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I'm getting frustrated. I've been having symptoms for a year that aren't going away. I've been having erection problems, loss of adrenaline, arousal, pleasure, and neck pain and head pain.
I talked to my PCP. He told me that he believes this is most likely psychological since it's not common for guys my age (I'm 23) to have these symptoms. But he told me he will do my blood work, urinalysis, check my testosterone and prostate to rule out physical issues. Everything came back normal except my PSA was mildly elevated.
My PCP also told me because of my anxiety (I have anxiety) this could be causing these symptoms as well. He gave me advice on possibly speaking to a therapist or taking anxiety meds.
He gave me a list of Urologists at the end of our visit. I waited a month. I started taking vitamins to see if that would help. The vitamins have been helping me feel a bit more alert, but haven't really improved these symptoms. I decided to go ahead and make an appointment with a Urologist for a second opinion.
I called my PCP's office to get the referral for the Urologist. It was approved.
I spoke to the Urologist today. He looked at my results from my PCP. I told him the symptoms I was having. He examined me. He told me everything was normal. After I described to him my neck and head pain, he did ask me if I ever had a scan to check for nerve issues? I answered no.
The Urologist told me the same thing my PCP told me. That what I am describing sounds like depression and could also be because of my anxiety. He asked me about my lifestyle, what I do for work, my social life, etc. I told him that I've gone through depression, but what I am going through right now is not what I would call depression. When I had depression I never had these symptoms. I've been dealing with anxiety all my life and never had these symptoms before.
He told me everything so far shows no physical problems. He also made a note to my PCP that I should speak to a therapist. I have spoke to a therapist last year for several sessions. I discontinued because I wasn't sure if she was a good fit, but I haven't went back. I told him this.
Before I left, I asked him "Should I see if I can get my head or neck scanned?" He told me, "I'm a Urologist, that's not my area of treatment. I would have to speak to a neurologist or speak to my PCP about that." And that was the end of our visit.
I'm getting upset because both my PCP and now the Urologist are both telling me that my issues are in my head.
I've been having these symptoms for a year. They aren't going away. I'm convinced this isn't psychological. I feel like we just haven't found the answer.
I did some research and I speculate I could be dealing with a nerve issue. Some kind of autonomic dysfunction/neuropathy. I got that conclusion from my neck/head pain and tension. These symptoms that I'm dealing with are all apart of the autonomic nervous system. I also read that if a man's penis is not sensitive to touching, it's most likely something wrong with the nervous system.
I'm thinking about going back to my PCP and asking him if I could get an MRI scan or another referral to speak to a Neurologist.
My PCP may deny it or feel like I'm being a hypochondriac.
Would insurance approve another referral?
I just remember how I was before these symptoms, and I am trying to get back to that point. I don't want to continue to live with this.
You can always get a different PCP if they turn you down. But you should also get your anxiety treated. You can't eliminate that until you eliminate that. Being convinced it isn't psychological doesn't mean it isn't. So pursue both if it makes you feel better, but by not getting anxiety treatment you are potentially denying yourself appropriate treatment and that would be foolish.
Since you are obviously speculating about "loss of adrenaline" that you probably don't have you may be doing the same with these other symptoms. The fact that 2 doctors have implicated your anxiety should cause you to take that seriously.
I'm getting frustrated. I've been having symptoms for a year that aren't going away. I've been having erection problems, loss of adrenaline, arousal, pleasure, and neck pain and head pain.
I talked to my PCP. He told me that he believes this is most likely psychological since it's not common for guys my age (I'm 23) to have these symptoms. But he told me he will do my blood work, urinalysis, check my testosterone and prostate to rule out physical issues. Everything came back normal except my PSA was mildly elevated.
My PCP also told me because of my anxiety (I have anxiety) this could be causing these symptoms as well. He gave me advice on possibly speaking to a therapist or taking anxiety meds.
He gave me a list of Urologists at the end of our visit. I waited a month. I started taking vitamins to see if that would help. The vitamins have been helping me feel a bit more alert, but haven't really improved these symptoms. I decided to go ahead and make an appointment with a Urologist for a second opinion.
I called my PCP's office to get the referral for the Urologist. It was approved.
I spoke to the Urologist today. He looked at my results from my PCP. I told him the symptoms I was having. He examined me. He told me everything was normal. After I described to him my neck and head pain, he did ask me if I ever had a scan to check for nerve issues? I answered no.
The Urologist told me the same thing my PCP told me. That what I am describing sounds like depression and could also be because of my anxiety. He asked me about my lifestyle, what I do for work, my social life, etc. I told him that I've gone through depression, but what I am going through right now is not what I would call depression. When I had depression I never had these symptoms. I've been dealing with anxiety all my life and never had these symptoms before.
He told me everything so far shows no physical problems. He also made a note to my PCP that I should speak to a therapist. I have spoke to a therapist last year for several sessions. I discontinued because I wasn't sure if she was a good fit, but I haven't went back. I told him this.
Before I left, I asked him "Should I see if I can get my head or neck scanned?" He told me, "I'm a Urologist, that's not my area of treatment. I would have to speak to a neurologist or speak to my PCP about that." And that was the end of our visit.
I'm getting upset because both my PCP and now the Urologist are both telling me that my issues are in my head.
I've been having these symptoms for a year. They aren't going away. I'm convinced this isn't psychological. I feel like we just haven't found the answer.
I did some research and I speculate I could be dealing with a nerve issue. Some kind of autonomic dysfunction/neuropathy. I got that conclusion from my neck/head pain and tension. These symptoms that I'm dealing with are all apart of the autonomic nervous system. I also read that if a man's penis is not sensitive to touching, it's most likely something wrong with the nervous system.
I'm thinking about going back to my PCP and asking him if I could get an MRI scan or another referral to speak to a Neurologist.
My PCP may deny it or feel like I'm being a hypochondriac.
Would insurance approve another referral?
I just remember how I was before these symptoms, and I am trying to get back to that point. I don't want to continue to live with this.
I agree with you that you should get an MRI but I believe it would be low back that causes issues down there. I have L5S1 issues which affects the "plumbing"
You've never mentioned having neck issues. You can also try a chiropractor to get an adjustment or few. It could help as long as you find a decent one.
Don't just go to any spine doctor. See if you can google to find who others like you would see. I'm on my way out the door or I'd do it. I'll link you to some images of the spine when I get back that may help you.
Google dermatomes, look at the images, that would be a starter. You can also find nerves of the back and butt and another on muscles. It's all connected.
You can always get a different PCP if they turn you down. But you should also get your anxiety treated. You can't eliminate that until you eliminate that. Being convinced it isn't psychological doesn't mean it isn't. So pursue both if it makes you feel better, but by not getting anxiety treatment you are potentially denying yourself appropriate treatment and that would be foolish.
Since you are obviously speculating about "loss of adrenaline" that you probably don't have you may be doing the same with these other symptoms. The fact that 2 doctors have implicated your anxiety should cause you to take that seriously.
Agree. If you were getting conflicting results from these different exams maybe another referral might make sense, but that's not the case...they're upholding each other. Anxiety is sort of the wild card. It can overshadow many aspects of your life, including the physical.
Last edited by Parnassia; 08-21-2021 at 04:52 PM..
I was waiting for others views on this. I agree with Deserterer.
I was hoping that the urologist would have done a nocturnal tumescence and if it came out normal then you would have objective findings that nothing physical was going on. It means all the parts are working, vascularity, nerves the whole nine yards except for the conscious mind.
Sometimes there can be nerve damage down there between the legs like riding a bicycle and smashing it between your legs or with diabetes which you don't have. The nocturnal tumescence would be abnormal and conduction studies where they put one electrode high up and the other on the tip of your penis can be checked for electrical condition times and defects.
So none of that and instead of reinforcing that nothing is wrong physically with objective tests then there is still doubt in your mind which makes it more difficult for psychological help to work. Most of the time when one seeks psychological intervention and functional (psychogenic) defects are suspected it is best to completely be reassured that it isn't physical. If that doesn't happen then doubts will generate resistance to intervention. Your therapist would want you to resolve that issue to the best of your conscious mind.
It might take a while but if you have an option in the future for insurance that allows you to seek specialist on your without a PCP then that is one option. The more opinions you get the better off you will be mentally and physically. Do both physical and mental pathways at the same time. You are still in the diagnostic phase and not yet into the treatment phase.
I was waiting for others views on this. I agree with Deserterer.
I was hoping that the urologist would have done a nocturnal tumescence and if it came out normal then you would have objective findings that nothing physical was going on. It means all the parts are working, vascularity, nerves the whole nine yards except for the conscious mind.
Sometimes there can be nerve damage down there between the legs like riding a bicycle and smashing it between your legs or with diabetes which you don't have. The nocturnal tumescence would be abnormal and conduction studies where they put one electrode high up and the other on the tip of your penis can be checked for electrical condition times and defects.
So none of that and instead of reinforcing that nothing is wrong physically with objective tests then there is still doubt in your mind which makes it more difficult for psychological help to work. Most of the time when one seeks psychological intervention and functional (psychogenic) defects are suspected it is best to completely be reassured that it isn't physical. If that doesn't happen then doubts will generate resistance to intervention. Your therapist would want you to resolve that issue to the best of your conscious mind.
It might take a while but if you have an option in the future for insurance that allows you to seek specialist on your without a PCP then that is one option. The more opinions you get the better off you will be mentally and physically. Do both physical and mental pathways at the same time. You are still in the diagnostic phase and not yet into the treatment phase.
I think I know what's going on. The Urologist brought this to my attention when I explained my symptoms to him. I believe I am experiencing Anhedonia. It's typically a symptom of Depression. It's when you are no longer able to feel pleasure. People who have this, their brain's reward system is not functioning properly.
When I told the Urologist that I have no arousal, adrenaline, pleasure, etc. he told me it sounds like Anhedonia which is pretty much a psychological issue that leads to physical symptoms.
It makes sense because this all started when I was dealing with debilitating chronic stress. I'm no longer dealing with that stress, but it had an impact on my brain's reward system where I can't produce any feel good hormones.
I just thought of Depression as feeling sad, down, etc. I know what that type of Depression is. My GP and the Urologist were both telling me it sounds like Depression, and I was getting upset because I felt like they were just dismissing my concerns as depression because the results from my testing were normal.
I've done more research on Anhedonia and it's VERY close to what I am experiencing.
I still speculate I could be dealing with a nerve issue, but this Anhedonia may be the case.
There aren't really any specific treatments for Anhedonia because it's typically a symptom of a larger problem. People can have it for YEARS with no improvement. That's what I am worried about. I would hate to be in this state for a long time.
I don't feel depressed anymore, but I for sure feel anhedonic.
My plan is to go back to my PCP and tell him about this and see where we can go from there.
I still want to ask him if it would be possible if I can get a scan for my neck and head to see if my neck/head pain is not due to some kind of nerve/muscle damage?
I think I know what's going on. The Urologist brought this to my attention when I explained my symptoms to him. I believe I am experiencing Anhedonia. It's typically a symptom of Depression. It's when you are no longer able to feel pleasure. People who have this, their brain's reward system is not functioning properly.
When I told the Urologist that I have no arousal, adrenaline, pleasure, etc. he told me it sounds like Anhedonia which is pretty much a psychological issue that leads to physical symptoms.
It makes sense because this all started when I was dealing with debilitating chronic stress. I'm no longer dealing with that stress, but it had an impact on my brain's reward system where I can't produce any feel good hormones.
I just thought of Depression as feeling sad, down, etc. I know what that type of Depression is. My GP and the Urologist were both telling me it sounds like Depression, and I was getting upset because I felt like they were just dismissing my concerns as depression because the results from my testing were normal.
I've done more research on Anhedonia and it's VERY close to what I am experiencing.
I still speculate I could be dealing with a nerve issue, but this Anhedonia may be the case.
There aren't really any specific treatments for Anhedonia because it's typically a symptom of a larger problem. People can have it for YEARS with no improvement. That's what I am worried about. I would hate to be in this state for a long time.
I don't feel depressed anymore, but I for sure feel anhedonic.
My plan is to go back to my PCP and tell him about this and see where we can go from there.
I still want to ask him if it would be possible if I can get a scan for my neck and head to see if my neck/head pain is not due to some kind of nerve/muscle damage?
Sorry my friend. The rest of the way is out of my expertise. I do wish you all the best. If I could take out all of that away I would in a moment.
"Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand." – Tribe Unknown.
It's looks like you have started your journey.
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