Posts by nimblemoose2

Grace Davis77 said:It is an autoimmune thyroid condition. You will find more detailed guidance from the community over on the thyroid discussion thread.

Understood. I am still waiting to hear back from velvetmoose9, but I will cross-post this to that thread as well.

Between the joint pain and this whole situation, it feels like a lot to manage. 😢

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Hello everyone, here are my thyroid results.

The first few markers seem fine, but if I am reading this correctly, the anti-TPO level is ten times higher than the normal range. Is this cause for concern? 😢

velvetmoose9 said:Save up and plan ahead if you want a quality mattress. 🙂

A high-quality mattress facilitates physical recovery and spinal alignment. It functions much like a well-tuned suspension system on a luxury vehicle.To put it simply.It simply doesn't work.
It applies to everyone—from everyday citizens, both young and old, to those in high-profile media roles or manual laborers performing grueling physical tasks.
Especially for those who spend most of their day behind a desk.

I wouldn't recommend sleeping on a hard floor right now. It’s like trying to drive a luxury sedan on a gravel road; you just won't get the comfort you need.

Thanks. Just let me know what you'd recommend for a quality mattress and a solid orthopedic pillow.

If you have a personal recommendation, please feel free to share it. You can always send me a private message if you prefer not to advertise here.

velvetmoose9 said:Sleeping on the floor, or sleeping without a "buffer"?🤔

Try this:

Buy a high-quality mattress (don't cheap out on 🧐).
Get a good orthopedic pillow.
Place it on the floor.
And sleep.

You might feel some muscle strain for the first few days, but once you adjust, it's done.
It's a game changer.

By the way, sleeping on a hard surface isn't meant for most Americans.

In my case, the "buffer" would just be one very thin blanket. As a doctor, what is your take—will the spine eventually return to its normal alignment and things improve after a certain amount of time?

Right now, I've put all my money into landscaping and painting the fence, so I don't have a cent left for mattresses or pillows.

The issue with sleeping on the floor is that the pain is so intense I can't even fall asleep. Last night, I lay there for two hours and my body just kept aching more and more; my hips and spine were killing me. When I stood up to go to the bathroom, everything felt like it was snapping like dry twigs. It’s probably from years of sitting at a desk combined with an old weightlifting injury.

Donna Doyle2 said:Sleeping on the floor is great; you truly sleep better and feel refreshed, but you can't go directly onto the hardwood! Put a sleeping bag over a rug and use a pillow. 👍

I don't have any sleeping bags right now, but I'll try putting two more blankets and a towel under my hips tonight; hopefully, that helps.

I need to make this happen. 😁

I believe it works, but the challenge arises when you start at 24 after years of poor sleep and constant slouching. By 3 p.m., the physical toll is already hitting you.😁

coppermoose10 said:Try placing a pillow under your feet, like this. I cannot view the image provided. Please upload the content or describe it so I can begin the rewrite.

I’m thinking about adding another blanket underneath me and maybe a towel under my hips. The pain is becoming hard to ignore, and honestly, trying to sleep on my back is a total struggle.

I always sleep on my stomach or my side with a pillow tucked under me. I just couldn't find any way to truly relax or drift off here.

Hello everyone. I have been dealing with persistent neck and spinal pain—mostly in my lower back—for quite some time. Since I spend most of my day sitting at a desk, I suspect my posture has suffered, compounded by a few old sports injuries.

Has anyone ever tried sleeping on the floor? I’ve read that it can offer various benefits, such as improved posture, better circulation, and even deeper sleep.

I am primarily interested in the postural advantages. Last night, I attempted it by laying directly on the hardwood floor with nothing but a thin sheet for comfort. However, I struggled significantly to fall asleep; I was tossing and turning from 2:00 to 4:00 AM before finally giving up and moving back to my bed.

What is the best way to transition into this gradually, and has anyone here had success with it?

Larry Scott43 said:I don't think so. They aren't filming you while you sleep; they record when you're awake.

I understand, but is it possible to request some kind of anesthesia or a similar sedative?😁

Gregory Turner71 said:I’ve had both CT scans and MRIs several times. Since I was hospitalized and they woke me up right when I usually go to bed, I ended up sleeping through every single exam. Literally. I would lie down on the table, and the next thing I remember is the nurse waking me up to say we were finished. It really isn't a big deal unless you struggle with severe claustrophobia.

Can you request sedation before an MR? It isn't because of claustrophobia, but because I'm incredibly restless. I'm always fidgeting or itching, and I worry that movement will ruin the scan quality.

velvetmoose9 said:Apologies from the medical community 🙂

Hehe, don't bother apologizing. Every field has its share of bad actors.

The issue is that people get angry and wait while time slips away, all while the illness persists or worsens. I am not eighty years old; I care quite a bit about how I spend my remaining time.

I am heading to the Mayo Clinic tomorrow to handle this gallbladder issue, and I have a cervical spine X-ray scheduled for Monday. I will share the results and the imaging once they are ready. We will talk then.

velvetmoose9 said:🤦

Do you have a watch on you?
A phone?

Did you show her today's date? ☕

At first, she misread it and said 2006. I suggested maybe she meant 2016, and she just went, "Oh, right."

I pointed out that was only two years ago. She argued that since the diet, training, and lifestyle have been identical all this time, there's no need to overanalyze it.

It's frustrating. I'm counting down the days until my appointment ends. It is hard to respond to such nonsense without losing my temper and leaving the practice entirely. 🙄

velvetmoose9 said:That's definitely a necessary step, but it seems your primary doctor didn't suggest it (?), and you already have everything listed in a few posts prior that is REQUIRED before starting.

No. She glanced at some bloodwork from early 2016 and claimed everything was within the normal range.

Lisa Young83 said:The combination of FT4, FT3, TSH, and anti-TPO isn't a diagnosis itself; it’s just the list of thyroid hormones requested for testing. You might have misread which specific items are listed on the lab order.

That was my mistake. I meant the referral diagnosis...

Update: I saw my doctor today. She handed me two referrals; one for a cervical spine X-ray and another regarding hyperhidrosis, specifically requesting blood work for FT4, FT3, TSH, and anti-TPO.

This aligns with what you and I have been discussing, doesn't it?

velvetmoose9 said:General fatigue suggests that a basic metabolic panel—including electrolytes, creatinine, urea, CK, LDH, liver enzymes, glucose, and a urinalysis—isn't enough. To get a clear picture, you should also start with TSH, FT4, iron, and ferritin levels. It's like checking the fuel gauge when the engine is stalling; you have to look deeper.

Even with potential discounts, DG2000 might not be the best choice for MRI diagnostics. It’s like choosing a budget airline when you really need a reliable long-haul flight. ☕
It makes sense to head over to Diagnostic 2000. Afterward. A physician conducts an evaluation to determine exactly what needs to be imaged and which specific method is most appropriate.

There will be quite a lot to unpack then.

Should I tell my doctor exactly what I’ve shared here in plain English—neck pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and insomnia—or do I need to use specific medical terminology? It is like describing a faulty engine to a mechanic versus reading from a manual.

Raymond Robinson6 said:If you're based in Washington, D.C., I know Diagnostic 2000 often runs discounts on MRIs. It works out to about $267 per segment. They use a General Electric semi-open machine, so the process is quite efficient.

I'm from Indianapolis.

I'm not even sure if booking a private MRI is a wise move. Some doctors have warned me that many private clinics use questionable equipment. There's a risk they just rush through the scan and claim nothing was found when it actually was.

I'll wait to see what the Mayo Clinic says and what they send my way first.

Raymond Robinson6 said:Go see a doctor and hold off on training until you have a diagnosis. If I were in your shoes, I would ditch the heavy weights and crazy routines for now. If you feel the urge to move, bodyweight exercises might be better. Street workout athletes are incredibly strong and built well without destroying their joints like heavy lifting can do. My doctor mentioned during my imaging that gym culture can be risky; forcing movements or using poor form often leads to injury.

I am not training at all right now, and the weights have been cleared out of my space for quite some time.

velvetmoose9 said:You absolutely need a thorough medical evaluation.
From top to bottom—literally.

Only then can you decide on necessary diagnostic testing (X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, or MRI?), lab work, and subsequent steps based on those results.

It might just require some local NSAIDs (like Voltaren gel or Luboreta) applied to the painful areas, perhaps a few days of muscle relaxants (like Diazepam tablets), and adjusting your exercise form or routine itself.

However, you must always rule out (meaning, confirm the absence of) more serious conditions that demand aggressive treatment.🤔

Thanks for the reply. If I'm not mistaken, you're a doctor, right?

Honestly, I feel sick from all of this. I'm 24, yet I feel like an old man.

My memory, my strength, my energy—everything is gone.

I should probably mention that I suffer from chronic insomnia. I go to bed around 11 PM, but it takes me over an hour and a half to fall asleep, and then I don't wake up until 10 or 11 AM feeling like a zombie.

And I don't drink or smoke.

I'll try to schedule an appointment with my primary care physician tomorrow. What's your advice on how to be clear and concise, and which specific tests should I ask to be referred for?

Raymond Robinson6 said:Why would you think pull-ups hurt the neck? I’m talking about standard pull-ups; they seem much safer than heavy weightlifting.

I'm just guessing, honestly. Back when I was at my peak in 2014, I was doing sets with 90 to 110 pounds, and that puts massive strain on the body.

I suspect those heavy deadlifts did most of the damage. My legs were always a bit weak, and since I'm quite tall, I’d often sacrifice my posture just to move a heavier plate. It was like trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

Now that I think about it, the military press was another issue. I used to arch my back and strain my neck while pressing around 135 to 145 pounds for 4x4.

Between the deadlifts and the presses, both my lower back and my neck took the hit.

Youthful arrogance leads to mistakes. Looking back, I see it now...

steelwalker26 said:Alright, I gave you a list of what to do (blood work, liver panels, thyroid check) and what to avoid, but you only addressed the latter, lol.
If your throat was tightening and your neck felt constricted while you were sweating heavily just within the last three weeks, then never mind; everyone's been struggling with this heatwave. You didn't answer whether you have the same symptoms, nor if taking an Advil or magnesium on a day off helps.

My apologies, I forgot to mention—I take magnesium, but not Advil or aspirin.

It isn't a huge distinction; I have been sweating excessively for at least two or three years now.

Upon further reflection, my neck actually feels tight much more often than that. It is just that the pulsing sensation in my veins has only surfaced in the last four or five months.