My foot hurts so the doc is sending me for a sleep apnea test

and she ordered a testosterone test.

It goes like this: My foot has been hurting off and on for a few weeks. I've had gout in that foot before, but this doesn't feel like gout so I email the doc. She had me come in. She ordered a uric acid blood test to check for gout and an x-ray in case there was a stress fracture.

Then we talked a little about my general health and I expressed my frustration about gaining a weight since I completed RT (I was surprised to see I am up 20 in four years). I've not changed my diet or exercise patterns in years, and after years of stability, the pounds are slowly packing on.

Now she's decided that it's time to check for both low testosterone and sleep apnea. The theory being that there might be some metabolic wackiness going on.

low testosterone could be a result of the RT and she's suggested sleep apnea a few years ago, but I dismissed the idea. Guess when body parts hurt enough, you actually listen to the doc.

The labs are still pending and I pickup the sleep test kit this weekend.
The good news is that after waiting an hour for the x-ray, it showed no fractures or obvious problems.

Well, I am now off for my warm water and lettuce dinner.

Andrew

Sounds like a very thorough doc.

Hope your foot gets better.

Late last night I got the emails from the x-ray folks and the uric acid test. No fracture or gout so it has to be some kind of tendonitis. Likely I'll have to get a referral from my doc to the foot doctor.

the weight gain is annoying because I mostly eat rabbit food. Well, they managed to schedule me for the sleep study for tomorrow night and the next blood tests for Monday.

The doc is thinking it could be a combination of the RT and that "o" word (older).
Andrew

Tall Allen said...
It's because you don't eat your brocolli.

You get broccoli to taste like chocolate and I'll eat it.

I can relate:

-I had surgery on my foot/toe 12/31 and I'm laying here right now wit it elevated. I had a bone spur, lost cartilage and some arthritis.

-I started using a c-pap machine about five months ago and it has resulted in me feeling better for sure. My doc says it might help with the weight gain as well.

-My T is low, down to 148 last check. My uro wants to wait and confirm my PSA is consistent before replacement therapy. My next test is May.

-I've gained exactly 8 pounds since the morning of my first HDR session, 13-months ago. I think it's a combination of the things above plus my relatively new affinity for craft beer.

Interesting thread. Sometimes my feet and legs ache so badly I need a very strong painkiller to fall asleep. I was just looking at my weight, I was about 162 lbs when I started Lupron/ART and I'm about 171 lbs now (I'm 5'9".) I was determined to keep my weight stable but that didn't work out so well... (pizza, cakes, etc. - yumm....)

John_TX said...
.....Sometimes my feet and legs ache so badly I need a very strong painkiller to fall asleep....

Not sure if this will help you, it made a major difference to me after years of leg aches so bad that it was affecting my quality of life and ability to sleep. My Daughter in law said I was probably not taking in enough water.

So, I took five red plastic solo cups, filled them with water and set them on the kitchen counter and drank them all during each day, refilling each morning. Seemed like I was sloshing around. After a week or two, almost full relief. Full relief came a month or two later.

ETA - I will go several weeks/months with the cups out on the counter (about 12 oz per cup), and just get tired of drinking so much water. Then I will go several weeks/months, slowly start tightening up and will get the cups out again.

Works for me.

Post Edited (Ken) : 1/10/2016 8:35:13 AM (GMT-7)

Michael, it is on TA list: [url]https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3562876[\url] and my PCP said it was an SE of the RT. Sometimes it comes back, but we've never tested my testosterone levels so the doc wants the data point. We'll see what the test shows.

My health plan does the home version of the sleep study for just the cost of a office visit co-pay. I have thought about buying a Fitbit for other reasons, but for now I'll use the hospital's gear.

The doc said a weight gain of as little as 10 pounds can make sleep apnea worse. Also she said that people with sleep apnea can gain weight because they are sleeping well. Bit of a vicious cycle. I've have some sleep issues since I completed RT so this is just one more test to see if there's anything they can do about that.

My foot pain, is likely just a continuation of problems I had before RT. The only reason it's important now is that it's limiting how much I can exercise and it got me to the doc's office to talk about the other problems.

Well, time to head out and get my sleeps study equipment and training.
Andrew

The list does say "vitality/hormonal function"--should I be reading that as something different than low T? Your comment about reduced T in both radiation and surgery is interesting as anecdotally, it does seem like various guys here with either treatment mention that. (Or perhaps I think that now since I'm focused on the topic.)

Andrew, good luck on your end!

The only reason I am getting a T test is because I complained about my weight gain. My RO and URO don't track T.

but right now I have to take the Christmas tree down.

Andrew

I was actually on a CPAP machine for 3-4 years, before I had surgery....removed uvula, removed tonsils, fixed septum....and I don't need a machine now.

But....i understand your reluctance to use one. They are annoying, cumbersome, and my now ex-wife did not enjoy the machine at all. I'm sure they've made some advances, as this was 5-6 years ago...but I'm not sure. Hopefully the sleep study will show you don't need the full blown CPAP, and maybe just a mouth guard or an alternative method.

That said, I could tell almost immediately a difference in my sleep and energy level.