Dr. Cranquis' Mumbled Gripes
(Disclaimer: Questions related to medical topics will be answered to the best of Dr. Cranquis' (and Google's) knowledge, but the internet-delivered wisdom on this blog CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT SUBSTITUTE for your Real-Life Doctor's personal attention + examination, and your own common sense too! If you think you're having a medical emergency, hang up and go email 911. The author of this blog takes no responsibility for any medical, relationship, scholastic, financial, or other decisions you may make based on information found in this blog.)
And since people seem to be a bit confused about this: any "real-sounding" patients names are just horrible puns, and not HIPAA violations.
Cranquis: So you really can’t think of any reason why your lower back and thigh muscles would’ve just started hurting all of a sudden this morning?
Teenaged girl: No.
Mother: But tell him about your new exercise program, though.
Cranquis *internal monologue*: 
Girl: Well, I got an exercise bike for Christmas, and…
Cranquis: And this weekend you rode it for the first time.
Girl: Yeah.
Cranquis: How far?
Girl: 25 miles.
Cranquis: 
It’s for your own good.
The Exercise Nazi strikes again!
I don’t like hypocrites. I mean who does? Which is why I think it is sad that so many med students and physicians sacrifice their own health for their careers. I know many people who complain about their over weight doctors telling them to lose weight. That is something I hope not to do.
I am naturally a thick person…
A new med student sets an important personal goal for med school: “to first get down to a healthy BMI and second to maintain that indefinitely” because “as health care providers I think we should lead by example…”
I hope Not Quite Doctor will keep us updated on this aspect of his schooling — follow him to find out what happens! (And to enjoy more of his excellent medical-related quotes and anecdotes, too…) Bravo to you, NQD!
Zing!
Sir, you’ve been doing the P90X workout regimen for the past year, which is the same amount of time that your “whole body hurts every morning when you wake up.”
You’ll excuse me if I’m not quite as concerned as you are.
Especially since you haven’t tried backing off on the workout, or taking ibuprofen, or doing ANYTHING about it, really.
Eat better, exercise, control stress, Vitamin D, minimal alcohol… The usuals!
UNUSUAL SPOTTING
Hi, I’m a 19 year old female student. I’ve recently began a rigorous strength training and cardio workout (started 3 months ago) and about a week after my period, I would get some spotting that lasts 3-4 days. I’ve read online that this is common for women who begin new workout routines such as running, however I played soccer in high school, so I’m used to the rigorous workout. I was wondering if this is something common you see, and if not then what problem is this a sign or symptom of that I would need to see a OB/GYN for?
This could all just be “lifestyle-induced metrorrhagia” (Don’t you just LURVE doctor language? That just means “spotting/bleeding between regular periods, due to lifestyle factors such as exercise, stress, diet, etc.”). After all, even though you “played soccer in high school”, you may be working out more vigorously now, and/or your body’s hormonal shifts (and resultant effects on the uterine lining) may be more pronounced now, leading to the spotting. This is a common occurrence among high-school/college-aged women undertaking vigorous workout regimens.
As long as you’re not having pelvic pain, and your periods themselves are staying regular, and you’re only spotting and not “bleeding like a stuck pig” between periods — you could probably just observe this for a few more months without putting yourself at risk of anything serious. But if those symptoms showed up, or the spotting pattern doesn’t quit, then you should probably discuss it with an OB-GYN. (Oh, and see the OB-GYN sooner if you have a family history of bleeding problems, cancer, or uterine fibroids!)
And here’s my stupid-yet-important question of the day regarding your symptom: Are you sure the blood is coming from the vagina? Don’t forget there’s 2 other orifices that can mimic spotting in the underwear, and bleeding from the urethra or the rectum should be evaluated ASAP. (I doubt this is the situation for you — just being thorough!)
Laterz!
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 3; InBox: Closed***
wow, that is some serious dedication!
thuc:
Infographic : Complete Guide to Tracking Your Health & Fitness Online
Ooh, this is useful! Reblogging so I can find it easily for passing along to my patients.
You made it! Good job, Dolly Llama! :)
Hmm, that’s a bit weird. If your “squished-lung” feeling was from just being out-of-shape, I would’ve expected it to show up at the beginning of your exercise program. So I wonder if the cause is something external/coincidental, such as an environmental allergy causing a form of exercise-induced asthma? But to be honest, I’m as stumped as a masochist with a chainsaw on this one.
Regardless, you should probably discuss this with an athletic trainer or a doctor. Good luck! :)
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 7; Ask Box: Closed***
Anonymous Asks:
A few days ago I went swiming, I swam non-stop for about 10 minutes. I used to swim a lot, so i could swim for about 30-40 minutes non-stop with ease.
Lately, i haven't been able to excersise that much, so maybe I could have pushed it too far..
The thing is, after 10 minutes I started to feel like i wasn't getting fully oxygenated. So i stopped swiming. My airways didn't seemed obstructed in any way
(and it clearly wasn't the usual asthmatic episode that I hardly ever get). It was as if I was breathing normally but my body wasn't getting fully oxygenated.
I checked my pulse and it was very fast. I left the pool and walked towards the bathroom. I looked very pale. I sat down on a bench for like 20 minutes, I couldn't
stand straight without feeling worst. I didn't felt nauseas nor did I had momentary blurry vision (idk if i was going to pass out). After the 20 minutes my pulse
returned to normal and I felt fine (a little bit weak tho).
Oh, i forgot to mention it. There was something weird about my right ear. I could hear everything more intensly and it felt as if it was "unclogged" /
"fully opened" . I don't know how to put this into words. This ear thing has been happening for a while, almost everytime i excersise intensively.
Additional information (idk if this'll be helpful in any way):
Male 17 y/o . 183cm . 77Kg. I'm not very athletic, but i'm kinda fit. Also, i have always had a minor trembling in my hands.
My uncle died from a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 25 (never met him). I read somewhere that aneurysms are hereditary.. could it be related? How can i know if
i inherited this condition? Is it treatable? operable?
Also.. (this might be way too unrelated) 3/4 years ago I had a couple anaphylactic reactions, the doctors never knew the reason.
Anyways.. Keep up the good work Dr Cranquis!!
cranquis Said:
Hmm — Well, that’s a lot of information, Shaky Sea Lion, but I’m not sure that it’s all relevant. I don’t know what to make of your “ear/exercise thing”, and I don’t think your anaphylactic history or your uncle’s cerebral aneurysm are connected to your recent exercise-related tachycardia (rapid pulse/heart rate).
I’d be curious to know just how fast was your “very fast” pulse. Yes, deconditioning from not exercising recently could make you get worn-out sooner than normal — but if your pulse was more than ~150 beats/minute, I’d start wondering about a cardiac arrhythmia such as supra-ventricular tachycardia. You should discuss that with your doctor, and possibly get a “stress EKG” (an EKG done while you run on a treadmill to see if exercise makes your heart start going too fast).
Good luck, thank you, and you’re welcome! :)
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 8; Ask Box: Closed***
Anonymous Asks:
Since November, my husband has been running a gauntlet of illness: three colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, and a lingering cough tying them together. It seems like he gets sick if he gets within 10 feet of a sick person, while I've been healthy throughout. He's seeing his doctors regularly to ensure this isn't a sign of something worse, but I'm just wondering if there's anything we can do at home to boost his immune system.
I'm thinking vitamin supplements (I've been taking vitamin D and haven't been sick - that's the only major difference in our intake), exercise (is it safe to work out while fighting a chest cold?), diet? He' got type 1 diabetes if that complicates things.
Thanks!
cranquis Said:
Well, Healthy Horse, I like how you slipped that “small” detail in at the end of your question — yes, Type 1 Diabetes complicates LOTS of things. Not the least of which, diabetic people have a much harder time avoiding and dealing with infections. Is his diabetes under good control? Because running a “tight ship” on his blood sugars should help him be a little less susceptible against infections.
Things to could help him get sick less often (or at least, less severely):
- Vitamin D: I’m a big believer in the stuff for improving the immune system. Hubby could even get a Vitamin D blood test done, to see if his level is super-low.
- Getting shot: the flu shot (yearly) and the pneumonia shot (every few years), to be precise.
- Exercise: not only to improve his body’s immune system, but to help with blood sugar control, blood pressure management, and weight.
- Common sense: Easier said than done, but maybe hubby needs to get strict about not being in contact with sick people. This might mean such social “faux pas” as not shaking hands, avoiding social gatherings during flu season, wearing a facemask when in large crowds (airports, stores, etc. — I think the Japanese are really onto something with that idea.)
- Not smoking: you didn’t say he smoked, but just thought I’d mention it for sake of completeness.
Hope that helps. Oh, re: “is it safe to work out while fighting a chest cold?” — I’d say “Yes, within reason”. I’d avoid running 5 miles in a blizzard in that scenario, but steady walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes could help mobilize phlegm out of the lungs, prevent pneumonia, and improve blood circulation. But if any activity is making him short of breath or exhausted, STOP.
Good luck! :)
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 22; Ask Box: Open***
Anonymous Asks:
I was wondering if anything diet or exercise wise can discourage pregnancy? For example, is there any type of exercise that could bring on a miscarriage? Or any type of diet that would discourage fertilization? I'm just curious. Not because I want to get pregnant... But because I DON'T. Birth controls don't go well with my body apparently because I have migraine issues, but I still want to be able to enjoy sex without any fear of accidental pregnancy. I always feel like I should have a backup plan. (We always have 2 condoms just in case, but I just like playing it safe.)
Thanks so much.
cranquis Said:
Absolutely, Immaculate Contraception! (Hey, how come none of the birth-control pills have used this catchphrase in their ad campaigns yet? I CALL politically-incorrect DIBS!!!)
You have a couple options:
1) Eat everything in sight until you weigh over 500 pounds. At that point, your chances of getting pregnant will drop drastically. (Oh, wait, you still want to enjoy sex… never mind then.)
2) Focus on abdominal toning exercises, so that you can do massive tummy crunches right after sex and just SQUEEZE all the sperm out…
————-
Ok, I’m done with the silly answers. Sorry, couldn’t resist. :)
Well, I don’t have any good/healthy “diet and exercise” contraception options for you. In general, women who exercise very strenuously (Olympic athletes, etc) or eat very poorly (anorexics) will stop having menstrual cycles. NOT GOOD OPTIONS for reliable non-hormonal birth control. I don’t know of any magical foods or exercises which will make you non-fertile. (And let’s not even go into the “types of exercises that could bring on a miscarriage”, ok?! *shudder*)
Have you looked into getting a diaphragm or cervical cap? Or using a spermicidal foam? Or using a “timing” method by using OTC ovulation-timing kits, to determine if you’re not fertile before sexy times? I understand your issues with hormonal birth controls — they can be brutal on migraines for some people.
The WomensHealth.gov website has great summaries of the contraception methods available, so check that out too (As of today 4/22/11, the website is having server problems, but it usually works!). Good luck!
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 38***
Anonymous Asks:
I am an avid reader of your tumblr, and for a long time I thought I wouldn't have a question to ask you, but now I do! I am a 25 year old woman who is slightly out of shape. Every time I try to install a regular exercise schedule in my life, my menstrual cycle goes insane.
I thought this was an isolated event, but it has happened at least three times now (over 3 years). I start working out, and everything is going swimmingly. Then I either start spotting, and continue spotting, for about a week or two until I start my usual period, or my period comes ridiculously early and is not it's usual pattern. This has happened with many different forms of exercise routines: Running, aerobics, yoga etc...
Some background: I am not that regular down to days, but I am regular down to the week. My pattern is I usually have heavy flow for the first two days and then medium tapering off to light for the next five. On the abnormal cycles, I have a "bell curve" pattern. Light to medium to light flow.
So my questions for you are as follows: 1)Is this something I should be worried about? A quick google search showed that I'm not the only woman this happens to. 2)How the heck can I stop this? I don't feel like working out when I'm menstruating for 7 days, much less 20. And this issue is really making it hard for me to keep exercising regularly.
Thanks for your help and time!
cranquis Said:
Hello, Loopy Lutropin! Thanks for reading!
Yeah, the female menstrual control system is a sensitive beast — and more for some women than for others. Exercise, emotional stress, changes in diet/sleep — many things can impact the hormonal balance and cause increased or decreased menstrual symptoms.
However, your chances of having “swings” in your menstrual cycle are greater if your hormone levels are “borderline” at baseline, or if you have anatomic abnormalities (such as a benign fibroid in your uterine wall). I’d recommend getting an evaluation with an OB-GYN physician. Perhaps a low-dose oral contraceptive could help regulate things for you. Good luck!
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 40***
