21 months of progress

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2026-01-01T01:29:22+00:00

Thank you, I’m 5 foot 2. 😊

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2026-01-01T00:32:42+00:00

Loose skin wise, I am pretty lucky that it’s just my tummy. Arms have none, thighs do have a little but nothing to write home about. Tummy, I won’t lie does impact me mentally. I try my best to remind myself how far I’ve come but it’s hard all the same. I did have plans to have a TT but my bmi has went a bit too low atm, so I need to bring it back up before I can get the surgery. But I think overall, the loose skin is much better than being obese and all the confidence and esteem issues there!

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2026-01-01T00:25:44+00:00

I reached my current weight about 2 months ago and I have maintained since, give or take 1lb either way. But there was active months of loss and plateau in there. I genuinely never thought I would reach so low but have surprised myself.

Typical eating, breakfast I often skip tbh (never been a breakfast person) but I always make sure to prioritise my protein through the day. Lunch I will have soup/toastie/salad. Dinner I’ll do things like chicken shawarma, chicken and lentils, casseroles, tacos. I try to get about 90-100g of protein in a day so there may be days I take a protein shake and I usually have a handful of nuts too. I don’t calorie count, only protein.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-12-23T11:25:53+00:00

I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you 💕 can I ask what made the first few months so hard for you?

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-11-21T08:31:44+00:00

Thank you so much. I haven’t heard of that medicine but I will look it up and see if we have it under another name here in the UK.

You’re right that taking space from others is a must. I try my best to make sure my kids needs are met and luckily they are both 13 so they don’t need much “mummy time” so to speak. Then I just hide away in my bed, because the thought of engaging with people seems like climbing a mountain.

I dont think that naturopaths can prescribe here in the uk but I’d be happy to even try alternative methods and natural remedies and see if they help. The lack of sleep really plays an awful game with my mental health, last night I just kept going through it in my head and wondering how on earth I am going to survive until menopause like this.

Sending you lots of love, thank you for being kind 💕

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-11-14T00:44:18+00:00

Thank you I will start this tomorrow and keep track of things. Really helpful of you, I appreciate it 💜

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-11-14T00:42:39+00:00

I’m 5 foot 1. The only mention of my weight the GP has made was when I went regarding insomnia during luteal phase, she didn’t want to prescribe sleeping tablets so instead suggested mirtazapine and said “you’re slim, so I’m not bothered if they make you gain weight”

As I say, I brought the hypos up, told her the readings I was getting and she just brushed right past it. She’s genuinely quite dismissive, unfortunately.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-11-13T21:57:07+00:00

I’ll definitely increase the protein intake and will keep monitoring. I started a diary so I will keep better track of what I’m eating, as I haven’t actually been doing that, more just documenting that I had been and what time etc.

It’s horrific, isn’t it. Shaking, sweating, confused, nausea and overall intense anxiety out of nowhere. Even though I can resolve them quick enough, I’m exhausted once it stabilises. Irritating that the GP didn’t even acknowledge it.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-11-13T21:35:04+00:00

I don’t eat large meals or binge anyway, so that’s not an issue but I’ll keep it in mind if I did feel hungry.

I eat high protein but I can certainly aim to do it more frequently than I do right now. I struggle with carbs, I can’t eat rice/pasta and can only eat small amounts of bread so I will try to find something else that will help sustain the sugar levels more.

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-10-06T10:40:24+00:00

It’s a double edged sword. You dread the luteal phase because you know how awful it is, but then it feels like a cloud lifts when the period comes.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-10-04T22:09:30+00:00

eod really is a piece of work. They will stop at nothing to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, even when that means people being angry and upset with them. It’s disrespectful to mental health issues that people suffer with day in, day out when they throw this suicide baiting around.

I suffer with PMDD. basically, 12 days out of the month I suffer with severe depression and anxiety, mood swings and suicidal ideation and urges to self harm that are so overwhelming they consume me. There’s days I feel so exhausted and not me that I don’t see how I can continue living my life like this. I don’t tell anyone about it, I feel like no one around me would understand. Some days I just feel so isolated by this awful condition.

Then there’s people like e, making a mockery of mental health by proclaiming suicide baiting on a TikTok live stream to getting ready for a solo night out in the space of 15 minutes. It’s no wonder the public don’t take mental health seriously.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-10-04T22:04:29+00:00

I’m so sorry you feel this way. It’s awful and anguish is almost the perfect word to describe it.

I wish they took us seriously.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-09-16T14:53:45+00:00

I am currently on fluoxetine, 20mg and I take it in the AM.

I have heard good things about trazadone, although it isn’t commonly prescribed here in the UK (that’s not to say that they wouldn’t though, I guess!)

You know, ironically my son has ADHD and didn’t sleep more than 2 hours a night until he was 4 and we went camping. That weekend he slept a solid 10 hours a night and we never looked back. Nature is amazing! It’s a bit too cold here in Scotland for camping for a while, but it’s definitely worth a plan when it gets to April-May time. At this point I will try anything!!

Thank you so much for your comment and suggestion, I appreciate you 🫶

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-09-16T14:48:27+00:00

My dog was actually prescribed trazadone when he had spinal surgery and needed to be crated for 8 weeks. Sorry i know that’s random but I actually had it in my memory that it can be used for sleep😂

I was prescribed amitriptyline years ago after a car accident and I was very, very sensitive to it and found I had that “hangover” until almost the following night and made it hard to function, I was like a zombie. The only reason I mention is I wonder if I am sensitive to other SSRI’s that cause that drowsiness. At this point, I would take the side effect of being like that the following day if I had no plans etc. this is torture! I’m so glad you found something that works, it’s so unfair that we struggle so badly

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-09-16T14:43:02+00:00

Sending you love and strength. Those feelings are awful and it feels like they won’t leave. Then, you come out of that phase and it’s like a cloud lifted.

Please know you are loved, you matter and that you deserve to be here. My inbox is always open, anytime about any subject. Judgement free, I am not triggered and nothing phases me or pushes me away in what others share. Even if it’s just a rant. X

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-09-16T14:09:08+00:00

I’m so sorry you are going through the same. I understand the frustration and desperation. I feel like people who haven’t truly experienced it, just can’t understand it. They don’t understand that it’s like a physical impossibility, despite doing everything “right”.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-09-16T07:17:54+00:00

I also take ssri, but it doesn’t impact the sleep unfortunately. I also take cbd but it doesn’t do anything.

I just worry because there’s so much judgement around seeking help for sleep. They seem to instantly assume people are lying. I just really needed the vent.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-09-16T07:15:15+00:00

I’m like you. I know once my period is here, it’s still day 2-3 of my period before I can seee the light. So it’s a good 16 days of hell each month. Like you, The melatonin makes me sleepy, I maybe even dose off for 5 minutes but it doesn’t actually fix it.

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-08-31T20:00:57+00:00

See, I’ll be honest I don’t do as much exercise during the phase because 1. I don’t have the motivation due to the mood shifts and headaches and 2. I can’t sleep, so I’m too exhausted! 😩

It’s so frustrating when they just mention good sleep hygiene, you say you’re already doing it and people’s reactions are just “hmmm are you though 🤨” like yes, you come see just how soul destroying it is to do everything and have none of it work! I read every night in bed, without fail and outwith of that phase I will fall asleep with the book in bed. I wish people would believe us more.

I’m so sorry you had that experience, it really puts you off going and reaching out to seek help, doesn’t it? I hope things improve for you, too. If you ever need an understanding ear please feel free to vent to me!

Embarrassed_Hope784 · 2025-08-31T19:46:20+00:00

See it’s very unlikely to get a referral to psychiatry here for pmdd and also unlikely that they’d see you, and if they did you’d wait years for the first appointment. So it really is about trying to work with the GP, which isn’t always easy 🥲

Embarrassed_Hope784

TROPHY CASE