fatigue and all over body cellulite

[TheSassyMember]

I'm 53 and since the menopause 2 years ago I have developed all over body cellulite. It looks really obvious in certain lights. It is everywhere, legs, chest, back and arms. I;m not really overweight. I'm 9 and a half stone and 5ft 4 although I have put on a stone and a half over the last 18 months. I also am very fatigued. My legs feel heavy walking and when I lift my arms they feel exhausted. I have actually had this problem but not the cellulite the fatigu for about 10 years. Initially it was intermittent for a few months then I was ok but now it's constant. I'm dragging my body around. I've asked around but nobody else has this. I wondered if it was lipodoema and I've always been very pear shaped but it seems the cellulite looking skin only usually effect the lower body. I have asked my doctor but she wasnt much use. Ive restarted HRT as I had very bad hot and cold flushes about 50 a day. I'm also very abscent minded which I put down to hormones. Has anyone any idea what this all over 'cellulite' is caused by accompanied by the fatigue. lifting my arms for a few seconds exhausts them and my legs feel like lead and I think the 2 are related.

Have you had your thyroid checked ?

The doctor did a blood test and said my thyroid was fine

Are you active - do you do any exercise?

I don't go for walks like I used to because of the fatigue but I do a couple of hours gardening a week. I also have a lot of stairs in my house so climbing those and doing jobs around the house so I'm active but I don't have an active job or do exercise classes or a sport

It's the stone and a half.

Sorry but that is quite a big weight gain for someone 5 4' but depends a bit on your build. Your BMI may still be normal (but close to the overweight end) but your clothes must be tight or gone up a size or two with that weight gain.

Imagine carrying that weight around all day as luggage. Your body's complaining!

Try to up the exercise? Do you work? Can you do lunchtime walks?
2 hours pottering in the garden and doing house chores isn't enough, being honest- we need to get our heart rates up every day to keep it healthy.

Why not start brisk walking for an hour a day? Swimming? Some sort of class?

You're in a vicious circle of overweight, no exercise, too tired.

Try to change what you're eating, lose a pound or two a week through a combination of less food / more exercise.

Following. I am having a similar problem. I think it could be lipedema which is definitely affected by hormonal variations. I have always been thin but with big thighs and after menopause the cellulite and weight has increased despite exercise and diet. I used to walk and hike a lot but I find it so tiring now. It's frustrating.

Following, it is the weight. I have the same problem after a whole lifetime of never having to worry about it, this weight gain is a big shock. I am trying to reset, move more and think about what I am eating. Also cutting out alcohol for a few months to see how that goes.

I found mounjaro (microdose) massively reduced my bad cellulite. Also my KP on my arms.

It’s the hormonal weight gain and no exercise. Up and down the stairs and pottering around the garden isn’t enough. Your muscles are weak. That is why you are struggling. Start strength training. You can just use body weight exercises to start. No gym or special equipment needed. Squats/lunges/step ups at home will increase leg strength. YouTube body weight strength training.
I’m 58, had hideous cellulite (that you could see in all lights). I lost the weight and am now 10 stone at the same height as you. No cellulite, strong and look and feel great. Eat well, put the effort in training wise and invest in your future.

I think you need to go back to your dr. Weight gain would not cause such extreme symptoms.Lympodoema does not always present only in the lower body.

OP refers to it as cellulite not lympodoema. she's already shown her GP.
Dimpled fat looks very different to water retention.

Lipoedema in the arms is quite common. My friend has it in both legs and her arms. She is saving for surgery.

and GPs seldom recognise it

Lipoedema (‘diseased’ fat build-up) and Lymphoedema (retention of lymph fluid) are two separate conditions, by the way

It could well be as PP’s have suggested that you are out of shape but I think the heavy feeling in your arms when lifting them, sounds a bit extreme for that.

Definitely take on all the good advice that you’ve been offered, losing weight, eating well etc, but I would be inclined to go back to the GP if this continues.

Kindly - that isn't being active.

You need to be looking after your mobility(pilates type exercises).

Weights are recommended for bone health (not heavy weights!).
And cardio of some format.

What thyroid test and what were the actual numbers? Ditto B12. And iron/ferritin.

A lot of people are told 'fine' when the actual numbers barely scrape into - or even fall outside - reference ranges that are already a long way from optimum.

And I agree that's a very low level of activity.

I'm a few years older than you. I'm on a decent amount of HRT. I go to the gym, lift weights, do exercise classes, core work, pilates, swimming, cardio.

I eat really well, no meat but some fish. Prioritise protein. A complete range of all food groups / types nutrients. Little and now no alcohol.

I'm up at 5am and have a decent commute each day. I've got great muscle strength and stamina, but I'm always working on improving it.

It's the stone and a half

Based on my experience I agree that that is the likely culprit. I have never suffered with visible cellulite but when I hit 49 I started putting on weight and cellulite gradually appeared. That’s despite me doing well above average levels of exercise. Gym usually every day except Sunday.

Over the last 9 months I have lost probably half the weight I put on and the cellulite has gone in most places and much reduced where remains. I’m intend to carry on losing until it’s gone completely.

It sounds like lipedema. Not all medics are familiar with this.

I would read up on the condition and if you think it fits with what you are experiencing, push for a specialist referral.

Lifestyle and exercise are incredibly important, but there are hordes of people who eat rubbish and barely move who don't have excess, abnormal looking tissue to the point they are struggling to lift their arms, with unusual persistent fatigue.

It sounds as if you are potentially dealing with a medical condition not simply lifestyle issues, and I would be persistent in seeking out the help you need.

I did have major gastrointestinal surgery twice 1 and a half and three years ago and for 18 months couldn't do anything hardly even standing much because the surgery didn't work out and I was in pain when walking so became unfit. Also I could hardly eat anything for those 18 months ( bowel surgery) so was underweight at about 7 and a half stones . The doctors advised me to put on weight by eating full fat dairy plenty of and having a pudding or cake a day. So I did! and certainly have been enjoying eating the last year and a half after hardly being able to eat for so long. My fatigue though was present even before this starting about 10 years ago. But lasted months then I'd be back to normal.Now it is constant. I didn't have 'cellulite ' either. But my arms would be exhausted just puting on a jacket when I had these fatigue bouts. I am cutting down on food now and started doing strengthening exercises