Low 'T' or Too Much Sweet Tea? What is the 'T' in your Fatigue?

Doc Littleton – I am a middle aged male, working hard, but feel tired all the time.  Do I have low-T?

 

It might be low-‘T’ (testosterone).

 

It might be sweet ‘tea’ (diabetes).

 

It might be‘t’ as in time to think about something more serious than the commercial suggested.

 

This is a very common question I hear from a lot of middle aged men who are working hard in their business and then feel like old men when they get home.  The recent advertisements on TV and radio have caused more men to actually go to their physician and ask.  Their wives have usually been telling them to do that for a year or more.

 

One of the biggest challenges for men to accept is that they may not be able to control every area of their lives.  Especially fatigue. 

 

Low Testosterone can be a source of fatigue in men and can easily be checked with a blood test.  There are risks of taking supplemental testosterone including upsetting the liver, fueling an undetected prostate cancer, a suspected increase in heart attacks, and in extreme cases, possible liver cancer. 

 

It is extremely important that the testosterone gel never come in contact with a young female or pregnant woman. 

 

It is the other causes of fatigue that should be focused on in the majority of patients.

 

Is there a heart condition that is undiagnosed? 

 

Or is it the sweet tea (diabetes)? The great actor Tom Hanks recently revealed he is diabetic in spite of appearing to be in reasonably good physical shape.  It can happen to anyone.

 

Or is it an undiagnosed tumor in the colon? Liver? Pancreas? Kidney? Lung? Maybe even the brain?

 

Or maybe the snoring has reached the point of causing significant sleep apnea and poor sleep.  The strongest most resilient person can be reduced to depression and fatigue from the lack of sleep – whether it be from sleep apnea or simply staying up too late with their computer, tablet or TV. 

 

There are many other causes which may also be checked, but the one I see often is simply the stress, worry and frustration that seems so prevalent in men who are trying to be good husbands, fathers, and business men in this modern digital world.

 

It has never been so easy to see the apparent wonderful lives of others and wonder why our own life is so difficult and frustrating.  What isn’t seen, though, is that everyone, without exception, faces challenges everyday either from that day’s events, or events from their past which still haunt them.

 

Some people will allow this thought process to weigh them down, either with worry, or fear, or anxiety, or simply a smoldering anger of “Why me?”

 

The chronic process of this negative thinking will lead anyone into feeling tired, fatigued and any of a number of physical ailments. I have seen this countless times. 

 

And it can be treated - many times without medication, sometimes with a few months of medication. Yes, sometimes with a lifetime of medication and lifestyle changes.

 

But wouldn’t it be worth it to wake up everyday feeling better physically and mentally? Wouldn’t it be worth knowing what the cause is, even if serious or life threatening, and be able to face it directly?

 

Isn’t an unknown cause of fatigue more frustrating than a known cause? Even if it is a cancer?

 

Fatigue shouldn’t be simply accepted as part of the normal day, nor should it be diagnosed by a thirty second commercial trying to sell a $250 a month product.  Ask your physician.

 

Then think about listening to music and reading at night instead of TV. It’s good medicine, too.

Eric J. Littleton, M.D. is a Family Physician in Sevierville, TN.  He will be relocating to his new office at 958 Dolly Parton Parkway in January 2014. Topics covered are general in nature and should not be used to change medical treatments and/or plans without first discussing with your physician.  Send questions to askdrlittleton@gmail.com.