Still on the Right Side of the Grass

[BrooklynJerry]

Sorry to read this. Since with all you've been through I'd have thought the Dr's would be more on your side. But I guess they don't understand that being strong is the best way to survive. I hope you get what you want.

[Browndog]

4/20/24

Started a new training cycle this week. The weights are still on the light side, and we're trying to move the "fast / explosively".

Unfortunately, everything felt really heavy, and today everything hurt ... especially both my knees (what's up with that, I thought we were past that shit).

Had the latest blood draw on Tuesday, and I'm still waiting to hear back from the docs. I know they have the results, tic toc muthafuckers ...

Not gonna lie, this has got me down at the moment.

[BrooklynJerry]

Sorry to read this. Some doctors are very uncaring.

[Browndog]

4/24/24

**** Rant On ****

I post here for any number of reasons, one of which is to simply let off steam, and by golly, that's what I'm about to do.

For those of you who are interested, go to the search engine of your choice and query:

"Does radiation therapy (I did not have Proton Beam) for Prostate Cancer cause a drop in testosterone levels?"

In short, IT DOES !!!

Did you know that? I sure as hell didn't know that, though is hindsight it makes all sorts of sense.

Did any of my doctors think to mention this prior to treatment, during treatment, after treatment, or perhaps entertain the idea that the problems I've been experiencing the last 4+ years were due to my treatment regimen ... they did not, nor have they to date.

This "discovery" pissed me off, upset me, baffled me, and kept me awake all Monday night.

My cancer team belongs to "a center of excellence for cancer care", a supposedly hard to obtain certification for US institutions. The lead doctor was a friend (he has since retired), and was very attentive to my lifestyle and concerns going forward, and even he never mentioned the eventuality of a drop on T levels. My PCP prior to and during treatment was a person we're all familiar with, and he too was attentive to my needs and wishes, but never ever mentioned the eventual drop on T levels I'd experience. My current PCP ... pfft, I've had to drag him along to address any and every concern I've had #useless.

So I find myself being told by this center of excellence, that my T levels aren't what they consider low, and that they feel that TRT therapy would present a danger to a recurrence of my PC going forward, and won't sign off on such treatment.

Here's a thought experiment:

You go into your doctor and present with (gross symptomology to save space and time):
1) Overwhelming Fatigue
2) Musculoskeletal Pain
3) Demonstrable Loss of Strength and Coordination and Explosiveness
4) Low Libido

Don't you think there are issues here that warrant investigation? Hmmm ... HMMMM ?!?!

I had to fight like hell just to get a thyroid panel processed, and when that came back as a problem, the PCP treated it ineffectively: by the book, strictly by the numbers, and not the symptoms.

And here I am, in the same damn place, fighting the experts to address my symptoms ... symptoms they created. They're hell bent to treat me by the numbers, and not my symptoms.

This sounds like one of those Penthouse Stories: "I never thought this would happen to me ..."

***

I just want some honest dialogue from these guys, and I'm not getting it.

I'm gonna have to ask to speak with a patient advocate / ombudsman, and then demand a sit down with the Urology team.

It shouldn't have had to come to this, but here we are.

****Rant Off****

[Mr. Bingley]

This sounds like one of those Penthouse Stories: "I never thought this would happen to me ..."

You made it to the stories? I never got past the "Letters" section

I'm so sorry to hear about all these continued problems BD. As you know I chose a date with the robot for my cancer and for me it was like I'd won the lottery too: pretty much all the side effects that they said there was a small chance of getting I got. I'm still sort of figuring out what (if anything frankly) to do about it, as everything it seems has side effects and trade offs. It roundly sucks but for me I'm glad the cancer is gone at the end of the day. But my road has been a lot less bumpy than yours.

[BrooklynJerry]

Sorry to read this. I just wonder what would be the results if you signed on with one of the online clinics and you told them your medical history. Would they just sell you the test or ask you for clearance from your Dr.
I would have thought what your going through is a more common ptoblem.

[Browndog]

4/27/24

Right now a day is a week is a month. I have no idea where I am in time and space at the moment.

So ...

I had to get the Patient Advocate involved, as I was not getting any word on my blood test, and when I did the answer was: NO !!! and take it up with Urology if you disagree.

I disagreed, and asked them to set up an appointment with the Urology team ... they never responded.

I spent about an hour with the P/A, and she handled me appropriately, got me an appointment with my new Urologist, and carried my message of:
I fully aware of the potential risks; we agree to disagree as to their evaluation of my "numbers"; simply sign off on me taking my life into my own hands ... or (implied) I'll have to fire y'all.

This next face to face meeting is set up for May 15th.

In the meantime, I've gone through my training log 2020 through March 2024, printed out pertinent days where I got injured, made mention of my bad knee, made mention of my lack of energy / strength / explosiveness ... it's a damn book. Also, it was an eye opening read ... I'm proud of my "fight", but I was near tears over some entries. It's been a long four to five years.

Additionally, I've printed of my USAPL results, and will be using this as a timeline, as well as a demonstration of where I was and where I find myself now.

They can't argue the "numbers" without acknowledging the hard data of performance degradation.

As to "risks" of TRT treatment, I've got Pub Med articles out my ass to show them, I've got You Tube videos queued up if necessary. At worst, they have to agree to disagree ... there are two schools of thought out there, and the alternative opinion is not a crackpot theory.

I'm not as depressed about this fight I'm in, but it is tiring. I find myself waking up at odd hours of the morning with new and different arguments to make, floating about in my head. I've taken to writing them down, as I can't remember them come daylight.

***

Training continues. Again, it's a mixed bag some days are OK, some days are shit ... but no days are "great".

Onwards ...

[Browndog]

5/4/24

Another week in the books ...

Squat Monday was a "better" day. A comfortable double at 120kg, and down sets at 97.5kg 4*4.

Bench Wednesday is still in recovery mode. 4 Count Spoto Larsen double at 80kg, with regular Bench sets at 70kg 4*4.
What ever took place back in January is still afflicting this lift. Just no explosiveness, nor work capacity.

Deadlift Thursday is still relatively light, Paused double at 160kg, down sets at 150kg 4*4. It is a huge expenditure of energy to get tight, and in position ... sets of 4 are exhausting at the moment.

Finally got a chance to get out and hit the range, went though a large bucket of balls (about an hour and a half). By the time I got home, I was completely wiped out. By bedtime, my shoulders were screaming at me ... it made trying to sleep no bueno. This post exercise discomfort / pain is something I've had for a awhile now. It's like having instant DOMS, but for no good reason.

SBD Saturday was a length affair. I took as much time as I needed to get through everything on the program. Squats to a Box, with 2 Chains: plates were worth 70kg, chains another 37.5kg - 10*3. That felt like I had sprinted a 400m ... I was so tired. 2 Board Close Grip Bench 70kg 3*3 nothing to terribly taxing. Big Wheel Pulls at 153kf 1*3 ... again, not too taxing.

Every session had a goodly amount of successories, I'm not gonna list them ... suffice to say, they extend the session quite a bit.

I am tired.

The 15th cannot come soon enough ...

[BrooklynJerry]

Well you deserve to be tired. The other day I went with my grandson 16 to my friend Pat Susco's house to train. Did 3 exercises. My friend is 72 now. He was a world class lifter some years ago. After training we went to eat. He told me he was then going to take a nap.On the ride home my grandson feel asleep in the car. I guess we all need our rest. You sure are a hard worker.

[Cheesepuff]

You are fighting the good fight!
The "expertise" of doctors is very narrow, further narrowed by the ever present danger of lawyers and lawsuits.
They are not your advocate. You are. If they can't or won't answer your questions, then they should not get your money.
Best of luck!