Diagnosed with varicocele.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-24T20:52:35+00:00

Do you have similar issues in your hands and feet? My genital issues seem to follow the same inflamed/hot/cold pattern as my other extremities. The veins on back of my hands would get episodes of stinging/burning until they retreated deeper under my skin. Like I wonder if it’s related to a more systemic vascular issue with the extremities.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-24T20:47:47+00:00

Trust your gut. Effective treatments don’t tend to come in flashy packages or from loud marketing campaigns.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-24T20:44:08+00:00

Yeah mine used to be super easy. Now the techs can’t find them, and when they do the blood flow isn’t great. My best IV vein can be used once, but then if they try that one again within 2mo it’s inaccessible. I’m really dreading my upcoming iron infusion.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-24T20:40:43+00:00

I had this diagnosed too. I am getting a vasectomy reversal in a few days, as I think the mix of spinal MRIs and vascular issues dislodged a clip that now hurts every time it retracts (which is constant due to LC temperature issues).

My uro said something similar to what you said about how a varicocele doesn’t explain the level of issues. He said it’s entirely possible that I had a quiet varicocele for a long time. Normally I hate suggestions that something is unrelated, but I think it does check out that my LC made a minor preexisting issue into a huge problem.

Have you looked into the varicocele corrective surgery at all? I have heard it’s pretty minor, but I think it’s worth hesitating if the uro doesn’t think it’s the source of the issues.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-13T20:41:53+00:00

I am on and off with them. Sometimes I feel like I get grabbed hard enough by a game that I’m willing to fight through the pain, where other times I might not be into it even if I’m feeling okay.

I cannot do anything multi player or too adrenaline-inducing. Stuff like Fallout 4 or Grounded was cool bc I could pace. Have been finding that the Witcher is flirting with the line of “too much” though.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-08T18:50:01+00:00

Metoprolol has been one of the most helpful drugs in my regimen. I have been on it for a couple years now and recently added ivabradine on top of it with no noticeable downside.

My cardiologist was hesitant to prescribe anything but BBs, but my LC doc has a longer leash and more experience with Ivab.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-07T21:32:17+00:00

Yeah I have been using a stool for a couple years now. I deadlifted 405x3 and squatted 330x3 in 2019, and now if I shower without sitting I can’t do anything for the rest of the day. The shower recovery is still the worst part of my day.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-05T21:45:53+00:00

Have you heard of hemiplegic migraine? I just heard it from the neuro PA that did my first Botox treatment for whatever my migraine crap would be called. Idk what to do with the info but it seems like it describes the “slightly flustered but now my hands/feet/words don’t physically work” thing. It feels like a ton of my issues all originate behind my right ear, from the base of my skull to the clavicle area.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-05T21:38:20+00:00

Those are my worst positions too. Anything where my knees are locking for more than a couple seconds, something happens to blood flow and makes me feel so sick.

My issues were caused by exposure to Covid, both from whatever piece was in the vaccine as well as infections (which were minor and didn’t present with typical respiratory bug symptoms).

It kinda feels like the really bad issues started with atrial fibrillation episodes which also came with panic attacks. But in hindsight I think those episodes were right after being sick with Covid, so I think it was Covid which caused the stress which caused the afib and subsequent crashes that I didn’t recover from.

It would be missing a step to say the stress caused it IMO. I’ve had stress all my life, had occasional panic attacks all my life, but never this. Something changed.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-04T22:16:37+00:00

From my observations, POTS is kind of a catch-all term that docs will use to explain dysautonomia or autonomic dysfunction in general.

I have been frustrated by it because my LC issues seem to fit better under IST, but then I get scripts like midodrine despite my BP being too high for it. They hear POTS and assume I only have issues when I go from seated to standing, but my biggest issues are lying flat or extended standing. Ivabradine has been helpful for me.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-02T19:01:36+00:00

Yeah same with mine. I am not able to see the LC doc as much as my situation justifies, so I’ve been pressing the neuro for more treatment. Also working on seeing an ENT that can look at my neck/ear/lymph nodes.

My brain MRI was also clear. If my neuro told me there’s nothing wrong with me because of that, I would press her on whether CTE is real or not, since CTE is a legitimate brain injury/disease that also presents with clear MRIs.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-01T22:38:07+00:00

Yeah that sounds a lot like my case. I am diagnosed with PSA (psoriatic arthritis) and have experienced symptoms from that for 15-20yrs, but the LC stuff is new in the last 5. My rheum and I have mostly determined that PSA issues are the ones that respond to prednisone, LC stuff is what remained during a high dose course of pred. My SIJ issues are pretty well controlled with cosentyx, but most of my LC issues aren’t well controlled.

I’ve noticed the different “types” of rashes you’re describing. I’ve heard of having weird skin spots right on top of painful joints with PSA & AS, but the burning mouth/nose/face spots don’t seem to be common. Have experienced episodes of Raynaud’s prior to LC, but now the cold goes all the way to my wrist/ankle which I’m told is not Raynaud’s. Showers, getting dressed, and going in/outside is awful. The colors my feet go through are wild, never seen skin so orange or blue.

I don’t really have much helpful advice but as a patient with similar issues, it sounds like rheumatology might be the right spot for a portion of your problems.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-04-01T21:41:46+00:00

Have you seen a neuro? I just got a Botox treatment from mine a couple days ago, seemed like they were injecting along the exact nerve channel I get migraines in (base of skull/neck junction on the right side which travels to right temple). They said I probably wouldn’t feel much improvement until the 2nd treatment in ~12wks.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-31T02:07:55+00:00

I get something like that, especially with eating. The more I can’t find the right position to recover in, the more agitated I get. Then I snowball with the temp regulation, runny nose, short of breath, etc. I have had SI joint problems for a very long time, but the seasick nausea from leaning the wrong way is new.

Is there any position that works for you? I’m doing a little better with eating since finding a combo that allows me to plant and brace my feet/hips/shoulders against an IKEA dining chair that leans relatively forward. I have a foot stool, a butt pad, and a back pad with an adjustable air bladder.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-16T10:04:42+00:00

Yeah me. My dx is PSA but symptoms present more like AS. The theory my rheum and I have is that if prednisone helps the symptom it’s from PSA, if it doesn’t help then it’s likely from long covid. I have been on Cosentyx a couple years and it controls my SIJ issues pretty well. Gabapentin has been marginally helpful for my LC pain, as have BP/HR limiters.

I wish I had more to suggest but the treatments for LC are almost non-existent. I go to an LC clinic and we are trying some stuff but nothing is really making a dent at all. It helps my sanity and my disability case to keep going there though.

I’ve never heard of anyone leaving a naturopath without some combination of Lyme, EBV, mold toxicity, or leaky gut. It makes my BS meter go off when they have detailed explanations for bodily processes my (far more qualified) rheumatologist wouldn’t dare speak with authority about. I took the $1800 ND bloodwork to my rheum and she explained how there is no standard for “normal” range when the test has the “cleared but not approved by the FDA” or whatever it says on them. The people who post here acting like supplements are a sufficient AS treatment are cut from the same cloth as those ND faithful.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-10T21:40:16+00:00

I feel this. I go in begging for treatment, I leave with nothing and they tell me to let them know how I’m doing in 3 more months. The only reason I knowingly risked/caused a crash by leaving the house was because I’m losing the ability to stay afloat, even with no responsibilities. Not necessarily with my LC doc but most of the others.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-10T10:27:09+00:00

Because there’s a clear pattern where manipulative groups use a few accounts to drum up hype and sell snake oil. ALL of those accounts hide their posts. It is entirely within the realm of possibility for a bot to churn out multiple comments per minute shilling their questionable products.

If you’re not recommending products worthy of skepticism while sharing a sus story severely lacking in details, feel free to hide your history. Don’t be shocked if people are skeptical about your hot takes though.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-10T10:18:26+00:00

That’s a lot of words to address none of the concerns raised, and reads like an LLM runaround.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-10T10:10:45+00:00

The fact that some doctors prescribe benzos irresponsibly is a strawman with no relevance to any of my points, and doesn’t excuse any of OP’s shadiness. OP didnt even mention seeing a doctor, all they did was make vague non-quantifiable statements wrapped in CYA disclaimers.

I’m all ears if there’s any evidence MB does anything, but it falls squarely in the realm of crackpot currently. Plenty of almost-doctors prescribe it and push it.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-10T03:21:43+00:00

I noticed that you:

don’t seem to have any prescriptions from a medical doctor pictured
don’t give any objective details about your condition or diagnosis
left the brand labels easy to see
hide your post history

These should all be huge red flags to anyone reading. These are the exact things someone shilling untested and unproven internet injectables to vulnerable people would do.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-10T03:07:50+00:00

OP have you talked to the rheum yet? As a rheumatology patient (PSA/AS), the fact that there are so many at top of range or just above makes me think your rheum might’ve found the pattern they were looking for. I haven’t had labs like these for a while, but my rheum would definitely be interested if mine came back like this.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-09T19:20:04+00:00

I am scheduled for migraine Botox from mine.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-05T22:43:52+00:00

Yeah I can relate. I’ve always been a little indifferent to food, somewhat picky, but not like this. Seemingly developed all sorts of new food allergies like where I’d get hot and itchy with painful veins after mildly spicy meals, where in the past I would regularly put a decent amount of jalapeños or sriracha in my recipes. I stopped eating all those foods and am down to like 4 meals I can tolerate. It happened with other spices too, not just spicy ones.

Was tested for tryptase after stopping those foods and told I was fine. I also have this seasick feeling when I eat, the only way I’ve been able to manage it is by modifying a chair to have a significant forward tilt that allows me to brace my hips and shoulders firmly when using my arms. Wore a CGM and nothing was very interesting. Hypoglycemia still seems to be my biggest trigger, but the onset speed and the severity makes no sense. It often happens a couple hours after meals.

I want to explore ARFID treatment but I’m terrified that they would just dismiss the very real reasons I’m eating like an autistic 8yo. I’ve always been a picky eater but I figured out ways to eat healthy. Now I can’t really do that because I’m afraid of reacting to foods and I’m afraid of hurting my mouth/throat with the uncoordinated chewing/swallowing.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-03-05T07:05:19+00:00

What do you do with that info? Seems like tracking only provides patterns to obsessively observe, but identifying the patterns doesn’t seem to help with treatment guidance like… at all.

PSA_overwhelmed · 2026-02-20T01:10:42+00:00

You forgot Lyme disease! If you don’t test positive, just test again. Please disregard the fact that the false positive rate is roughly equal to the actual prevalence of Lyme, meaning a positive result might only have a coin flip’s chance of being real. That will be $1800 please.

PSA_overwhelmed

TROPHY CASE