Neurodiversity support thread for women with suspected, diagnosed or self-diagnosed autism, ADHD and other NDs #19

[Galvantula]

Hope it's ok to start one without Polter

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnetters_with_sn/2954319-Neurodiversity-support-thread-for-women-with-suspected-diagnosed-or-self-diagnosed-autism-ADHD-and-other-NDs-18

The last one filled up a little while ago, hope everyone is doing ok.

Sorry you’ve had to change them, what were you on before?

I think Elvanse is going to work out ok for now at least but it stresses me out that things can change. Just have to try what works for now and change if it doesn’t!

I’m still feeling really stuck. Just can’t push past that at the moment, I’m so exhausted

My brain has gone out to lunch and not returned...

I am trying to formulate a proper response to posts but failing. Not ignoring you all.

I’ve just started elvance, I was on concerta XL but the side effects were bleh as my dose was upped.

Thank you @SingToTheSky, thats one of the places I've been looking at tbh. I'm already on the NHS waiting list & have just changed GP so I wonder if they may chase up my NHS referral or make an NHS one for Psychiatry UK? Would be good if they could.

(flaps through thread)

arranging appointments.

Sorry I've not been keeping up with the thread, things have been horrible here. Long story short DD kicked off big time which has finally led to CAMH accepting her referral (after trying repeatedly for over 3 years). She's also finally getting an EHCP assessment, you know mere months before she finishes secondary school, I just hope whatever comes from it that it will work for college too. We've also had a death in the family, I've been really ill and to top it off a whole load of drama with my brother his partner and my mum. Now that everything seems to have settled down I just feel exhausted and like I'm going to burst into tears every day.

Hope everyone else is having a better week

so sorry @AzPie SOunds like you have had a very difficult time. I hope that you get time to grieve and recover

Hey susan you ok? Hope you have recovered from the appt arranging, it’s hard isn’t it!

Oh Azpie what an awful time you’ve had :( yes the EHCP will follow her to college as it stays with the child until 25. Sorry for your loss too 💐

I’ve been on escitalopram about a week now, think it’s maybe helping the anxiety a little but early days yet. And because I’ve been so knackered (partly side effects I think, partly burnout/general flare up of health stuff, and now ridiculously heavy period as I’ve not been taking my iron 🤦🏽‍♀️) I’ve just been hiding in bed a lot. So that’s probably helped the anxiety as I’ve mostly not had a load of responsibility and sensory overload from the kids etc. I’m very lucky that DH is around all the time (even though that’s because of his own health so obviously has downsides too!) so I’ve just been able to hide. I also got totally hyperfocused on rewatching all of line of duty and some other dramas - I’m actually thinking maybe drama gives me a bit of a dopamine hit?

Started feeling a bit more human today anyway so I’ve managed a little of the life admin that I’ve been staunchly avoiding for over a week.

Oh it’s Sing here btw, I have name changed for the line of duty threads 😂

Hello. Diagnosed ASD here. Prepping for my first ever job interview since diagnosis and scared AF

Oh wow Pusheen exciting and scary! What’s the job if not too outing? Are you telling them about being autistic?

I haven’t job hunted since getting ill or since knowing I’m autistic/ADHD. It will be very strange, I’m really nervous about looking for work.

I don't know whether to disclose

I have made a thread about it: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4221274-Should-I-tell-the-truth

There's a free 'festival' for women with ADHD this week

Women's ADHD Empowerment Festival on Facebook and Instagram.

Free tickets from Eventbrite

Much of it will be probably be self publicising twattism, but some of it will be useful.

Oh bloody hell, I am totally wiped out by vaccine booking and visiting parent booking which have been annoyingly close in time.

Hi, signing up. I have inattentive adhd. Getting diagnosed helped a lot with acceptance.

I have a question about medication.
With non stimulants, can you stop and start them? Or do they have to build up in your system? Do you feel anxious on them?

Hi blue, welcome.

Hi Blue, no you have to build them up over about six to eight weeks.

What puts you off stimulant medication?

I tried it. Appetite suppression and tachycardia.

I am on an immunosuppresaant as it felt too much. What are side effects of non stimulants?

And it felt too much, not as it felt too much

Just jumping on because apparently this thread drops out of I'm On if I don't post on it what use is that???

I take a non stimulant and while you can lower the dose by taking it e.g. 5 days out of 7, or 2 days out of 3 (my doctor suggested this) it just lowers the overall level, which stays constant. To actually come on it took 6 weeks for me and to come off it took about 8 weeks until I noticed a difference. The 6 weeks building up was also awful - terrible nausea, tiredness and brain fog like early pregnancy. I very nearly gave up on it but by the time I made an appointment and brought it up, I realised I felt absolutely fine!

It did not make me feel anxious. The stimulant I tried did at one specific dose but not the others. Actually IIRC the having "off days" was a strategy to deal with anxiety.

You can also combine stim and non stim. So you take the baseline dose of non stim and then for days you need a little extra something you take the stimulant as well. My doctor says you can get away with a low dose like this. But I never got around to trialling as I got pregnant.

I am attempting an online MBSR course at the moment but not doing that well with it.

Thanks @BertieBotts

After the 6 weeks what would you say the side effects are of non stimulants if any.

I'm done with stimulants. But I put weight on without them as I eat for stimulation.

I take citalopram and hate the jaw clenching and want to stop but worried I might be hopeless. I'm lonely but not depressed. Currently getting a car which will help.

When I stop citalopram I can see what the remaining problems are and whether I need non stimulants.

I'd rather not to be honest. I find green tea very effective, both caffeine and non caffeine. But adhd meds help with the noise in my brain. My focus is ok as long as I eat. I use a lot of sheer willpower (and bouts if hyperfocus) as I have learned so many times that if I don't the only person that suffers is me.

Stick with the MBSR. It clicked after about week three for me. I liked the body scan, mindful walk and the hourglass meditation and Thik Naht (sp?) Mindful Movements. My local place also ran afternoon retreats. Of course I don't do it at all now!

Occasionally I would have the odd day where my symptoms would ramp up insanely, like worse than before medication. Those days are just a write off. That's the only side effect I had. Dry mouth maybe, but that could also just be me not drinking enough.

Hi everyone, joining from Dubai. Just recently diagnosed with combined type ADHD. I’m currently enjoying forgiving myself for the many, many fuck ups in my life.

How did you all deal with the people who minimize or dismiss ADHD? My husband is kind and supportive but also says things like”I reckon most people have this to some degree”. Which makes me feel like a dick and realise that I have masked it really really well from him for 20 years...no wonder I am permanently stressed and anxious!

Stimulant medication is highly controlled here. I think my only option will be Concerta XL. Would love to hear from anyone on it. I’ve recently started on Sertraline for anxiety too, although not making much difference atm. (And have terrible dry, sore nose side effect).

Glad to find this thread, makes me feel less alone.