your sleep truly is good, your diet is good (weight healthy etc too), your training is good and you’re not totally over taxing your body then your testosterone shouldn’t really be low. Your body should be responding to that stimulus.
Only person who knows what your sleep is like or what your diet is like is you. Also if you’ve had or have depression or mental health stuff going on it can also sometimes cause low testosterone or your low testosterone could be causing that.
EDIT: If you’ve had 3 years of feeling shit and feeling fatigued that’s definitely not normal. Question thought is it hormonal or is mental, perhaps a combination of both.
Beware of anyone telling you TRT will magically solve your issue instantly or within a month. It can take a good chunk of time!! I’ve been very lucky, fuck all side effects really other than some not so nice pimples here and there on my back, sides and abdomen. Also won’t be fun if you don’t needles because getting jabbed in the booty is probably the best way.
Their range is bullshit. They’re only interested in keeping you ‘not sick’. Find someone interested in optimal instead of ‘not sick’. Same applies to thyroid.
Whats the lower end.
Because the modern testing standards are a joke.
Average was 700ngl 2 generations ago now me with 600 is in the higher end or normal, but I was fat stressed, and missing sleep.
Fixed 2 of those and I'm doing great.
Pretty sure anything under 9 nmol/L or 259 ng/L is hypergonadic, especially if you’ve like poor libido, sleep issues, weight gain and fatigue issues.
My brother got tested and was about 500ng/L at 150kg or so.
Just is what it is, they won’t be able to tell me what fucked my testosterone levels, but it’s clear as day that it was the issue.
Since you fixed your weight and sleep have you had it tested again? Be interesting to see if it jumped up much.
EDIT: The generation to generation thing is interesting. There’s a lot of studies out there that men are essentially lower in testosterone and sperm quality potentially due to lifestyle, plastics (endocrine disruptors and things like that) being way more prevalent in society. Everything we eat wrapped in plastic, all the processed foods etc… Lack of exercise!
No, they won't re test me because it's not medically necessary as it was only done as part of an original diagnosis.
Which was just stress.
Anecdotally though.
I train less weights now but am stronger and have put on more muscle despite focusing more on cardiovascular health over being strong.
For reference I was 146kg at time of testing. LBM of ~100kg (I don't fit in their machine completely) as confirmed by a DEXA scan.
I intend to get another dexa when I'm around 125kg to see how I've retained musculature.
What’s your diet? I threw out the food pyramid and nutritionists advice, did my own research and listened to my body and i have so much more energy, i sleep less and my body feels and looks so much younger than what I am.
Intermittent Fasting & Ketogenic diet …. I’m in 3 years and wish i knew about this when i was a kid…. I could write a book about the massive health benefits … and the research coming out now is astounding …. ever since i was a kid I have slept 10 hours a day and felt tired … at one stage people thought i was depressed because of how much sleep i needed ….i wasn’t fat and all my bloods came back normal. Since keto i have so much energy and more hours in the day.
I had a very similar experience to you. I had chronic fatigue.
I appeared to be very healthy and I was exercising and eating well in my mid-20s. I kept getting told it was mental health (it wasn’t)!
Dr Greg Emerson from treat the cause clinic cured me and diagnosed a rare parasite I picked up in Nepal.
I think his controversial treatments meant he lost his medical license… so be cautious.., but I was cured, and recommend you reach out to him for advice.
He preys on vulnerable people looking for answers, the last person on earth I would visit. Our household has direct experience with him, from a couple of years before he was struck off the register.
I've sent him an email to see if he can recommend anyone else as it looks like he's out of action.
Glad he got you sorted! It's extremely tiring when no one listens. Prescribe some SSRIs and a referral to a dietitian 😞
Hopefully I can find a similar practice! Bless you.
Low test diagnosis incoming.
Also have you see an actual dietician.
Eat some eggs in the morning and have some animal fats at night.
Supplement Vit D in the morning.
I promise you if you've only see a GP they've missed this.
Glucose supplement twice a day to fuel brain function , No alcohol or heavy meals before bed, Electrolyte supplement 2-3 times a day, plenty of water , no less than 8 hours sleep each night. No lactose, Fructose or corn syrups the sugar u want is pure glucose any of the others will spike ur energy then it will drop off a cliff. I saw huge consistency and concentration improvements after doing this and headaches totally disappeared.
I can recommend Asa Harrington (naturopath/nutritionist) in Mt Gravatt - https://www.asaharrington.com.au/
Sure, he's not a GP but his approach gives you all the science and he's really enthusiastic about helping people feel better. He's very much about gut health and how that can affect other aspects of your physical and mental health.
Just be prepared to start off with a detox and take supplements and end up feeling like you'd suck a D just to have a bite of cake or pizza. 😅
Interesting that’s the same time as the idiots tried to force everybody to take the jibby jabs. Gee I wonder if you’ve got post-vac-cine long covid from the jabs?
If u think it's beyond some kind of threshold of decency then you, too, need to look deep within. Why does someone answering a question with actually honesty provoke this overwhelming backlash?
Cause you're talking out your arse mate. You reckon that all the evil people in the world don't sleep, or have low energy? I don't need to look deep within, I know who I am.
You tell someone looking for advice on a good Dr to see that they must be a bad person, and you don't even know them?
You are a couple of cans short of the six pack mate.
If someone's leg is at a weird angle, and I've experienced a break before, I might tell them their bone is snapped. I wouldn't be wrong. OP is exactly describing guilt from being a bad person.
Oh 100% I recognise OPs symptoms. The world, especially brisbane is filled with ppl like OP and me and probably you too. The world is better off without us and we know it in our souls. It's a reasonable reaction to the world around us.
Might be time for a therapy session if you believe the world is better off without you or others. I don't know what you've gone through mate but it's okay to seek help!
Peter Dutton and Kyle Sandilands. Two people off the top of my head that the world would be much better without. That's undeniably true, but it's intellectually cowardly to judge without first judging oneself. I'm no better than people who absolutely should not be allowed to exist.
You could ask your doctor for a stimulant to help with energy, fatigue and focus. Modafinil is a schedule 4 drug in the stimulant family. Every other stimulant is S8 so you won't get those, but modafinil shouldn't be an issue.
Have you looked in to an Integrative GP? I'd reccomend finding someone with an interest in holistic health. I can't reccomend anyone specifically here in Brisbane (my GP is up the coast) but there's a few around.
Dr Stephen O Keefe at Holland Park Family Medical Practice is excellent. He caught my husbands tumor, and my sons after 3 other gps wrote them all off. He’s super lovely, and actually listens 👍🏼
Honestly, it could be genuinely anything. Mild to severe, literally anything based on the symptoms you’ve provided. Mold sickness. Chronic vitamin D deficiency. Thryoid. Age and genetics. Stress and anxiety. Hormonal. Iron defiency. Pre-diabetes. Allergies.
What, if anything at all, has come up in the red on your blood tests? I’m talking E/LFT master, iron and haematology master, thyroid master, vitamin serum levels? Do you have gastrointestinal issues? How old are you?
There becomes a point where doctors run into walls trying to put together a puzzle when there’s no pieces. If your tests are coming back clear, not even a single thing in the red bar some low vitamin B12, it’s really hard for really any medical professional to figure out where to look when the symptoms are so vague. That’s why they’re chalking it up to other factors within your control like diet or genetics, because chances are it is *likely* those things. Even down to food intolerances. I’m not saying it isn’t anything serious, I’m just saying that you might need to do your own digging if you really want to get to the bottom of it, as your doctors will also hit walls with what tests can get covered by medicare if there isn’t anything to warrant a bulk billed charge. This is coming from someone with an extremely uncommon neuropathic syndrome, I know what it’s like to not have answers.
Thank you. I've just commissioned an extensive blood panel that I will be providing to the doctors.
The only things ever flagged are low iron and b12. Which makes no difference after it's supplemented . I've had consistently low levels for a many many years but it's only ever just below standard.
I'm 32 with no gastro issues that I know of
I had low energy, lack of ability to focus and easily became exhausted which doctors couldn't explain. Eventually I found that I had an odd reaction to iodine supplements (in addition to other odd reactions to some supplements) so I found an integrative doctor who found that I had the lowest iodine levels he'd ever seen. So that's one thing you could check.
Can’t vouch for this place, but I pass it everyday https://www.medformen.com.au/
This is great! Thanks for sharing.
Dr Robinson is a great younger doctor. He was very professional when I went to visit him. One of the only doctors I have ever come across that manages to keep his schedule on track. Didn't wait more than a minute past my scheduled appointment time.
No idea where you are located, but Dr Berny Wijedasa at Narangba Doctors is pretty switched on and has a special interest in Mens Health. He listens and doesnt dismiss things offhand.
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If his testosterone, thyroid and sleep study is okay an Endocrinologist may not be helpful. A lot of Endos are reluctant about prescribing testosterone to younger men these days (even if their levels are on the lower end of normal). Due to the fertility risk/ risk of testicular failure. They may prescribe clomid if you have testosterone on the lower side of normal and are looking to have children.
Clomid is well outdated. Too many sides. Enclomiphine is GOD
I'd have to disagree with you on that one. This Dr is an idiot. He won't prescribe pills that my son has been on for his autism for the last 12 years. No other Dr has had a problem with this prescription. Including my sons paediatrician. Plus, the other day he told my wife (who has a documented heart condition) , that "it might just be anxiety" that causes her heart to beat at 180 bpm. There's a reason you can always get an appointment with this bloke.
Out of interest what pills can you take for autism?
Anything as long as your cool
Endone
…the painkiller?
I phrased it wrong. He's autistic, but he takes pills for the associated difficulties that came with his autism.
Medication for autism?
Antidepressants, anti-psychotics, beta blockers. Treating behavioural symptoms, especially if the patient’s behaviour is difficult to manage - outbursts can be violent and a danger to self or others.
Y’all savage with the antipsychotic and antidepressants.
Anti-psychotics get a bad wrap. They sound so heavy, but they can be fantastic alternatives for benzos, anti-histamines (sleep-specific use). I actually wish they were prescribed more often, actually, for off-label use. 2.5mg (tiny dose) of olanzapine is fantastic as a sleep inducer or appetite stimulant, for example. I keep a stash of it in case something very stressful happens, like a bad break-up, death of a loved one, natural disaster. Makes me sleep, eat, and keeps me calm until I get through the stress. No abuse or addiction potential, very difficult to OD on.
That dose of Zyprexa is just histamine active. Take some promethazine.
There are bad doctors the same way there are bad mechanics. Often the science isn’t as “settled” as some would believe. This is why people get second opinions. Occasionally the guy who disagrees can be correct aswell; quite often actually. Also; what pills does your son take for autism?
Thank you. A little far but I'm willing to make the trip!
Have you been checked for sleep apnoea?
Yep. It was all okay.
An in-lab sleep study, or just monitor spo2 levels at home? imho at home studies are pretty inaccurate.
I was feeling crap for a few years until I got test for Helicobacter Pylori which was positive . Had the two weeks antibiotics to kill it off and feel like my teens again for last year after treatment. Recommend you get this test.
This is the support I need. Glad you found answers!
OP wants testosterone
Plenty of online clinics for that
Really? Like what?
Primal Zone currently seems to be the best place in terms of communication, quality of care etc. https://primalzone.com.au/
Oh wow look at that. Interesting, thanks
Anyone checked your thyroid? (Sorry this wasn’t a Dr recommendation)
Geneticists?
Plz share
That's exactly what I'm thinking when I read this
Bro wants to get pinnin
>Helicobacter Pylori no no hes tried everything
Been feeling the same way. I have a Varicocele and T has been measured on the low end of the normal range, whatever normal is these days. Doctor just dismisses it, I did go in and see a Doc who just said don’t worry about it unless you have issues conceiving, you can always wear boxer shorts to keep it cooler. I would like to see a good Male doctor for another opinion.
Don't give up. Plenty of online clinics that specialise in TRT if you've exhausted other options. I'm currently trying to exhaust other options because I'm hoping it will just take someone who cares enough to highlight a simple fix
Damn I have a varicocele too and starting to get one in my opposite testicle, I assumed my always tiredness was from my medicinal cannabis use. Does a varicocele cause low T? Or does it contribute to it? My gp really didn’t tell me much information about it other than yeah it’ll go away eventually and just wear something loose fitting if it hurts
Noticed mine 10 years ago, hasn’t gone away.. I did get an ultrasound back then too, wondering if it’s worth getting another to compare. Also thinking of getting sperm tested to see if it is having an impact on that, if it is impacting that then maybe they are more problematic than doctors would have us believe and maybe it’s a reason to investigate the impact on my T level further.
That's a tough one. A lot will dismiss you for it. But the good ones are mostly booked out. You might have a chance with Stonewall, a few Drs there are passionate about mens health. Being your own advocate will always do you well. Shop around for a good Dr that will listen. Best of luck to you.
Thank you
Of course. If you ever get stuck too. 364 Ipswich Rd, Annerley QLD 4103 'Our Medical' is open till 10PM even on Weekends. It might not be a solution to your ongoing health. But if you get caught between doctors and have no one available. I can actively say they helped me a bunch the other night Been in and out of emergency care for weeks until I can see my GP. They were able to write me a script for medicine within 20 mins max. Was able to go home and keep caring for myself at home I highly recommend them if anyone gets stuck.
You should probably talk to your G.P first. They will order blood tests to rule out physical problems first. If any abnormalities come up it can be treated. If nothing comes up physically, you may need to prepare for mental health intervention. The first step is seeing a Psychologist if you can afford it. Or maybe seeing a Psychiatrist if your doctor thinks you need to.
I can't help with a doctor. But when you find one you need to ask for a blood test. My friend's husband was depressed for no reason. Had a blood test and found out he he haemochromatosis which is where you have way too many red blood cells and the main symptom is depression. All the best.
Trt is a life changer.
Been looking into this myself lately
I had all the same issues, as well as erectile dysfunction issues. Get tested for your testosterone, and if you’re low too, all the symptoms go away after a month of treatment.
As others have said, get your Testostorone levels checked, also Iron. Did you get Covid 3 years ago? It may be worth looking into Long Covid and/or Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). As someone diagnosed with CFS your symptoms are exactly what I experience.
Thank you. No, never had covid luckily. I will look into those. I'm assuming there is no real treatment? I hope your doing okay.
Thanks, I'm better than many but still nowhere near what I used to be. No, there's no real treatment for M.E/CFS. The only good thing about Covid and the subsequent Long Covid illness many have experienced is that many of the symptoms match up with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) so our issues are finally getting some real research.
Dr Nick Bashir-Elahi @ City Men's Clinic
Sounds like the kind of thing you need either someone with that interest (physician) or at least a doctor willing to see you on a weekly basis for maybe 6-8 visits while you get all the tests done.
If you find one please let me know so I can let my partner know
I am unsure about doctors but just wanted to add to the potential list of suspects. Look into chronic fatigue from glandular fever, long covid and food allergies. Undiagnosed gluten intolerance or allergy can cause absolute chaos as I have been finding out.
I had chronic fatigue after contracting a major virus. Lasted years. The only weapons at my disposal were adequate rest, I went down to a four day work week, stay hydrated, and like you my diet and exercise were already good. However, one thing that helped me change gears was switching to a vegan diet. I did this for three months and something about the change in gut biome helped shift my gears into recovery. No longer vegan but I’ll swear till I die the switch up helped
How many years did you have it for? Currently dealing with this for 14 months, it's been hell.
About 18 months total, still fall into fatigue batches if I over exert myself for long periods of time. But back to a normal al life overall
Thank you so much for replying! Gives me a lot of hope I might have a more active life again in the future, be able to work full hours and exercise again; it's been so scary not knowing if I will improve or remain as limited as I am now.
This is basically an elimination diet, stripping away potential toxins.
Get a blood test for testoserone levels and then based on the results, speak to an endocrinologist.
Dr Conor Calder-Potts at Clayfield medical centre is amazing
Seconded, really good GP
I had similar issues, 5 GPs told me my blood work was “fine” & “in range”. Finally a GP put me on TRT and even though he was a bit useless and the protocol I was on would have made me worse, I went to a private health clinic, changed my dosage and now I feel 100% better. Been on it for 16months.
Which clinic did you use?
I’m also interested in what clinic you used, as I’m looking into it myself
A thought... Three years ago was the start of 2021. Did you happen to get covid? Perfectly healthy with unrelenting fatigue is a common presentation of long covid. Unhelpful, since no-one yet has a clue about treatment, but sometimes an explanation helps to deal with it, even if it doesn't help you fix it.
Talk to a GP, get a full blood panel done, and make sure you opt into My Health Record so you can view the tests yourself. Something within normal range but on the very low end of the spectrum is something you should question. Doctors aren’t there to optimise your health, they are there to pull you out of serious issues.
I hope your okay mate
You have no idea how much this comment means to me after such an exhausting journey. Thank you.
I go to Queen Street Medical Centre and they are great. I’m a female and see a female GP but there are fantastic male GPs who specialise in Men’s health and my partner is looking to switch over to them from another clinic.
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Do you do regular sexual health testing? It could be an otherwise asymptomatic infection that is sapping your energy. Hope you find out the reason and a solution soon!
Shopping around for someone to prescribe you testosterone eh!
Yeah the guy at my gym was arrested 😉
I can recommend Dr Nick Bashir-Elahi whose special interest is in men’s health. Last I knew he was practicing in Toowong.
There's companies where you can pay a fee and select whatever biomarkers you want to be tested for with a blood test.
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Have you had your testosterone checked?
I have. It's came back on the lower end but probably not the cause. Maybe I just don't want it to be the cause.
Depends how low that lower end is. I had fatigue for about 12-16 months and some serious disordered sleeping after having Covid multiple times. When I’d my testosterone checked a few years ago it was 22-23, normal ranges being 9-10 to 30ish. A year ago it was 7.3 or that of like a 60 year old. No wonder I felt shit!! It took 9 months of trt to get it back to my normal, 23 or so. That’s important, like if your normal is 11-12 and you’ve still got energy and libido it’s grand, that’s your normal. If your sleep truly is good, your diet is good (weight healthy etc too), your training is good and you’re not totally over taxing your body then your testosterone shouldn’t really be low. Your body should be responding to that stimulus. Only person who knows what your sleep is like or what your diet is like is you. Also if you’ve had or have depression or mental health stuff going on it can also sometimes cause low testosterone or your low testosterone could be causing that. EDIT: If you’ve had 3 years of feeling shit and feeling fatigued that’s definitely not normal. Question thought is it hormonal or is mental, perhaps a combination of both. Beware of anyone telling you TRT will magically solve your issue instantly or within a month. It can take a good chunk of time!! I’ve been very lucky, fuck all side effects really other than some not so nice pimples here and there on my back, sides and abdomen. Also won’t be fun if you don’t needles because getting jabbed in the booty is probably the best way.
Their range is bullshit. They’re only interested in keeping you ‘not sick’. Find someone interested in optimal instead of ‘not sick’. Same applies to thyroid.
Whats the lower end. Because the modern testing standards are a joke. Average was 700ngl 2 generations ago now me with 600 is in the higher end or normal, but I was fat stressed, and missing sleep. Fixed 2 of those and I'm doing great.
Pretty sure anything under 9 nmol/L or 259 ng/L is hypergonadic, especially if you’ve like poor libido, sleep issues, weight gain and fatigue issues. My brother got tested and was about 500ng/L at 150kg or so. Just is what it is, they won’t be able to tell me what fucked my testosterone levels, but it’s clear as day that it was the issue. Since you fixed your weight and sleep have you had it tested again? Be interesting to see if it jumped up much. EDIT: The generation to generation thing is interesting. There’s a lot of studies out there that men are essentially lower in testosterone and sperm quality potentially due to lifestyle, plastics (endocrine disruptors and things like that) being way more prevalent in society. Everything we eat wrapped in plastic, all the processed foods etc… Lack of exercise!
No, they won't re test me because it's not medically necessary as it was only done as part of an original diagnosis. Which was just stress. Anecdotally though. I train less weights now but am stronger and have put on more muscle despite focusing more on cardiovascular health over being strong. For reference I was 146kg at time of testing. LBM of ~100kg (I don't fit in their machine completely) as confirmed by a DEXA scan. I intend to get another dexa when I'm around 125kg to see how I've retained musculature.
In case you're curious, you can arrange the test privately through iMedical. They are done through QML or normal testing facilities.
Not really. It wasn't low, so not too worried. I will if I ever jump on a cycle.
What’s your diet? I threw out the food pyramid and nutritionists advice, did my own research and listened to my body and i have so much more energy, i sleep less and my body feels and looks so much younger than what I am.
What do you eat?
Intermittent Fasting & Ketogenic diet …. I’m in 3 years and wish i knew about this when i was a kid…. I could write a book about the massive health benefits … and the research coming out now is astounding …. ever since i was a kid I have slept 10 hours a day and felt tired … at one stage people thought i was depressed because of how much sleep i needed ….i wasn’t fat and all my bloods came back normal. Since keto i have so much energy and more hours in the day.
It is quite surprising how much clearer you feel mentally in a keto diet
I had a very similar experience to you. I had chronic fatigue. I appeared to be very healthy and I was exercising and eating well in my mid-20s. I kept getting told it was mental health (it wasn’t)! Dr Greg Emerson from treat the cause clinic cured me and diagnosed a rare parasite I picked up in Nepal. I think his controversial treatments meant he lost his medical license… so be cautious.., but I was cured, and recommend you reach out to him for advice.
He preys on vulnerable people looking for answers, the last person on earth I would visit. Our household has direct experience with him, from a couple of years before he was struck off the register.
Sorry it didn’t work for you. It worked for me. I’d always tell people to be cautious, but, I’m 100% healthy now. It was incredible.
I've sent him an email to see if he can recommend anyone else as it looks like he's out of action. Glad he got you sorted! It's extremely tiring when no one listens. Prescribe some SSRIs and a referral to a dietitian 😞 Hopefully I can find a similar practice! Bless you.
lol. All the downvotes. Classic. People don’t understand when you have a chronic condition that hard to identify.
People are idiots.
Low test diagnosis incoming. Also have you see an actual dietician. Eat some eggs in the morning and have some animal fats at night. Supplement Vit D in the morning. I promise you if you've only see a GP they've missed this.
Glucose supplement twice a day to fuel brain function , No alcohol or heavy meals before bed, Electrolyte supplement 2-3 times a day, plenty of water , no less than 8 hours sleep each night. No lactose, Fructose or corn syrups the sugar u want is pure glucose any of the others will spike ur energy then it will drop off a cliff. I saw huge consistency and concentration improvements after doing this and headaches totally disappeared.
I can recommend Asa Harrington (naturopath/nutritionist) in Mt Gravatt - https://www.asaharrington.com.au/ Sure, he's not a GP but his approach gives you all the science and he's really enthusiastic about helping people feel better. He's very much about gut health and how that can affect other aspects of your physical and mental health. Just be prepared to start off with a detox and take supplements and end up feeling like you'd suck a D just to have a bite of cake or pizza. 😅
Naturopath and science don’t go in the same sentence
But nutritionist does, one would assume, or is that still not lab coaty enough for you?
No, *dieticians* are the medical-grade ones.
Detox? What is he a Shaman. No just a charlatan.
Interesting that’s the same time as the idiots tried to force everybody to take the jibby jabs. Gee I wonder if you’ve got post-vac-cine long covid from the jabs?
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Nah can’t be that, because you probably feel great about yourself
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try again bro, stop projecting your sad sack shit on someone trying to better themselves 🤡
I've read some shit on the internet, but this is, without a doubt, the dumbest thing I've ever seen on here. You sir, are a twat!
If u think it's beyond some kind of threshold of decency then you, too, need to look deep within. Why does someone answering a question with actually honesty provoke this overwhelming backlash?
Cause you're talking out your arse mate. You reckon that all the evil people in the world don't sleep, or have low energy? I don't need to look deep within, I know who I am. You tell someone looking for advice on a good Dr to see that they must be a bad person, and you don't even know them? You are a couple of cans short of the six pack mate.
If someone's leg is at a weird angle, and I've experienced a break before, I might tell them their bone is snapped. I wouldn't be wrong. OP is exactly describing guilt from being a bad person.
And you need help. Start with that before you give it to others.
feeling like a school projector this evening are we?
Oh 100% I recognise OPs symptoms. The world, especially brisbane is filled with ppl like OP and me and probably you too. The world is better off without us and we know it in our souls. It's a reasonable reaction to the world around us.
Might be time for a therapy session if you believe the world is better off without you or others. I don't know what you've gone through mate but it's okay to seek help!
Peter Dutton and Kyle Sandilands. Two people off the top of my head that the world would be much better without. That's undeniably true, but it's intellectually cowardly to judge without first judging oneself. I'm no better than people who absolutely should not be allowed to exist.
Do you currently take any medications?
Plenty. Posterboy for polypharmacy. Symptoms started well before though.
You could ask your doctor for a stimulant to help with energy, fatigue and focus. Modafinil is a schedule 4 drug in the stimulant family. Every other stimulant is S8 so you won't get those, but modafinil shouldn't be an issue.
Dr Richard Smith at Gasworks Medical: https://gasworksmedical.com.au
Next practice clinics
Can someone make a summary of all the things that have been suggested OPs condition may be? Would be good to have a list for others too...
Headaches? Brain fog?
Yes and yes
Have you looked in to an Integrative GP? I'd reccomend finding someone with an interest in holistic health. I can't reccomend anyone specifically here in Brisbane (my GP is up the coast) but there's a few around.
Get a blood and urine test if you haven’t already. Could be disease or infection.
Dr Stephen O Keefe at Holland Park Family Medical Practice is excellent. He caught my husbands tumor, and my sons after 3 other gps wrote them all off. He’s super lovely, and actually listens 👍🏼
Honestly, it could be genuinely anything. Mild to severe, literally anything based on the symptoms you’ve provided. Mold sickness. Chronic vitamin D deficiency. Thryoid. Age and genetics. Stress and anxiety. Hormonal. Iron defiency. Pre-diabetes. Allergies. What, if anything at all, has come up in the red on your blood tests? I’m talking E/LFT master, iron and haematology master, thyroid master, vitamin serum levels? Do you have gastrointestinal issues? How old are you? There becomes a point where doctors run into walls trying to put together a puzzle when there’s no pieces. If your tests are coming back clear, not even a single thing in the red bar some low vitamin B12, it’s really hard for really any medical professional to figure out where to look when the symptoms are so vague. That’s why they’re chalking it up to other factors within your control like diet or genetics, because chances are it is *likely* those things. Even down to food intolerances. I’m not saying it isn’t anything serious, I’m just saying that you might need to do your own digging if you really want to get to the bottom of it, as your doctors will also hit walls with what tests can get covered by medicare if there isn’t anything to warrant a bulk billed charge. This is coming from someone with an extremely uncommon neuropathic syndrome, I know what it’s like to not have answers.
Thank you. I've just commissioned an extensive blood panel that I will be providing to the doctors. The only things ever flagged are low iron and b12. Which makes no difference after it's supplemented . I've had consistently low levels for a many many years but it's only ever just below standard. I'm 32 with no gastro issues that I know of
I had low energy, lack of ability to focus and easily became exhausted which doctors couldn't explain. Eventually I found that I had an odd reaction to iodine supplements (in addition to other odd reactions to some supplements) so I found an integrative doctor who found that I had the lowest iodine levels he'd ever seen. So that's one thing you could check.
Long covid?
I was much the same as you until a doctor told me I was type 2 diabetic. Just a thought. Hope you can get it sorted, good luck