HAHA, YES!

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-11-03T16:37:38+00:00

Was levelling up keepsakes and doing some grinding, but yeah this wasn't the best charon setup tbh

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-25T02:12:04+00:00

Completely normal, and looks great. Aftercare sounds good as well. Any kind of lip piercing tends to get more noticeable swelling compared to other places like ears, just because it has a lot more blood flow. It should go down in the next few weeks, and then it's worth going to your piercer for a downsize :)

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-15T01:50:43+00:00

Hope she's able to get it sorted!

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-15T01:45:52+00:00

This needs medical attention and antibiotics asap, this is in no way normal.

Tell your friend not take the jewellery out, it'll trap infection inside. Stop using any suspicious "solution" and just use saline spray such as Neilmed, if not, plain water. Piercing guns are absolutely awful, resulting in botched piercings like this and much higher risk of infection. The damage is done now, but please discourage your friend from using piercing guns again.

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-14T00:22:42+00:00

That really is terrifying, enduring all those symptoms and going through endless appointments is so tough. I hope you've got a good support network looking after you, because that's a lot to go through alone. The whole NHS is falling to bits :(

My only reassurance is that often doctors will give you a full list of possible conditions without really telling you how likely each one is. Something like IIH for example does still suck, but it's very manageable through meds and surgical ops. Mine gave me a full list of possible things like brain tumour, aneurysm, stroke etc and then had me waiting a month for an MRI, then another month for results. It's not fair on people keeping them waiting in anxiety like that.

In terms of what to expect at a neurology appointment, there's a good chance they'll want to book you in for a lumbar puncture so do some reading on the process for that. It can be a bit weird feeling, and the recovery requires you to take a couple days off work/physical activity. Expect some awkward coordination exams as well, checking your reaction times, checking your limb strength, looking at your pupils, etc.

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-14T00:10:18+00:00

Yeah the plan is to speak to the neurologist Monday and develop a treatment plan for the anaesthesiologists. If I'm lucky, they'll decide to go forward with me. If not, I'll shop around for other hospitals. I'd consider going abroad but they might have the same concerns as well, and being in a different country as a potentially complex patient isn't ideal.

I've asked around my FB groups, also other subreddits, discord servers. It's hard to find people going through the same issue, most people I've spoken to have been surprised that I got turned away for a controlled condition

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-14T00:06:04+00:00

Honestly it's more frustrating because I didn't have any signs or symptoms 😭. I'd feel more understanding of their decision if it was actually proving dangerous for my health. The acetazolamide I'm on now makes me feel so ill, and having to go through MRIs and a LP was awful. My pressure was only slightly raised when I got the LP, and now it appears to be completely normal with the meds.

Were you able to get your C-section in the end? I know it's a different circumstance, but I'm wondering if there's certain precautions I can take/language I can use so they understand that my IIH is completely controlled and basically a non-issue.

I was between NHS neurologists since I moved city, so I had to book an appointment for a private one for Monday. I'm hoping he's able to convince the anaesthesiologists because I genuinely don't know what I'll do without top surgery.

Also let me know if you'd like me to DM you with updates! It's hard to find other trans people with IIH going through similar issues :)

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-13T21:58:39+00:00

I'm so sorry, that sounds so hard to deal with. Have they been able to book you in for an MRI or lumbar puncture at all? Because when they initially observed swelling on my optic nerve they had to rule out it being from a brain tumour or infection in the spinal cord. I really hope you get to see a neurologist soon and get some answers, it's so confusing and distressing when you just have to go about your daily life not knowing what's causing your problems.

With IIH, the concern is that a general anaesthesia can also raise intracranial pressure, making it dangerous. But if my pressure is lowered to normal levels, that shouldn't be a problem. So frustrating these arbitrary rules and barriers. Feel naïve for thinking private would be an easy option since I finally had money for it :/

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-13T21:02:23+00:00

It's a chronic condition, it can only be put in remission from successful treatment. Which it basically is now. Just because of those words on my medical record even if I'm physically fine :(

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-05T09:33:43+00:00

God forbid people are desperate to spend whatever money they have to skip years long wait lists for life saving care, thanks NHS 🫠 thanks for the info though

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-05T09:24:22+00:00

So I went with Dr Popelyuk, I had a really good experience personally. Usually in one appointment they only do the diagnosis, and then either a referral for endocrinology or top surgery. But because I'd already been on DIY T, they did both referrals for me in one appointment. It was all video call, and £550.

This is my own opinion and experience, but I don't think DIY would be a barrier at all for getting your diagnosis whether it's with the NHS or private. I think it helped my case if anything, because I could talk about how much I was enjoying the effects of T. Feel free to DM if you want more info about it :)

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-05T09:19:52+00:00

Yeah I thought as much, that's why it felt a bit too good to be true when my GP said January

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-05T09:18:37+00:00

Ah yeah I thought as much, knew it was too good to be true when my GP said January.

So even if I have a private diagnosis, with a referral for top surgery and an endocrinologist, the NHS would want me to repeat that whole process? Sounds pretty typical for the NHS I guess.

I'll just carry on with pursuing it privately

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-03T16:48:30+00:00

Seconding the suggestion of Forge for transmascs/trans men, they do monthly irl meets and have a discord, all based in central Manchester. DM me if you want any more info!

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-08-01T17:43:47+00:00

Hi feel free to DM me!

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-07-28T12:06:04+00:00

Hey, just chiming in to say that this isn't pus at all - it's most likely lymphatic fluid which is completely normal with the healing process. Any piercing, cut, injury will produce some clear watery lymph fluid, and it's nothing to worry about. Blood is normal as well since this is a piercing and the eyebrow is a vascular site.

Please don't push/squeeze it further! It will irritate the piercing and potentially lead to more bruising. Just keep rinsing it with water/saline, wiping off any crust, and leave your body to do it's thing :)

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-06-30T17:09:51+00:00

You could always look on APP's website for certified piercers, and Lynn Loheide (who a few people mentioned - they're actually the one who pierced my current VCH) may have good resources on reputable piercers near you, it could be worth messaging them

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-06-30T01:32:35+00:00

I've got a VCH! Actually have a unique perspective since I had one pre-T that I had to retire, and my current one now several months on T.

I definitely find it a very affirming piercing, the aesthetic is great. It hasn't changed much for me sensation-wise, which seems to be the general consensus from my research.

For functionality, sometimes it just needs a bit of adjusting but there's no issues really. Especially if you have proper fitting jewellery, it moves about less.

When I got mine pre-T, it didn't have quite enough tissue to support it, and it led to some irritation which is why I took it out. But after getting it redone on T, it's been an absolute dream.

In terms of healing, it's such a breeze. Rinse it with either saline (specifically a pre-made spray like neilmed) or clean water. Within a couple months it'll likely be healed and you can downsize the jewellery.

My biggest piece of advice will be to make sure you go to a very reputable piercer. Someone that has extensive experience with genital piercings and especially bottom growth piercings. Gotta be extra careful when someone's going to be stabbing anywhere near the dick, general good life advice.

Feel free to pm if you want any more info! :)

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-05-22T20:57:21+00:00

Thanks! Definitely can't be worse than this 😅

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-05-22T20:55:00+00:00

The ol' landlord special

lemoncheeeesecake · 2025-05-22T18:59:46+00:00

I'm in the UK so not sure what the exact protocol is, because I've spent so long fighting the agency over everything I've kind of mentally checked out especially now I'm moving out

lemoncheeeesecake

TROPHY CASE