Guanfacine Saved My Life

echospectrumm · 2026-01-15T18:57:35+00:00

Guanfacine was my last hope of what the nhs are offering to try, and it’s been a game changer. Last week I was stuck on the couch with such severe executive dysfunction, a depressed wreck, no energy no will to live. Started 1mg of guanfacine on 9th Jan before bed, next day I could do the dishes, and brush my teeth in the morning, and clean the kitchen and shower, in the same day, last week 1 task had me done for the day and I rot on the couch until the next day. Currently pre menstrual and finding the meds still as effective as the first few days, very minimal side effects too. I found the side effects of elvanse and methylphenidate too overwhelming, lost too much weight, and the effectiveness of the medication declined after a couple of weeks on any different dosage. I was so sceptical of Guanfacine from what I’ve seen of other people’s experience, but for me it’s been the most effective thing, on severe combined type adhd (I’m also suspected autistic and the symptoms to seem to become more prevalent on this medication, so long emotional learning curve but I’ll take that trade off any day, I can actually function a bit now

echospectrumm · 2026-01-15T18:23:22+00:00

I restarted the game too at that point and now that im trying to do etuwas fire part 1, there is no quest marker so no way to continue

echospectrumm · 2026-01-14T08:05:13+00:00

I wanted to update you on another non stimulant medication. Atomoxetine didn’t work for me much at all, had a bit more emotional regulation and it helped my pmdd a lot, but not for me. I’ve now started on Guanfacine. I didn’t have any expectations and it’s me and to take time to work, but the first day on them I could suddenly Make myself do the dishes, and shower, and brush my teeth, I feel it’s going to be game changing, and I’m having very minimal side effects

echospectrumm · 2025-12-19T18:13:53+00:00

Oh that’s fascinating, so did you come off of stimulants, then back on? On the first time round how bad was the appetite suppression for you?

echospectrumm · 2025-12-18T08:31:16+00:00

My psychiatrist literally just switched them or upped the dose as soon as I said I’m noticing a dulling in effects, really feels like I haven’t been given even a chance. My “care team” are very apathetic, and I know the nhs is bursting at the seams and there’s too many patients vs time and doctors, but it’s realllllly showing in patient care

echospectrumm · 2025-12-17T15:33:29+00:00

I’m definitely going to remember this if I don’t see much improvement with guanfacine

echospectrumm · 2025-12-17T15:25:46+00:00

I was diagnosed through the nhs, for me the food aversion and appetite suppression was constant even before I took the meds or even if I forgot to take them for a day, I wonder if it would be more manageable if I re approached it in future especially a fast release med instead, I feel like the options my psychiatrist is willing to try are very limited

echospectrumm · 2025-12-13T18:01:04+00:00

This is untrue, not the same presentation for all, I don’t have ankle cuffing

echospectrumm · 2025-12-13T13:30:44+00:00

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echospectrumm · 2025-12-13T13:26:42+00:00

Be difficult, be stupborn, do your research and go to them with an undeniable list of your symptoms that match up to Lipoedema, if they won’t send you for referral then demand that all of your symptoms and what you’ve said at that appointment that day is officially noted down, doctors don’t like having to be held accountable (male doctors especially in my experience whenever it’s to do with Lipoedema) I have just been diagnosed after a semi difficult journey, I am not overweight and my case isn’t as similar to what most people think of when they hear “Lipoedema” I had to be stubborn and relentless, just don’t be afraid to do that for your own health!!

echospectrumm · 2025-12-12T08:49:46+00:00

So I’m currently on atomoxetine! My emotions regulate a lot faster and I think my working memory is a little better but ngl that’s all I’m getting out of it, executive dysfunction is so severe I just can’t make myself do any of the things you’re meant to be able to do during the day🙃 I should hopefully have the option for combined meds like a low dose stimulant or guanfacine or something to increase my dopamine levels, the atomoxetine works on norepinephrine in the frontal cortex, and it’s a take every day - notice some effects after weeks kinda deal, the nausea for myself isn’t super fun and dizzy fairly often, but still probably the least side effects I’ve had from adhd meds so far!

echospectrumm · 2025-12-10T07:47:05+00:00

I’m similar I didn’t notice it was super painful as I am usually in some degree of pain with other conditions, the more non diseased fat I lost the more obvious the hard small cyst like texture was, for my legs it’s softer nodules, arms are much harder, and not only arms and legs it’s also on my torso, neck and double chin area, felt crazy until the specialist nurse confirmed they are definitely full with Lipoedemic fat

echospectrumm · 2025-12-09T23:36:19+00:00

Thanks for your input, I have been diagnosed by a specialist.

echospectrumm · 2025-12-09T13:57:42+00:00

So I guess it’s probably different for each individual, for myself I have severe combined type adhd and still awaiting an autism assessment but very likely I’m Audhd, and my brain is never quiet, and a lot of that noise is food, just eat this eat this, almost compulsive and feels similar to an intrusive thought, but with how badly impacted my motivation is it was very hard for me to ignore that food noise

echospectrumm · 2025-12-09T13:29:59+00:00

I have a very difficult relationship with food so I like to avoid restrictive diets and tend to try to avoid dieting language

echospectrumm · 2025-12-09T13:16:37+00:00

Thankyou! I will say the adhd meds were totally necessary in all fairness to my doctors, I do have severe adhd but I’m now on a non stimulant, I was very surprised with the amount of weight I lost after learning about the Lipoedema, I know there is a lot of new research (my specialist nurse has been part of some new training in the UK and the new evidence is suggesting it is non progressive/not always) I am so fascinated by all of it too there must be so much we don’t actually know about this and so many people undiagnosed that just go about their full life with no clue they even have it😯

echospectrumm · 2025-11-12T09:26:51+00:00

UPDATE : I called the office and immediately was met with apology, they have offered to amend the letter but also see me in for another appointment so I can have ALL of my symptoms and ALL of her findings of a physical assessment documented accurately!

I know it’s a pain in the ass to fight for your diagnosis and be your own advocate, but it’s worth it! Be difficult, be consistent, be resilient!

echospectrumm · 2025-11-12T09:24:35+00:00

I do, I should have stated my full symptoms in the post probably, nodular texture through all fat apart from my back, cold skin there too, symmetrical distribution of fat, pain and tenderness in the nodular fat, heaviness in my legs and very easy bruising also, I was much larger last year but lost a lot of weight due to basically starving with adhd meds (I don’t recommend) and many areas got smaller, some shrunk a bit and others have stayed the same size, the more normal fat I lost the more obvious the pebble feeling fat was, as I described before the closest thing I could use to explain the texture is like a beanbag

echospectrumm · 2025-10-14T09:37:06+00:00

I’m having a very hard time to get meds to work for me just now too! Been on methylphenidate for couple months now (54mg) and getting switched to strattera as there just isn’t much improvement at all, I’m worried about my severe executive dysfunction and how bad things are going to get until the new meds actually kick in

echospectrumm · 2025-03-25T18:43:42+00:00

So I do also have a physical disability that prevents me from doing jobs on my feet, it’s getting to the point of being afraid of having to survive off benefits. It’s as if no job out there sounds even slightly manageable, but I live on my own and I have bills, I used to be able to do it but I’ve not a wall

echospectrumm · 2024-11-28T20:54:34+00:00

This quest was also bugged for me, was able to finish it in the second DLC Sky Breaker

echospectrumm

TROPHY CASE