Torn calf muscle symptoms

I have numbness, tingling and pain in my jaw. Spreads to both sides. Face goes numb. Almsot like spasms of the facial muscles. Could this be TN, also wondering if it’s my wisdom teeth or tmj? Not sure at this point. Symptoms are all over.

Hey all, I'm quite new to this so that's why I'm looking to get a general opinion. I had my annual physical and had been feeling very tired, muscles aren't recovering after workouts, not seeing really any gains, sex drive went off a cliff, and some ED symptoms starting.
With all of that presented he was reluctant to even discuss TRT saying the literature doesn't support it as a treatment and it's a fad. He did order free and total test bloodwork though. I'm a 35 year old about 5'10 and 165lbs. Free test came back at 13.8 nh/dl and total 348.
I do fall within the normal values according to the results page provided through my clinic's app, but some general research shows for my age it's borderline low.
I want to see if I'm just reaching and hoping that this is the solve for my issues, since all other bloodwork came back normal, or if I should seek a second opinion? I feel like I wasn't trying to find data that solely supported what I was looking for, but bias is sometimes hard to determine when it's yourself.

Hi guys, sorry to be creating multiple threads in the same issue but my conditions and what I observe changed dramatically so I decided to create another thread. Please bear with me 🙏
Synopsis: - Was stretching my pp upwards (towards belly) and felt a snapping sensation in the lower pp area and stopped immediately - When I tried getting an erection after 2 hours, was able to gain an erection successfully - saw that my ball sack blew up 2x the next day and went to the ER immediately - did sonar sound on testicles, pp, and pelvic muscle below testicles, did not find anything concerning. A small hydrocele in the left testicle - appointment for urologist tomorrow
symptoms: - discomfort in the general pp area, probs because of anxiety - 3/10 level pain in the pelvic area between balls and anus - occasionally get erections, but kinda feel pain in urethra and testicles area when I do - some irregular pain in the perimeter of pubic area (the part right next to legs, probably because of testicles discomfort?) - can poop and pee well without pain - testicles better than two days ago but still swollen
Any suggestions / thoughts? How long should I stop masturbating and any sexual activities altogether? (Probably also for the urologist to answer?)
Thank you guys!!

Several people have approached me that they might have endometriosis. Lifelong warrior so thought I would share my tips and tricks I put together for my friends and family to share with you :) Hope this helps someone!
ENDOMETRIOSIS SURGERY FACTS

• EXCISION SURGERY! I cannot stress this one enough. If you have an ablation, it will grow back and likely quick (but consult with your doctors on your case 100%). Excision is when they cut it out vs. it gets burned off. You will have a better success rate and slow rate of growth if they excise. Not all cases can be depending on location so again, please talk with your doctor about your situation. This is not the same for everyone.
• If your doctor cannot do excision surgery. Skip and move on to the next! Trust me, well worth the time to research and find the right doctor. You will thank me later for this one too haha.
• Finding a doctor is stuff. Also tough to find resources. If you cannot find an Endometriosis specialist in your area who does excision, you may need to look out of state, but one tip is exploring gynecological oncologists. Some will take benign cases, but not all so do your research. But it’s a good avenue for help in your area or you want insurance coverage.
• Nanny’s Nook is a good resource for online information regarding endometriosis: https://nancysnookendo.com/
• Dr Seckin’s book called The Doctor Will See You Now is also worth the read (https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Will-See-You-Endometriosis/dp/1681621126)
• Definitely look into Egg Freezing before doing any permanent surgeries. The ovaries are more intact when there is a uterus in place, so I recommend immediately following any excisions with Egg Freezing if you can and if it’s part of your plans. I found my AMH levels low (1.2) but still retrieved 25 eggs, so never be discouraged if this is your future planning path.
• My Symptoms: I experience bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting as the main culprits. I have irregular periods in regards to the number of days and if it comes or not (even with an IUD). Pelvic pain is probably the worst of all since it accompanies these symptoms and is present a majority of the time. Others may have different symptoms, and there’s many others I didn’t list but wanted to paint the picture of some I’ve experienced.

ENDOMETRIOSIS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (WHAT TO EXPECT)
PRE-SURGERY

• List of questions to ask your doctor
• Insurance Information and ID
• Necessary forms or paperwork the doctor requires
• Make sure any medical records are sent that would be relevant

POST-OP PREP

• Eat smaller meals and simple foods days beforehand. If bowel prep is necessary, they also recommend taking a laxative in the days leading up to help prep.
• Pack a bag! Not every surgery is an overnight stay but even if you have a day-of surgery, back an overnight bag. Here’s the essentials:
  • Phone/Headphones/iPad/Kindle/Books
  • Device Chargers
  • Medications that you currently take
  • Glasses (do not wear contacts day of)
  • An extra pair of underwear
  • Sanitary Pads or Always Discreet
  • Comfy pants with light elastic band around the waist
  • Non wired bra
  • Slip on shoes (this is clutch! Recommend slides -https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BL7LJKZW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
  • Layers - Sweatshirt, Long Sleeved Shirt etc. - Hospitals are cold!
  • Toothbrush and tooth paste
  • Hairbrush
  • Face wipes, wash cloth, small towel and bar of soap.

SPACE PREP

1. Make sure your bed or couch is prepped. I stayed on the first level for the first 2ish days before feeling well enough to stay upstairs.
2. I used a pregnancy pillow on the bed to help me stay on my back while sleeping and help you feel cozy.
3. Stock the house with foods that will be light for your stomach. Think soups and casseroles! Saltine crackers, broths, rices etc..
4. If you have a raised bed, get a step stool to assist. It’s best to sit on the side of the bed and slowly lay your upper body down while bringing your knees up and over to your back. You will need to use arm strength the first couple of days to get you up and over since you can’t use the abdomen.
5. Water and Beverages stocked at all times. I have a reusable water bottle and avoid carbonated beverages for the time being. They fill you with gas for the procedure so it may make those symptoms worse.
6. Netflix, Kindle, Puzzles, Craft Projects…visits with friends. Whatever makes the time pass, set it up ahead of time so it’s handy.
7. Items to Keep on Hand: Baby Wipes, heating pads, pads/diapers, candles, essential oils, things that smell good haha

BOWEL PREP
This is dependent on the type of surgery you are having, but its good to have Gatorade, Magnesium Citrate (liquid), laxatives and enemas on hand just in case you need these.
ON SURGERY DAY
It’s important to follow the instructions on what to stop taking and/or eating/drinking prior to the surgery. Wear comfy clothes (wide elastic waistband) and slides with cozy socks. Double check your to go bag and breath.
AT THE HOSPITAL

1. Do your check-ins and keep your people with you as long as you want.
2. Make sure to read all the consent forms and ask any questions upfront. Make any advance directives clear.
3. Just try to remain calm as there’s a lot of down time while they do intake. It is about 2 hours of prep before they bring you in for the surgery itself.
4. They will ask you the same questions over and over again, that’s normal and trust me, you want to confirm it’s all being done properly.
5. If you need something for anxiety, they will be sure to give you something if you ask :)
6. You will be wearing a gown, socks, funky underwear and a cool hair net haha wear the gown backward so you keep warm and keep the butt covered.
7. Vitals will happen and the anesthesiologist will come and speak with you to make sure they prep the right meds beforehand. Bring up any concerns here with them!
8. You may be wheeled or walked into surgery. I’ve only ever walked in and laid on the table myself.
9. They will then put the IV in your arm and sometimes will put on a mask, they will then ask you to count backwards and before you know it, you will be awake again!

RECOVERY

• You will wake-up and feel groggy. Totally normal and you will be in a different room. They will likely say a lot really quick about your surgery. Before leaving ask for them to walk through it or see if you can speak with the doctor again when clear headed. RECOMMENDED!
• Your throat will be sore, that’s normal from the tube.
• Just relax and sleep it off if you want, the goal is to be relaxed and pee once before leaving.
• Before you go, eat and drink and pass smoke urine. They’ll provide you with the meds and you’ll be good to go.
• Make sure someone brings you home after :)
• Make sure you have a bag for vomit in the car.
• Bring a small pillow that can be strapped between the car belt and you for maximum comfort on the trip home.
• Pain Med Management: This one is important. I messed up night one and didn’t take it soon enough and was in too much pain so make sure you stick to the schedule the doctors give you to ensure you are comfortable.
• Keep Walking: It seems unnatural to have a surgery then walk, but the sooner you get up and keep moving around the house, the better. Just avoid heavy lifting and immense bending like movements. Stairs are also ok but also consult with your doctor!
• Gas Build Up: I did feel pain in my shoulders from the gas. Just keep moving! It will help get that out of the system but this pain is normal.
• Relax and let people take care of you! Don’t be too quick to recover.
• Keep an eye out for fever, increased vaginal bleeding, or feeling terrible.
• Keep all post op appointments and follow all post op instructions!

ENDOMETRIOSIS MAINTENANCE
Here’s the tips and tricks I found helpful for maintaining my pain and symptoms (GI and back pain related):

1. Pelvic Floor Therapy: This is important for keeping the muscles in your pelvis healthy and strong to maintain your structure and also help manage pain. Consult with your doctor on whether this is right for you.
2. Physical Therapy: I do PT for my back and pelvic floor since it’s all related. We focus on Myofascial Release Therapy to help break up the adhesions and give me more mobility. This helps with temporary pain relief (reduction in number), but that is always welcome :)
3. Acupuncture: I swear by Acupuncture. I don’t know what it does or why, but it works. It’s not a cure by any means, but it's great for relaxation, fertility, digestion, endometriosis, sleep, etc.. I can go on, but it’s not covered by insurance plans all the time so you will need to check and see what you’re able to take on.
4. Diet/Exercise:
   1. Eating high protein, lower fat/carbs (not none just low) helps your body, but overall learn your trigger foods! This will go a long way.
   2. Ginger, turmeric and fennel all help with bloating. I like to drink them in tea form when I’m feeling particularly hard stomached as it’s a good natural way to decrease the bloat. Peppermint also works for some, for me it irritates my GERD.
   3. Chamomile for relaxation
   4. Walking and movement are important. I cannot do anything high impact due to my sacroiliitis diagnosis, so I stick with light yoga and walking.
5. Alcohol/Other Substances: Don’t do it. Don’t touch it. You’ll thank me later on this point.
6. Sleep: Insomnia is a very real thing. I think I went 2 or 3 days at its worst one time and I cannot say enough how important trying to keep the same sleep schedule will benefit you. Waking and sleeping around the same time each day will still feel exhausting but at least you know your body is getting the most sleep it can get.
7. Medications/Supplements:
   1. Ibprofuern: This does NOT work for me. I have GERD and ulcers so I cannot take NSAIDs, but with that in mind, NSAIDs are supposedly the best pain medication over the counter to help you manage it.
   2. Pain Killers: These are AS NEEDED. I try to refrain and leave these for the TRULY bad days which I try to spread out. Not even worth it sometimes, because I don’t like how I feel and sometimes vomit after taking them. But they do help the pain!
   3. IUD/Orilissa: An IUD will NOT do anything. If you are diagnosed, ask your doctor about Orilissa or similar medicines instead of birth control methods. This will not stop the growth, just suppress it. There are side effects and it is only a short term solution.
   4. Linzess: This worked well for me for constipation symptoms when they got severe. Definitely recommend bringing this to your doctor if you’re truly suffering and they have not yet mentioned. I also resorted after trying magnesium citrate
   5. CBD Lotions/Salves: For my pelvis, I use Healing Rose CBD Salve in Orange and Lavender (https://www.thehealingroseco.com/product/orange-lavender-with-chamomile-herbal-salve-300mg-cbd/). For my back, I use a medical grade CBD lotion with menthol (https://cbdclinic.co/clinical-strength-series/). I also use a CBD massage oil from Healing Rose of the same scent when doing myofascial release at home. I also use Somedays Cramp Cream (https://somedays.com/products/period-cramp-cream?variant=42062153842853).
8. Heating Pads and Ice Pack: I have several varieties of heating pads. A cordless travel heating pad (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FPTJL4G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details), a plug-in heating pad (lhttps://www.hsn.com/products/pure-enrichment-purerelief-xxl-heating-pad-with-9-cord/22188460) and stick on patches (https://www.thermacare.com/ - I use the back patches but reverse them to the front for better coverage). For hot flashes and night sweats (also if you need to relax while anxious) place an ice pack over your chest to help cool or calm down.
9. Self-Care: No joke, massages, facials, epsom salt baths, sound baths, reiki….anything that you find relaxing. Do it. Try it! They also make CBD bath bombs Ive been wanting to check out.
10. TENs Machine: I really want one, don’t have one, but people swear by them (the heating pad linked to MyObi has a TENs version - https://myobistore.com/en-us/collections/my-obi-belts/products/apollo-2-0).
11. Pregnancy Pillow: This one sounds so lame, but I bought a pregnancy pillow for my first endometriosis surgery since I’m a side sleeper to help keep me on my back during recovery. It changed by life! It helps my anxiety and makes me comfortable while sleeping. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YYVRXLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)..
12. Heated Blankets/Cozy Blankets: Make yourself feel better with a cozy blanket. Do it, I dare you!
13. Endo To-Go Bag: Includes heating pads (travel, plug-in and patches), medications, balms/salves, essential oils and pads/protection items, change of clothes, wet wipes.
14. Sex Life: I’m single, I don’t have a partner to worry about communicating this issue with at this point, but go slow and communicate given eventually this will have to be a conversation. What I have learned is that if you do have sex and feel pain. Immediately stop! If you associate sex with pain mentally in that moment, it may cause fear in doing so down the line so it’s best to stop the moment you feel any pain occur.
15. Work Life: I work a demanding job so it was not working with the appointments and care I needed to manage pain. Always get FMLA from your doctor for intermittent leave based on your company's policies. This protects you from flare-ups and appointments. Short Term Disability is based on your situation with work so talk with them about any leave of absence for surgery and recovery and ensure the medical providers fill out the paperwork appropriately.
16. Friends/Family: This one is the worst. I have to cancel and make plans all the time based on how I feel. I like to line up a bunch of plans for three months out and do my best to make them happen at the beginning of the month when I know I’m most likely to feel good. I just say I’ll make things up to them when I get better and those who have stuck around have been truly amazing friends, but don’t be upset that some might be over the day in and out of what you’re going through. It’s hard for you and sometimes others and it’s just a part of the relationships we’re meant to experience in life. Most people (unless they have endometriosis) don’t understand it so it can feel isolating, but there’s others out there who know what you’re going through and are willing to chat. Just gotta find them and reach out on social media, online etc..
17. Journaling Symptoms: Guilty of not being the best at this always, but it's good to track your symptoms to see how they work and operate. It helps not only you plan for it, but also your doctors in how best to handle your care. Take photos of things that make sense to show your doctors! Discharge, bowels etc..can sometimes help diagnose or judge with the images.
18. Next to Bed Kit: Make sure your nightstand is stocked with the essentials for your bad days. Makes it easier to access the items you need when you just can’t get up and get it.
19. Squatty Potty: Another thing that is majorly life changing on constipation days! Get one or you can make your own :) Take a stack of books and stack them at equal heights on each side and put your feet up. The trick is making sure you’re in a squat with your knees high to your ears.
20. Clothing: Dressing for this is key but you still want to look cute! Joggers with a stretchy waist are my go to pants, but wide leg trousers with a stretchy waist help with ease of removal but also comfort and brings some style to the look.
21. Pads: I wear Always Discreet vs. pads. I find when you need to wear them full time for incontinence it just makes it more comfortable. They have different cuts and styles so definitely check them out!

Hey everyone,
Been on Carbimazole since May 2023, been having regular blood tests since. My levels were stable before Christmas then t3 and t4 were normal in February but TSH was 0.3.
I’ve just had another blood test last week, my t3 and t4 are normal but my TSH has gone down to 0.008. I’m having symptoms like heart palpitations, tiredness and muscle aches. Does this sound right? Is there anything I can say to my drs to advocate for myself? I feel awful but the notes on my file says no action needed!

Several people have approached me that they might have endometriosis. Lifelong warrior so thought I would share my tips and tricks I put together for my friends and family to share with you :) Hope this helps someone!
ENDOMETRIOSIS SURGERY FACTS

• EXCISION SURGERY! I cannot stress this one enough. If you have an ablation, it will grow back and likely quick (but consult with your doctors on your case 100%). Excision is when they cut it out vs. it gets burned off. You will have a better success rate and slow rate of growth if they excise. Not all cases can be depending on location so again, please talk with your doctor about your situation. This is not the same for everyone.
• If your doctor cannot do excision surgery. Skip and move on to the next! Trust me, well worth the time to research and find the right doctor. You will thank me later for this one too haha.
• Finding a doctor is stuff. Also tough to find resources. If you cannot find an Endometriosis specialist in your area who does excision, you may need to look out of state, but one tip is exploring gynecological oncologists. Some will take benign cases, but not all so do your research. But it’s a good avenue for help in your area or you want insurance coverage.
• Nanny’s Nook is a good resource for online information regarding endometriosis: https://nancysnookendo.com/
• Dr Seckin’s book called The Doctor Will See You Now is also worth the read (https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Will-See-You-Endometriosis/dp/1681621126)
• Definitely look into Egg Freezing before doing any permanent surgeries. The ovaries are more intact when there is a uterus in place, so I recommend immediately following any excisions with Egg Freezing if you can and if it’s part of your plans. I found my AMH levels low (1.2) but still retrieved 25 eggs, so never be discouraged if this is your future planning path.
• My Symptoms: I experience bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting as the main culprits. I have irregular periods in regards to the number of days and if it comes or not (even with an IUD). Pelvic pain is probably the worst of all since it accompanies these symptoms and is present a majority of the time. Others may have different symptoms, and there’s many others I didn’t list but wanted to paint the picture of some I’ve experienced.

ENDOMETRIOSIS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (WHAT TO EXPECT)
PRE-SURGERY

• List of questions to ask your doctor
• Insurance Information and ID
• Necessary forms or paperwork the doctor requires
• Make sure any medical records are sent that would be relevant

POST-OP PREP

• Eat smaller meals and simple foods days beforehand. If bowel prep is necessary, they also recommend taking a laxative in the days leading up to help prep.
• Pack a bag! Not every surgery is an overnight stay but even if you have a day-of surgery, back an overnight bag. Here’s the essentials:
  • Phone/Headphones/iPad/Kindle/Books
  • Device Chargers
  • Medications that you currently take
  • Glasses (do not wear contacts day of)
  • An extra pair of underwear
  • Sanitary Pads or Always Discreet
  • Comfy pants with light elastic band around the waist
  • Non wired bra
  • Slip on shoes (this is clutch! Recommend slides -https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BL7LJKZW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
  • Layers - Sweatshirt, Long Sleeved Shirt etc. - Hospitals are cold!
  • Toothbrush and tooth paste
  • Hairbrush
  • Face wipes, wash cloth, small towel and bar of soap.

SPACE PREP

1. Make sure your bed or couch is prepped. I stayed on the first level for the first 2ish days before feeling well enough to stay upstairs.
2. I used a pregnancy pillow on the bed to help me stay on my back while sleeping and help you feel cozy.
3. Stock the house with foods that will be light for your stomach. Think soups and casseroles! Saltine crackers, broths, rices etc..
4. If you have a raised bed, get a step stool to assist. It’s best to sit on the side of the bed and slowly lay your upper body down while bringing your knees up and over to your back. You will need to use arm strength the first couple of days to get you up and over since you can’t use the abdomen.
5. Water and Beverages stocked at all times. I have a reusable water bottle and avoid carbonated beverages for the time being. They fill you with gas for the procedure so it may make those symptoms worse.
6. Netflix, Kindle, Puzzles, Craft Projects…visits with friends. Whatever makes the time pass, set it up ahead of time so it’s handy.
7. Items to Keep on Hand: Baby Wipes, heating pads, pads/diapers, candles, essential oils, things that smell good haha

BOWEL PREP
This is dependent on the type of surgery you are having, but its good to have Gatorade, Magnesium Citrate (liquid), laxatives and enemas on hand just in case you need these.
ON SURGERY DAY
It’s important to follow the instructions on what to stop taking and/or eating/drinking prior to the surgery. Wear comfy clothes (wide elastic waistband) and slides with cozy socks. Double check your to go bag and breath.
AT THE HOSPITAL

1. Do your check-ins and keep your people with you as long as you want.
2. Make sure to read all the consent forms and ask any questions upfront. Make any advance directives clear.
3. Just try to remain calm as there’s a lot of down time while they do intake. It is about 2 hours of prep before they bring you in for the surgery itself.
4. They will ask you the same questions over and over again, that’s normal and trust me, you want to confirm it’s all being done properly.
5. If you need something for anxiety, they will be sure to give you something if you ask :)
6. You will be wearing a gown, socks, funky underwear and a cool hair net haha wear the gown backward so you keep warm and keep the butt covered.
7. Vitals will happen and the anesthesiologist will come and speak with you to make sure they prep the right meds beforehand. Bring up any concerns here with them!
8. You may be wheeled or walked into surgery. I’ve only ever walked in and laid on the table myself.
9. They will then put the IV in your arm and sometimes will put on a mask, they will then ask you to count backwards and before you know it, you will be awake again!

RECOVERY

• You will wake-up and feel groggy. Totally normal and you will be in a different room. They will likely say a lot really quick about your surgery. Before leaving ask for them to walk through it or see if you can speak with the doctor again when clear headed. RECOMMENDED!
• Your throat will be sore, that’s normal from the tube.
• Just relax and sleep it off if you want, the goal is to be relaxed and pee once before leaving.
• Before you go, eat and drink and pass smoke urine. They’ll provide you with the meds and you’ll be good to go.
• Make sure someone brings you home after :)
• Make sure you have a bag for vomit in the car.
• Bring a small pillow that can be strapped between the car belt and you for maximum comfort on the trip home.
• Pain Med Management: This one is important. I messed up night one and didn’t take it soon enough and was in too much pain so make sure you stick to the schedule the doctors give you to ensure you are comfortable.
• Keep Walking: It seems unnatural to have a surgery then walk, but the sooner you get up and keep moving around the house, the better. Just avoid heavy lifting and immense bending like movements. Stairs are also ok but also consult with your doctor!
• Gas Build Up: I did feel pain in my shoulders from the gas. Just keep moving! It will help get that out of the system but this pain is normal.
• Relax and let people take care of you! Don’t be too quick to recover.
• Keep an eye out for fever, increased vaginal bleeding, or feeling terrible.
• Keep all post op appointments and follow all post op instructions!

ENDOMETRIOSIS MAINTENANCE
Here’s the tips and tricks I found helpful for maintaining my pain and symptoms (GI and back pain related):

1. Pelvic Floor Therapy: This is important for keeping the muscles in your pelvis healthy and strong to maintain your structure and also help manage pain. Consult with your doctor on whether this is right for you.
2. Physical Therapy: I do PT for my back and pelvic floor since it’s all related. We focus on Myofascial Release Therapy to help break up the adhesions and give me more mobility. This helps with temporary pain relief (reduction in number), but that is always welcome :)
3. Acupuncture: I swear by Acupuncture. I don’t know what it does or why, but it works. It’s not a cure by any means, but it's great for relaxation, fertility, digestion, endometriosis, sleep, etc.. I can go on, but it’s not covered by insurance plans all the time so you will need to check and see what you’re able to take on.
4. Diet/Exercise:
   1. Eating high protein, lower fat/carbs (not none just low) helps your body, but overall learn your trigger foods! This will go a long way.
   2. Ginger, turmeric and fennel all help with bloating. I like to drink them in tea form when I’m feeling particularly hard stomached as it’s a good natural way to decrease the bloat. Peppermint also works for some, for me it irritates my GERD.
   3. Chamomile for relaxation
   4. Walking and movement are important. I cannot do anything high impact due to my sacroiliitis diagnosis, so I stick with light yoga and walking.
5. Alcohol/Other Substances: Don’t do it. Don’t touch it. You’ll thank me later on this point.
6. Sleep: Insomnia is a very real thing. I think I went 2 or 3 days at its worst one time and I cannot say enough how important trying to keep the same sleep schedule will benefit you. Waking and sleeping around the same time each day will still feel exhausting but at least you know your body is getting the most sleep it can get.
7. Medications/Supplements:
   1. Ibprofuern: This does NOT work for me. I have GERD and ulcers so I cannot take NSAIDs, but with that in mind, NSAIDs are supposedly the best pain medication over the counter to help you manage it.
   2. Pain Killers: These are AS NEEDED. I try to refrain and leave these for the TRULY bad days which I try to spread out. Not even worth it sometimes, because I don’t like how I feel and sometimes vomit after taking them. But they do help the pain!
   3. IUD/Orilissa: An IUD will NOT do anything. If you are diagnosed, ask your doctor about Orilissa or similar medicines instead of birth control methods. This will not stop the growth, just suppress it. There are side effects and it is only a short term solution.
   4. Linzess: This worked well for me for constipation symptoms when they got severe. Definitely recommend bringing this to your doctor if you’re truly suffering and they have not yet mentioned. I also resorted after trying magnesium citrate
   5. CBD Lotions/Salves: For my pelvis, I use Healing Rose CBD Salve in Orange and Lavender (https://www.thehealingroseco.com/product/orange-lavender-with-chamomile-herbal-salve-300mg-cbd/). For my back, I use a medical grade CBD lotion with menthol (https://cbdclinic.co/clinical-strength-series/). I also use a CBD massage oil from Healing Rose of the same scent when doing myofascial release at home. I also use Somedays Cramp Cream (https://somedays.com/products/period-cramp-cream?variant=42062153842853).
8. Heating Pads and Ice Pack: I have several varieties of heating pads. A cordless travel heating pad (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FPTJL4G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details), a plug-in heating pad (lhttps://www.hsn.com/products/pure-enrichment-purerelief-xxl-heating-pad-with-9-cord/22188460) and stick on patches (https://www.thermacare.com/ - I use the back patches but reverse them to the front for better coverage). For hot flashes and night sweats (also if you need to relax while anxious) place an ice pack over your chest to help cool or calm down.
9. Self-Care: No joke, massages, facials, epsom salt baths, sound baths, reiki….anything that you find relaxing. Do it. Try it! They also make CBD bath bombs Ive been wanting to check out.
10. TENs Machine: I really want one, don’t have one, but people swear by them (the heating pad linked to MyObi has a TENs version - https://myobistore.com/en-us/collections/my-obi-belts/products/apollo-2-0).
11. Pregnancy Pillow: This one sounds so lame, but I bought a pregnancy pillow for my first endometriosis surgery since I’m a side sleeper to help keep me on my back during recovery. It changed by life! It helps my anxiety and makes me comfortable while sleeping. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YYVRXLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)..
12. Heated Blankets/Cozy Blankets: Make yourself feel better with a cozy blanket. Do it, I dare you!
13. Endo To-Go Bag: Includes heating pads (travel, plug-in and patches), medications, balms/salves, essential oils and pads/protection items, change of clothes, wet wipes.
14. Sex Life: I’m single, I don’t have a partner to worry about communicating this issue with at this point, but go slow and communicate given eventually this will have to be a conversation. What I have learned is that if you do have sex and feel pain. Immediately stop! If you associate sex with pain mentally in that moment, it may cause fear in doing so down the line so it’s best to stop the moment you feel any pain occur.
15. Work Life: I work a demanding job so it was not working with the appointments and care I needed to manage pain. Always get FMLA from your doctor for intermittent leave based on your company's policies. This protects you from flare-ups and appointments. Short Term Disability is based on your situation with work so talk with them about any leave of absence for surgery and recovery and ensure the medical providers fill out the paperwork appropriately.
16. Friends/Family: This one is the worst. I have to cancel and make plans all the time based on how I feel. I like to line up a bunch of plans for three months out and do my best to make them happen at the beginning of the month when I know I’m most likely to feel good. I just say I’ll make things up to them when I get better and those who have stuck around have been truly amazing friends, but don’t be upset that some might be over the day in and out of what you’re going through. It’s hard for you and sometimes others and it’s just a part of the relationships we’re meant to experience in life. Most people (unless they have endometriosis) don’t understand it so it can feel isolating, but there’s others out there who know what you’re going through and are willing to chat. Just gotta find them and reach out on social media, online etc..
17. Journaling Symptoms: Guilty of not being the best at this always, but it's good to track your symptoms to see how they work and operate. It helps not only you plan for it, but also your doctors in how best to handle your care. Take photos of things that make sense to show your doctors! Discharge, bowels etc..can sometimes help diagnose or judge with the images.
18. Next to Bed Kit: Make sure your nightstand is stocked with the essentials for your bad days. Makes it easier to access the items you need when you just can’t get up and get it.
19. Squatty Potty: Another thing that is majorly life changing on constipation days! Get one or you can make your own :) Take a stack of books and stack them at equal heights on each side and put your feet up. The trick is making sure you’re in a squat with your knees high to your ears.
20. Clothing: Dressing for this is key but you still want to look cute! Joggers with a stretchy waist are my go to pants, but wide leg trousers with a stretchy waist help with ease of removal but also comfort and brings some style to the look.
21. Pads: I wear Always Discreet vs. pads. I find when you need to wear them full time for incontinence it just makes it more comfortable. They have different cuts and styles so definitely check them out!

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last year; however, I am not sure whether the diagnosis fits my symptoms. I am Female, age 20. I have never had any visible psoriasis, and I have pain in my tendons, not my joints. It is rare that the affected areas are inflamed or show any visible signs of pain. My main symptoms are brain fog, fatigue, and pain in the tendons in my legs to the point where I need a cane to walk if I can walk at all. I was on Humaria with some success and then switched to Rinvoq, where, for 6 months, I was myself again. However, around six months ago, I had a flair-up that did not let up, even on steroids. I have consistent and extreme pain in my right Patellar tendon in my knee, but there is no swelling or redness. I have been stationary for the past five months due to pain, and if anything, it is getting worse. I have been taking Acthar Gel injections every three days for a month now with only minor success. Recently, the thigh muscles in my right knee have been extremely tight and painful, and my knee twitches. My doctor thinks the knee pain is a past injury and couldn't possibly be from PsA, but I do not remember hurting myself, and it is not getting better despite a lot of rest (which he said was the only treatment). If this is my main symptom of PsA, which is something that my doctor says can not possibly be PsA, then is it possible that I have something else entirely - many things cause brain fog and fatigue?

Finding this community has been the closest thing to my current symptoms. However, I'm having a hard time understanding the cause of an RSI. Just like myself, most people on here mentioned repetitive use was the cause of their injury, (mixed with other things) but if that's the case, wouldn't this injury be way more common? We have so many office workers, blue collar, and gamers, wouldn't there be some kind of epidemic going on about this?
My journey:
27F.
January 2024, I started having both of my arms fall asleep when sleeping on my sides at night. And when I tried to shake it off, it would take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to feel normal. I knew something was wrong.
Early February, I told my doctor about this after it happened it a few more times. I tried sleeping on my back, but then it started happening even on my back. My doctor wasn't too concerned, told me to rest my arms and we did generic bloodwork. She mentioned we could do an MRI for my spine or nerve testing but wanted me to rest to see if it improved first. So I rested as much as possible.
In March, I was off work for other reasons entirely (mental health + trauma) which I had a computer job where I was typing and using the mouse a lot for seven hours a day, for two years. I also play games on consoles. As well I'm an artist and a crafter. I assumed with being off work, and not using the computer this would be plenty of rest. So I continued gaming here and there. I noticed pain in my right hand mostly, and forearm. I honestly thought this was from wearing my Apple Watch while gaming, so I removed it, and felt relief for a couple of days. I wanted to test this theory so I put the watch on my left hand, noticed the pain in my left wrist and forearm started after a week. So at this point I was blaming my watch, and removed it entirely.
April, my hand pain was getting worse with less use. I would game for an hour, and noticed pain pretty bad. I would stop, it would get better for a few days, went back to gaming and it got worse. Rinse and repeat. I didn't understand, I was using my arms less and less, and they were not able to tolerate minimal usage.
April 29th, shit hit the fan. It was the first day of my period, and naturally I tend to swell. I woke up with both of my arms in debilitating pain, all throughout the wrists and forearms. I was in shock. For three days I iced my arms, and took Advil. After my period, with less inflammation my arms better but there was still a baseline of pain. I could only manage to do basic tasks, brushing teeth, showering, etc and breaking in between to manage the pain. I started a system, Little bit of activity and then icing and rest. I stopped gaming, I couldn't even if I wanted to, and can't use my phone or type on the computer. I get pain within seconds of trying to do these activities. I started using speech to text and voice control on my phone.
May 9th, what's the soonest I was able to see my doctor. But before then I was feeling anxious for answers, so I went to a walk-in. He looked at my bloodwork from February and immediately said that I had low B12. He also moved around my arms and asked where I felt pain. A minute of this and he said that this was classic overuse. They were strongly urging I take B12 supplements to increase levels and take muscle relaxant when I feel pain. Right away I knew he wasn't really listening and A muscle relaxant was just going to be a Band-Aid solution so I didn't even fill the prescription. I did get B12 supplements, because what would be the harm. Looking at my levels, I was 236 in August 2023, and then went down to 185 in February 2024. The labs online say I’m borderline deficient, based on their guides.
May 9th. I explained what was going on to my doctor and she didn't seem very concerned. When I asked about MRI and nerve testing, she said she wanted to do bloodwork for inflammation first. Even though she mentioned this way back earlier, now she says the bloodwork is more important than the MRI. Because if there's inflammation hello then an MRI is useless - her words. She also said she was gonna give me some anti-inflammatories, but I have yet to see the prescription be filled, I don't believe she put in the order. I also asked about my B12 and she said it looks normal…
It's now May 13, and I still have a baseline amount of pain my pain is improved with icing constantly and rest. I'm also attempting to eat an anti-inflammatory diet and I believe it's helping manage the pain. Some of the lab work came back, a lot of the testing she did for inflammation is coming back as normal, negative diagnosis for RA. One thing looks high, but I don't know what it means and I refuse to look it up due to my health anxiety issues. My next doctors appointment isn't until May 21, in the progression of this recovery is far too slow, I also don't know what type of exercises I can do because I don't know the root issue yet. I do have bad posture, and since have changed my bedframe and gotten a new desk chair. Most of my pain lingers in my forearm in the inner forearm and the outer forearm by my elbow. But I have full pain throughout my entire hand wrist and upper arms, on and off, these past weeks. At night it gets worse, and I only feel relief if I'm standing and walking or sitting with my arms propped up on pillows and ice. Sitting at a table or in the car, after about 5 to 10 minutes I feel pain even just in a neutral position. They need to be propped for no or minimal pain.
Reading stories I understand it can take months. But I want medical professionals reviewing me as soon as possible, and my doctor is not taking it seriously. Living in Canada, pretty much have to get a doctors approval/referral for any kind of specialist. Most places you cant just walk in and request to see a specialist or PT. The elephant in the room is at the doctors tell you to rest, but you need to use your hands for everything, let alone most peoples jobs. I don't understand how this is a valid treatment option. It hasn’t been long since April 29, but I know most generic injuries would have shown better signs of recovery by now… so I'm worried for my road ahead.
Any suggestions for my next steps???

I(29) live a sedentary lifestyle and overweight. I havent gained or lost weight significantly.
Symptoms: While sleeping and sitting i feel a pressure in the back of my lower thigh, in my glutes and while sleeping on my left side a pressure in my left hip. Sometimes a pressure in my lower back above the waist. After reading a bit about this, i thought it might be siatica and cannot be cured. Symptoms kind of fit. While i initially didn’t observe a tingling after observation, i do feel a tingling in my left foot/leg/thigh
So i got an MRI and the MRI technician told me Spine has a pinched nerve. This freaked me out and booked an appointment with a neurosurgeon. He took one look at the MRI and told me it’s all good. Spine looks totally normal. He wrote me a prescription for pain management incase it gets any worse and told me its going to cure itself in sometime. He suspects its a pulled muscle or something.
While I am elated at the diagnosis the technician’s words are still ringing in my ears and combined with the fact that i still have the symptoms I am looking for second opinions.
I am attaching a capture of my MRI below. What are your thoughts?
I am not from any first world country and i plan to lose weight.

Coming on here to see if anybody has had the same symptoms as me with back tightness. Since playing baseball in high school about 7 years ago I have had tightness in my middle back area on my right side all the way up to my traps. This was worsened after I had my right arm in a sling for a month and the muscle may have atrophied. It constantly feels like it's tense and uncomfortable, I can feel it pop when i round out my back. I have tried rolling it out, stretching and going to a massage therapist but nothing has seemed to work. Does anybody have any recommendations?

Sorry for the long post, but want to be throughout for when I see the doctor tomorrow.
When I was 17yrs old (female), I went to the doctor with abdominal pain, extreme lack of appetite and nausea if I did eat, trouble sleeping, concentrating, fatigue, depression. At the time I had been on oral contraceptive for about 2 years, additionally before OC I had naturally very heavy and very painful periods. They did a blood test and the results were:
Serum Iron - 198mcg/dL (reference range: 26-169) HIGH
Iron Saturation - 55% (reference range: 15-55%) ALMOST HIGH
Ferritin 29ng/mL (reference range: 15-77) Normal
TIBC - 361ng/dL (reference: 250-450) Normal
UIBC - 163ug/dL (reference: 131-425) Normal
TSH - 1.85 uIU/mL (reference: 0.450-4.500) Normal
T4, free - 2.1ng/dL (reference: 1.2-4.9) Normal
At the time the doctor decided I had high inflammation in my body and put me on an inflammation diet and a lot of supplements (it was a functional doctor that my parents liked). It seemed to work after 3 months of strict diet and supplementation.
Two months ago I went into the doctors to get tested for hypothyroidism since my mother had it and I had developed Reynaud's syndrome (I've always had very cold sensitive feet though) a month after starting adderall for ADHD. I had also been experiencing wrist joint pain, hair loss, and low appetite, but did not think much of it. The results were:
TSH - 2.510 uIU/m (reference: 0.450-4.500) Normal (higher than at 17)
However, the Reynaud's was not improving and I was still experiencing symptoms of back pain and joint pain and abdominal pain. I also was losing weight and experiencing hair loss.
The rheumatologists tests came back normal with no sign of autoimmune disease. She said it's probably just the adderall increasing my blood vessel spasms. (my blood pressure was low for someone on adderall though).
Then I went to another doctors, two weeks ago, when I kept experiencing random muscle weakness and fatigue, had blood in my stool, joint pain in multiple joints and lower back pain and abdominal pain and pain in my sides near where the ribcage ends. Something felt wrong. She took more blood tests and they came back with:
Serum Iron - 175ug/dL (reference: 27-159) HIGH
Iron Saturation - 67% (reference 15-55%) HIGH
Ferritin - 58ng/mL (reference: 15-77) Normal (higher than at 17)
TIBC - 263ug/dL (reference: 250-540) Normal (lower than at 17)
UIBC - 88ug/dL (reference: 131-425) LOW (much loser than at 17)
TSH - 4.05 uIU/mL (0.45-4.5) Normal (Almost double the past tests)
T4, free - 1.51ng/dL (0.82-1.77) Normal
APTT - 37 sec (reference: 24-33sec) HIGH
I'm only 24yrs old, we also ruled out Addison's (my grandpa had it) and autoimmune markers are all coming back normal. But If anything here resembles something you've experienced please let me know.

Will this make me cough?
Will this make my head hurt?
Is seven too early to go to bed? I just want to get away from the world.
Will I ever live without pain?
Why am I always sick?
These are the types of questions I don’t have to ask myself anymore. I’m here to say, loud and clear for anyone listening: Chiari doesn’t have to rule your life. You can take it back, one moment at a time. There’s so much more to life than an affliction you can’t control.
But you HAVE more control than you think.
What triggers your symptoms? What questions do you ask yourself before you decide how to spend your time?
At my worst, pain ruled the day. I did anything to avoid it, which usually meant doing anything to avoid the cough that triggered it. For many years, that looked like this:
Prescription asthma medication (pre-Chiari diagnosis)
So, sooooo much cough syrup
Drinking wine
Calling in sick to work
Avoiding parties
Avoiding friends
Avoiding family
Avoiding any kind of gathering
Shrinking my world

And the more I avoided the things that triggered the cough, the smaller my world became. Reducing triggers has become one of the most important parts of living well with Chiari. BUT living in constant fear of those triggers didn’t serve me. It only served the pain. The more I withdrew from people and situations, the worse I felt.
I could never make my world small enough to avoid the pain.
In doing an inventory of my life, I knew there were many ways I was living WRONG. After I stopped taking all my unnecessary asthma medication in 2016 and started feeling slightly better physically and hopeful for the first time in years, I began making changes to how I was living to feel better overall. Some of these, consequently, also reduced the cough triggers.
Reduced chemical use: This deserves its own post—or several—because of the massive difference it made, both with the Chiari and my general health. Some of the steps I took to reduce chemical use included:

• Replacing most harsh/toxic cleaning supplies with natural/less toxic counterparts.
• Eliminating all traditional air fresheners, both plug-in and aerosol, and replacing with essential oils.
• Removing all triggering perfumes and heavily scented personal care supplies from my daily routine.
• Trading Swiffer WetJet for a Bona cleaning system—which is very similar to Swiffer except the Bona has washable/reusable cleaning pads and you can add whatever floor cleaner you want to the soap cartridge.

Addressed/Reduced Stress: Stress was (and still is) a major trigger. Just the other day a hiccup with my health insurance sent me into a rare and unexpected coughing fit. Reducing stress is so broad a topic and looks different for everyone. For me, the quick version went something like this:

• Quit well-paying but soul-sucking job with a huge corporation in a giant building with no natural light and poor ventilation.
• Began a job in line with my personal values. There were still times of stress, but I had more control over how to deal with it. The job paid less money and I went from full time to part time, which isn’t feasible for everyone (I didn’t think it was feasible for me either, but it worked out).
• Started meditation practice—mainly through guided visualizations by Dr. Joe Dispenza.
• Started writing again.
• Went to Reiki sessions (a form of energy healing) every few months.
• Took time for myself to connect with the parts of my soul that needed healing.

Improved physical health: Since my biggest pain trigger was from coughs, it follows that I also had to improve my overall health to catch less viruses. This is ongoing and constantly evolving (the bugs my son brings home from preschool are tough and linger forever), and involves:

• Regular use of vitamins, supplements, essential oils, enzymes, and detoxifications programs
• Limiting alcoholic drinks to a couple per week (down from a couple per day)
• No smoking
• Resting when I need it
• Moving away from processed foods, focusing on adding fresh fruits and vegetables into a more plant-based diet
• Exercises to strengthen my neck muscles
• Increasing my step count every few weeks

Reducing triggers isn’t managing symptoms. It’s a constant effort to prevent them without making the Chiari the star of the show. For me, it’s actually removing Chiari from the scene entirely. These changes didn’t happen overnight and don’t have to be expensive and add additional stress to your already overloaded life.
Start small. Start where you are with something that will make the biggest difference.

Hi all!
24/M/Non-op/8 weeks since rupture
Went to my second physio today, and they’ve told me that my orthopaedic gave me advice that wasn’t to protocol - they said (this was two weeks ago) to keep myself NWB in walking boot, not taking it off at all for another 4/5 weeks.
Physio have said this isn’t right as it means I haven’t been able to do any ankle exercises and as such have basically no muscle left around the area.
Really disappointed and it’s yet another setback for me, but I have a few questions about the physio if anyone is able to answer.
I’m trying to do my first (very light) calf raises. But I haven’t even had my foot flat on the ground until this point. I’m scared to put it flat on the ground at a 90 degree angle, as when I start to lower my ankle it feels like an elastic band and very tight, and I’m afraid that it will just snap. So for today, I have done what I can with my foot placed a bit further away from me, as this allow me to put it flat on the ground. I was wondering if this is normal, and how I should approach this gradually. I did question this with the physio who assured me it wouldn’t snap by doing this, but wanted to get your guys’ opinions.
Also, when attempting to move the ankle by doing ankle circles or inversion/eversion, it feels really difficult to control the movement, it almost comes out like jolts rather than gradual movement and again was wondering if anyone else had experienced this.
All in all, I’m just really nervous to start putting weight / moving my ankle, especially when in every move I can feel the inside of my leg and want to see if there’s any way to be more confident/reassured about not re-rupturing myself during this process.
Hope everyone is doing well!

so i’ve been on levo 75 mcg and 5mcg of liothyrine for about 2 years now. my tsh started off at close to 5 but now it’s 1.8 and my t4 is 1.1(range .8-1.8) which is on the lower end. it was steady at 1.1 for about a year and it just recently dropped. i’m feeling hypo symptoms again: fatigue, depression, I CANNOT wake up in the morning, pins and needles, constipation and it gets extra bad before my period, I have that feeling of a frog in my throat right where my thyroid is again(this one’s just annoying), my period feels heavier again, and inability to lose weight. I just don’t feel my best. i’m also on a small dose of hydrocortisone everyday for post-cushings disease(hypercortisolism caused by a tumor) surgery, so i’m not sure how much that could be affecting it. i’ve been coming off of it though because my cortisol levels have returned close to normal. every time I lowered my dose in the past, i’d lose weight. my weight isn’t budging now. it also just hurts to exercise and my muscles are rock hard

I have nerve related symptoms but i don’t know what the issue seems to be?
I am 30F. No medications. Diagnosed with eating disorder and PTSD, seasonal allergies, and migraines.
Whenever i sweat, i lose the ability the feel my skin. When i have acid reflux issues, i lose the ability to feel my stomach and chest. When I’m congested, i cant feel air in my lungs. And i put any pressure on my jaw through eating or from nasal congestion, i cant feel my entire jaw. Literally just stretching and straining my muscles slightly will cause me to lose sensation in the inside of that area. For example, if i do squats, i cannot feel my upper legs for hours (not the skin but the inside of it)
My doctor tells me it’s nerve related but hasn’t further investigated. My neurologist doesn’t know what to think and just hasn’t helped. What the heck is going on?

Hello crew. Sorry for the wall of text. I'm 25 AAP woman and I believe right now I don't have dysphoria, but I'm curious what you fellow AGPs think about it. I'll try to summarize the most important infos. First of all it seems to me that in order to have gender dysphoria you have to 1) desire being of the opposite sex in a consistent and persistent way, but also you have to 2) actively dislike being your sex the same way. So 1) I have lots of fantasies (both sexual and platonic) about being male, even every day if I don't have other stimuli. If I work, study or work-out regularly the platonic fantasies almost completely disappear, unless sudden external source of stress is present. Sexual fantasies stay the same. I would then say that yes, I have a certain degree of desire to be the opposite sex, and I also experience so called gender envy, especially towards attractive men. 2) That said, I have never had any discomfort with my female body, not even at puberty which is very common for youg women. I of course have some things that I don't like but overall I feel very good about my body. But I also have to be honest about one thing. I believe that I'm comfortable in my body because it's not overtly feminine. I build muscle mass very easy and have lean, fit and compact figure, while delicate at the same time (I'm not sure if I'm giving you the right picture. But overall an athletic woman with proportionate bone structure) and also small breasts, which is something I like because I don't like having things around my torso, so not needing bras is good, and mostly because when I crossdress I can achieve a masculine look without needing binders or stuff. I believe they would give me dysphoria if they were bigger. At the same time though I would like having bigger breasts to be more attractive to men. There are also sexual practices I'd be able to do if they were bigger. I'll add that in bed I very much like having the female role, to recieve, be penetrated, even dominated. I also like to do the reverse but that'll be just to satisfy some other fetish and not my normal, main drive. This also reflects in my AAP fantasies, in which I'm always a gay male, and always the bottom. I never once recall having a fantasy in which I was the penetrator (besides me as a woman pegging a man, but again, for other paraphilias). I think that I don't experience dysphoria (or at least not enough to really notice or bother me) because my regular sex role and my fantasy sex role matches perfectly, and because my body type is perfect for both very feminine and very masculine clothing. The only thing I think will genuinely give me tremendous amount of dysphoria is pregnancy and the aftermaths of birthing, especially hips growth. What do you guys think? Do you believe I would develop gender dysphoria no matter what? I really fear that, especially since a very close relative of mine have it. I feel like this paraphilia is slowly growing every year and I'm not saying it is distressing me but if I'm behing totally honest it is. I mean, it's like it has its own direction and that is just coincidence that is on the same path as my main sexuality. And since it's growing I feel like having some symptoms, even tough I'm not sure if its just overthinking and hyper fixation on the fear of transitioning. I know I wrote maybe too much details but I wanted you to kind if follow my stream of thoughts. I'm also curious how many of you have the same sexual polarity in both allohetero and autohetero scenarios (irl and/or fantasy) and enjoy sex in "default" role?

I'm attempting to differentiate "normal" from "not normal"
During labor, I found myself having to focus a lot of my mind on NOT letting my body contract as much as it wanted to. It very distinctly felt like my abdominal muscles were slowly, like hair by hair, or like needles I guess, but definitely pulling away from their various connections points...
In retrospect... I'm thinking NOT normal. And probably a personal connective tissue symptom I should recognize in my pursuit of health and proper diagnosis.
I tried to Google it, but I only found mention of the abs separating from each other during pregnancy, not wripping away during labor...
Opinions???
😬😅

My biggest complaint was crippling fatigue with the inability to walk 10min without having to stop n take a break. Additionally Ive been consistently losing weight. My doctor started me on prednisolone & it was like a light bulb went on in my head. I was energetic & bright from day 3 & bursting with energy. I havean issues with itchy scaly dry skin on my wrist, scalp & jaw.. this got worse on pred. She also put me on methotrexate(on weekends)& HCQ every day. 2hrs after the methotrexate my anxiety would go through the roof with palpitations. With bad hair fall. So she changed it to leflunomide. This got my fatigue to come back, my breathing issues got worse & I lost appetite, lost 1.5kgs in 1week (I was unable to touch 500calories a day). I stopped the leflunomide and a week later I’m feeling slightly better, more appetite & less struggle to breathe. The prefnisolone has been tapered off & my brain fog & muscle aches n pains are back. I don’t feel as energetic any more. Symptoms- Food allergies (gluten stopped eating in 2010-11, dairy stopped eating in 2019, nightshades, soy, pineapple since dec 2023). Dry eyes after I eat gluten(continuously dry after starting medication). Fatigue (slight since 2011-12, crippling since 2022). Breathlessness (very bad in 2018-19, completely cleared up after i went dairy free, came back with a bang in 2022). Muscle aches n pains (since 2022). Neck pain at the back where my head connects my neck. Clinical notes from my doctor- ANA: 1:100, Cytoplasmic pattern. ANA immunoblot:neg. IgE levels increased: borderline. Multiple food allergies. Globulins, ESR: raised. ASCA IgA: Positive. GI Endoscopy (done 20 years back): showed villi loss. 14/03/2024 biopsy: moderate duodenitis, mild colitis.
Also my liver & thyroid panels are normal. Asking here because my doc is on vacation n I was wondering if I should suffer through leflunomide (if it does look like RA)

Hello, after a suspected case of thyroiditis last summer, my thyroid levels are back in range, but am still having all of the symptoms which is making the doctor (endo) question POTS.
I was prescribed a beta blocker last summer which helps with the tachycardia;
But I still have the cold and heat intolerance muscle fatigue, sweating, anxiety, palpitations, diarrhea, nausea, tremors… adrenaline dumps. Not all Day every day, but often enough to have truly impacted my life drastically.
My endocrinologist is five hours away, and didn’t give me too much information on the slew of tests that she ordered, and when I called to get more information, I was told to call the lab for specifics… And every time I call the lab, they’re not available.
Can anyone give me any specific advice on these tests, whether or not I need to fast, and if taking the test at a particular time of day is most helpful?
TIA.
Tests:
Catecholamines fractionated
Serotonin level serum AMB
Tryptase
Metanephrines Fractionated, plasma AMB
CRP-c reactive protein AMB
Sedimentation Rate
ANA profile
Rheumatoid factor
CBC/diff
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Metanephrines Frac, Urine 24 hr amb
Catecholamines free 24 hour urine
😮‍💨

Hello everyone! So about a month ago I developed symptoms in my neck, shoulder and arm out of nowhere. I am guessing it's a c6-c7 herniation, haven't done an MRI yet.
I feel tingling in my fingers, hot flashes throughout my whole arm and neck, numbness, muscle weakness and my arm gets tired very quickly when doing very simple tasks, like typing this, moving or lifting anything. Also when I outstrech both my arms and try quickly squeezing my fingers my affected arm is slower and gets tired more quickly.
I am not sure if this subreddit allows posts about cervical herniations but I don't know where else to post
My question is, is there a need for some kind of immediate medical attention or should I just do some PT? Thanks!