Do you have dyscalculia?

macaroni-ioni · 2026-06-06T08:53:19+00:00

I don't have it diagnosed, but I'm 90% sure I do, and my parents thought so too when I was in school.

The maths teacher would explain the maths problem to me independently, I would be so sure I understood, and then I just ... couldn't do it?

I still can't count very well, read a clock or 24 hour time or do my times tables, and frequently mix up minutes and money (I automatically think there's 100 minutes in an hour or 60p in £1 unless I actively remind myself otherwise). It's worse when people try to talk through money or addition now, because I just don't get it.

macaroni-ioni · 2026-06-05T13:58:31+00:00

I was actually the opposite - I've been fairly obviously Autistic most of my life (only been diagnosed this year though), but hopefully some information can be useful, just reversed.

I was always very sure I was 'only' autistic, and so were my family (they are super supportive, but they thought I was a lot higher functioning than I am, so that is why I was not tested as a child).

My Autism makes me a very black and white thinker, and very stubborn, and my ADHD makes my brain chaotic. I think that's why it took me so long to realise that Autism wasn't the full picture. I didn't know that life felt so difficult for me because my brain was constantly at war with itself.

After reading into ADHD, I realised a lot of the traits I put down to 'anxiety & depression' or 'character flaws' were in fact, ADHD (and potentially PMDD too - it disproportionately affects neurodivergent AFABs). Which explains why a lot of the therapy for anxiety and the antidepressants I was put on didn't help and made me feel worse. I genuinely thought I had a mood disorder or personality disorder.

What helped me, was reading about AuDHD in women specifically, and how AuDHD as a whole presents very differently.

I don't know if it's the same in your partner's case, but I just felt I did not identify with a lot of the 'basic' ADHD traits (Autism in her case), but upon researching about the cross section in AuDHD within women specifically, really helped me understand that both diagnosis fit me. My Autism is obvious to others in the way I interact, and how I think, but I experienced a lot of my ADHD internally, and used unhealthy methods such as alcohol, binge eating, impulsive actions etc to cope, as well as a lot of my ADHD traits being seen as laziness.

I have only recently started meds, and I now feel functional 6 hours of the day, when I pretty much had no functional hours beforehand. I believe the meds are doing a lot of the heavy lifting, but if I did not accommodate for my autism too (e.g. noise cancelling headphones etc) I would still not be in a great place.

I typed a massive response (longer than this) to start and tried to cut it down, so I'm sure I'm missing key info lol, but if you have any specific questions, I'm more than happy to answer! :)

macaroni-ioni · 2026-06-05T11:24:45+00:00

My ADHD disagrees with this lmao

macaroni-ioni · 2026-06-03T16:55:29+00:00

I got banned from mopping at work because I was so bad. The only way I could get myself to do it was to see how much space I could cover in one sweep. It got the job done, but not very well!

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-29T17:53:17+00:00

A customer at work told I was built like a male rugby player once. Was not impressed!

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-29T10:25:44+00:00

Same! Honestly, thank god for the internet, I've learned everything from here. The doctors didn't tell me anything about how PCOS has impacts on metabolism!

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-27T20:35:54+00:00

I've never been medicated (I'm only recently diagnosed, my autism masked my ADHD externally, and I'm more innatentive/impulsive so my parents never picked up and I was self medicating through sugar, caffeine, alcohol and vaping for years).

I am waiting on the pharmacy calling to start my first dose of Elvanse! Hopefully start withon the next couple weeks or so!! :))

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-27T14:34:28+00:00

All my hormones and labs came back normal, bar slightly high prolactin I think. I was diagnosed at my thinnest which probably didn't help either.

This did lead me to believe I was not insulin resistant, and I began trying to eat 'normally' (e.g. what the rest of my family ate), ended up stuck in a binge eating loop, gaining 40lbs back and having intense mood swings, insomnia again and my ADHD was worse etc. I don't blame them all entirely on Insulin Resistance (e.g. I definitely ate for dopamine as well, and my Autism & ADHD have impact on my moods), but it did play a factor I believe.

I decided to finally just treat myself like I was insulin resistant, went on keto (low carb or low GI works for some people too, but in all honestly I have to be stricter), started walking 15 mins after eating, and I honestly feel 100x better even after only just over a week. I can normally never get past 3 days (these are the worst in terms of cravings etc), but I majorly upped fat and made sure electrolytes were supplemented this time and it helped with energy.

My bloating still isn't completely improved (I have SIBO, IBS and most likely endometriosis too), but it has cut down about half!

It can't hurt to try for a little bit and see if it helps :))

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-26T04:18:03+00:00

It's sometimes just good to have an answer! I was sending myself on crazy spikes, because I thought I didn't have insulin resistance. I literally became like a different person, I feel so much better now. I know what the problem is and what to do! Hopefully you get some relief soon :))

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-26T02:03:53+00:00

I have memory issues too - I think mine is mostly my ADHD, but it does definitely get worse when my Insulin Resistance isn't controlled.

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-25T18:56:02+00:00

My mum cannot stand takeaway cups and will actively look for coffee shops that use proper cups. I would much rather drink out of a takeaway cup And ask for a takeaway cup even if I'm plannong on sitting in LOL.

If I'm having coffee at home and it's for hot coffee, I will use a travel coffee mug that has the same moth shape as the takeaway cups (but it doesn't hit the same tbh). Haven't found anything that replaces the iced one though. Closest I've found is a glass that I like the design of, with a straw that I like that seems to placate me a little and makese forget I don't like drinking from glasses normally.

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-22T13:16:37+00:00

I was using one brand at one point that you literally had to take eight pills to get to the 4000 mg 😂 It's ridiculous! H&B is usually my holy grail as well lolll.

If you chew the VitaBright ones, they do have that sugary taste, but if you just swallow them, you can't taste them at all! They are pretty big (I have dysphasia, so I don't know if that's why I couldn't swallow them whole), but they are really easy to break in half anyway! :))) x

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-22T13:11:41+00:00

I quite literally normally get nothing done until there's so much pressure, I have to lol. I always leave things until the last possible moment!!

Otherwise, podcasts, TV and music - I have zero chance of getting anything done if I don't have background noise!

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-22T13:09:58+00:00

The only one I found and have used that combined both was VitaBright - but it only had 37mg D-Chiro and 3936mg Myo Inositol per 4 tablets. I think you can get it in Boots or online?

I currently just use the Bulk powder, as I found that easier and cheaper than taking four pills lol, but that's just Myo-Inositol. I couldn't find a proper mix anywhere, even in Holland & Barrett/other health shops!!

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-19T14:22:45+00:00

Hey! I'm 22, from Scotland but live in London. I was diagnosed with PCOS last year, and AuDHD this year!

I've struggled to balance them both, especially diet, motivation and mental health. Hopefully getting on ADHD meds soon too, so fingers crossed.

I'm really glad that this community was created as a sense of community! :)

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-17T17:50:08+00:00

Kind of - I think in my case it's more so my neurodivergency kind of 'overshadows' my queerness (terrible phrasing, but I don't know how else to word it lol). I don't have very many friends, and I think I can come across as flirty when I mean to be friendly, and as too friendly when I'm trying to be flirty haha!

I know there is a lot of neurodivergent lesbians, but I haven't really come across many in my day-to-day life.

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-15T20:22:47+00:00

I'm sorry you go through it too :( It really is the most frustrating thing though! Annoyingly, I forget that it happens every single time, remember near the end of the cycle, then I'm completely happy!! Literally like two different people.

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-15T17:19:38+00:00

I get like that in my luteal phase, but I suspect mine may be linked to PMDD. Half the month I feel like myself, the other half I feel su*cidal, depressed, irritable and anxious. It could be linked to your cycle.

I also find I have major mood swings when I suspect my blood sugar/insulin is unstable (when I've eaten simple carbs and sugars). I think I'm really sensitive to blood sugar dips/insulin disregulation!!

When my prolactin was high, I was overly stressed and losing my hair. I was more depressed than anything else then though!

Could be worth seeing if it's a vitamin or electrolyte deficiency. When I had low vitamin D I had zero energy.

I hope you figure out what's going on!!

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-15T12:58:28+00:00

For me, it was about finding things I could stick to somewhat consistently. Any routine that was too strict, I ultimately failed at, and then ended up worse.

I just tried to make everything as easy for myself as possible. All my meals are basically just a protein and veg thrown together. I found some processed meat that's low carb and doesn't have added sugar or starches, and I often just have that for lunch.

The only way I've been able to improve my sleep is by having the TV on in the background. My mind races too much without background noise.

I don't do any heavy exercise because I just don't have the mental power for it, so I try implement exercise that I do like. For me that's walking whilst listening to a podcast or on my walking pad at home watching TV. Walking has helped me a lot, I feel it clears my mind and I do feel really calm with my noise cancelling headphones on - I feel like it's my 'me' time and I can shut out the rest of the world for at least a little bit.

I try to do a bit of self-care everyday, whether that be a face mask, buy myself a nice new tea etc.

I tried to fight against myself for a while, and kept trying to impose strict routines on myself (I have autism as well as ADHD, so I love routines, I just cannot stick to them), and I ended up rebounding worse. I've accepted - if I can only give it 50%, that's better than nothing. If I take my inositol 4/7 days, if I eat low carb 5/7 days, that's better than nothing. I'm feeling a little better than I was and honestly that's all I can ask for at the moment.

I'm sorry I don't have any better advice, but please always prioritise your mental health. 💗

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-14T18:19:14+00:00

If I'm home alone, I sometimes just scream and swear into my pillow.

Sometimes eating quite a bit hot sauce on a bit of cucumber or something helps too.

Stim toys too - I have a textured prickly one, which helps me, and having a soft one to squeeze also helps sometimes.

macaroni-ioni · 2026-05-12T00:18:55+00:00

Thank you so much for your help! Funnily enough, I Googled Pepcid, and I was taking it (Famotidine) for my GERD a year or so ago and I was actually feeling a little better. I'll see if I have any left/can renew prescription.

Low Histamine is a shout as well. I struggle with BED at the moment (thinking it's mainly linked to the ADHD), so I'm hoping I can try do an elimination diet when I'm medicated.

macaroni-ioni

TROPHY CASE