silentgardener19 said:I’ve been feeling pretty rough since Friday. Just totally wiped out, weak, kind of a dull ache in my head and eyes too... Honestly, I feel like I might just collapse at any moment. I really don't want to drag myself to the doctor for nothing, plus I can't stand sitting in those waiting rooms anyway.
Any idea what this could be? Maybe just the weather acting up or something else?
Look, if you actually want a decent answer here, you gotta give us something to work with. You need to lay out the basics—stuff your doctor already knows or would ask you about. Like, your medical history, any old illnesses, BMI, blood pressure, potential triggers... basically, give us a quick medical history overview.
This reply from the 'metabolic syndrome' thread actually packs way more punch than anything you'd find on a clinic's official website... just so you guys have a better idea of what they’re actually diagnosing and what kind of meds they throw at you:
vividsailor7 said:To get a diagnosis, you need central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance/Type II diabetes, hypertension—any level really—or hyperuricemia. Basically, they treat all those specific conditions.
For extreme obesity—it's pharmacological, like Orlistat, or surgical options... Dyslipidemia—hypolipidemics like statins, and if the hypertriglyceridemia is hitting hard, then fibrates...
Insulin resistance—antidiabetics like biguanides (Metformin), Type II diabetes—if it's insulin-dependent, Metformin or alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose...
Reduced insulin via derivatives like sulfonylureas... or repaglinide. There are other types of antidiabetics out there, but they haven't been studied enough or they come with side effects that people are still looking into, like rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, sitagliptin, or vildagliptin.
Hypertension—it’s usually recommended to steer clear of beta-blockers and diuretics. You've got ACE inhibitors like ramipril or lisinopril... calcium channel blockers like amlodipine or lacidipine... or angiotensin II antagonists like losartan or valsartan... If someone can't handle ACE inhibitors, then alpha-blockers like doxazosin are an option, and they actually have a nice hypolipidemic effect too. Hyperuricemia—treated with allopurinol.
Thomas Rodriguez14 said:First off, thanks for getting back to me. So, I'm 20, totally healthy, digestion is fine, I don't really hit the gym much, and I don't smoke either.
In that case, there’s really no reason to freak out just yet; you gotta wonder if there's some other stressor hitting you lately, which you probably already know deep down. College finals, work drama, relationship stuff, money issues—all that can seriously drain a person.
But look, if this weird, unintentional weight loss keeps happening, you definitely need to go get a full checkup from your doctor.
And yeah, I know I'm gonna sound like a nagging parent here—but a healthy young guy needs to stay active (honestly, I hope you meant like, organized activities when you said you don't do it too often) because that stuff has a massive impact on how your body and mind actually function.
Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Hey everyone! Sorry if there's already a thread like this, please don't delete it, just move it if a mod needs to... Anyway, lately everyone keeps telling me I look like I've lost weight, and honestly, when I catch myself in the mirror, I see it too. I remember being exactly 147 lbs, I'm 5'11", and now I've dropped down to about 132 lbs. I'm wondering what could be causing this and if I should probably head to the doctor. I'm eating normally and everything seems fine, but this weight loss feels weirdly sudden...
For someone that height, a healthy BMI range would be roughly 132 to 176 lbs for an adult, so that weight you mentioned is right at the bottom edge, basically bordering on underweight.
To give you a better answer here, we really need more info... like how old you are, if you have any underlying health issues or symptoms (especially anything digestive), how much you're working out or what kind of activity you get, and if you smoke at all.
So if you're standing at 5'8" and weighing in at 110 lbs, your BMI comes out to 16.5.
Basically, anything under 18.5 is flagged as underweight... a healthy range usually sits somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9, and once you cross that top number, you're looking at being overweight.
Which means, uh, you'd need to hit about 123 lbs just to scrape the bottom edge of that "normal," healthy BMI zone.
BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / ( Height in Feet x Height in Feet ) * 703 )
vividsailor7 said:To hit that diagnosis, you generally need to be looking at central obesity, a messed-up Lipid profile, insulin resistance (hyperinsulinemia), impaired glucose tolerance or Type II diabetes, hypertension at any stage, and hyperuricemia. The goal is treating all those individual issues. For extreme obesity, we're talking pharmacological options like Orlistat or even surgical interventions. For a bad Lipid profile, you've got hypolipidemics—statins—and if the triglycerides are through the roof, then fibrates. For insulin resistance, you use biguanides like Metformin. As for Type II diabetes, it depends on whether you're insulin-dependent; then it's Metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose, or reduced-insulin derivatives like sulfonylureas and repaglinide. There are other types of antidiabetics out there, but they haven't been studied enough or they come with side effects that are still being looked into, such as rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, sitagliptin, or vildagliptin. Regarding hypertension—you really ought to avoid beta-blockers and diuretics if possible. Instead, you have ACE inhibitors like Ramipril or Lisinopril, calcium channel blockers like Amlodipine or Lacidipine, or angiotensin II antagonists like Losartan or Valsartan. If someone can't tolerate ACE inhibitors, alpha-blockers like Doxazosin are an option, and they actually have a nice hypolipemic effect too. For hyperuricemia, you use Allopurinol.
thanks so much for the effort 🙂 seriously such a thorough answer
So, how does the diagnosis actually go down? And what’s the deal with treatment, besides just the whole "fix your life" speech? I get the obvious stuff—cutting back on carbs and hitting the gym harder—but I'm looking for something more specific than that...
Taylor Baker6 said:Exactly. I get those red patches and blisters right after an intense workout, which usually settle down after about 20 minutes. After playing around with different types of antihistamines, I realized they weren't doing a thing for me. Then it clicked: the blisters on my face aren't actually triggered by sweating. To fix it, I started taking L-carnitine thirty minutes before my workout and Aerus ten minutes before starting. Honestly, it worked like a charm—nothing happened. I sweat heavily just like usual, but everything stays clear. Hopefully, this helps someone else out.
L-carnitine (an amino acid) and Aerius (an antihistamine)? Was that just a random discovery or did someone suggest it? Do they only work when you take them together?
Every single time I watch this, I end up a total wreck... damn. Such an incredible movie. I honestly don't know if it's healthy to be this much of a softie about it—but hey, maybe it's just something you can't help, right?
Saw those pics of your allergic reaction (might be irritation or an intolerance too, honestly), just wanted to let you know there’s plenty more of us 🙂 dealing with these sudden flare-ups... For me, I've figured out that whenever it hits my skin all at once over a huge area, it's almost always some food trigger mixed with stress, rather than something touching me from the outside. Sometimes it's even weirder—just this total, chaotic immune system meltdown where one allergen sets things off and then everything else follows suit, until even plain water or basic moisturizer triggers it.
But, yeah, the catch is it's super individual, so you're gonna have to play detective and find your own triggers. Try cutting out one food group at a time for a week—like dairy, processed meats, or anything loaded with MSG (think Doritos or beef bouillon!), walnuts, eggs, etc., etc.—then switch to a different group the next week until you actually see a shift. Oh, and while you're at it, check out the section on "Protopic cream" in this PDF
Just speaking from my own experience with Protopic (on an adult, so please don't take this as medical advice for little kids)...
After grinding through years of contact dermatitis that just kept getting worse—starting on my hands and eventually spreading to my face—I tried this cream back when it was just hitting the market after Fujisaw opened their factory in Germany. The first time I applied it, man, I let out this huge gasp because it burned so bad; but after a few hours, everything calmed down and settled. That was ten years ago. Since then, I’ve had red patches flare up on my face here and there, almost always reacting to some new shampoo or skincare product, but the only thing that actually works today without wrecking my skin barrier is Protopic 0.1%. I get it from Canada now with a specialist's prescription. It’s pricey, but honestly? Totally worth it.
(I just don't get why they make getting hold of a medication so complicated when you're paying full price anyway. Medicare doesn't cover a single cent of it . To even get the cream, I have to jump through hoops: see a GP for a referral, see a specialist just to get a recommendation, then go back to the GP to get a "white prescription," then send the order to the pharmacy and, of course, pay up... it's just useless running around for a chronic health issue)
I can see a massive difference in how well it works compared to all those other creams various dermatologists prescribed for my hands—which, thank God, I didn't put on my face.
My skin is incredibly sensitive to irritants, whether it's chemicals, detergents, or even certain natural stuff like raw potato starch. I've had allergies to basically everything proven multiple times. I take oral antihistamines, but even so, whenever a rash breaks out on my face or hands, I use just enough Protopic to take the redness away... so one 60g tube lasts me a whole year. Unlike steroid creams, Protopic leaves absolutely no trace behind. The effect is similar to steroids, except it DOESN'T cause skin thinning (atrophy).
One thing to watch out for— it is absolutely vital to protect treated skin from UV radiation, whether it's from the sun or artificial sources. Tacrolimus, the active ingredient, was originally designed to prevent organ transplant rejection by blocking immune responses. On one hand, that calms the irritation and allergies, but it also makes the skin potentially more vulnerable to skin cancer caused by UV rays.
Daniel Hernandez3 said:I’m 19 and I’ve been dealing with this one issue that’s honestly just draining my soul at this point... Over the last year, I went through this massive weight loss phase—dropped from about 185 lbs down to like 123 lbs just a month ago. But then, after that month, I gained 15 pounds back pretty fast (family stuff, depression... basically just stress-eating everything in sight). Because the weight loss was so intense and I was at such a low body fat percentage—like under 10%—my doctor actually mentioned my skin elasticity looked pretty poor. Now that I've put those 15 pounds back on, I can literally feel my facial skin sagging a bit when I walk... and there's another thing. During that rough month, I was crying constantly, and I ended up getting this weird, deep bump on the right side of my face. I kept picking at it and stretching the skin around it, and now the whole right side feels swollen and... I don't know, looser than the left? Is it even possible to permanently stretch out the skin on one side just by messing with it for a few days? Once things calmed down, I started using chamomile compresses, and while the left side of my face tightened up nicely, the right side stays puffy and feels soft to the touch... it just won't snap back. I’m trying so hard not to touch it or pull at it, but it’s driving me absolutely insane because I can’t stop thinking about it... I really need some advice or help here. I haven't even worked up the nerve to talk to my parents yet, but I’m seriously considering looking into cosmetic procedures or something. I know if I lean out again, the skin might tighten up, but I’m terrified I did permanent damage to the right side by messing with that bump. I probably sound totally crazy, maybe I am, but honestly, the last month has been a total nightmare (my dad got sick, a long-term relationship ended...) and it all just spiraled into me crying all day long. Please, if you're reading this, don't just tell me I'm losing it... I just really need some actual help or guidance. Thanks in advance.
Tyler James5 said:Think about those models who rock a pregnancy bump—like, massive skin stretching happening right there—and then just a few months later, they’re back on the runway. Skin is an organ that heals itself, especially at your age. Just give it some breathing room to bounce back, maybe a few months, before you even start thinking about cosmetic surgery (which, hey, is always an option, it's not going anywhere).
Level up your diet with some Omega-3 fatty acids and, if you aren't already, grab a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement, plus a B complex for sure.
Topically, you can go harder on skincare with stuff made for mature women, like Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.as...6#BVRRWidgetID
paired with a 0.2mm Dermaroller (maybe twice a week to start) it's basically that little roller tool with tiny surgical needles, 0.2 mm, which helps products sink deeper into the skin, plus it kicks off collagen production on its own.
At night before bed, apply your serum to totally clean skin and just "roll" it in. The needles are so tiny it won't hurt or bleed, don't even worry about it, it just feels like a light tickling or tingling sensation. You might get a tiny bit flushed, but by morning, it's gone. It just makes whatever serum or cream you're using work way better.
The fitness advice above is also spot on. You've gotta let your body actually recover from all those heavy hits it took.
...
It just hit me that a 19-year-old guy probably isn't even thinking about this stuff: if you decide to go the derma roller route, you can't just have a clean face... you need your hands, your towel, your hair, and even your pillowcase to be freshly washed before you hit the hay that night. If you’re using those cheap synthetic-cotton blends that can't handle high heat, you should probably just grab some 100% cotton ones you can blast in the wash at 190°F. If you skip the roller entirely, a silk pillowcase is your best bet for skin health.
The whole skin elasticity thing is more about your connective tissue and staying hydrated, plus how fast you dropped the weight (I'm mentioning that because of the part in your post where you think losing even more fat will tighten everything up—that’s not quite how it works, and honestly, it’s probably not the healthiest move for you right now. Just calculate your BMI range and try to stay within those boundaries)
You really ought to be drinking at least a liter of pure water every day, plain and simple. And I mean that on top of all the fruit, juice, and soup you're already having.
If you smoke—just stop. Nicotine is terrible for those surface capillaries and chokes off blood flow, which basically kills any chance of your skin regenerating itself.
If you're going to mess with serums and a Microdermabrasion roller, you absolutely have to avoid the sun between 11 AM and 4 PM, plus you gotta use sunscreen (at least SPF 20).
Some high-end spas use microwave treatments to heat up subcutaneous tissue to jumpstart collagen production, but I don't think you need to be going down that road at your age.
Think about those models who rock a pregnancy bump—like, massive skin stretching happening right there—and then just a few months later, they’re back on the runway. Skin is an organ that heals itself, especially at your age. Just give it some breathing room to bounce back, maybe a few months, before you even start thinking about cosmetic surgery (which, hey, is always an option, it's not going anywhere).
Level up your diet with some Omega-3 fatty acids and, if you aren't already, grab a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement, plus a B complex for sure.
Topically, you can go harder on skincare with stuff made for mature women, like Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.as...6#BVRRWidgetID
paired with a 0.2mm Dermaroller (maybe twice a week to start) it's basically that little roller tool with tiny surgical needles, 0.2 mm, which helps products sink deeper into the skin, plus it kicks off collagen production on its own.
At night before bed, apply your serum to totally clean skin and just "roll" it in. The needles are so tiny it won't hurt or bleed, don't even worry about it, it just feels like a light tickling or tingling sensation. You might get a tiny bit flushed, but by morning, it's gone. It just makes whatever serum or cream you're using work way better.
The fitness advice above is also spot on. You've gotta let your body actually recover from all those heavy hits it took.
If you’re dealing with a reaction to some local wildlife, your neighborhood doctors are going to be way more helpful than anyone else on the internet.
Just please, for the love of everything, don't go grabbing some random corticosteroid cream and assuming—"hey, this worked before, so it'll work now." I'm not gonna get all technical here, but seriously... just don't.
edit: snap a photo of the spider before you squash it, just in case... ...
Go ahead and kill that little beast, but look, since it’s on your shoulder and that’s not exactly a minor thing—and an infection like that isn't something you want to play around with—you really ought to get some professional help. You definitely don't want to be dealing with this once it turns into twenty different bumps all over your body, alright?
Hitting your system with that much sugar and fat all at once is basically a massive sledgehammer to your cardiovascular system and your arteries. Seriously, don't do that to yourself. You could end up having a heart attack. Are you into motorcycles or cars? You’d never treat an engine like that, right?
That "green" stuff is pus, and the redness around it is a straight-up infection. If this has been hanging on for a month, we aren't talking about some little pimple or zit anymore. If you really just had two tiny spots to start with, it could easily be an insect bite where your body is struggling to fight off the toxin. You need to see a doctor. Or at least get some antibiotic powder and a bandage so you stop touching it.
But yeah, the advice about eating better and getting moving is solid. Why are you just sitting around your apartment after work? Back and neck pain can also be fixed by stretching, staying active, and working on muscle strength.
Honestly, you don't even need to spend all day hovering over a stove to eat better than what you're doing now. It’s actually pretty easy to balance out your macros—just tweak the protein, fats, and carbs a bit. Throw some fresh fruit and a salad into your daily routine, grab a multivitamin, and maybe swap out half those sugary sodas for sparkling water or just plain old H2O. There are tons of threads on this forum where you can dig up specific advice on that stuff. And just find a way to move... hit the gym, go for walks, whatever gets the blood pumping.
But here's the real kicker: that layer of subcutaneous fat, combined with being sedentary—and if you happen to smoke, which you didn't mention, and man, I really hope you aren't... but let's face it, that combo is everywhere—it slows down the circulation in your tiny peripheral blood vessels and capillaries. That means any surface wounds take forever to heal, and your immune system isn't going to be nearly as tough against microbes.
Plus, given your age, you're probably dealing with skin issues driven by hormones too. The silver lining of being a young guy is that your body is basically a sponge; it'll react incredibly fast once you actually start eating right and working out.
For skin that's prone to clogged pores and those deep, under-the-skin breakouts, you should use a body wash containing salicylic acid, and then follow up with a moisturizer that has AHA acids... just tell the clerk at CVS what you're looking for, they'll know what's up.
Regardless of what's causing that specific ulcer on your shoulder and the one on your arm—stuff a doctor might try to fix with antibiotics—you seriously have to change how you eat and how much you move, otherwise you're headed for a major health crisis. I mean, it's pretty obvious you shouldn't be polishing off three chocolate bars in one sitting, right? You don't need to be a professional nutritionist to get that.
I mean, you wouldn't even eat this bad out in the Sahara, so why would you do it in Mexico? You seriously need to fix this diet, I don't even have to tell you that... Nobody—especially if there's diabetics in your family—should be eating like this. It's a guaranteed way to end up short on vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and just plain old clean water. Plus, you're definitely overdoing it on the sugar and fats. Get it together.
The specialist on duty will weigh in on those skin changes once they get online here. You didn't mention your age or what your general health situation is like. What's your BMI?
All these details will be necessary for a doctor to actually give you a diagnosis.
I’ve got a bad feeling this isn't just some minor thing. How long exactly is "some time" when you say it hasn't cleared up? Also, where are you located right now? (Just asking because the climate and local parasites or infections can make a huge difference). And what do you mean by eating junk? Like, are you low on vitamins? What kind of work do you do? Did you take an injury or maybe get bit by something? Some spider bites out here can be real nasty and just refuse to heal...
Do you deal with any immune issues, allergies, or maybe diabetes? Anyone else around you dealing with stuff like this?
Look, I know I'm grilling you with questions, but you really should see a doctor. If that's totally off the table for you right now, try using http://symptoms.webmd.com/symptomchecker. It'll walk you through a bunch of stuff like your age and medical history. You probably have a first aid kit lying around somewhere, right? Have you tried putting any antibiotic powder or cream on it yet?