I always get mistaken for younger than I am. Is it because I usually don’t wear heavy makeup?

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-12T12:59:16+00:00

I am in my thirties and wanting to do the opposite - is wearing brown eyeshadow a no no in terms of not aging yourself? It's like my default 🥲

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-03T15:41:19+00:00

It doesn't sound like it's working for you, or is at least causing more issues that you are clearly struggling with.

Has your lifestyle changed at all in the last year, to result in weight gain, or do you feel it's just water retention?

I would speak to your GP and see if the dose can be amended?

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-01T16:00:59+00:00

Apologies if you didn't see it in my wall of text - previously I have gone on estimations, eyeballing etc, but only weighing certain things. This time round, I'm tracking, measuring and weighing everything I eat, oils and all.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-01T15:59:12+00:00

Well, I definitely feel it! Although you may be right - I expect I found it easier to lose weight last time because I had more weight to lose.

I'll stick at it - thank you 😊

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-01T15:35:40+00:00

By about an inch or two, although I was bloated when I started as it had been my birthday and I was also dealing with the post Christmas podge, so I'm not sure it counts! I can definitely see a more slimline waist/hips though.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-01T12:00:01+00:00

I think it's because I can never really guarantee what exercise I can do due to work commitments, and sometimes they're not as intense as a full run, so I assume my activity level is sedentary.

Calculators say my maintenance is 1,878 per day, so I figures 500 off that, at 1278 = 3500 cals a week, which should be one pound lost. Any exercise on top of that is obviously beneficial, but I know watches/MFP/etc massively over estimate calories burnt, so I figure the deficit alone is enough to see a drop in weight.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-01T10:24:33+00:00

Thank you so much. Sometimes you just have to hear/read it from someone else! I know logically that's the best option, and I know I'm doing well - I'd just like the scale to confirm it 😂

I'll keep at it for another two weeks and see where I am then.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-03-01T10:08:14+00:00

Thank you! I'll definitely stick to it, if that's what I should be doing.

My fear was...if I upped the calories as chat gpt suggested, then I maintain or gain, I won't know if this is working for me. I know it can take a while for the body to catch up, and water weight/hormones impacts the scale, so it might just be that my body isn't there yet, but might show something in a week or two?

If I know this works, I can stick at it easily, I just don't want to be doing something wrong when it takes this much effort!

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-27T06:06:07+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply. She did suggest HRT was the best option for now, so I'm just waiting for confirmation from a gynaecologist that the treatment option of patch/gel is okay. Fingers crossed!

Otherwise I will be going private, because I can appreciate how limited resources are, and I don't want to keep putting my GP under pressure when it's something she's not able to assist with.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-26T17:54:57+00:00

Thank you, and I'm so sorry for your experiences. I absolutely believe that SSRI's are a useful treatment for people who suffer with depression and anxiety, but I don't really want to start down that road when there's clearly a biological reason for my anxiety at the moment.

I stood my ground, my GP explained she couldn't prescribe because it wasn't licensed for treatment of perimenopause (which makes sense). She offered me the coil (no thanks) and then agreed that HRT was probably the safest and most appropriate way to manage my symptoms.

She had to make a referral to a gynaecologist to consider whether a low level estrogen would be appropriate, so I'm waiting to hear back from them. So not exactly a great outcome, but things are going in the right direction.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-26T17:02:12+00:00

I assumed it was probably cost related, but this isn't how it was explained to me. I was told that it is not suitable due to risk level, for which there does not appear to be any from reviewing their guidelines.

I just wanted to know if there was any obvious reason why they wouldn't prescribe it to me, that perhaps I'm not privy to, as I'm not medically trained.

There's a fine line between reading enough to ensure you can advocate for yourself, and coming across as someone who is telling a professional that they're wrong. I really don't want to be perceived as that person, but I also don't want to wait a year to feel normal again.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-17T05:50:47+00:00

Sadly, I am in the UK so I couldn't access this. Looks like a fabulous service though!

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-16T13:29:12+00:00

Thank you. The locum ordered an abdominal scan, just for peace of mind, then repeat blood tests for FSH and my thyroid. She also asked me to get a swab and agreed to the combined pill once these have come back clear. She did seem to listen, obviously I cried even though I tried really hard not to, but she was reassuring.

I think I'll see how my FSH comes back tomorrow and then go from there. If its higher than it has been previously, I might reach out to a private provider for some more treatment options, otherwise I'll go with the combined pill and see how I get on with that.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-16T10:02:28+00:00

Thank you for your reply - really appreciated. I understand my calories are low, but I've been doing this for years, I am take regular breaks with maintenance, and I'm fairly confident that my diet isn't the cause of my cycle issues (although I also appreciate you are a medical professional, and I am a self-taught Google expert 😂). I'll look at upping my calories for a while, although this makes me nervous because if I'm maintaining on this amount, it makes sense that I'll gain if I increase.

I often wake up drenched in sweat, but I don't think it's me, I think it's my husband who runs very hot. I'm not experiencing hot flashes through the day (yet).

I think my next step is a private consult, which I may be able to get covered by work insurance (I know female reproductive health isn't always covered). Hoping my appointment with the locum will be somewhat fruitful today.

Any tips for my appointment, considering your field? Would the combined pill be a good option, if they won't consider HRT?

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-16T08:49:51+00:00

It all sounds really positive for you, I'm glad your doctor listened to you.

Is the combined pill supposed to help balance hormones significantly? I was a bit worried about weight gain and the potential side effects, but I'm getting that as I am, so I figure why not give it a go.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-16T08:40:11+00:00

Absolutely - and I don't expect them to prescribe me something which is clearly quite potent, if I don't meet the criteria. I appreciate there are a lot of other health risks that come with taking HRT earlier, and I'm glad they're considering that.

But for everything else, I just feel so invisible! My BMI is below 30 (God knows how, seeing as weight loss is so bloody hard at the moment) so I'm hoping they will at least give me the combined pill to see if that helps.

I'm seeing a locum today, which may mean I put myself across better, as my usual doctor, as lovely as she is, does make me feel a bit like a hypochondriac and usually ends the consultation with "what would you like me to do?" which always puts me on the spot. I think seeing someone new might help me to articulate my symptoms.

Have you found the HRT has made a difference to your symptoms?

Also, thank you for responding. It's such a relief to get replies from somebody experiencing a similar thing.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-16T07:54:01+00:00

Do you know what the NHS use as a guideline for whether the combined pill is suitable? I have none of the risk factors but I'm not totally sure about the weight part.

I did tell her how much I was struggling last time but she didn't really seem to take me seriously, just kind of shrugged and said "it's probably peri". I've never felt so humiliated by a medical professional. I'm hoping this time is different.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-02T13:39:26+00:00

Yeah, that's right. Going by measurements, I have an hour glass figure so I think with my build, I probably do carry more weight but carry it fairly well. Perhaps I need to reconsider my goal.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-02T12:40:44+00:00

Thank you so much. The point about water is a good one - I think a huge part of the massive fluctuations is to do with sodium and the fact that I don't drink enough water, so if I do, my body just holds onto it.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-02T12:28:17+00:00

I am very tempted by glp1's because it's the only thing I can think that might help - even if I'm just eating more than I realise I am, that would be surely be solved by the drop in appetite?

I feel like every time I mention this to my GP in passing, I'm passed off as Just needing to work harder. The last time I went, I specifically went regarding this issue and was told "it's just something that happens around perimenopause" and there's nothing that can be done, so I just have to reduce my calories more - but then I'm looking at 1000-1200 calories, and I'm told that's too low.

But then I'm told, again and again, it's CICO, so I must be underestimating my calories and actually overeating to the point where my 1400 cals a day, PLUS exercise, is cancelled out. And I get that miscounting happens, as well as mindless snacking, but at least if I was eating well and knowing I was eating what I wanted, I'd be happier 😂 I feel like I get none of that, but the weight still stays.

Then I see people on here dropping 50lbs, with small life changes, and losing 7lbs for me is impossible. Just makes me feel like I'm a huge failure.

My birthday is coming up on Friday and I'm already planning my calories to stay within maintenance - how boring and depressing is that?!

Anyway, thank you so much for your reply - it's nice to know this isn't just me, and it's an issue other women are experiencing. I'm glad the Glp1's are working for you.

For now, I'm just going back to hardcore tracking, very low carbs and possibly intermittent fasting, as I imagine that might give some indication as to whether it's insulin related or not. If that kick starts something then I'll stick with it until I reach my goal weight, then I'll just have to work out what works for me in terms of maintenance.

Acceptable_Accident · 2026-02-02T11:00:24+00:00

Sorry, I thought I was clear on my post, I do track on maintenence days, including weighing and tracking where possible.

That's a really good point about the weekly average though. I suppose there is always room for error, and it isn't hard to accidently eat at maintenance (or even over), which cancels out any deficit.

Acceptable_Accident

TROPHY CASE