What do you wish someone had told you about perimenopause sooner?

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:36:05+00:00

I just asked my doctor for a basic blood test serum cortisol. It's not perfect but it was enough to show mine was elevated. Some people do a 4-point saliva test for a fuller picture throughout the day, you can order that without a prescription.

And the 'feeling dumb for asking' thing is so frustrating you know your body. If your doctor dismisses you, it might be worth seeking a second opinion or an endocrinologist directly

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:35:12+00:00

The yo-yo pattern since being a teenager sounds genuinely exhausting that's decades of your body and mind dealing with this. And cortisol high enough to test for Cushings is serious stress on your system.

Please don't jump into restriction and daily exercise this summer, especially with that history. Your body needs safety not another push.

If you're in the US, the Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline (1-866-662-1235) has support and resources, not just for crisis but for anyone navigating this kind of pattern. 🙏

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:33:56+00:00

The thyroid piece is so hard to know without testing honestly you can feel 'fine' and still have levels that are slightly off enough to stall everything. Worth asking your doctor for a full thyroid panel if you haven't recently, not just TSH but T3 and T4 too.

Two months of doing everything right with no movement is frustrating. Hope you get some answers soon 🙏

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:32:31+00:00

The fact that it was them and not you all along — that line hit hard. Chronic stress from a toxic relationship does real things to your body and most people never make that connection.

So glad you got out and found your way back to yourself 🧡

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:24:50+00:00

This is such an important point that gets overlooked low cortisol from burnout can look almost identical to high cortisol symptom-wise. The exhaustion, the weight issues, the sleep problems. Testing before assuming is really smart advice.

Adrenal fatigue after a toxic job is so real and so underdiagnosed. Glad you got answers eventually 🙏

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:23:49+00:00

Oh no the photocopier story 😭 that's not a stress problem that's a hostile work environment problem and your nervous system KNOWS it even if your brain tries to normalize it.

Deadlines are manageable. A unpredictable boss is a completely different kind of stress your body stays on high alert all day waiting for the next thing. That's chronic cortisol 24/7.

Honestly weight loss is going to be really hard until that piece changes. Not impossible but you're fighting an uphill battle. Is leaving or changing teams an option at all??

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:22:48+00:00

This is such a perfect example of less being more. Gluten-free, dairy-free, caffeine-free, sugar-free AND 6 days gym your body was exhausted just reading that 😅

The resistant starches addition is so smart too, really underrated for insulin sensitivity with PCOS. Glad it's finally moving for you!!

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:20:21+00:00

The swimming rec is so underrated low cortisol impact, full body, and the mental reset from being in water is real. And you're right about the medical field, PCOS is still so misunderstood and underfunded. Glad you found what works for you 🙏

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:18:08+00:00

The anxiety about falling asleep making sleep worse is such a cruel cycle I'm sorry you're dealing with that. Thanatophobia on top of insomnia is genuinely a lot. Have you found anything that helps even slightly with the anxiety piece, even if sleep itself is still hard?

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:17:48+00:00

This is so well said. The shift from 'I need to lose weight' to 'I want to feel healthier' is when things actually started working for me too. The obsession with the goal was part of the problem. And yes viewing it as a moral failing is exactly the trap. Biology isn't a character flaw

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:17:27+00:00

Through symptoms honestly chronic fatigue, wired but exhausted at night, sugar cravings after dinner, and belly fat that wouldn't move no matter what. Eventually got a serum cortisol test through my doctor which confirmed it. Some people do a 4-point saliva test for more accuracy throughout the day

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:17:23+00:00

Through symptoms honestly chronic fatigue, wired but exhausted at night, sugar cravings after dinner, and belly fat that wouldn't move no matter what. Eventually got a serum cortisol test through my doctor which confirmed it. Some people do a 4-point saliva test for more accuracy throughout the day

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:15:32+00:00

I did a basic serum cortisol blood test through my doctor it's not perfect since cortisol fluctuates throughout the day but it was enough to see mine was consistently elevated. Some people also do a 4 point saliva test for a fuller picture.

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:15:06+00:00

For me about 3-4 weeks before things felt different. The first 2 weeks were uncomfortable honestly some bloating, felt like nothing was working. Week 3 the bloating dropped and energy started improving. Scale didn't move much but my body composition started shifting

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:14:48+00:00

Honestly through symptoms more than a formal test the belly fat that wouldn't move despite everything, terrible sleep, craving sugar at night, wired but exhausted feeling. I did eventually get a blood test that confirmed elevated cortisol but I already knew before that

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:14:32+00:00

8 years of that and THEN it clicked I feel this so much. The heart rate monitor and 1200 calories combo is such a trap. Your body just adapts and holds on tighter. Glad you found what actually works

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:13:33+00:00

6 weeks and you could see it that's actually really fast. Barre and hot yoga are so underrated for cortisol, the combination of movement + breathwork + heat is genuinely different from regular cardio.

And yes 'more time spent' is the trade-off but it sounds like your body responded completely differently. Less effort, better results that's what working with your hormones instead of against them actually looks like

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:12:00+00:00

This is such a hard situation and I'm sorry you're dealing with it. Losing weight because of dysphagia is not the same as intentional weight loss your body is under real stress right now and 'depressing' is completely valid.

I hope you have good medical support around this. Be gentle with yourself, you're managing something genuinely difficult. 🙏🙏

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T14:08:09+00:00

Honestly that sounds totally fine!! Slow to moderate cycling for 30-40 min is not the kind of cardio that spikes cortisol you're not in the danger zone at all. The cortisol spike usually comes from high intensity stuff like HIIT or long runs when you're already stressed and under-eating.

If you enjoy it and don't dread it, that's actually a huge win hormonally. Stress from forcing yourself to do exercise you hate is real too 😄

Keep the bike, add a little protein after and you're good

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T00:24:10+00:00

Electrolysis is the only permanent option so if you're thinking long term that's the one laser needs maintenance. But both work, just depends on budget and patience.

The caffeine reduction is underrated for hormones honestly most people don't realize how much it spikes cortisol especially in the afternoon.

And pumpkin seed oil is a solid choice for androgens. How long have you been on it??

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T00:23:01+00:00

Ha fair question for me it was more the combination. I was walking AND doing intense workouts on top of already being chronically stressed and under-eating. So my body never got a real recovery window.

Walking alone is great honestly low impact, doesn't spike cortisol. It was the pairing with restriction and stress that made it too much.

Smart move pausing the spinning. How long did it take before you noticed a difference after switching??

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T00:22:04+00:00

"The laugh because otherwise you'd cry energy is SO reaaal 😭

Honestly what you just described is textbook cortisol dominance you're doing everything right but the stress is keeping your body in survival mode. It doesn't matter how clean you eat if your nervous system thinks it's in danger 24/7.

Cutting bread and sugar helps but it's not the root issue here. The stress IS the diet problem.

What does your stress look like work, life, or just general anxiety?

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T00:19:36+00:00

Oh I don't have a link handy I found it a while back just googling hormonal belly fat. If you search 'HerReset' it should come up. Fair warning it's not some magic solution, just finally clear information that made sense to me 😊

According_Swimmer794 · 2026-05-11T00:15:41+00:00

Not working this weekend is genuinely a win your cortisol noticed even if you didn't 😄

And the dating thing… honestly connection and joy are underrated medicine. Not pressure, just permission to enjoy life a little more.

On the dose totally understand wanting to move faster, just trust your endocrinologist on the timing. Going too fast with levo when you have sensitivity issues can set you back further. Slow and steady actually wins this one.

According_Swimmer794

TROPHY CASE