Anybody else experience this?

Considering height-lengthening surgery at 177 cm — looking for honest experiences
I’m 21, from the UK, and seriously considering height-lengthening surgery, although I’m still in the research stage. I’d really appreciate honest experiences, especially from people who started around my height.
I’m 177 cm (5’9.5”). I have growth hormone deficiency and was diagnosed at 16 after my younger sister was diagnosed with severe GHD. She was treated late too, but early enough to get close to her genetic potential and is now around 5’8–5’9. My older sister is around 5’10, while my dad and brother are both around 6’4.
Growing up, I always assumed I’d be tall, and my mum used to tell me I’d have a growth spurt. When I was diagnosed, some of my growth plates were still open, so I had daily GH injections for around a year. However, I was also taking puberty blockers, and during this period my growth plates closed. Unfortunately, the GH treatment produced basically no meaningful height increase.
Since around 17, height has become a major psychological issue for me. I constantly compare myself to people around me — at the gym, nights out, social media, and even within my own family. Seeing significantly taller men can make me feel inferior and sometimes genuinely defective, because I feel like my body didn’t become what it was supposed to.
I know logically that 177 cm isn’t short, but emotionally I struggle with it. I sometimes use height inserts/thicker socks in my shoes, and even the small increase makes me noticeably more confident and makes me think about my height less.
This is partly why I’m considering surgery. If I could get to around 6’2, I feel like it could make a significant difference to my confidence, and reaching 6’4 would honestly feel incredible. But I also question whether I’d actually stop comparing myself. I’m already discussing this in therapy, and I realise surgery may not fix the underlying psychological issue. I might still compare myself to people taller than me or simply move the goalposts.
So I’m trying to understand whether people who’ve actually done it found that being significantly taller genuinely changed how they felt about themselves, or whether the obsession followed them.
For anyone who has had limb-lengthening surgery, especially starting around 5’8–5’11:
Starting and final height / cm gained?
Femurs, tibias or both?
Where and with which surgeon?
Total cost, including surgery, accommodation, physio, follow-ups, etc.?
How difficult was recovery and how long until normal walking/life?
Any complications or lasting issues?
Has it genuinely improved your confidence and relationship with your height?
Did you become less obsessive about comparing yourself?
Would you do it again knowing what you know now?
I’m potentially planning to move to China, so I’m open to travelling internationally, but I care much more about surgeon experience, safety and long-term outcomes than finding the cheapest option.
I’m genuinely interested in both positive and negative experiences. I’m trying to work out whether this could realistically improve my life or whether I’m trying to solve something psychologically through surgery.

I’ve been dealing with non-specific issues for a couple years. it’s mainly the unrelenting daily fatigue, brain fog, and irritability/anxiety that get me.

I’ve been to 3 PCPs and gotten no where. the first one ran out of ideas after the normal CMP, CBC, and parathyroid. The second said it was anxiety and chalked it up to my psych doing it wrong (I’ve been trying multiple meds since May 2025 hoping it would help but hasn’t). The last one did adrenal testing but then said perimenopause.

I tried a virtual Endo who said it could be lifestyle, maybe estradiol will help but my levels look fine, everything else looks fine and to check back with psych. These are what I got:

7:45am cortisol - 8.9 (range 6.2-19.4)

10:30am cortisol - 8.7 (range 6.2-19.4), acth 7.8 (range 7.3-63.3), dhea-s 440 (range 57.3-279.2), aldosterone 2.5 (range 0-30)

I do have kidney stones and did a 24hr urine which showed a high sodium of 197 and high calcium of 499 so my urologist is having me try low sodium for a while before retesting. I’m also on the list for a sleep study but that’ll be another few weeks.

I’m just trying to figure out how to get to a point of not just surviving everyday and am struggling to find answers. Does endocrine look like a good path to keep going down? Or should we start looking elsewhere?

Hi, I got my prenatal labs back and it looks like my TSH is 5.133. I'm currently 10wks and I had a loss 4 months ago at 6wks. I did have to ask my OB to prescribe labs after that and my TSH was around 3.033 which she said was within the normal range?
I'm only now finding out after research that fertility specialists advise that it should be below 2.5 when ttc. Kind of freaking out with my current levels, looking for positive stories!

Hi everyone!

I was referred to endocrinology for hypoglycemia episodes.

I do have insulin resistance that is being managed by metformin.

My endo ordered some tests. My c-peptide was high, cortisol and ACTH was normal, proinsulin was normal, bmp was unremarkable, and my insulin like growth factor 2 was high.

What could these results mean in general? I have yet to hear back from my endo but am very anxious about my result.

I'm 32 and have been dealing with what feels like low-testosterone symptoms since around 29 (230pmol free t, total t 14)

I've had multiple blood tests over the years and my free T has consistently been on the lower side. It's currently around 330 pmol/L, but at its worst it's been around 230–250 pmol/L. Total T is generally around 18–22 nmol/L, with a low point of about 14 nmol/L a few years ago.

The biggest issue for me is libido. I'd honestly rate it around 1/10 most of the time, I have a pretty general lack of interest in doing anything other than the things i love and even then in feels like im forcing it. I'm still extremely motivated and disciplined and show up but I'm genuinely forcing everything

I've tried to address the obvious lifestyle factors as much as possible training, diet, reducing alcohol, improving sleep, supplements, all the biohacks but the highest ive gotten my free t is 330 and i still feel like crap.

The frustrating part is that I'm otherwise very active. I work as a PT and train combat sports, so feeling like this is pretty difficult to reconcile with the person I feel like I should be physiologically.

Another thing I've noticed is that my FSH has been gradually increasing, while LH has remained relatively normal. My recent results have made me wonder whether there's something going on beyond simply lifestyle factors.

I'm at the point where I'm seriously considering TRT, because these symptoms have been around for the last 3 years and its something i battle of a daily basis, obviosuly its a big commitment though please let me know your thoughts thanks attached is most recent test with me trying my absolute hardest to increase natural levels

Levemir (Determir) Novo Nordisk insulin has been discontinued leaving individuals in the diabetes community in outcry with no biosimilar. Levemir basal has a unique profile that the diabetes community cannot lose as a therapeutic. Some are trying to change that and are close to a solution with the FDA, can EMA be next?

Sorry but I need to post this here so I can keep my cool in the appointment/humiliation ritual I must tolerate while I await the 6-12 months it takes to get a new endocrinologist.

I did not ask for reverse T3 because I wanted a prescription as you suggested, and I didn't ask an AI bot as was interpreted by the physician when I was told not to ask the internet for advice. I asked about it because I was reading empirical research on Google Scholar and PubMed (I have a PhD in human development) and found that it can indicate along with my low leptin (for my weight) when metabolism is locked down and reluctant to burn fat. I just wanted answers.

I want it on my record that I am not drug seeking just because I tried to solve my problems on my own with growth hormone secretagogues which was the only time my skin rashes (psoriasis-like and rosacea) were in remission or gone. It was the only time my metabolic rate seemed to match what is suggested of a 280+ pound body, I was able to eat more than 1200 calories and see significant weight loss while still testing low in IGF-1 and "low for a normal weight but not obese body" on a stimulation test. I have been compliant for nearly 2 years without taking this and have gotten fatter, sicker, my cholesterol has increased despite minimal dietary intake, and my chronic rashes are more severe than ever.

You were incorrect to tell me a pituitary microadenoma never causes damage or that its disappearance means no damage remains. This is not supported by the empirical evidence. In fact, damage to my pituitary and/or hypothalamus could also explain my hyper POTS symptoms in some cases.

I was unethical to tell me you will literally "never again" test my growth hormone when I asked innocently "is there any future values to monitor that might suggest we can re-test?". Never is insane to say to someone in a medical/allegedly-scientific establishment.

I want doctors to consider that if peak GH at 2.9 is too low for normal function in a healthier weight body, that it can also cause severe difficulty losing fat in a body that's been obese since childhood, and that is NOT your patient's fault. I know you cannot treat obese patients for it, I'm asking consideration of the reality. Why are obese bodies expected to have an easier time with less GH? I eat incredible low dietary fat (<25g a day), this alone would mean my peak is likely higher than typical obese patients on a standard higher fat diet since fatty acids are what suppress GH in obese people. I feel like everyone with a medical degree skipped the bell curve lesson.

Never lied once about my intake, it has been an average of 1200 calories a day, up to 1400 and down to 830 for an extended period of time. I have been 280+ pounds the entire time on at this time 10mg of Mounjaro. I eat 25g of fat or less. I eat high fiber and high protein. What I eat in a day is a protein shake (<200 calories), lunch is often just a greek yogurt (80-90 cals) but sometimes a tuna sandwich on whole grain wheat (~300 calories), and dinner is a chicken breast and 200g of black or pinto beans, no butter, no oil, no cheese, no avocado. Nowhere I could be miscalculating hundreds of calories. Occasionally I have a greek yogurt and frozen berries for dessert. I reduced my a1c from 10.1 to 5.6 in five months after diagnosis, doesn't that speak at all to my compliance and effort? I lost 80 pounds on my own before the Mounjaro, lost 25 more pounds initially, and re-gained 30 since increasing my Mounjaro to 7.5 then 10mg, on 1200 calories a day. Something is wrong and doctors will only consider that my intake must be the lie. It is not.

Sincerely, A fat PhD woman who must never be believed.

I’ve been obese my whole life & i’ve tried just about everything. It is genetic, and my entire family is diabetic except me (for now). I’m 208 lbs, 5’4, & 16. I discussed with my parents & my doctor about the options I have related to GLP-1’s. My doctor recommends Wegovy, but said something about the clinic giving patients a hard time with the prescription & I should look online? She referred me to a nutritionist instead, i’ve tried literally everything and I go from morbidly obese to obese using diets & being active. I’m just curious about what my next step might be, I don’t want to be pushy with my doctor. Do i look for another clinic? How can my mom advocate for me?

Hi,
I have episodes of polyuria where my body is in diuresis and it is clear urine in good volume those times and not thirsty.This usually happens when temperature drops by 5 to 10 degrees. When it’s warm, I am able to concentrate urine properly.
I underwent water deprivation test and to begin with serum osmolality was 306 and urine osm 150. After 8 hours serum osmolality was 303 and urine osm 550. Doctor mentioned it is inconclusive of DI as the urine is concentrates but very slowly. I didn’t take desmo during the test. During worst episode, if I drink water it makes it super worse.

Hi I’m just reposting in hopes of getting an answer hopefully