Au Natural’s BodyBlog

Friends & Associates in the lifting world. I have a warning for you.

Genetics is a wonderful thing, my mom is very large boned & powerful, my dad is average… My brother & I both took after mom. Yet, I have an edge. I have polycystic ovary disease. The most common female reproductive, hormone imbalancing disease. Because of this disease, (which I was diagnosed with 6 years ago,) My testosterone is elevated.

However, my testosterone is no longer elevated, it is HIGH! My blood testosterone is 6x’s the max & my free testosterone is just ever so slightly higher than double the max. This means I am producing as much if not more natural steroid in my system as someone who is juicing. To put it in perspective - I have more testosterone than a man.

This puts me at an extremely high risk of endometrial, ovarian, uteran, & breast cancer. Not to mention the typical side effects I already have. Muscle growth, black hair growth (in places it dont belong), deepening of my voice, thinning of my hair in the crown (like male pattern baldness), heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke. I have most of the side effects of juicing from this disease.

Elevated testosterone levels are a key symptom of PCOS (polycystic ovary disease/syndrome). However when your levels become HIGH, such as mine, it is no longer due to that disease. The main cause is a tumor or cancer of the Adrenal glands, Pituitary, Ovaries, or Ovarian blahblahblah Thecosis(long name, sorry I can’t remember)… Blood work from an endocrinologist, Ct Scan, MRI, ultrasounds, & a specialized test with a very long needle to the Ovarian Vein. Are all diagnostics which I have had to find out where & what it is… It is important that you see an endocrinologist for this!!! A primary care Doctor will NOT run the blood work necessary for this diagnosis. I have had every hormone in my body checked.

Luckily, We’ve ruled out the Pituitary, & the Adrenals… Now its a toss up between a tumor, or cancer of my ovaries. One is atleast twice enlarged & will need to come out - just not yet. It is possible a full hysterectomy is necessary. Awaiting more results…

 My testosterone will drop, & I will lose some of my hard earned muscle mass… The Endo says "probably a little" - I am not happy with that… but, as he put it - "This is a little more important".

 My primary care Doctor NEVER mentioned a tumor could be causing this. I was never informed as to why she was having me do an internal ultrasound every year to look at my ovaries for changes… So I tell you now. For 6 years I complained of the bloating, water retention, black hair on my chin, chest, acne on my shoulders, sometimes chest, hair thinning in the crown, deepening constantly of my voice, aggression & temper getting worse & worse to the point of needing anti-depressants/anxiety, so I can control myself, the amount of strength I have, how easily I put on muscle mass (it gets easier as I get older - I thought this odd)…Surgery is a definite for me, but maybe someone else might not have to let it get as far as mine did, to being uninformed.

Hello friends!

I guess I’ll just start at the beginning and go from there. I started lifting at 16 and within a few months I went from an anorexic 111lbs at 5′8" - to 128lbs. and defined but still way to underfed looking. I learned to start eating correctly and I just kept going… From one extreme to another - I like to think this ones the healthier route. Although I’ve been plagued with nasty injuries along the way, as follows.

At 8, my left cheak bone was fractured by a fastball to it in little league.

At 11, I broke my left shoulder playing softball (the catcher got in my way). Torn rotator cuff and no insurance means it never got fixed. At 22 I had an MRI done to see if it could be fixed (after many repeated trips to a doctor for pain) since I had insurance. To find out I have nerve, and vascular damage. My shoulder was frozen - subscap and supra were held together by large chunks of scar tissue. I found an awesome massage therapist who worked wonders - through gritted teeth and 30min. appointments on that shoulder every two weeks, the scar tissue was busted up and the shoulder unfrozen. The muscle are attrophied and do not work correctly, but I can now put my hand behind my back and raise it above my head (with some difficulty). I do not have any external rotation which kills my posterior delts. With a 2" size deifference in arms I feverishly worked that left arm and within weeks a difference could be seen. The end result is the contest picture I have up from 2002.

At 13, I broke the other shoulder falling from a large hill in a construction site and stopping my fall with a brick jammed into the joint - separating that shoulder. No permanent damage.

At 18,  I was in a major car accident in Chicago. My right orbit and cheek bone were broken, aswell as my right very badly mangled hand, severe whiplash with torn ligaments in most of my cervical spine. Years of recovery - told I would never lift a weight again, I couldn’t even lift a glass. As you read above I moved to Arizona, and 2 months later I was back in a gym after 2 years away - rebuilding my body, starting totally from scratch. My right thumb is permanently immobile. Before this accident, I weighed in at 155lbs. with 14.5" arms - very cut.

At 22, I broke my left knee and had it scoped. Was told I would never be able to squat again. So… I went to wide and hack squats with my toes pointing out to take the strain off my knees. I also moved out to Arizona at this age, for the dry weather, hoping it would help the aches and pains from the various injuries.

At 29, broke my right leg and ankle. 3 broken bones in 4 places, torn ligament, and a whole lotta metal to hold it together. Lost 10 degrees of motion in the ankle, its also 2" bigger than the left. I have a permanent limp that throws my hips out of alignment. I cannot train that calf muscle and now cannot squat. I was bed ridden for a couple months - gained about 30lbs. and lost a lot of muscle mass. It took me a year to heal the leg fully and to see where I could get it. I was in the gym as soon as I was in a boot, on crutches.

I was angry! Angry, angry, angry - I already have several injuries that limit my motion - cause most of my exercises to be modified, and have chronic pain. At most of my injuries, I was told - you will NEVER lift again. Yet, here I am… I’m one of the largest natural body builders this state has seen (mass wise, per my diet coach)! I’m a bit thick (story of my life) and look like a power lifter and if my body could handle it - I’d be doing that, too!

Here’s my point. For anyone out there who is suffering with chronic pain, or has been knocked out of the gym for a period of time and you see your body changing, who has the anger associated with something being taken away that you hold dear. I understand, and I can tell you - the doctors are NOT always right. Noone can tell you what your body can/cannot do. Only YOU know what you can/cannot do. The way I work it - if it aches PUSH IT! If its sharp pain - STOP! I’ve learned to listen to my body and work with my injuries and deficiencies.

I was sponsored to lift by a company at 25. I was told nows the time if you wanna go pro and here’s the stuff to do it… I said, no. I think sometimes I shoulda just done it and dealt with the consequences later… I’m sure some reading would agree… Yet, I stick with my decision.

Last Sunday, 7/22/07 I was rear ended at 40mph on my way to the gym… I have lumbar, thoracic, and cervical muscle damage, sever whiplash, a nasty concussion, and a possible stress fracture in T-10. Guess what? I’m in the gym. I’m training super light, high reps, or as much as I can handle without a splitting headache, or getting nauseaus. I was told "DO IT"! by the Physical Therapist - it may help….

Am I a little nuts? Maybe… Stupid, for doing this to myself after all these injuries? No, not for my body. The more I sit still and let the muscle eat itself the worse all my old injuries feel - the muscle seems to hold the joints in place and allow me to move them without the crunching or popping so many have with the breaks and surgeries associated with them.

I am determined to compete again! My son wants me to… I’m still symmetrical. I’m still large! I am ready to do the work of leaning out, getting away from all the mass training I love, but can’t do with my back right now.

Now, I ask - is there anyone with similar experience who can share with me how they work their posterior delts with permanent injuries? I really need some help with that!!!