u/Turbulent_Claim4883

I lost about 40 pounds since end of January/beginning of February when I started Reta.

I have a feeling I may need to micro-dose since I had such a hard time before with weight loss. Unless whatever wasn’t working has gotten better with Reta.

I’m using HRT and had changed companies / dose/changes to injections about two or three weeks ago and added testosterone. I think the dose I was being given before had increased my weight, but I was still having trouble for a long time before I started HRT losing weight. The typical menopause “no matter what I did nothing worked”. Weights/cardio, moderate to low carbs, no sweets, following 1 gram of protein per lb of goal weight. Thyroid borderline low and need to retest in 1 month.

I’m really concerned about lowering my dose and potentially gaining weight. I’m currently at 8 mg. I had stalled about two months ago…I think at 6 mgs. So, not sure what to expect and wanted to hear what has worked for others to maintain your goal weight?

All I’ve received are notices in March, May and June from the FSA with the following (below) but nothing from MOHELA. Have other people not been contacted yet? I’m just afraid I’m going to go past the date that I have to make a decision about my payment plan but I also don’t want make any decision until I get my payment history clarified towards my 25 year forgiveness, potentially:

As soon as July 1, your loan servicer will contact you with the specific deadline by which you must choose a different repayment plan. Once you hear from your loan servicer, you'll have 90 days to choose another repayment plan. This gives you time to select the plan that works best for you.

I have sent an email to MOHELA that I basically got a very generic reply on. I was trying to find out the total amount that I have paid towards the 25 year student loan forgiveness. They said they couldn’t answer that question because their systems were too tied up right now. I ended up sending a follow up to the FSA and I got a reply saying that I would get an answer within two weeks, which I’m still waiting for I believe two weeks will be soon (can’t find the email right now).

I watched this guy Chris Wenzel on YouTube go through a bunch of products that are supposed to be volumizing. This one he said was good for like the first hour and then the hair falls flat.
This is the only one I could find that was fragrance free, unfortunately. And I can’t use fragrances.

I can’t take any SSRIs / SNRIs - they cause all sorts of problematic side effects and don’t work for me. I’ve tried other things like Buspar- and now my last hope was Guanfacine. Guanfacine IR and now ER-both making me get up every two hours pee. The only thing left is to continue taking Klonipin (low dose) every day at least once. And that was why I was trying these alternative options was to stop taking it. I’m in therapy but it’s just not enough. I have multiple stressors right now that I just can’t deal with without something to help function.

I’m just trying last ditch to see if Strattera made a real shift in anxiety? I was going to try it once I got more level with the Guanfacine. But the waking up every two hrs is just not doable and sounds like that doesn’t go away. i have had bad anxiety since I was a kid. I see where stimulants have helped with anxiety for me at times, so I guess an ADHD medication that’s a non stimulant could help with anxiety but I don’t know how much . I’ve seen others say it has.. But I’m also concerned about the elevated heart rate issue. My BP does spike when stressed.

I was having a terrible time with IR release Guanfacine after taking for 2 weeks this started-I was waking up 4 to 5 times a night to go pee, barely sleeping at all for a few days. My doctor agreed to switch me to ER, which I just started yesterday morning. I am incredibly tired and having difficulty getting any work done.

I see that a lot of people take it at night to avoid the daytime sleepiness. If I switch to PM I’m concerned that I’m going to run into the same problem with the waking to pee that I had with the Instant release. I’m wondering if anybody has had the issue with urination during the night with the extended release? Or did your daytime sleepiness go away after a certain amount of time? I’m actually taking this more for anxiety than for ADHD.

Update: psych agreed to change to ER but still wondering how much it helps with anxiety in this form?

I am taking the Instant release form-IDK exactly why my psych decided to choose that one, but I believe it is a little bit more research for anxiety. I’m not really sure that it’s great for me because I’m crashing around 4pm and just feeling drowsy after 2.5 weeks still. Even worse is I’m waking up 3-4 times to pee. No UTI.

I’m really taking it for anxiety more than ADHD. Although I do have ADHD I have some stimulant medication I can use.

I’m trying to find out if anybody has found any at home test kits that are accurate for allergies to cosmetics or if you recall what you would have paid for your testing in-office if you didn’t have insurance? I can’t figure out what ingredient in my array of supposed fragrance free and all of that free products that is causing my sinuses to blow up. My husband and I own our own businesses which do not provide enough income for us to pay for good insurance coverage that pays for things like allergy testing until you pay $5000 for the deductible.

I’m really sensitive to fragrances and will wake up with a migraine if I use a face cream has sent to it. I was using one that was made for me by a company called Prose but I’m just finding I don’t know that it’s really that great or worth the amount you get. Just wondering what might be good that would be in the vegan / clean category?

I’ve been taking g Guanfacine IR for 2 weeks. I take it am and pm. I’m noticing the longer I take it the more I’m getting up multiple times during the night to pee. I’m so upset because I’m taking it for anxiety and titrating down slowly from daily Klonopin that I started last fall due to a big stress increase that’s ongoing. But this is kind of my last hope. I can’t tolerate any SSRI/SNRI meds. I already have a weak bladder that’s gotten worse in menapause so I’m susceptible to this as a side effect. I’m wondering if this got better for anyone after initially starting Guanfacine or if you found any solutions?
Update: I just spoke with the pharmacist about it and he suggested it could be if I’m drinking a lot more water because of the dry mouth and all of that. Which I have done. I’m just surprised that it’s this much pain during the night. Cause it isn’t just a trouble it’s like a full pee.

*I know for sure it is not not a UTI. But I definitely am going have to get off of it if it’s kind of thing that really messes with your bladder because I had a UTI a few years ago and I had a hard time getting over it. Im very careful about bladder health and I figured out a maintenance plan to avoid UTIs that works for me, but I can’t risk that again. Plus it’s impacting my sleep.

\* I just want to first mention I know a lot of people take the extended release at night for ADHD but I am more taking this to help with anxiety (maybe some ADHD) and I have dexoamphetamine if I want to take that. I may try Strattera if I can leveled out on the Guanfacine.

\* in summary - I’m just wondering for people who are taking the IR, how far apart do you space it/what times of the day if you’re taking two doses? I explain why I’m asking below, but that’s the gist of it. I’m having some side effect issues that I believe may be enhanced by a 12 hr spacing. 11 am and 11 pm. Asked psych- he wasn’t much help…just suggested I could try taking closer together with no specific info (texting and he kinda sucks but I’m stuck with him right now). Or taking three times per day but I can’t really even cut the pill evenly as is because it’s so small. Also, did side effects get better after the 2nd week?

Main issue: I have been feeling really feeling terrible around 4-5 PM. All the symptoms that were kind of already happening get worse. Basically the dizziness, nausea and it’s making my sinuses drier than they already get from environment allergens (apparently it’s the same thing that causes dry mouth but in your nasal membranes and sinuses). And that makes the dizzy feeling worse. AI suggested using a gel nasal spray which helped a bit today. I use a Netti Pot but I’m having to use it three times a day now which isn’t great and it’s not really making a huge difference.

* I just want to first mention I know a lot of people take the extended release at night for ADHD but I am more taking this to help with anxiety (maybe some ADHD) and I have dexoamphetamine if I want to take that. I may try Strattera if I can leveled out on the Guanfacine.

* in summary - I’m just wondering for people who are taking the IR, how far apart do you space it/what times of the day if you’re taking two doses? I explain why I’m asking below, but that’s the gist of it. I’m having some side effect issues that I believe may be enhanced by a 12 hr spacing. 11 am and 11 pm. Asked psych- he wasn’t much help…just suggested I could try taking closer together with no specific info (texting and he kinda sucks but I’m stuck with him right now). Or taking three times per day but I can’t really even cut the pill evenly as is because it’s so small. Also, did side effects get better after the 2nd week?

Main issue: I have been feeling really feeling terrible around 4-5 PM. All the symptoms that were kind of already happening get worse. Basically the dizziness, nausea and it’s making my sinuses drier than they already get from environment allergens (apparently it’s the same thing that causes dry mouth but in your nasal membranes and sinuses). And that makes the dizzy feeling worse. AI suggested using a gel nasal spray which helped a bit today. I use a Netti Pot but I’m having to use it three times a day now which isn’t great and it’s not really making a huge difference.

I just bought I DEW CARE Tap Secret Dry Shampoo to use as a texturizing powder with my beach wave crimper. I wasn’t having good results and it seems the texturizer might help.

However, some are saying it adds some volume and some are saying for fine thin hair I may need a volumizer. I’m wondering the best way / sequence to use both on my hair type to avoid having the opposite effect and weighing it down too much? I mainly bought the texturized so that my

* I’ve tried a few other forms and nobody has responded. Reddit actually suggested that I try posting here. Actually, my psychiatrist has suggested that once I get level on this to add in Strattera, in addition to Guanfacine. Which frankly seems like a lot, so any experiences with that combo would also be appreciated.

Anyway…I keep looking for personal experiences from people taking the IR form of Guanfacine. I was prescribed 2mgs am and pm. Starting at a half dose for each. I’m a little worried about going up to 2 mgs, just because I can’t really find many people on here who have ever been prescribed it. Most people are given ER. I think he did the IR from my research probably because anxiety is a bigger issue right now and the traditional anxiety medication’s like SSRI’s do not work for me. I’m just wondering if this dose sounds like a lot to anybody or if anybody here is on this dose?

I do have a stimulant I can use as needed. He also prescribes generic to Straterra, but I’m holding off on trying that until. I’m feeling totally adjusted to this one. I’m a little fearful of all the side effects people keep talking about.

I’ve been giving my research route for a true tide since February. I’ve suspected recently that might have SIBO. In summary, wondering if other rats have improved on any use of GLP’s and how long it took?

Rat has not been tested for SIBO due to a few factors, including extra expenses. Would like to order an at home test kit for rat but financially cannot do that at this moment. So looking at symptoms. Mainly bloating, but also cramping with certain mixtures of foods-like can’t eat fruits and vegetables together. Difficulty losing weight (hence the Reta). This has been going on for many years and it just occurred that maybe that’s what this is. Not really extreme issues. But enough to make me question if there’s general inflammation in rat’s body that could be related.

I keep looking for personal experiences from people taking the IR form. I was prescribed 2mgs am and pm. Starting at a half dose for each. I’m a little worried about going up to 2 mgs, just because I can’t really find many people on here who have ever been prescribed it. Most people are given ER. I think he did the IR from my research probably because anxiety is a bigger issue right now and the traditional anxiety medication’s like SSRI’s do not work for me. I’m just wondering if this dose sounds like a lot to anybody or if anybody here is on this dose?

I do have a stimulant I can use as needed. He also prescribes generic to Straterra, but I’m holding off on trying that until. I’m feeling totally adjusted to this one. I’m a little fearful of all the side effects people keep talking about.

I’m trying to use a beach waiver/crimping iron on my fine thin hair. However, the hair is not holding the wave. But I have a real issue with fragrances and having to be mindful of products (like overly drying) that could harm my hair.

I can’t tolerate things that have much of a smell. If it’s mild and more of a natural scent it may work (like a subtle lavender/rosemary). I try to buy fragrance free is but finding it’s almost impossible to find in the world of volume/texture.

My hair is fine and thin. I have extensions and when I got the extensions a few years ago, I bought the three barrel bed head beach wave/crimper Iron.

That works fine on the extensions, but the top of my hair/my hair doesn’t look great - stays kind of limp and doesn’t really have the body that I would hope for with the the crimping iron. It also causes more of my scalp in the front show (almost looks like receeding hair line esp on one side if I do a middle part). Side parts are a little hard because of my extensions showing when I use the crimper.

* I was wondering if it would make any difference to buy one of the single barrel crimping irons for my own hair and which one of you have a recommendation?

* is there a specific product that anyone has used this worked really well for the type of hair I have (which is very straight when I blow dry it but wavy/curly/kind of frizzy when I don’t) that won’t weigh it down but maybe help with some texture and fullness? I know there are texture products, but I’m trying to find one that really works well and really need something that has a very minimal fragrance or none at all.

I’ve been doing the KLOW stack every other day for about three months and I have to say I don’t really think it’s done that much for my rat’s skin or improve her fur growth or reversing the few grays she has. Although she’s also had some thyroid issues that I’ve been trying to straighten out for her.

I am looking into some of these topical products for skin and scalp and wondering if others have found they really need to do both for real improvement? I’m also getting separate GHK-CU and one other KLOW peptide separate to use every day.

I’m not seeking medical advice, rather seeking experience from others re: what they’ve found out they really needed to know.

* I’m about to do labs for my rat and I’m the person who has to tell the ordering provider what else (besides hormone and thyroid labs) I want to add to the order through her HRT company. I don’t want to miss anything that might be important.

I’m giving KLOW, Reta. I’ve been giving rat KLOW every other day but ordering daily separate GHK-Cu for every day.

Requesting a quick look at this list and tell me if I might be missing anything that could be important to test (I have some tests in there for possible histamine/suspecting MACS)?:

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel 
Complete Blood Count
Lipid Panel 
Testosterone Free and Total 
Estradiol 
DHEA-S 

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Progesterone 
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1)
Free T3
Free T4
Reverse T3

TPO
Anti-Thyroglobulin
Ferritin
Iron Panel (Iron, TIBC, Iron Saturation)
Vitamin B12
Homocysteine
MMA

Zinc
copper
hsCRP- hsCRP

Looking for replies from people who really like their provider and can tell me why (and if they have the form of HRT I mention below):

*I’m about to sign up with Defy because they meet the following criteria (below)

*They’re payment structure is $325 initial consultation and $299 for the labs they require with 10% discount (Labcorp is used in my state), that doesn't include the thyroid panel if you choose to do it (I had borderline low a few months back so I will be doing that recheck) which is approx $240.

* HRT compounded with different forms to choose from (I’m seeking vaginal estrogen and progesterone and I don’t see that offered by many plans- I’ve been convinced by doctors who specious in HRT this is the best form of delivery).

* help with low thyroid if needed

* one thing I don’t like is they do require periodic lab work done as manual blood draws so it’s more expensive and a pain. I’ve used the at home finger prick products. But they offer a discount (my share plan is awful and doesn’t pay for labs until you spend $5000). I need some other updated labs and they can get me a discount for Labcorp, so that is a benefit.

* it’s not a monthly membership (which I don’t actually mind) but instead it’s required every few months payment for follow up calls and they require initially labwork every two or three months (I can’t recall which and can’t find the info right now). That kinda sucks but I guess it’s a trade off that you don’t pay monthly.

So just wanted to see if anybody has found anything like this where they have the criteria I’m looking for and really like who they’re using and why?

Thank you so much for taking the time to have a look and reply.