Hey everybody!
I have been thinking, for some time, about getting my hormone levels tested; and now that I have insurance, I can get the work done... but my biggest fear is that I'll just find out that I'm fine. I am a 22 year-old male, moderate activity levels, decently healthy eating habits.
I may have suffered hormonal imbalances as a young kid, about age nine, when I had a sudden weight gain (I was always a VERY skinny child). I remember my doctor had said something about me possibly having a hormone issue. I was overweight from age 8 to 14, when I suddenly dropped a lot of the weight... but no matter how hard I tried, I could never lower my bodyfat, and always had puffy nipples (I have a very slight and lanky frame, very little muscle, but a weird amount of flab - I also have thick muscular thighs in comparison to my stickly arms).
I was fine all throughout high school, until I had a massive depression-breakdown at age 18. From that time until now, I have suffered a lot of weird symptoms - I realized I had gynecomastia when my nipples became very sore and even puffier, and I felt rubbery discs with trailing tissues on the sides of my chest and under my nipples. My energy levels dropped, and barely could get out of bed. My mood has been awful for four years. I experienced unusual episodes that I can only describe as "hot flashes," where I would get very flushed, and get incredibly hot all over. I feel like I have been gaining weight, and with no energy drive, I have no physical desire to exercise more than I have to and fight it. In the past two weeks, I have developed stretchmarks, and most of the fat I carry is in my butt and thighs. What's weirder is that my figure seems to fluctuate a lot - one day a pair of pants will fit perfectly, the next time I wear them - tight as a drum, then the next time - perfect fit. My actual weight hasn't moved all that much, a three to five-pound gain in the past few months, not enough to make stretchmarks and almost rip my usually-fitting pants in half, right?
With all of this happening, and the internet at my fingertips, I feel this could all be hormonal. But I'm scared that I'm just lazy, and need to exercise more and quit complaining, or that it's all mental or something... I don't know what's happening, but all I know is that I feel awful most of the time, I hate how I look in comparison to where I've been with my body in the past, I'm depressed almost all the time, and I haven't been the same since my breakdown four years ago. Should I go ahead and see a endocrinologist? Should I wait until I establish an exercise and diet regimen (if I can even get going)? Has anyone experienced the same issues? Any help would be greatly appreciated =]
I also forgot another weird thing that's been happening. For the last three years, I've had, like, "brain fog." I never used to get tongue tied, and I was always very decisive. Now I'm almost constantly messing up words and have a hard time talking to people. Sometimes I stutter and can't even think of the right words. I can't think straight and, since I work in retail, fellow workers often ask if I'm listening or know what's going on. This happens almost every day, and I've never had this problem until I developed the brunt of the other symptoms. Thanks!
I have been thinking, for some time, about getting my hormone levels tested; and now that I have insurance, I can get the work done... but my biggest fear is that I'll just find out that I'm fine. I am a 22 year-old male, moderate activity levels, decently healthy eating habits.
I may have suffered hormonal imbalances as a young kid, about age nine, when I had a sudden weight gain (I was always a VERY skinny child). I remember my doctor had said something about me possibly having a hormone issue. I was overweight from age 8 to 14, when I suddenly dropped a lot of the weight... but no matter how hard I tried, I could never lower my bodyfat, and always had puffy nipples (I have a very slight and lanky frame, very little muscle, but a weird amount of flab - I also have thick muscular thighs in comparison to my stickly arms).
I was fine all throughout high school, until I had a massive depression-breakdown at age 18. From that time until now, I have suffered a lot of weird symptoms - I realized I had gynecomastia when my nipples became very sore and even puffier, and I felt rubbery discs with trailing tissues on the sides of my chest and under my nipples. My energy levels dropped, and barely could get out of bed. My mood has been awful for four years. I experienced unusual episodes that I can only describe as "hot flashes," where I would get very flushed, and get incredibly hot all over. I feel like I have been gaining weight, and with no energy drive, I have no physical desire to exercise more than I have to and fight it. In the past two weeks, I have developed stretchmarks, and most of the fat I carry is in my butt and thighs. What's weirder is that my figure seems to fluctuate a lot - one day a pair of pants will fit perfectly, the next time I wear them - tight as a drum, then the next time - perfect fit. My actual weight hasn't moved all that much, a three to five-pound gain in the past few months, not enough to make stretchmarks and almost rip my usually-fitting pants in half, right?
With all of this happening, and the internet at my fingertips, I feel this could all be hormonal. But I'm scared that I'm just lazy, and need to exercise more and quit complaining, or that it's all mental or something... I don't know what's happening, but all I know is that I feel awful most of the time, I hate how I look in comparison to where I've been with my body in the past, I'm depressed almost all the time, and I haven't been the same since my breakdown four years ago. Should I go ahead and see a endocrinologist? Should I wait until I establish an exercise and diet regimen (if I can even get going)? Has anyone experienced the same issues? Any help would be greatly appreciated =]
I also forgot another weird thing that's been happening. For the last three years, I've had, like, "brain fog." I never used to get tongue tied, and I was always very decisive. Now I'm almost constantly messing up words and have a hard time talking to people. Sometimes I stutter and can't even think of the right words. I can't think straight and, since I work in retail, fellow workers often ask if I'm listening or know what's going on. This happens almost every day, and I've never had this problem until I developed the brunt of the other symptoms. Thanks!