Hello everyone,
My name is Cody and I am a 31 year old male. I've been struggling with stomach issues and fatigue for years, with little help from the many doctors I have seen. Thankfully I have found this forum, which seems like the place I should be.
Long story short, I have had stomach issues for years. Feeling bloated, gassy, eating half a meal and feeling full, feeling like I need to go to the bathroom multiple times per day, but about half of those times I just end up sitting on the toilet for 20 minutes and nothing comes out. Or some comes out but I feel like I haven't totally "emptied" myself. Endoscopy and colonoscopy came back clean. Stomach would feel full even hours after eating, a bloated/full feeling.
A year or two after the stomach issues started bothering me, I got chronic fatigue symptoms. It would take me sometimes 2-3 hours to get out of bed, which is not normal for me. I was an early riser my entire life. The type who as soon as my eyes opened I HAD to jump out of bed. I would go to my laptop (I work online) and work with complete mental focus and drive for 2-4 hours no problem.
So, I would be very groggy in the mornings, no motivation to get out of bed and work, when I did wake up I would have no mental focus, no drive, lots of brain fog, and basically just zone out. I would wake up, take an hour or two to even get moving and then I would just sit around feeling exhausted and often times lay down and take a nap. After breakfast I would feel very fatigued and often take a nap as well.
My sex drive is also much lower, when it used to be high, as in 2-4 times per night 3-5 nights per week. Now it's less than half of that. I also feel my semen volume is much lower.
The past 6-12 months I have also had a dropping left eye when I am sleepy. It open about 25% less than my right eye. I also have very bad dry/red eyes when I wake up. To the point that I Have to rub my eyes with my fingers before they will physically open.
I never get a post workout high anymore. Before after a heavy squat or press session I would leave the gym feeling completely pumped up. Like I wanted to run after every girl I saw, and I just felt amazing. I never get that feeling for the past year or so. Even after a great gym session I feel nothing. No euphoria, no excitement. I also put on fat much easier than in the past. I was skinny most of my life. Now fat is very easy for me to put on.
I've also had chronic post nasal drip for years and years, though I Have no idea if it is related or relevant at all. Just thought I'd add that.
The past 2 months I have gone Paleo and feel much better, though still not 100%. My issues also seem to be slowly creeping back up on me, so I fear I will end up in the same position I was a few months ago. I have also mostly (still working on it) regularized my sleep schedule.
I know that's a lot to read, I just wanted to lay everything out there and HOPE that someone here can help me and point me in the right direction.
To make things a little easier to digest;
Total Testosterone: 592
Free T: 137
TSH: 3.9
Many of the symptoms below have gotten much better since going Paleo, but are not gone. I feel I still have a long ways to go before being back to 100%.
Stomach Issues:
- Feeling bloated and gassy
- Going to the bathroom multiple times per day
- Often times not feeling like I have totally "Emptied" myself after going to the bathroom
- No hard stools in years
- Feeling full and bloated after eating half a meal
Fatigue Issues
- Very groggy and slow to wake up in mornings (used to be very energetic and early riser)
- No drive or ambition
- Brain fog and loss of mental focus
- Feeling tired and fatigued right after waking up
- Taking naps very soon after waking up
- Being very fatigued and napping right after breakfast
Other symptoms
- Left eye drooping. Opened about 25% less than right eye (90% gone away since going Paleo)
- Very bad red and dry eyes after waking up and at night. Can't open eyes without rubbing them (80% gone since going Paleo)
- Chronic post nasal drip for many years.
I know I need more blood work done, but my main problem is 1. Not having a doctor who can treat me. And 2. Only having Medi-Cal/Medicaid for insurance.
If I need to provide more info please don't hesitate to ask. I'm willing to share anything and REALLY appreciate any help you guys can give.
Thanks.
- Cody
EDIT: Most of my fatigue symptoms started to appear about 4 years ago, shortly after moving to Thailand. Thought I should include that as well.
My name is Cody and I am a 31 year old male. I've been struggling with stomach issues and fatigue for years, with little help from the many doctors I have seen. Thankfully I have found this forum, which seems like the place I should be.
Long story short, I have had stomach issues for years. Feeling bloated, gassy, eating half a meal and feeling full, feeling like I need to go to the bathroom multiple times per day, but about half of those times I just end up sitting on the toilet for 20 minutes and nothing comes out. Or some comes out but I feel like I haven't totally "emptied" myself. Endoscopy and colonoscopy came back clean. Stomach would feel full even hours after eating, a bloated/full feeling.
A year or two after the stomach issues started bothering me, I got chronic fatigue symptoms. It would take me sometimes 2-3 hours to get out of bed, which is not normal for me. I was an early riser my entire life. The type who as soon as my eyes opened I HAD to jump out of bed. I would go to my laptop (I work online) and work with complete mental focus and drive for 2-4 hours no problem.
So, I would be very groggy in the mornings, no motivation to get out of bed and work, when I did wake up I would have no mental focus, no drive, lots of brain fog, and basically just zone out. I would wake up, take an hour or two to even get moving and then I would just sit around feeling exhausted and often times lay down and take a nap. After breakfast I would feel very fatigued and often take a nap as well.
My sex drive is also much lower, when it used to be high, as in 2-4 times per night 3-5 nights per week. Now it's less than half of that. I also feel my semen volume is much lower.
The past 6-12 months I have also had a dropping left eye when I am sleepy. It open about 25% less than my right eye. I also have very bad dry/red eyes when I wake up. To the point that I Have to rub my eyes with my fingers before they will physically open.
I never get a post workout high anymore. Before after a heavy squat or press session I would leave the gym feeling completely pumped up. Like I wanted to run after every girl I saw, and I just felt amazing. I never get that feeling for the past year or so. Even after a great gym session I feel nothing. No euphoria, no excitement. I also put on fat much easier than in the past. I was skinny most of my life. Now fat is very easy for me to put on.
I've also had chronic post nasal drip for years and years, though I Have no idea if it is related or relevant at all. Just thought I'd add that.
The past 2 months I have gone Paleo and feel much better, though still not 100%. My issues also seem to be slowly creeping back up on me, so I fear I will end up in the same position I was a few months ago. I have also mostly (still working on it) regularized my sleep schedule.
I know that's a lot to read, I just wanted to lay everything out there and HOPE that someone here can help me and point me in the right direction.
To make things a little easier to digest;
Total Testosterone: 592
Free T: 137
TSH: 3.9
Many of the symptoms below have gotten much better since going Paleo, but are not gone. I feel I still have a long ways to go before being back to 100%.
Stomach Issues:
- Feeling bloated and gassy
- Going to the bathroom multiple times per day
- Often times not feeling like I have totally "Emptied" myself after going to the bathroom
- No hard stools in years
- Feeling full and bloated after eating half a meal
Fatigue Issues
- Very groggy and slow to wake up in mornings (used to be very energetic and early riser)
- No drive or ambition
- Brain fog and loss of mental focus
- Feeling tired and fatigued right after waking up
- Taking naps very soon after waking up
- Being very fatigued and napping right after breakfast
Other symptoms
- Left eye drooping. Opened about 25% less than right eye (90% gone away since going Paleo)
- Very bad red and dry eyes after waking up and at night. Can't open eyes without rubbing them (80% gone since going Paleo)
- Chronic post nasal drip for many years.
I know I need more blood work done, but my main problem is 1. Not having a doctor who can treat me. And 2. Only having Medi-Cal/Medicaid for insurance.
If I need to provide more info please don't hesitate to ask. I'm willing to share anything and REALLY appreciate any help you guys can give.
Thanks.
- Cody
EDIT: Most of my fatigue symptoms started to appear about 4 years ago, shortly after moving to Thailand. Thought I should include that as well.