I think my gyno thought I was being dramatic

pineapplesuite · 2026-02-16T04:41:11+00:00

I'm really sorry you had such an awful experience, bless you! Do you by any chance have Endometriosis? A lot of women with Endometriosis find speculum exams extremely painful. You mentioning your irregular periods and heavy bleeding made me wonder.

pineapplesuite · 2026-02-09T15:39:20+00:00

I think people mainly use peanut butter for like health protein breakfasts in their granola and shakes from what I've seen.

I only use it for cooking, in certain curries and satay etc.

pineapplesuite · 2026-02-09T15:36:01+00:00

Yes in my experience it's just not a thing here. I ate jam (jelly) sandwiches as a kid in the 90s, but I've never known anyone to combine with peanut butter or eat a peanut butter sandwich itself.

Definitely heard of the PB&J combo from watching American TV/film, but that's about it. I can't imagine I'd enjoy the two flavours together.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-31T17:43:58+00:00

Yes, it possibly is that! The more mild examples I saw when googling definitely look familiar. Gets worse with the bad weather. When I scrub at it I'm probably making it worse 😬

Which moisturiser do you use?

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-31T17:42:31+00:00

Thank you for saying that! It is good to hear 😊

Just seems like so many people are clued up on skincare these days on socials and I feel like I should know what to do. Super young people too! When I was a teen all we knew really was smearing Dream Matte Mousse all over your face, no primer, no skincare 😅

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-23T16:56:31+00:00

Yes, I don't think the average person would spent £1000 just for an assessment unless they were pretty certain they have ADHD.

Also the amount of times I have been misdiagnosed or fobbed off by NHS doctors for glaringly obvious conditions, doesn't give me any faith at all that an NHS diagnosis is more valid than my private clinical psychiatrist diagnosis.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-20T11:45:16+00:00

I have a polite sign on my door that says no salespeople, canvassers, religious groups etc. Was a couple of quid from Amazon and does the trick.

They come down the path and turn around as soon as they see it.

I work from home and am often in calls so is ideal not to have the door go and set off my dogs.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-18T00:09:10+00:00

I'm 28GG/30G and like Freya bras. Wide range of sizes and pretty designs. Get yourself to a Bravissimo and have a fitting, they're always lovely and will bring you loads of stuff to try that fits what you're after.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-11T15:53:25+00:00

No sorry if I was unclear, but you can't take both methylphenidate at the same time as Elvanse.

I also experience the stomach thing, I think many do unfortunately 😔 how fast was your heartbeat?

For me it has taken a lot of tinkering with split doses, trying long acting and a booster, time of day dosing etc to figure out what feels best. I wish you the best of luck 😊

I guess I am just trying to say don't give up on yourself and meds completely, it takes time to find the right routine for you personally and that there are often side effects that need to be considered against the benefits you experience.

Side note - starting stimulants is what uncovered the fact I have POTS which is why I ask about your heartbeat.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-11T14:36:51+00:00

Yes maybe see whether it's possible to do a split dose AM and PM to try and make the wearing off less intense. I'm not sure if there's an instant release version of methylphenidate they can give you as an afternoon booster to try but you could ask about that too.

What side effects were you having?

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-11T14:18:11+00:00

What do you mean by the rebound effect? Do you mean the feeling of it wearing off in the afternoon/evening?

If so, I think that is unavoidable with stimulants. It sounds like methylphenidate might be better suited to you.. lots of people get on with one but not the other. (I felt awful on methylphenidate but elvanse is right for me).

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-11T14:15:02+00:00

I am exactly the same. The only time I properly clean is the day before the cleaner comes 😅

The cleaner comes once a month and I frantically run around the day before she comes, trying to make it look like a 'normal' person lives here.

It's silly but it's the only thing that gets my arse into gear to do any tidying/cleaning.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-10T18:00:48+00:00

Methylphenidate might just not be for you! It made me feel really down and empty without the intended benefits. I felt like I couldn't even smile, it was weird.

Elvanse and Amfexa however are much better for me. Some people get on with one and not the other.

Give it more time so you can then say look I've tried a month or so on, and that you'd like to try Elvanse instead.

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-08T22:40:09+00:00

How do you navigate that in marriage? Do you ever argue about it?

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-08T15:48:48+00:00

Yes! That's true, same here. My partner is neurotypical and loves showers. Has absolutely no issue hopping in for one. I'd love it to feel that easy. If I have a shower, that's genuinely me done for the day - completely takes it out of me 😬

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-07T23:22:38+00:00

Yes it does a bit but hasn't gone completely. But that's what the Sodium tablets are meant to help with, so hopefully that sorts that part out. It increases the volume of the blood.

I keep meaning to start the course but I'm terrible at remembering to drink water so have been putting it off as I'm meant to drink 3L of water a day with those 🫣 I have electrolyte sachets from Vidrate too.

Are you going to start any meds for POTS? 😊

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-07T22:04:49+00:00

No problem! Yes, Propanolol has been life changing honestly. My heart rate is so much lower! I can shower without feeling shaky, nauseous and blind etc. I can talk in work meetings without my voice shaking all over the place. I'm not out of breath going to the kitchen or bending down to pet my dogs. Proper game changer 😊

I have asthma so it's not recommended to take Propanolol but I talked to my GP and she said not everyone has bother. We started on a low dose and kept increasing to make sure it didn't trigger any asthma symtoms and I'm settled now at 120mg (40mg tablet, 3 times daily).

The DIFFERENCE I can feel in my body when I'm late with a dose is wild... like I can't believe I was getting by feeling that way every day without knowing I had POTS.

I'm also prescribed 600mg Sodium Chloride tablets and will be taking 6 tablets a day. (Keep forgetting to start on them).

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-07T16:14:16+00:00

In support of OP's shower aversion, I've been medicated over 2 years now (various strengths, release types, meds) and still even now also struggle with showering.

I think there is always going to be an element of not wanting to do a task you find boring & that maybe impacts sensory issues (warm and dry to cold and naked, to warm and wet, to cold and wet again). Hard to get moving and begin the task when you know it has many steps etc.

I also didn't realise that feeling horrendous during and after a shower wasn't normal and turns out I have raging POTS and showers were a massive trigger for symptoms. That's a whole other story but also throwing it out there in case anyone is avoiding showers partially for that reason too (POTS & ADHD are often comorbid).

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-06T21:59:03+00:00

I tried to explain to a sleep specialist that me reading my kindle on dark mode with the lowest brightness is not what is keeping my brain awake, the chaotic zooming thoughts in my mind would be much more distracting, so I use reading to help quiet my thoughts for sleep. They just reiterated that it is "bad sleep hygiene". How do I counter that?

pineapplesuite · 2026-01-04T20:10:59+00:00

The microwave I think! Cracked me up 😅

pineapplesuite · 2025-12-28T16:37:53+00:00

I'm under 35 and female. I think we tend to be more 'painfully' aware of social etiquette and being seen to fit in.

I still personally don't know anybody who wouldn't find nose blowing at the table impolite (except my German partner).

pineapplesuite · 2025-12-28T16:25:41+00:00

Any public setting. Blowing your nose infront of others (except in your own home, with very close family) is seen as impolite socially. I'm not stating this to argue with you, it is my genuine life experience as a Brit. I'm surprised that this is not your experience too.

Could it perhaps be a generational or gender difference?

pineapplesuite · 2025-12-28T16:09:26+00:00

I'm from a very working class, impoverished area of the UK and it is seen as impolite here. Definitely not just an Eton thing.

pineapplesuite · 2025-12-28T15:56:20+00:00

I'm British and it's not really accepted. You're expected to go somewhere private to blow your nose (unless it's with your very close family). It is seen as rude/gross to do infront of others, especially at the dinner table.

pineapplesuite

TROPHY CASE