Posts by Laura Jackson

Technogym is pretty much the gold standard for commercial gym equipment—though you probably don't need that level of overkill. If I were you, I'd look into Peloton instead. They make solid stuff, it won't break the bank, and I actually own a few of their pieces myself...

Andrew Wright74 said:Hey there,
I'm looking to set up a home gym. I've got about 325 square feet to work with—not huge, but enough—so I'm wondering what you guys think about cardio setups (treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, etc.) versus weight equipment. Are there any solid "all-in-one" machines that combine multiple functions without taking up the whole room? Any advice at all would be appreciated...

Also, what kind of flooring should I go with? What material works best?

For cardio, I’d suggest looking at Peloton. We have a rower and an elliptical, and they're great. For weights, stick with Peloton too—they make those multi-function stations that pack everything into a single footprint. It saves a ton of space. We’ve been more than happy with our setup, though it really just comes down to your budget... there are cheaper options out there if you need them.

slycanyon8 said:It could be sinuses—if so, you wouldn't be having issues in the summer... plus, if it were sinus-related, your head shouldn't hurt specifically when you lean over the tub and stay there too long. Your head might also ache from the weight of your hair (especially when it's wet), brushing too aggressively, pulling at it, or using cold water. Even the wrong shampoo could do it. I've had swollen glands on my scalp just from certain shampoos. If that's the case, switch brands—try something for sensitive scalps... 👍

I wash it in the shower, and I've swapped shampoos plenty of times—so it's definitely not that.
I don't brush it with my head hanging down. I thought it was sinuses because the pain is localized right in my forehead area...

coastalmason68 said:probably sinuses. I have long hair, so if I go to bed with it even slightly damp, I wake up with a headache. My frontal sinuses—I think they call them 😳—always mess with me.

Washing my hair late at night isn't even an option for me—even if I dry it well, the next day I feel completely hammered.
I actually thought it was sinus issues too, since I've dealt with those before.

ironsurfer8 said:Maybe your hair washing routine is actually triggering the headaches...
does the same thing happen when you get a haircut?
if the blow-drying—whether air-dried or using a cold setting—is bothering you,
maybe try wrapping your head in a towel after washing and just letting it cool down naturally...

is it just your head, or does your neck ache too?
how long is your hair?
do you spend a lot of time detangling it (especially if it's curly)?

There are plenty of reasons why your head might be hurting.

And why doesn't my doctor ask me half as many useful questions as you do?
Yeah, I have long, curly hair—takes forever to brush through. I don't go straight for the blow-dryer; I wait until it's mostly dry on its own.
Maybe it's the weather changes, too. On wash days, I feel kind of lightheaded—especially if my whole face feels swollen, particularly that spot between my nose and eyes. My ears ache too, and my neck—though not quite as much.

So, every single time I wash my hair, I know a headache is coming. It’s honestly miserable—the pain gets so intense that I can't get anything done... I just have to pop two Advil and wait for them to kick in.
My doctor didn't offer much helpful insight—it was basically like he was implying there's no way my head could hurt every time after a wash. Nonsense. Why would I make that up?
Anyway, maybe someone here has dealt with this before and actually found a fix.

Vichiev's shampoo is solid—and honestly, onion juice isn't half bad either.

restlessmarlin6 said:Hold on—you’re dealing with hair loss—think monk style—and hirsutism at the same time, even while on meds??? 😲
My periods aren't even regular if I skip my pills.
But since starting therapy, the unwanted hair is gone and my hair is thick as a mane—never had issues before.

I honestly didn't think anyone struggled this much with it.
Have you looked into the psychological side? Or maybe alternatives?
If the pills aren't cutting it, maybe there's something else.

Must be nice that Diane works well enough for you.
For me, they were too weak... now I'm on the strongest stuff available, and still nothing.
I'm a tough case. My OBGYN mentioned plenty of women have hormonal imbalances, but he said only about 2% deal with a level as intense as mine😕. He told me straight up it's hard to treat, if it can be treated at all. You say it's about how you feel. Trust me, with these symptoms, "feeling good" isn't an option—it's not a lack of willpower, it's just physically draining.
Just hoping for a miracle at this point...😢

Lisa Barrett22 said:I’ve still got my period and I’m not on the pill—so there's some comfort in that (even if my cycle is pretty long, like 40 days, and sometimes runs a week late) 😢

And since I'm dealing with breakouts this month, I really can't afford to spiral into a depression right now! Hopefully, it won't be too bad when I finally hear what the gynecologist has to say. Fingers crossed... 🙂

It sounds like things aren't actually that dire for you. I haven't had a period in months.
Honestly, I don't think your situation compares to mine, so try not to worry too much. Besides, your doctor will give you the full rundown. It's just a shame how many OB-GYNs here don't take PCOS seriously—they just throw Diane at you without even bothering to run a full hormonal panel first.
Get the testing done first, then let them figure out the right treatment plan for you. Good luck!🙂

restlessmarlin6 said:Your OBGYN already gave you the full rundown.🙂
Just... don't panic. That's really all.

One in five women deals with this—it’s nothing you can’t manage.
Stop doom-scrolling online. If there's an actual imbalance, they'll put you on some medication—maybe Diane or something similar—and that's that.

The body—especially when you're young—is resilient. All the drama is a bit much...

Don't sweat it, things will be fine.
👋

If everything is actually what you think it is, then you aren't dealing with a hormonal imbalance.
Look, being optimistic is good—staying positive helps—but let's not run from reality.
About seven years ago, I thought the same thing. It was no big deal, so I started taking Diane. I kept telling myself since I was young, everything would just work itself out.
Now I'm turning 25, and looking back at when I started treatment... honestly, it feels like I haven't made any progress. If anything, things got worse.
A hormonal imbalance is serious. Sure, you can live with it, but it isn't as simple as people make it sound.
Three years ago, I switched to a different prescription—way stronger, maybe the highest hormone concentration available—but it didn't help one bit.
Hormonal issues hit you everywhere: mood swings, irritability, crying for no reason, brain fog, night sweats, hair loss, hirsutism... not to mention fertility struggles.
For me, the hair loss was unbelievable—and unfortunately, it hasn't stopped. Some women stay perfectly fine through this, so we shouldn't kid ourselves thinking this is just a "phase." A phase doesn't last years.
And if I don't take the pills, my period doesn't show up. So, I have to take them, even if I'm not thrilled about it.
Living with a hormonal imbalance is hard because, frankly, I don't feel like a functioning human most days.
Kudos to anyone who handles this better than I do.
I really hope the girl who posted this doesn't actually have an imbalance, though everything points to it. Maybe her testosterone levels aren't high enough to be "that" bad, which would be a relief. Regardless, go see an OBGYN, get the bloodwork done, and be persistent. Wishing everyone fighting this the best.👋

restlessmarlin6 said:Don't go scaring her like that.🙂

Look, obviously living without PCOS is better than dealing with it—no contest—but that doesn't mean it's some uncontrollable disaster...

I never said it couldn't be managed. Of course it can—it's just a matter of how. Right now, it’s mostly through birth control, which comes with its own set of baggage.
You have to realize PCOS isn't just one thing; there are all these other side effects and the whole hormonal imbalance to deal with.
Everything I'm saying is from my own experience. I don't know how much "management" you're actually getting if it's just relying on pills.
For example, I'm on the slimmer side—pretty much at an ideal weight—but the pills gave me cellulite and loose skin. And mind you, I'm at the gym for 2.5 hours several times a week. I eat clean, too. My doctor explicitly told me the cellulite and skin issues are side effects of the medication. But for now, the pills are the only option on the table.
As for the hair pulling, if you can afford it, just get laser hair removal. You'll probably need 4 to 6 sessions depending on how thick the hair is, but you also have to stay on top of the medical treatment part.

Lisa Barrett22 said:So, I should head to the gynecologist first. Fine, I'll go ASAP.
What kind of procedures are we talking about if they send me for hormone testing? Is it a massive battery of tests and whatnot? 😕
I was thinking about starting birth control, but I'm worried it might actually make things worse. Hopefully, it won't just mess everything else up further. 😲

Look. I don't want to freak you out, but this could be serious. Speaking from experience—I've been dealing with hormonal imbalances and PCOS since I was 18, and I'm 24 now. That's a long haul. No real improvement in those six years, either. Basically, you can't "cure" a hormonal imbalance... you just try to manage it and get it back to some kind of baseline, if you can call it that.
Go see the OBGYN. They'll order hormone panels. It’s usually just a blood draw, then you wait about ten days for the results.
One piece of advice: stop plucking your facial hair. It might just make things worse.
Depending on your levels, the doctor will likely suggest birth control. They initially put me on Diane, but it didn't do a thing. I only started seeing actual progress once I switched to jasmine—it's stronger.
You could probably write a memoir about your treatment at this rate... if you want to vent, shoot me a DM.
Just get to the doctor sooner rather than later.