Hi all,
I was in the restroom just now and noticed another stretch mark on my left hip. Not sure if the previous one was on the same spot, but that one went away and I remember. Now, there is another one bright red and short. I can't believe this is happening and I feel very self conscious right now. When I was growing up I got a lot of stretch marks on the back of my hips where the sacrum is and all around it and upwards. A lot. I believe that when I first started on HRT my E injections were going into the upper outer quadrant of the glutes and I've always believed that the concentration of the E caused my body to deposit more adipose there (muffin top) and I got some stretchmarks there too. I haven't had a stretch mark in years, but last month I bought an over the counter progesterone usp cream from amazon and over the weeks I've noticed my body getting plumper looking. At first I just thought it was me over thinking things, but it's been a month and I believe the changes are really happening. My breasts feel fuller and heavier and I can sometimes feel almost like an expansion. Today it also looked like my body was 'carrying' my breasts. I have small breasts like A cup or maybe B cups and the look to them made me think like my body is almost carrying them instead of like before. I have been watching my weight, but I still am within my usual range which is between 185 lbs to 192 something ish. I have been floating around that weight for a while now, so for whatever reason it makes me think I'm not really gaining weight. I have been a little less active and maybe there is a muscle to adipose conversion going on, maybe I don't know. Since using the progesterone I have been feeling more hungry and more sleepy which is good because I usually don't eat much and sometimes I have problems sleeping. I did feel a little moody on the first week, but now I feel more mellow and seem to laugh more with people. Also, I think I suddenly start random conversations which is a little odd since I normally don't do that. I do feel 'happier'. My nipples have felt a little itchy and I think have become more 'firm' or robust?
Anyway, I really want to try and control the stretch marks. A few weeks ago I bought some bio-oil from amazon and also palmers cocoa butter formula with vitamin E for stretch marks. Also burt's bees mama Belly butter with shea butter and vitamin E. To be honest after the first stretch mark on my hip went away I stopped using the creams and oil
. Now it's back and I feel bad about it. I think online it also recommends drinking lots of fluids which I'm going to focus on now. I also have extra virgin olive oil and I think that was also recommended as direct application. I actually eat a lot of foods with olive oil
. Oh, I'm 5'11" well last I checked a few years ago anyway
At some point I shrunk down to 5'10" but that was before I started to exercise... and I have been exercising for the past, uh, 6 years I think. Which has been very good for my health. No running though. I just practice a lot of martial arts
. I don't get too excited around sports and at one point I had a bad experience with a guy that was bothering my mom and so I thought I'd better learn to defend myself somehow
. I'm not an athlete but I exercise and work up a sweat and that is good.
Maybe I'm blowing up and I am not noticing it? I wonder if maybe I eat too much salt? Could it be fluid retention?
QuoteCan progesterone cause fluid retention?
Progesterone Reduces Fluid Retention. When Estrogen levels are not balanced out by adequate levels of progesterone, women tend to retain more fluid than usual. Progesterone is a natural diuretic and can greatly reduce bloating and swelling.
Well google says no for progesterone?