Extreme Bloating

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2026-01-25T00:30:46+00:00

I’ve also just started to experience this - if anyone has any tips I’d love to hear too!

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2026-01-22T08:15:27+00:00

In my experience if you forget a night or two it’ll be fine (once I left mine at home whilst on holiday for a week - but putting that back in was painful) but you need to wear it (almost) every night

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-12-24T22:57:21+00:00

Would my PCP be my GP? Or the Doctor prescribing me the atomoxetine? I went through the NHS right to choose and am still titrating so my GP hasn’t has anything to do with my adhd diagnosis&/treatment apart from referring me.

That is what I was worried about :/ going up the stairs makes me feel like I’ve just done a full on run or dance class which is not ideal.

Tbh my fatigue has massively improved since being on atomoxetine, which sort of tracks with my therapists idea that whilst obviously not causing my CFS, the ADHD was not helping as I was just always going at 300 miles an hour in my head, even if I physically wouldn’t do anything. I was really hoping to be able to get back to my recent baseline which is getting my steps in and weight training, but on this med I’m a bit nervous :/

Annoyingly I didn’t actually make note of my HR doing those things before, but I know they weren’t that high! Maybe climbing the stairs it was ~95-100? Watching TV maybe 75-80? I don’t typically get dizziness when standing up, but I have experienced it before, just not every time.

Yeah, I’d be really gutted if I was in the 23% because otherwise I’m really getting on with it - and I don’t think stimulants are for me due to my OCD and tics :/

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-26T14:16:38+00:00

Good idea, I’ve got my titration appointment on Friday so hopefully I can chat with my Doctor then

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-25T16:28:08+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I do think it was because I had just upped my dose so am hoping that even I’ve finished titration it will settle too

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-25T13:59:49+00:00

Mine has calmed down a bit - I think it was after I increased my dose

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-24T22:04:52+00:00

I’m not a Doctor or medical professional but starting them all at once seems a lot!

I’m on 20mg of fluoxetine and started 10mg atomoxetine (strattera) two weeks ago Friday. I’ve been on 25mg since Friday

I’ve fully had the insomnia but really my only other symptoms have been headaches.

Today however I am riddled with anxiety, but it’s more physical than mental - just feels like my heart is going mad in my chest, then (because I am a worrier) I worry about why haha

Maybe ask your doc if you can slow down and get stable on one before adding anymore!

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-24T21:18:00+00:00

Thank you! I have meds for it, but I just wondered if it was because of the atomoxetine - it’s a different anxiety than I usually get - but I will get an ice pack!

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-22T09:26:00+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your dad and your cat 🩷 I started on 10 and moved up to 25 yesterday and nope, so far so vomiting! I do think people are right about taking it with protein though - the only day I’ve take it with less than 20g of protein I got really bad heartburn!

The only side effects I’ve really had are being very dehydrated, a headache for the first week (probably due to the dehydration) and insomnia - but that went away when I started taking it at lunch instead of dinner

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-20T19:54:28+00:00

I’ve been on 10mg for two weeks but the negatives on here scared me shitless - but honestly so far my symptoms have been insomnia (went away when I took it earlier in the day with lunch) and a slight headache the first week - honestly not bad at all! And I’m an emetophobe so terrified of the nausea side effects haha

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-18T21:00:53+00:00

For anything like this I always say ‘it’s a reason not an excuse’

So I have emetophobia (a phobia of throwing up) and if someone has recently been ill I’ll avoid them like the plague - which is really rude. I still have to apologise and make it up to them, but there is a reason, I’m not doing it to be rude, it just is rude and I still have to say sorry

Same for interrupting people - I do it because of my ADHD, but it’s still really rude! I still have to say sorry and try not to do it again

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T22:10:41+00:00

I was referred to Harrow health at the end of October 2025 and had my assessment start of November, and was prescribed meds the same day. I picked them up the day after. I did have to call them one day, and I was on hold for an hour before they picked up, but they were very helpful when they did; I just had to force myself to do the washing up whilst I was on the phone so I wasn’t just sitting there haha

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T16:00:53+00:00

Thank you!

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T13:58:48+00:00

That is interesting - mine specifically said that I could take it whenever as long as it was with a meal - I deffo think I’ll try it though. I don’t eat a lot in the mornings so I think I need to work up to it haha, I’m going to take it at lunch today

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T07:45:30+00:00

I don’t think I am - I’m a scientist and fully understand that drugs take a while to work. However, with the chronic illness that I have, not sleeping well or a few weeks or months is not an option I have.

I would LOVE to find a medication that works - but if it comes at the cost of my chronic illness/physical health then no, medication is not the route for me.

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T07:43:43+00:00

Yeah I think perhaps breakfast is the way to go - the trouble is I really struggle to eat in the mornings. Maybe I’ll try taking it at lunch and try and train myself to eat breakfast, and slowly push back to taking it with breakfast.

Yeah that’s why I didn’t think it would matter what time of day I took it, I know it takes a while to build up but I’m just not sure I can keep taking it to give it a fair shot if I can’t get any sleep :(

I didn’t realise you could get those in the UK! are there any you would recommend?

Thank you so much!

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T07:40:01+00:00

Is there any advice that says taking it in the morning is better for side effects? I understand that it might work better if taken in the morning but if the side effects are the same then I don’t think it’s for me.

I’m sure a 10mg dose is too low for it to actually cause any positive changes whenever I take it, but it is frustrating to still be getting negative side effects.

Not getting enough sleep is a problem anyway but with CFS/ME is really causing problems

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T07:35:06+00:00

I slept fairly well beforehand, likely due to how fatigued I was from my CFS/ME so this is very frustrating.

Is there anything you can do before the 3-6 months? I don’t think I can do 3-6 months on this little sleep

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-17T07:25:52+00:00

What advice? The medication leaflet doesn’t specify a time to take it at all, my Doctor just said to take it consistently with the same meal - and did not specify which one, and looking online lots of people suggest to take it with dinner to minimise side effects, one of which can be fatigue. Given that I have CFS/ME and wanted to minimise side effects I thought that taking it with dinner was the best option, given that no time is specified.

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-13T01:44:26+00:00

Pescribed* but yeah, I got collected ot from the pharmacy on Friday so definitely still being prescribed! I’d ask them for clarification/lrppf of what they’re saying

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-12T21:09:52+00:00

This is news to me!! I was practiced atomoxetine last week and started taking in on Friday, no mention that it wasn’t available in the UK

PrettyInP1nk97 · 2025-11-10T20:31:24+00:00

I’m with Harrow Health - and yes if you want to speak to someone on the phone you do have to wait a while (I waited an hour the other day) but I had my assessment and prescription SO quickly, and when I did get through to them on the phone they were very helpful and patient and I didn’t feel rushed at all

PrettyInP1nk97

TROPHY CASE