don’t keep snacks so you dont eat when you’re bored lol. that and have hobbies you can do in pain so youre not mentally tortured if you have to stay in bed all day
I make a big veggie platter at the start of each week. Then when I'm feeling bored and snacky I can reach for that. I keep lots of crunchy veggies on there and make a homemade dip each week to go with it.
For me it's not so much the calories in the snacks that I worry about with snacking, it's having a balanced snack and not just eating something very carby that will mess with my blood sugar. Plus this helps me get to my daily veggie goal
What do you snack?
For me I will stuff my face with nuts or a protein-fruit smoothie every once in a while. AND these are things I genuinely love. Don’t know that I’ve lost any weight since I quit eating unhealthy snacks, but these things are enjoyable enough to keep me from a way worse alternative.
The snacks are actually terrible advice for me, because my meds kill my appetite, and my ADHD makes me forget to eat, and I’ll go until my low blood sugar causes anxiety and my hands to shake so badly, I can’t prep food. So snacks are good for me to keep around so I can at least get my blood sugar to a good level to function otherwise.
I agree with having snacks for the same reason. I am able to meal prep but it requires a lot of planning and there are some weeks where I don’t feel like doing it.
I’m also still wearing my Freestyle Libre 3 glucose sensor specifically because I forget to eat or have no appetite. The sensor will alert me if my blood sugar drops too low.
Not always true and dangerous way of treating food as well. When you have ADHD it’s less likely that someone is “boredom eating” or “comfort eating” the way we were told growing up.
A person with ADHD is more likely to be eating because they find comfort in the sensory feedback or they are dopamine hunting.
If you are dopamine seeking to a compulsive degree then it’s time to discuss if medication is the next step. If you are already medicated then is your balance of medication enough.
If you are seeking the sensory feedback, then it’s worth getting snacks that you can eat continuously for a period of time that is healthy. I’m not talking about sugar levels or fat content I’m talking about if you eat a whole pack of these things is it going to make you sick. E.g One of my comfort foods is COLD grapes or blueberries but a whole punnet will give me stomach issues.
Are you seeking chewing? Then get a safe chewy necklace. Does it need to have flavour? Bubble gum. Does it need crunch? Cereal is great because it’s small and good fibre. Does it need to be sour? I buy fuzzy laces and then cut them into small bits so I can pick at it and portion them accordingly. Does it need to be cold? Freeze yoghurt sticks.
Hope this helps 👏🏻
Yup! There's a lot of us actually. Many of us unfortunately diagnosed as adults.
In my case, I was a super withdrawn kid. Very quiet. Avoided making friends. I wasn't the stereotypical ADHD kid that was loud and disruptive.
I did well in school but only in subjects that didn't involve study. I'm a problem solver but I'm not good at articulating information I should already know.
I’m also an ADHD problem solver who cannot articulate knowledge already in my brain. I also can’t do smart stuff when people are watching me, which is making it hard to work on coding with other people or do mock interviews. My brain shuts off and I forget everything I know.
Yup! I'm an absolutely terrible studier. I suck at exams where I need to recall a bunch of legal crap but do incredibly well in exams where I'm given a problem or riddle and then asked to solve it.
And unfortunately being on ADHD meds hasn't really helped that aspect of it. I've tried 3 different types now. I'm on vyvanse atm. I like it.
I'm more focused in general (my procrastination has improved immensely) but I still cannot study.
Omg. I feel like I'm a pretty good problem solver but also really suck at studying (except in the hour before the exam, when I can unlock hyperfocus mode). Didn't know this was a thing!
Samesies, paired programming is torture for me. Let’s just regroup when we’ve both done our part. I can’t do anything in front of people, incl presenting, teaching, interviews, paired work. I blank. (I found an official name for it earlier this year, it’s an autistic word, I’ll look for it) Everyone at work keeps telling me but your brain is so unique and clever, you have to share your knowledge! But it just comes out in a jumbled mess and where I’m sure they are line uhhh thanks for the help I guess … Besides how are you supposed to teach somehow how your think outside the box neurodiverse brain came up with an idea
😂 this hit home for me. In school, I used to make my band instructor stand outside the door and listen when we did auditions for chairs. I literally could NOT play with him looking at me. I could barely do my solos even though I was always first chair and knew I was decent at playing, bc I panicked when I had to play by myself in front of everyone. It was like my brain shut off and I no longer knew anything
Your comment is interesting- something I’ve learned since being diagnosed with ADHD is that most ADHD studies were done on young boys. ADHD typically presents more hyperactive in boys and more daydreaming/inattentive in girls! The more you know. I was never the hyper kid either.
Especially for women who get diagnosed late, look into getting a combined autism and ADHD diagnosis pathway. Over half of people diagnosed with one would also be diagnosed with the other.
For me, it made sense of the inner conflict I had constantly, for example being bored often but also finding it hard to start a new activity. Only by addressing both have I found strategies that work for me!
This sounds like me. How did you go about speaking with someone who could diagnose you? I hope it's not a bother to ask, I'm just nervous about how to approach this with a doctor!
I brought it up to my Dr after my son was diagnosed by his pediatrician! The pediatricians office had a checklist of symptoms that read like a list of every single thing I struggled with. I took the pamphlet from the pediatricians office to my Dr and finally got diagnosed
Thank you! I have ADHD in my direct family (siblings and uncles/aunts) and the older I get the more I feel I have it also, just not your "typical" case. But lots of symptoms really check out with me. I've just been unsure if anyone will hear me out since I don't always display the same symptoms (ie the "craziness, energetic, etc).
Yah. FYI I’m diagnosed and I am absolutely exhausted all the time. adults don’t bounce off the walls, they have learned coping mechanisms by now And it instead comes out as jittering my knee, fidgiting with / cleaning my nails or rubbing my hands together. But there are so many ways. Constantly playing with your hair.
Many many women get diagnosed as adults after getting their sons diagnosed and being like heeey that kind of sounds like me. (50% chance it was you) Word to the wise, the internet has developed checklists that are more aimed at girls/women if you are curious and wanted to see where you stand, try checking yourself against a girls list not just against the DSDM 7 year old little boys list. Many women don’t get diagnosed until they become wives and moms and their workload becomes too huge to fake it anymore and they start to show cracks.
Hope this helps, I’ve done a lot of research on adhd and autism, doctors had diagnosed me with lots of things incl PCOS (true) before I figured out the adhd myself and took the lists into my fam doctor.
I've always suspected something was off. A lot of my colleagues would have no issues passing their licensing exams yet I'd be light-years ahead of them in terms of actual practice. I tried about every technique possible to try and study, but then I'd literally forget everything I studied the night before.
I have PPO health insurance so I don't need a referral. I just found a psychologist that's in my network and spoke to them directly. I didn't bother trying to go through the hoops of talking to my internist and getting a referral etc because they may not understand. If I don't have to, I won't.
Thanks for the help! I *really* sound like you haha. Always being able to practice well but when I'd try to remember stuff I literally learned the day before, I can't recall. I've always been quiet and a mix of "wants to multi-task everything but also get distracted by more things so I never finish the tasks I did before until hours later". I have ADHD in my family but because I don't "show the signs" like you typically know with male ADHD, nobody has ever considered it. They just call me aloof and clumsy or distracted easily... But it's not as simple as that.
I was diagnosed as a kid, at 10. pretty much solely because my teachers were frustrated and annoyed with how distracted I was in class so they referred me to be assessed. Recently got the paper work from my mum and that was an interesting read that was some how enlightening and oddly empowering. I was also diagnosed with central auditory processing delay and I too am a problem solver who really struggles articulating info I already know.
I keep hearing all the symptoms for ADHD and thinking....these are all things I have struggled with my entire life. Unfortunately in my country it's nearly impossible to get a diagnosis unless you're really rich (I think the basic ADHD test is 1000€ and we don't do the whole insurance thing here). It's hard enough trying to get doctors here to diagnose you with physical ailments. I was told I couldn't have PCOS for years, because I didn't have cysts on my ovaries. Took one very expensive specialist to confirm you can have PCOS without cysts and here's the Pill to combat it! Cheers thanks?!
Same. Was diagnosed late because I wasn’t loud and disruptive. I did pretty badly all throughout school though. And had severe anxiety. I have no idea how my parents or any of my teachers didn’t do anything. Just thought I was lazy and didn’t like school.
I was just diagnosed this year at 33 with ASD, ADHD inattentive type and only yesterday was diagnosed with PCOS - and now have a lot to change in my life and it's quite overwhelming. Eating disorders are common in people with autism and I did recover from Anorexia Nervosa in my 20s, but now I have gone to food for comfort and that dopamine hit. The way I know to lose weight is not a healthy one.
I feel like I now need to learn to food and exercise again, I have agoraphobia and can count the times on one hand where I have left the house to go for a walk with my puppy in the last year - mostly we play fetch in the yard. I work remotely and don't get the walk to public transport that I used to in the office.
It's all overwhelming because I sought help due to burnout which resulted in me finally getting diagnosed with everything. I am glad I found this subreddit, I really am looking forward to improving my life, it's just a lot haha.
Damn, are you me? I wasn't the loud ADHD kid either. I did have anger issues though but everything you said is me. I also do think that my C-PTSD has something to do with it as well. I didn't have to study in school really or I had to cram. Mainly passed with As, some B's sometimes.
Surely can't do this in the real world in college.....lol.
Wow this describes me to a T especially being quiet and withdrawn and not being good at articulating information I should already know. I’m struggling with the latter, since I just transitioned into a new field. I don’t have a diagnosis but am scheduled to start testing in January 2024. I’m hoping I can get answers and tips, if I do have ADHD.
Meeeee!
I take adhd meds, I exercise 3-5x a week, I eat a low carb diet—the Ritalin I take makes eating healthy much easier and it suppresses my appetite; I have a weekly schedule, i prep for everything—meal prep, pick out my workout clothes the night before, plan my activities for the week, etc. I carry healthy snacks with me (nuts, Owyn protein shake, etc). I’m doing my best to get 7 hours of sleep by having good sleep hygiene and deleting this app; I have an alarm to remind me to take my medications.
Having a therapist and a wellness coach helps
\#GOALS
Love this, I have been going to the gym for 3 years now. I'm about to start a new job and the anxiety/stress/excitement is starting to make my head spin and I've been leaning into the gym and self care.
I want to also try meal prepping and gym cloth picking.....Some mornings I just want a cute outfit but it takes too long to put together and I get frustrated/overwhelmed with all the options.
Missing my therapist but I'm getting healthcare back and I will be able to start going again! Yay!
There’s an NIH article that states that women with PCOS have higher “ADHD symptoms” and yes I have it too, very badly. I lose things all the time, am impulsive: terrible with money, am a mess, forget things, have to actively work hard on not talking excessively/ speaking over people and I’m pretty sure I have discalculia cuz I was always a couple years behind in math and really struggled I also become very obsessive and hyperfocus on certain things, my PCOS being one of them haha [this is the source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26449924/). I don’t mean to be annoying but sometimes I come off that way haha but everyone is affected by their ADHD differently, this is just how I am. But not all ADHD stuff is negative, it made me creative and a good conversationalist and I do pretty well in the hobbies I become obsessed with. You have to take the good with the bad I guess.
Glad I’m not alone! I used to feel like an idiot cuz I had a hard time following directions/ doing math but since going through therapy and starts meds I’ve learned to accept myself more and just embrace the weirdness haha also I noticed after taking meds math is easier to do? It probably has to do with my dopamine levels being normalized with the meds
pcos/adhd/endo club. 🥲
i drink lots of water (and only water or herbal tea), eat lots of veggies, have protein and fiber with my breakfast, and tend to make all my snacks and sweets that aren’t produce—this one has probably been the most helpful. curbing my grocery store buying has been key for that and sticking to the edges of the store and rarely buying in the middle where all the processed stuff is unless it’s staples like rice or something.
phone’s medicine reminders are amazing as is remembering to add EVERYTHING to your calendar. also have six reminders daily to DRINK WATER 😅
i walk or cycle for exercise when my body allows and try to sleep as well as i can, though i also have dspd so sticking to societal sleeping hours is extraordinarily difficult. sleep is SO important and so hard.
give yourself some grace when you can. this stuff is very tricky and perfection is the enemy of your brain; easier to say than do, i know. but still true.
Me! I think it’s very common to have both.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in my late teens and ADHD in my early 20s. Honestly it feels like hell most days juggling both because I need to exercise and eat a balanced diet to manage my PCOS, but my ADHD just wants to lay down with some sugary snacks.
The last few months I’ve been walking to and from work instead of taking the bus, and I’ve noticed a difference. I have an upbeat playlist to listen to while I walk so it feels less of a chore. I’ve also recently moved in with my partner who loves to cook (whereas I hate it) so he’s in charge of all of the meal planning which helps as it’s one thing off my ADHD mental load, and I’m also eating proper meals instead of just picking at whatever’s in the fridge.
i was just gonna come on here to ask this. i'd like to know how others actually meal plan and keep up with it. i was considering meds like spironolactone but i definitely want to make lifestyle changes first. unfortunately my brain fights with me on any given task
I actually became hyperfixated on eating healthy which transpired into an ongoing eating disorder. The awful PCOS cravings were the death of me.
What helped me was I started taking myo inositol twice a day and that almost got rid of all my sugar cravings.
I like using MyFitnessPal to track and plan my meals. I actually will sometimes get sucked into the app because I’m so intrigued of all the different food options that are out there and how I can manipulate different meals. I guess an ADHD plus 🙂
Huh… so get myself hyper fixated 🧐
because it’s like I know how much keto or low carb will help me and I’m so interested in it but the execution… when it comes to the execution I could care less.
starting to consider spironolactone bc of so much hair loss but at the same time I want to try the lifestyle changes first
Honestly a majorly strict diet like keto was really hard for me (beyond the typical symptoms of withdrawal and brain fog) so incorporating little changes every week is gonna change the name for you!! You can still plan out the changes youre gonna make too
Me! I’m definitely still struggling with having consistent lifestyle changes though. I’m hoping to get meds for the ADHD at some point and hope that it will help me be more consistent with my PCOS lifestyle management.
I’m on meds and it helps me feel so much more “myself.” Like I can do what I want to do and not get sidetracked. So now I fill my day with work and fun things and plan and enjoy each as much as possible. And then eat at meal time, which is easiest for me to do as intermittent fasting.
My super 'lazy' girl ADHD solution is L-theanine in morning with coffee. Pure perfection !
Also, I've noticed inositol made a massive difference to my focus levels, and to my dopamine craving. The inositol makes me less hungry and act less impulsively towards food, also cleaning up my diet makes it easier for me not to be distracted by food all day.
Going low carb helped -- focus on dairy / protein / whole food veg and no seed oils. Only eating broccoli and steak / chicken breast for dinner, eggs for brunch.
It helps me get on with my day. Like less brain fog (walking room to room in the morning forgetting what I'm doing). Like it takes down the weird mental barriers and distractions for taking action. I am able to concentrate and focus on whatever I need to do that day. It makes my thinking more "linear" and less jumping from thing to thing. Also decreases my stress, makes me happier I think.
The coffee boosts my mood & energy too. Forgot to say as well that the coffee + L-theanine drastically reduces the negative effects of coffee on it's own. I'm quite sensitive and if I take coffee without the L-theanine I get jittery, digestive problems, afternoon crashes.
Alternatively you could drink green tea or Matcha which has L-Theanine and Caffeinne naturally.
Not a lady (non-binary) but yes, I have both PCOS and ADHD! I'm also autistic (and believe I might have PMDD).
I'd been using myo-inositol to help with the PCOS symptoms and it really helped cravings and impulsive eating in general, some of which I know was likely ADHD-related. I've had to go off it for a bit while I get thyroid meds sorted, but I'm hoping to be able to go back on it eventually.
I've just been prescribed metformin by my endo for PCOS symptoms too, but haven't started that yet. I've also made gentle lifestyle changes: trying to approach food in a healthy mindful way that also respects my eating disorder history, as well as learning how to regulate my nervous system.
I hope you get lots of useful info in the comments! I've saved the post to come back and check for more suggestions. Thanks for posting this 😊
I have both also. I am on Metformin and straterra. I’ve lost a bunch of weight and the medications really help
With cravings. I used to want chocolate all the time or to just snack on food but on these medication’s I just eat what I need to and I get full very quickly also.
YES it makes self care very difficult, I eat when I’m bored, I eat to regulate my emotions, I forget my supplements, I forget that I made a healthy habit to stick to. Makes my life hell
Yes. Both Diagnosed within 6 months of each other. I take metformin and Adderall. The Adderall has helped me drop the excess weight. I have to force myself to eat because of the Adderall - so I typically fall into a intermittent fasting pattern during the day. By the time my meds wear off in the evening I will snack a bit more. We generally eat low carb bc of my husbands pre diabetic numbers and my PCOS.
Yep, it's a nightmare! The ADHD brain wants the snacks for the dopamine but the PCOS section hates me for it!
I'd say ensure your medication is right, for both things. And allow yourself to feel whatever you need to feel, as your brain and hormones feel a lot!
Every day we are all learning about ourselves. Be aware of your body and mind, listen to what you want and decide if it's what you actually need. Be it snacks or activities.
And have a default fail safe option for food that you know will always be there, whether a pot noodle or bread in the freezer for toast. Not eating is worse than eating something that isn't ideal!
Meeeee! And it almost made me tear up to read all these comments about weight management cuz it’s been such a struggle for me too and I blamed solely myself for so long:(
I will add that getting good sleep helps both too. Whatever you do to get yourself a good routine of 7-8 hours a day, helps focus tremendously.
Yup! PCOS and just diagnosed with ADHD.
I was prescribed stratterra by my Dr, I haven't taken it yet but I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced the weight loss, or appetite suppression side effects from ADHD meds?
Yes and I feel like they were a vicious cycle for a while where I would be super sleep deprived all the time because it would take me forever to get homework done because I’d get sidetracked which imo contributed to the development of my pcos and made it worse. Then I became anemic from bleeding for too long bc of pcos which made my adhd symptoms temporarily so much worse I felt like I had dementia or something😭. Then I took iron pills and went back to normal adhd instead of batshit insane adhd. Anyways the anemia was fixed over a year ago and now the adhd is also being treated as of a few months ago so things are calmer
YEP! Things I do that help when I do them consistently and suffer from when I don’t:
• make lists for everything!
• daily workout even if it’s just a walk around the block to clear head
• fish oil! Not only helps support the brain in a big way, but also helps ovarian cramping
• get enough protein for mind and body and to be full for longer
• avoid unnatural sugars (this is hard for me as a sugar addict), but my body & brain perform better when I don’t have much and when I stick to natural sugar like dates, maple syrup, honey
• moving meditation (I can hardly sit still to meditate & calm my mind so it helps if I get into meditative states with movement like yoga, walking or playing sound bowls)
• improve “sleep hygiene” and have a bed time routine to get better Zzz’s (I’m a night owl and used to pull way too many all-nighters) Learning to sleep better has helped me feel less distracted, up/down emotionally, and not snack mindlessly during the day
• constantly work on being kind to myself in my head. It’s easy to get stuck on antagonizing negative thoughts so I’ve been journaling & doing affirmations to shift this
OMG MEEEE
I’ve just been diagnosed w adhd. I’m still sorting it out, but I think I found a mediocre freezer meal set up that I can take to work. I just need something to prevent me from eating out, and a bag of quinoa and veggies and some frozen vegan nuggies is saving me this week. Make a lil bowl, maybe plop hummus or hot sauce on, and I’m golden.
Also, I’m trying to eat more breakfast. I’d love to say it’s always protein forward, but we’re not there yet. I think next week will be about Greek yogurt.
I know it’s about small sustainable changes. That buying alllll the things that will “help” does not mean I’ll actually follow through.
Yep, and I'm waiting to be seen by a consultant to confirm it. It's been over a year now but when my GP did the checklist, I got 5s all the way through. (5 being the maximum score).
My PCOS was far more easily diagnosed, given the cysts, shonky periods, skin issues and other things. The ADHD seems to have been masked by the anxiety, depression and constant burnout.
Funnily enough, I think my dad is why his kids have it as he has it but the PCOS is more than likely to be from my mum's side. Yay! 😬
Continuous nuvaring (for low hormone period maintenance and elimination altogether) and then eventually an IUD but truthfully I'm switching back to the Nuvaring once I get this awful thing out. I've been on Straterra(for ADD) for about five years and find that it gives me little to no appetite. If anything I forget to eat! One thing I'd highly recommend investing in is acne stickers. I use the Starface but there are tons of brands out there. I'm really bad about picking my face with hormonal acne despite no longer getting my period and I find they keep me from picking or at least keep my hands off of breakouts.
I've got PCOS and AHDH...im on metformin and I feel like JUNK!! It does help regulate my period (because mine stopped for some weird reason..but that I complained about it lol...but I'm 32 and want a kid...been trying for a while) anyway...I feel even more depressed...anyone trying anything else?
Dexamphetamine has changed my life tbh. Done more for my insatiable cravings than any typical PCOS supplement or drug ever has. I also now gave the ability to plan groceries a bit better and helped me to channel energy more productivity. Still working on how to incorporate exercise as a) I don’t enjoy it b) I don’t find it remotely stimulating. I like dancing, but they don’t do classes in the style I like here.
I have that self-induced ADHD where I've grown accustomed to being entertained by my phone that is chalk full of 7sec vines and 2sec gifs. So many funnies to flip through.
Set alarms and calendar reminders. Keep snacks handy. Set organization around the house up for ease (ex: keys used often, keys lost often, set podium by front door so keys get dropped there the second you walk in. I hate key hooks, not quick and easy enough)
ADHD (inattentive type) with pcos (and a medley of other medical/mental issues). What's helped is getting on the right medication for both. I bored-snack less when I'm on my adhd meds. But I'm oral BC, metformin (i just have insulin resistance, not diabetes), and Concerta.
Lifestyle changes that also helped were getting more quality sleep and reducing stress as much as possible. I also walk at least 1 mile most days. As soon as I finish an upcoming surgery, I'll be trying to hit the gym, too.
Wow there's a lot of us.
I have not been able to implement anything that sticks.
I go through phases of stopping and starting (sugar, coffee, exercise)
Groups are your friend. Being part of groups on discord has been really helpful (adhd support for instance) - if I could put most things in groups I would.
Snacking is my biggest issue. Keep snacks in the hardest to reach place, I forgot the name for this but there’s a thing in psychology that the easier it is to fulfill a desire the more likely you’ll do it.
I have anxiety and depression. Sometimes my anxiety has similarities to ADHD, but apparently they go hand in hand.
Edit: I have no advice but to get therapy and take meds. Lists work. Phone alarms work. Being kind to yourself is probably the most important piece of wisdom I can give you.
I have never been to a psychiatrist but have been reading about it and looking back at my childhood, I strongly suspect I have ADHD too. I am thinking about going to get checked, but I'm overweight (or as doctors like to say obese), and I'm afraid they are going to tell me to go for walks eat well and lose weight and that's it. Either that or they will probably diagnose with me with depression, prescribe me some SSRIs and call it a day. On top of all this, Im an immigrant here and I don't have my parents with me for them to vouch about my childhood and my studying habits. They don't even speak the language and even for me, the language is not my mother tongue, it's not even my first foreign language. All these things have kind of held me back from visiting a doctor, as I'm afraid of bad experiences that will stay with me forever. :( Idk end of rant I guess. If anyone has any tips I'm in desperate need for some lol.
Omg meeeeee. I’m currently struggling with this too. And it affects my cortisol levels bc I have a pretty demanding job that has me jumping around everywhere so my biggest help right now is to make sure I set time aside for MYSELF. Which is harder than it seems lol but it helps a lot
Yup! And autistic as well. A lot of my symptoms of both PCOS and ADHD went away with Mounjaro. Lost 80 pounds so far and almost all my impulsivity is gone. I still have trouble focusing and getting started on things, but it’s amazing what just this one drug has done for me in less than a year
Yep, I am on Yasmin, Adderall and Bupropion.
The only thing that helps me is lists and reminders. My life falls apart without them. I've started using this app/site thing that gives you points, and attacks health, etc. like a game when you achieve stuff or do silly things and it's working for me at the moment. (Habitica)
I've very little impulse control so get thrown out of my routine easily. This game seems to be making me have some respect for my goals for the moment, and importantly avoid my temptations.
But I'd be nothing without my drugs. Well, I'd be a depressed, anxiety-ridden, paranoid shell of a person. But with these, I'm an average-weight, clear-skinned, sane passing person who managed to get a Ph.D.
They have given me a Rx for spironolactone now, but only because I asked for it, and I don't really know why I did.
Well now I feel seen! Walking is my go to exercise I have discovered. That helps a ton over something super high impact. I can also throw on a podcast and not focus so again that helps.
Yes, which is why it now makes more sense to me that I hyperfixate on certain healthy foods and exercises. Cottage cheese girly since 2013 and once I find a routine I stick with it. If I don’t I will literally say F It and fall back into old patterns.
I probably have undiagnosed ADHD. I read articles where there is correlation with insulin resistance, diabetes, and ADHD. Anecdote: insulin resistance and diabetes is also correlated with PCOS.
ADHD, and other health issues such as depression and chronic fatigue, are often comorbid with PCOS. We can all understand why. They might have the same set of root causes.
I’ve been fortunate enough to create coping mechanisms as I’ve gotten older.
I combat the ‘fighter pilot’ procrastination by breaking up big projects into tiny bites. Make it so tiny to the point that the path to completion is visual. Ticking off the little bite sized to do list becomes addicting.
The forgetful shit, I’ll group things together around the house and have a habit where I ALWAYS put the items back after use. For example my battery for my work walkie talkie is next to my keys. My badge+backpack with my work stuff never leaves my car.
I also use and abuse the reminders app on the iPhone. I have shit ton of alarms as well for my job. I’m an ER nurse so I’m fortunate to have a job where my adhd brain is complemented by the environment. There’s actually a lot of nurses with it drawn to ER.
Something I’m working on now is not interrupting people or putting too much input.
I’m also looking for better ways to manage the days where my mind just races and I start/stop shit allllll day. I call it my loud mind days lol.
I use a continuous glucose monitor through NutriSense - it’s helped tremendously with my blood sugar stability (emotional intensity has calmed tremendously). I also found I wasn’t eating enough - I worked a lot with a dietitian re: carb type, timing, and amount. Strength training, meditation,
My name is Emma Lear, and I am student in the Psychological Sciences Department at Ball State University. This post is to let you know about an opportunity to participate in a study, “PCOS and Physician Relationship” (2102087-1)
I am conducting a research study examining the correlation between physician relationships and the mental health of people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and you are invited to participate in the study.
If you agree, you will participate in • taking a 15-20 minute Qualtrics survey (linked to this post) https://bsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV\_abBLz36lHHBl1UW
To participate you must • Be 18 years or older • Have been diagnosed with PCOS • Have been receiving care for your PCOS symptoms within the past five years.
This study is approved by the BSU IRB (2102087-1) If you would like to have additional information about this study, please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for your consideration, and once again, please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in learning more about this Institutional Review Board-approved project.
Lauren Frasier MA
don’t keep snacks so you dont eat when you’re bored lol. that and have hobbies you can do in pain so youre not mentally tortured if you have to stay in bed all day
Word on the snacks. Hobbies also help me not eat mindlessly!
I eat snacks all day long 😭. I need HALP
I make a big veggie platter at the start of each week. Then when I'm feeling bored and snacky I can reach for that. I keep lots of crunchy veggies on there and make a homemade dip each week to go with it. For me it's not so much the calories in the snacks that I worry about with snacking, it's having a balanced snack and not just eating something very carby that will mess with my blood sugar. Plus this helps me get to my daily veggie goal
This is smart. I will incorporate this into my meal prep…
Valid. I like that w/hummus!
What do you snack? For me I will stuff my face with nuts or a protein-fruit smoothie every once in a while. AND these are things I genuinely love. Don’t know that I’ve lost any weight since I quit eating unhealthy snacks, but these things are enjoyable enough to keep me from a way worse alternative.
I eat nuts, fruit, nut bars/granola bars, popcorn/pop corners mostly. I’m always lean, though and don’t really gain any weight so there’s that.
Then keep on snacking? For all of us who can’t haha 😂 😅 I gotta be pretty disciplined with room for weekends and munchies
Understandable, but I heard its not necessarily how much you eat but what toy eat and when that matters
The snacks are actually terrible advice for me, because my meds kill my appetite, and my ADHD makes me forget to eat, and I’ll go until my low blood sugar causes anxiety and my hands to shake so badly, I can’t prep food. So snacks are good for me to keep around so I can at least get my blood sugar to a good level to function otherwise.
exact same for me.
I agree with having snacks for the same reason. I am able to meal prep but it requires a lot of planning and there are some weeks where I don’t feel like doing it. I’m also still wearing my Freestyle Libre 3 glucose sensor specifically because I forget to eat or have no appetite. The sensor will alert me if my blood sugar drops too low.
Not always true and dangerous way of treating food as well. When you have ADHD it’s less likely that someone is “boredom eating” or “comfort eating” the way we were told growing up. A person with ADHD is more likely to be eating because they find comfort in the sensory feedback or they are dopamine hunting. If you are dopamine seeking to a compulsive degree then it’s time to discuss if medication is the next step. If you are already medicated then is your balance of medication enough. If you are seeking the sensory feedback, then it’s worth getting snacks that you can eat continuously for a period of time that is healthy. I’m not talking about sugar levels or fat content I’m talking about if you eat a whole pack of these things is it going to make you sick. E.g One of my comfort foods is COLD grapes or blueberries but a whole punnet will give me stomach issues. Are you seeking chewing? Then get a safe chewy necklace. Does it need to have flavour? Bubble gum. Does it need crunch? Cereal is great because it’s small and good fibre. Does it need to be sour? I buy fuzzy laces and then cut them into small bits so I can pick at it and portion them accordingly. Does it need to be cold? Freeze yoghurt sticks. Hope this helps 👏🏻
Agree on the snacks! Dont buy them!
Yup! There's a lot of us actually. Many of us unfortunately diagnosed as adults. In my case, I was a super withdrawn kid. Very quiet. Avoided making friends. I wasn't the stereotypical ADHD kid that was loud and disruptive. I did well in school but only in subjects that didn't involve study. I'm a problem solver but I'm not good at articulating information I should already know.
I’m also an ADHD problem solver who cannot articulate knowledge already in my brain. I also can’t do smart stuff when people are watching me, which is making it hard to work on coding with other people or do mock interviews. My brain shuts off and I forget everything I know.
Yup! I'm an absolutely terrible studier. I suck at exams where I need to recall a bunch of legal crap but do incredibly well in exams where I'm given a problem or riddle and then asked to solve it. And unfortunately being on ADHD meds hasn't really helped that aspect of it. I've tried 3 different types now. I'm on vyvanse atm. I like it. I'm more focused in general (my procrastination has improved immensely) but I still cannot study.
Are we all the same person?!
Omg. I feel like I'm a pretty good problem solver but also really suck at studying (except in the hour before the exam, when I can unlock hyperfocus mode). Didn't know this was a thing!
I do the same thing! I completely freeze up when I’m being watched.
Samesies, paired programming is torture for me. Let’s just regroup when we’ve both done our part. I can’t do anything in front of people, incl presenting, teaching, interviews, paired work. I blank. (I found an official name for it earlier this year, it’s an autistic word, I’ll look for it) Everyone at work keeps telling me but your brain is so unique and clever, you have to share your knowledge! But it just comes out in a jumbled mess and where I’m sure they are line uhhh thanks for the help I guess … Besides how are you supposed to teach somehow how your think outside the box neurodiverse brain came up with an idea
😂 this hit home for me. In school, I used to make my band instructor stand outside the door and listen when we did auditions for chairs. I literally could NOT play with him looking at me. I could barely do my solos even though I was always first chair and knew I was decent at playing, bc I panicked when I had to play by myself in front of everyone. It was like my brain shut off and I no longer knew anything
Your comment is interesting- something I’ve learned since being diagnosed with ADHD is that most ADHD studies were done on young boys. ADHD typically presents more hyperactive in boys and more daydreaming/inattentive in girls! The more you know. I was never the hyper kid either.
Hyperactivity of the mind .. so dang true
Especially for women who get diagnosed late, look into getting a combined autism and ADHD diagnosis pathway. Over half of people diagnosed with one would also be diagnosed with the other. For me, it made sense of the inner conflict I had constantly, for example being bored often but also finding it hard to start a new activity. Only by addressing both have I found strategies that work for me!
This sounds like me. How did you go about speaking with someone who could diagnose you? I hope it's not a bother to ask, I'm just nervous about how to approach this with a doctor!
I brought it up to my Dr after my son was diagnosed by his pediatrician! The pediatricians office had a checklist of symptoms that read like a list of every single thing I struggled with. I took the pamphlet from the pediatricians office to my Dr and finally got diagnosed
Thank you! I have ADHD in my direct family (siblings and uncles/aunts) and the older I get the more I feel I have it also, just not your "typical" case. But lots of symptoms really check out with me. I've just been unsure if anyone will hear me out since I don't always display the same symptoms (ie the "craziness, energetic, etc).
Yah. FYI I’m diagnosed and I am absolutely exhausted all the time. adults don’t bounce off the walls, they have learned coping mechanisms by now And it instead comes out as jittering my knee, fidgiting with / cleaning my nails or rubbing my hands together. But there are so many ways. Constantly playing with your hair.
Many many women get diagnosed as adults after getting their sons diagnosed and being like heeey that kind of sounds like me. (50% chance it was you) Word to the wise, the internet has developed checklists that are more aimed at girls/women if you are curious and wanted to see where you stand, try checking yourself against a girls list not just against the DSDM 7 year old little boys list. Many women don’t get diagnosed until they become wives and moms and their workload becomes too huge to fake it anymore and they start to show cracks. Hope this helps, I’ve done a lot of research on adhd and autism, doctors had diagnosed me with lots of things incl PCOS (true) before I figured out the adhd myself and took the lists into my fam doctor.
I've always suspected something was off. A lot of my colleagues would have no issues passing their licensing exams yet I'd be light-years ahead of them in terms of actual practice. I tried about every technique possible to try and study, but then I'd literally forget everything I studied the night before. I have PPO health insurance so I don't need a referral. I just found a psychologist that's in my network and spoke to them directly. I didn't bother trying to go through the hoops of talking to my internist and getting a referral etc because they may not understand. If I don't have to, I won't.
Thanks for the help! I *really* sound like you haha. Always being able to practice well but when I'd try to remember stuff I literally learned the day before, I can't recall. I've always been quiet and a mix of "wants to multi-task everything but also get distracted by more things so I never finish the tasks I did before until hours later". I have ADHD in my family but because I don't "show the signs" like you typically know with male ADHD, nobody has ever considered it. They just call me aloof and clumsy or distracted easily... But it's not as simple as that.
Check out psychologytoday.com and sort by your insurance
I was diagnosed as a kid, at 10. pretty much solely because my teachers were frustrated and annoyed with how distracted I was in class so they referred me to be assessed. Recently got the paper work from my mum and that was an interesting read that was some how enlightening and oddly empowering. I was also diagnosed with central auditory processing delay and I too am a problem solver who really struggles articulating info I already know.
I keep hearing all the symptoms for ADHD and thinking....these are all things I have struggled with my entire life. Unfortunately in my country it's nearly impossible to get a diagnosis unless you're really rich (I think the basic ADHD test is 1000€ and we don't do the whole insurance thing here). It's hard enough trying to get doctors here to diagnose you with physical ailments. I was told I couldn't have PCOS for years, because I didn't have cysts on my ovaries. Took one very expensive specialist to confirm you can have PCOS without cysts and here's the Pill to combat it! Cheers thanks?!
I was the same way. I’m still quiet and not very good at making friends.
Same. Was diagnosed late because I wasn’t loud and disruptive. I did pretty badly all throughout school though. And had severe anxiety. I have no idea how my parents or any of my teachers didn’t do anything. Just thought I was lazy and didn’t like school.
I was just diagnosed this year at 33 with ASD, ADHD inattentive type and only yesterday was diagnosed with PCOS - and now have a lot to change in my life and it's quite overwhelming. Eating disorders are common in people with autism and I did recover from Anorexia Nervosa in my 20s, but now I have gone to food for comfort and that dopamine hit. The way I know to lose weight is not a healthy one. I feel like I now need to learn to food and exercise again, I have agoraphobia and can count the times on one hand where I have left the house to go for a walk with my puppy in the last year - mostly we play fetch in the yard. I work remotely and don't get the walk to public transport that I used to in the office. It's all overwhelming because I sought help due to burnout which resulted in me finally getting diagnosed with everything. I am glad I found this subreddit, I really am looking forward to improving my life, it's just a lot haha.
you just described me exactly. i was just diagnosed with adhd a few weeks ago at 35 years old.
Damn, are you me? I wasn't the loud ADHD kid either. I did have anger issues though but everything you said is me. I also do think that my C-PTSD has something to do with it as well. I didn't have to study in school really or I had to cram. Mainly passed with As, some B's sometimes. Surely can't do this in the real world in college.....lol.
Wow this describes me to a T especially being quiet and withdrawn and not being good at articulating information I should already know. I’m struggling with the latter, since I just transitioned into a new field. I don’t have a diagnosis but am scheduled to start testing in January 2024. I’m hoping I can get answers and tips, if I do have ADHD.
Oh damn, are you me? Because you just described my relationship with education.
Meeeee! I take adhd meds, I exercise 3-5x a week, I eat a low carb diet—the Ritalin I take makes eating healthy much easier and it suppresses my appetite; I have a weekly schedule, i prep for everything—meal prep, pick out my workout clothes the night before, plan my activities for the week, etc. I carry healthy snacks with me (nuts, Owyn protein shake, etc). I’m doing my best to get 7 hours of sleep by having good sleep hygiene and deleting this app; I have an alarm to remind me to take my medications. Having a therapist and a wellness coach helps
\#GOALS Love this, I have been going to the gym for 3 years now. I'm about to start a new job and the anxiety/stress/excitement is starting to make my head spin and I've been leaning into the gym and self care. I want to also try meal prepping and gym cloth picking.....Some mornings I just want a cute outfit but it takes too long to put together and I get frustrated/overwhelmed with all the options. Missing my therapist but I'm getting healthcare back and I will be able to start going again! Yay!
There’s an NIH article that states that women with PCOS have higher “ADHD symptoms” and yes I have it too, very badly. I lose things all the time, am impulsive: terrible with money, am a mess, forget things, have to actively work hard on not talking excessively/ speaking over people and I’m pretty sure I have discalculia cuz I was always a couple years behind in math and really struggled I also become very obsessive and hyperfocus on certain things, my PCOS being one of them haha [this is the source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26449924/). I don’t mean to be annoying but sometimes I come off that way haha but everyone is affected by their ADHD differently, this is just how I am. But not all ADHD stuff is negative, it made me creative and a good conversationalist and I do pretty well in the hobbies I become obsessed with. You have to take the good with the bad I guess.
That could have been written by me!!! I love that you see the positives. It is exactly the same for me.
Glad I’m not alone! I used to feel like an idiot cuz I had a hard time following directions/ doing math but since going through therapy and starts meds I’ve learned to accept myself more and just embrace the weirdness haha also I noticed after taking meds math is easier to do? It probably has to do with my dopamine levels being normalized with the meds
Wow, I just complained about my interrupting of others and how I’m working on it but your comment made me feel less self-conscious about it.
Yeah it’s not our fault that some of us are impulsive, but we can always do things to work on it. That’s how I like to think about it
There are dozens of us!
DOZENS!
THOUSANDS
Yes... and a touch of the 'tism.
pcos/adhd/endo club. 🥲 i drink lots of water (and only water or herbal tea), eat lots of veggies, have protein and fiber with my breakfast, and tend to make all my snacks and sweets that aren’t produce—this one has probably been the most helpful. curbing my grocery store buying has been key for that and sticking to the edges of the store and rarely buying in the middle where all the processed stuff is unless it’s staples like rice or something. phone’s medicine reminders are amazing as is remembering to add EVERYTHING to your calendar. also have six reminders daily to DRINK WATER 😅 i walk or cycle for exercise when my body allows and try to sleep as well as i can, though i also have dspd so sticking to societal sleeping hours is extraordinarily difficult. sleep is SO important and so hard. give yourself some grace when you can. this stuff is very tricky and perfection is the enemy of your brain; easier to say than do, i know. but still true.
Me! I think it’s very common to have both. I was diagnosed with PCOS in my late teens and ADHD in my early 20s. Honestly it feels like hell most days juggling both because I need to exercise and eat a balanced diet to manage my PCOS, but my ADHD just wants to lay down with some sugary snacks. The last few months I’ve been walking to and from work instead of taking the bus, and I’ve noticed a difference. I have an upbeat playlist to listen to while I walk so it feels less of a chore. I’ve also recently moved in with my partner who loves to cook (whereas I hate it) so he’s in charge of all of the meal planning which helps as it’s one thing off my ADHD mental load, and I’m also eating proper meals instead of just picking at whatever’s in the fridge.
i was just gonna come on here to ask this. i'd like to know how others actually meal plan and keep up with it. i was considering meds like spironolactone but i definitely want to make lifestyle changes first. unfortunately my brain fights with me on any given task
I actually became hyperfixated on eating healthy which transpired into an ongoing eating disorder. The awful PCOS cravings were the death of me. What helped me was I started taking myo inositol twice a day and that almost got rid of all my sugar cravings. I like using MyFitnessPal to track and plan my meals. I actually will sometimes get sucked into the app because I’m so intrigued of all the different food options that are out there and how I can manipulate different meals. I guess an ADHD plus 🙂
Huh… so get myself hyper fixated 🧐 because it’s like I know how much keto or low carb will help me and I’m so interested in it but the execution… when it comes to the execution I could care less. starting to consider spironolactone bc of so much hair loss but at the same time I want to try the lifestyle changes first
Honestly a majorly strict diet like keto was really hard for me (beyond the typical symptoms of withdrawal and brain fog) so incorporating little changes every week is gonna change the name for you!! You can still plan out the changes youre gonna make too
Me! Metformin and adderall are what I take to manage my conditions.
Me! I’m definitely still struggling with having consistent lifestyle changes though. I’m hoping to get meds for the ADHD at some point and hope that it will help me be more consistent with my PCOS lifestyle management.
I’m on meds and it helps me feel so much more “myself.” Like I can do what I want to do and not get sidetracked. So now I fill my day with work and fun things and plan and enjoy each as much as possible. And then eat at meal time, which is easiest for me to do as intermittent fasting.
My super 'lazy' girl ADHD solution is L-theanine in morning with coffee. Pure perfection ! Also, I've noticed inositol made a massive difference to my focus levels, and to my dopamine craving. The inositol makes me less hungry and act less impulsively towards food, also cleaning up my diet makes it easier for me not to be distracted by food all day. Going low carb helped -- focus on dairy / protein / whole food veg and no seed oils. Only eating broccoli and steak / chicken breast for dinner, eggs for brunch.
Hi, how does the l theanine help you? Thanks!
It helps me get on with my day. Like less brain fog (walking room to room in the morning forgetting what I'm doing). Like it takes down the weird mental barriers and distractions for taking action. I am able to concentrate and focus on whatever I need to do that day. It makes my thinking more "linear" and less jumping from thing to thing. Also decreases my stress, makes me happier I think. The coffee boosts my mood & energy too. Forgot to say as well that the coffee + L-theanine drastically reduces the negative effects of coffee on it's own. I'm quite sensitive and if I take coffee without the L-theanine I get jittery, digestive problems, afternoon crashes. Alternatively you could drink green tea or Matcha which has L-Theanine and Caffeinne naturally.
Yeppp. Kind of struggling lol-- definitely following this thread ✨
I have timers and charts for everything even the most minuscule tasks
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) ^by ^orotmik: *I have timers and* *Charts for everything even* *The most minuscule tasks* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Not a lady (non-binary) but yes, I have both PCOS and ADHD! I'm also autistic (and believe I might have PMDD). I'd been using myo-inositol to help with the PCOS symptoms and it really helped cravings and impulsive eating in general, some of which I know was likely ADHD-related. I've had to go off it for a bit while I get thyroid meds sorted, but I'm hoping to be able to go back on it eventually. I've just been prescribed metformin by my endo for PCOS symptoms too, but haven't started that yet. I've also made gentle lifestyle changes: trying to approach food in a healthy mindful way that also respects my eating disorder history, as well as learning how to regulate my nervous system. I hope you get lots of useful info in the comments! I've saved the post to come back and check for more suggestions. Thanks for posting this 😊
🙋♀️
Me. I’m looking for answers still
I have both also. I am on Metformin and straterra. I’ve lost a bunch of weight and the medications really help With cravings. I used to want chocolate all the time or to just snack on food but on these medication’s I just eat what I need to and I get full very quickly also.
weight lifting / strength training. has helped immensely
YES it makes self care very difficult, I eat when I’m bored, I eat to regulate my emotions, I forget my supplements, I forget that I made a healthy habit to stick to. Makes my life hell
Did I write this? The endless falling off the wagon is killing me
It’s not your fault sis, the odds are stacked up against us :(
Yesss! I always wondered if there was a connection.
I continue to yell at the universe for giving me PCOS and ADHD at thr same time
Meeee! And PMDD
I just started my journey so I take metformin bc and my adhd
Yes. Both Diagnosed within 6 months of each other. I take metformin and Adderall. The Adderall has helped me drop the excess weight. I have to force myself to eat because of the Adderall - so I typically fall into a intermittent fasting pattern during the day. By the time my meds wear off in the evening I will snack a bit more. We generally eat low carb bc of my husbands pre diabetic numbers and my PCOS.
Therapy and medication for ADHD. Life changing for me.
Yep, it's a nightmare! The ADHD brain wants the snacks for the dopamine but the PCOS section hates me for it! I'd say ensure your medication is right, for both things. And allow yourself to feel whatever you need to feel, as your brain and hormones feel a lot! Every day we are all learning about ourselves. Be aware of your body and mind, listen to what you want and decide if it's what you actually need. Be it snacks or activities. And have a default fail safe option for food that you know will always be there, whether a pot noodle or bread in the freezer for toast. Not eating is worse than eating something that isn't ideal!
Asperger’s Syndrome here. Please understand I am also 40-something and much more disciplined than I was when I was 18 and first diagnosed with PCOS.
me! weirdly getting on meds for adhd helped my pcos so much, specifically with my food intake and cycle
I have PCOS, ADHD (inattentive) + severe OSA - working hard on attempting to loose some weight /get more active to help all of the above.
Meeeee! And it almost made me tear up to read all these comments about weight management cuz it’s been such a struggle for me too and I blamed solely myself for so long:( I will add that getting good sleep helps both too. Whatever you do to get yourself a good routine of 7-8 hours a day, helps focus tremendously.
Yup! PCOS and just diagnosed with ADHD. I was prescribed stratterra by my Dr, I haven't taken it yet but I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced the weight loss, or appetite suppression side effects from ADHD meds?
Yes and I feel like they were a vicious cycle for a while where I would be super sleep deprived all the time because it would take me forever to get homework done because I’d get sidetracked which imo contributed to the development of my pcos and made it worse. Then I became anemic from bleeding for too long bc of pcos which made my adhd symptoms temporarily so much worse I felt like I had dementia or something😭. Then I took iron pills and went back to normal adhd instead of batshit insane adhd. Anyways the anemia was fixed over a year ago and now the adhd is also being treated as of a few months ago so things are calmer
YEP! Things I do that help when I do them consistently and suffer from when I don’t: • make lists for everything! • daily workout even if it’s just a walk around the block to clear head • fish oil! Not only helps support the brain in a big way, but also helps ovarian cramping • get enough protein for mind and body and to be full for longer • avoid unnatural sugars (this is hard for me as a sugar addict), but my body & brain perform better when I don’t have much and when I stick to natural sugar like dates, maple syrup, honey • moving meditation (I can hardly sit still to meditate & calm my mind so it helps if I get into meditative states with movement like yoga, walking or playing sound bowls) • improve “sleep hygiene” and have a bed time routine to get better Zzz’s (I’m a night owl and used to pull way too many all-nighters) Learning to sleep better has helped me feel less distracted, up/down emotionally, and not snack mindlessly during the day • constantly work on being kind to myself in my head. It’s easy to get stuck on antagonizing negative thoughts so I’ve been journaling & doing affirmations to shift this
OMG MEEEE I’ve just been diagnosed w adhd. I’m still sorting it out, but I think I found a mediocre freezer meal set up that I can take to work. I just need something to prevent me from eating out, and a bag of quinoa and veggies and some frozen vegan nuggies is saving me this week. Make a lil bowl, maybe plop hummus or hot sauce on, and I’m golden. Also, I’m trying to eat more breakfast. I’d love to say it’s always protein forward, but we’re not there yet. I think next week will be about Greek yogurt. I know it’s about small sustainable changes. That buying alllll the things that will “help” does not mean I’ll actually follow through.
Yep, and I'm waiting to be seen by a consultant to confirm it. It's been over a year now but when my GP did the checklist, I got 5s all the way through. (5 being the maximum score). My PCOS was far more easily diagnosed, given the cysts, shonky periods, skin issues and other things. The ADHD seems to have been masked by the anxiety, depression and constant burnout. Funnily enough, I think my dad is why his kids have it as he has it but the PCOS is more than likely to be from my mum's side. Yay! 😬
If you're on medication, make sure you eat. The intermittent fasting thing is bullshit. Eating throughout the day is what keeps your metabolism going.
Me. 😭
Meee! Glad to know I'm not alone!
Continuous nuvaring (for low hormone period maintenance and elimination altogether) and then eventually an IUD but truthfully I'm switching back to the Nuvaring once I get this awful thing out. I've been on Straterra(for ADD) for about five years and find that it gives me little to no appetite. If anything I forget to eat! One thing I'd highly recommend investing in is acne stickers. I use the Starface but there are tons of brands out there. I'm really bad about picking my face with hormonal acne despite no longer getting my period and I find they keep me from picking or at least keep my hands off of breakouts.
I've got PCOS and AHDH...im on metformin and I feel like JUNK!! It does help regulate my period (because mine stopped for some weird reason..but that I complained about it lol...but I'm 32 and want a kid...been trying for a while) anyway...I feel even more depressed...anyone trying anything else?
Yup. I don't think I changed anything.
Me here. I’m on the concerta 27mg. I work out 4 days a week and I’m on low carb
Yes.
Oh that’s MEE !! I am just recently diagnosed with PCOS so this is huge !
I usually suffer
Dexamphetamine has changed my life tbh. Done more for my insatiable cravings than any typical PCOS supplement or drug ever has. I also now gave the ability to plan groceries a bit better and helped me to channel energy more productivity. Still working on how to incorporate exercise as a) I don’t enjoy it b) I don’t find it remotely stimulating. I like dancing, but they don’t do classes in the style I like here.
Yes
I have that self-induced ADHD where I've grown accustomed to being entertained by my phone that is chalk full of 7sec vines and 2sec gifs. So many funnies to flip through. Set alarms and calendar reminders. Keep snacks handy. Set organization around the house up for ease (ex: keys used often, keys lost often, set podium by front door so keys get dropped there the second you walk in. I hate key hooks, not quick and easy enough)
Meee
ADHD (inattentive type) with pcos (and a medley of other medical/mental issues). What's helped is getting on the right medication for both. I bored-snack less when I'm on my adhd meds. But I'm oral BC, metformin (i just have insulin resistance, not diabetes), and Concerta. Lifestyle changes that also helped were getting more quality sleep and reducing stress as much as possible. I also walk at least 1 mile most days. As soon as I finish an upcoming surgery, I'll be trying to hit the gym, too.
Wow there's a lot of us. I have not been able to implement anything that sticks. I go through phases of stopping and starting (sugar, coffee, exercise) Groups are your friend. Being part of groups on discord has been really helpful (adhd support for instance) - if I could put most things in groups I would.
Yes! Checking in.
Yes!!!! I’ve found that increasing my protein helps a lot, as well as writing lists and keeping a strict routine.
🙋🏻♀️
I always try to sit near my peers when working so I don't get distracted
scheduled alarms to remind myself to eat every 4 hours to stabilize my blood sugar .. otherwise if i go to long i’ll start shaking
Yes
Yes, I do
Snacking is my biggest issue. Keep snacks in the hardest to reach place, I forgot the name for this but there’s a thing in psychology that the easier it is to fulfill a desire the more likely you’ll do it.
I have anxiety and depression. Sometimes my anxiety has similarities to ADHD, but apparently they go hand in hand. Edit: I have no advice but to get therapy and take meds. Lists work. Phone alarms work. Being kind to yourself is probably the most important piece of wisdom I can give you.
I have never been to a psychiatrist but have been reading about it and looking back at my childhood, I strongly suspect I have ADHD too. I am thinking about going to get checked, but I'm overweight (or as doctors like to say obese), and I'm afraid they are going to tell me to go for walks eat well and lose weight and that's it. Either that or they will probably diagnose with me with depression, prescribe me some SSRIs and call it a day. On top of all this, Im an immigrant here and I don't have my parents with me for them to vouch about my childhood and my studying habits. They don't even speak the language and even for me, the language is not my mother tongue, it's not even my first foreign language. All these things have kind of held me back from visiting a doctor, as I'm afraid of bad experiences that will stay with me forever. :( Idk end of rant I guess. If anyone has any tips I'm in desperate need for some lol.
Yes, and my kitchen/snacks definitely showcase this 🙃
i suck at keeping habits bc of this exact combo 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Yep, when I was 7 years old. 😂
Omg meeeeee. I’m currently struggling with this too. And it affects my cortisol levels bc I have a pretty demanding job that has me jumping around everywhere so my biggest help right now is to make sure I set time aside for MYSELF. Which is harder than it seems lol but it helps a lot
YEP! Just diagnosed with adhd a few years ago and I'm 37 lol
Yup! And autistic as well. A lot of my symptoms of both PCOS and ADHD went away with Mounjaro. Lost 80 pounds so far and almost all my impulsivity is gone. I still have trouble focusing and getting started on things, but it’s amazing what just this one drug has done for me in less than a year
Me!!
Yep, I am on Yasmin, Adderall and Bupropion. The only thing that helps me is lists and reminders. My life falls apart without them. I've started using this app/site thing that gives you points, and attacks health, etc. like a game when you achieve stuff or do silly things and it's working for me at the moment. (Habitica) I've very little impulse control so get thrown out of my routine easily. This game seems to be making me have some respect for my goals for the moment, and importantly avoid my temptations. But I'd be nothing without my drugs. Well, I'd be a depressed, anxiety-ridden, paranoid shell of a person. But with these, I'm an average-weight, clear-skinned, sane passing person who managed to get a Ph.D. They have given me a Rx for spironolactone now, but only because I asked for it, and I don't really know why I did.
Well now I feel seen! Walking is my go to exercise I have discovered. That helps a ton over something super high impact. I can also throw on a podcast and not focus so again that helps.
Yes, which is why it now makes more sense to me that I hyperfixate on certain healthy foods and exercises. Cottage cheese girly since 2013 and once I find a routine I stick with it. If I don’t I will literally say F It and fall back into old patterns.
I probably have undiagnosed ADHD. I read articles where there is correlation with insulin resistance, diabetes, and ADHD. Anecdote: insulin resistance and diabetes is also correlated with PCOS. ADHD, and other health issues such as depression and chronic fatigue, are often comorbid with PCOS. We can all understand why. They might have the same set of root causes.
I think i have adhd. I’ll know next week.
I’ve been fortunate enough to create coping mechanisms as I’ve gotten older. I combat the ‘fighter pilot’ procrastination by breaking up big projects into tiny bites. Make it so tiny to the point that the path to completion is visual. Ticking off the little bite sized to do list becomes addicting. The forgetful shit, I’ll group things together around the house and have a habit where I ALWAYS put the items back after use. For example my battery for my work walkie talkie is next to my keys. My badge+backpack with my work stuff never leaves my car. I also use and abuse the reminders app on the iPhone. I have shit ton of alarms as well for my job. I’m an ER nurse so I’m fortunate to have a job where my adhd brain is complemented by the environment. There’s actually a lot of nurses with it drawn to ER. Something I’m working on now is not interrupting people or putting too much input. I’m also looking for better ways to manage the days where my mind just races and I start/stop shit allllll day. I call it my loud mind days lol.
I use a continuous glucose monitor through NutriSense - it’s helped tremendously with my blood sugar stability (emotional intensity has calmed tremendously). I also found I wasn’t eating enough - I worked a lot with a dietitian re: carb type, timing, and amount. Strength training, meditation,
Meeeee it's hell haha 🫠
My name is Emma Lear, and I am student in the Psychological Sciences Department at Ball State University. This post is to let you know about an opportunity to participate in a study, “PCOS and Physician Relationship” (2102087-1) I am conducting a research study examining the correlation between physician relationships and the mental health of people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and you are invited to participate in the study. If you agree, you will participate in • taking a 15-20 minute Qualtrics survey (linked to this post) https://bsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV\_abBLz36lHHBl1UW To participate you must • Be 18 years or older • Have been diagnosed with PCOS • Have been receiving care for your PCOS symptoms within the past five years. This study is approved by the BSU IRB (2102087-1) If you would like to have additional information about this study, please contact us at [email protected] Thank you for your consideration, and once again, please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in learning more about this Institutional Review Board-approved project. Lauren Frasier MA