I think I have PMDD

[Cadam]

I have had depression on and off for the last 8 years. Taken meds on and off. Finally I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer really depression (Although I am sure it was at one time).

One week a month (pre-ovulation) is wonderful, the birds sing, I can handle anything, my house gets clean and I am the mother I want to be, the wife I want to be. One week a month (post-ovulation) I pretty much sit at my computer in my jammies and eat carbs doing the bare minimum to survive because I really just want to hide under the covers and never come out again. One day I am great and wonderful and the very next day I come crashing down like a boulder off a bridge. The other 10 - 14 days of my cycle are fine. Not great, not awful, but doable and I function pretty well.

SSRI's don't work for me. Welbutrin brightens the "fine" days a little but does nothing to really help my post ovulation week and it seems silly to take something everyday when I only need help 5 days at a time. kwim?

I have tried SSRI's and they do nothing for me, I used bcp in the past and they make me crazy and awful all of the time instead of just 5 days a month.

As far as I can tell I am fine as long as my body is pumping out the Estrogen and totally crashes when progesterone takes over. Is there a way to fix this without making me crazier? I am only in my 20's btw so it's not like this is menopause or anything like that. It is just worsening over time and I feel like I must deal with it but don't know how.

I just joined the YMCA but the last two days I could not for the life of me make myself get out of the house, or even get dressed. :eek: I know it will pass in a few days but these few days wreak havoc on my family, body and house. Imagine having the flu once a month and you get the picture.

How can I pull myself out of this and how can I stop it from happening? I am just starting to exercise (thus the Y membership) but I need more than that. All advice and suggestions welcome. Would something like that "Estroven" stuff help?

[snickelfritz]

And I mean someone who really knows about them. I've seen one doctor who did the "status quo" normal tests and left me feeling a little better. I recently saw someone who is much more knowledgeable and she left me feeling much better.

ETA: My problem was low progesterone. I felt like a dragon the week before my cycle, they were slightly irregular, and very heavy.

[Jami]

((Christina))

I've found that if I avoid white flour and sugar *completely* I stay much more even-tempered all month long. Especially if I avoid them right around ovulation and then when PMS starts through my period. It's honestly night and day for me. If I'm relapsed and eating junk, then yes, one day after ovulation I'm one angry mood swing or crying jag after another. Then again 3-4 days before my period...rage, tears, weird dreams...once my period starts I feel just fine again. Poor kids and dh! It took me a long time to actually *notice* that it was only those few days every month that I was convinced my marriage was a failure and that I was the worst mother ever. But I was pretty sure it wasn't depression since 3 weeks a month I feel great about life! Honestly though, for me it's the carbs. I'm so much nicer when I'm sugarfree.

I hope others chime in with more help and wisdom about meds/supplements. Oh, taking a B-complex vitamin helps and Fish Oil capsules.

Jami

[Mama Bear]

I can't tell you how many women I've heard say this. I personally would like to just ride the Estrogen train all day, every day, for the rest of my life. :D

[Bess]

I have tried everything (including Zoloft), and the two things that absolutely make a difference for me is 5-htp and magnesium. I take 200 mgs. of 5-htp before bed and the powdered form of magnesium before bed. These two things *really make a difference*.

[Miss Peregrine]

Things that have helped me:

Natural Progesterone cream for 10 days starting from ovulation.

Switching to cloth pads-This alone stopped days worth of cramps and lessened bleeding.

Cal mag

I used to have horrible PMS. Now, if I didn't have the day I would start pinpointed, I would never know it was about to start. I only get cramps on the first day.

[Cadam]

I have tried everything (including Zoloft), and the two things that absolutely make a difference for me is 5-htp and magnesium. I take 200 mgs. of 5-htp before bed and the powdered form of magnesium before bed. These two things *really make a difference*.

What is 5-htp and where can I get it?

I can't tell you how many women I've heard say this. I personally would like to just ride the Estrogen train all day, every day, for the rest of my life. :D

Sing it sister :) It would be a beautiful thing. Why can't we? :confused:

This is why I don't understand why progesterone cream or removing ovaries would be a treatment for PMDD. Wouldn't that just make me awful all of the time?

((Christina))

I've found that if I avoid white flour and sugar *completely* I stay much more even-tempered all month long. Especially if I avoid them right around ovulation and then when PMS starts through my period. It's honestly night and day for me. If I'm relapsed and eating junk, then yes, one day after ovulation I'm one angry mood swing or crying jag after another. Then again 3-4 days before my period...rage, tears, weird dreams...once my period starts I feel just fine again. Poor kids and dh! It took me a long time to actually *notice* that it was only those few days every month that I was convinced my marriage was a failure and that I was the worst mother ever. But I was pretty sure it wasn't depression since 3 weeks a month I feel great about life! Honestly though, for me it's the carbs. I'm so much nicer when I'm sugarfree.


When you say sugar free do you mean the obvious things like bread and jelly and chocolate or do you mean sauces and marinades and peanut Butter? How did you, and more challenging, your family deal with such a huge change in dietary habits? Is everyone sugar-free or do you make make separate food for yourself? Does it help if you cut it down or is it only total abstinence that does the trick?

[Diana in OR]

I have had depression on and off for the last 8 years. Taken meds on and off. Finally I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer really depression (Although I am sure it was at one time).


{{{{Christina}}}} I don't have any great advice for you except that you very well could be dealing with hormonal issues as opposed to clinical depression. I have struggled with similar problems off and on for the past 11 years so I know the feeling (I'm on day 18 of af if that's any indication). It's probably worth checking out the progesterone cream. I used the prescription progesterone cream for awhile and it helped. Unfortunately, the amazing naturopath I had here in town moved out of state.

[strider]

Can you get some tests run by a specialist? (Would that be an endocrinologist?)

One other thought: My symptoms ended up being anemia. Even though the problem was iron-related, it definitely got much, much worse with my monthly cycle. Can you get some basic bloodwork done? Check your thyroid, and also check your iron. If you do this, make sure you get BOTH hemoglobin AND ferritin checked. (Hemoglobin only tells half the story--your ferritin can be badly depleted before your hemoglobin dips.)

[sdWTMer]

I know that in my yeast connection book that it says that yeast issues could also cause depression. HtH I, too try to stay away as far as I can from white flour & white sugar stuff. Except for some reason I can handle the white flour in tortillas for some reason. I pretty much eat most things in tortillas. Hot dogs in a tortilla. Whatever you want in a tortilla. I also take flaxseed oil, Omega brite fish oil, evening primrose, and some added Vitamin D (boy has that helped so much this winter!).

[Claire]

Birth control pills are supposed to help stabilize mood swings like that when they are caused by hormone fluctuations. You could ask your doctor.

Alternatively, you could call a compounding pharmacy as I did and ask for names of doctors who prescribe natural hormones. These are usually osteopaths. That's how I found an osteopath who did saliva testing for hormones. Based on test results, he prescribed natural hormone replacement to "balance out" my system better.

[Bess]

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=593

This is the 5-htp that I get. I forgot to mention too that it will cut down your carb cravings during pms time too. I also used to suffer from insomnia during pms... but 5-htp helps with this as well. Mostly though, it's been best for my depression. It raises the serotonin thus stablizing moods. It truly has been a lifesaver for me.

[Cadam]

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=593

This is the 5-htp that I get. I forgot to mention too that it will cut down your carb cravings during pms time too. I also used to suffer from insomnia during pms... but 5-htp helps with this as well. Mostly though, it's been best for my depression. It raises the serotonin thus stablizing moods. It truly has been a lifesaver for me.

Thanks Bess, I think I will start on this and find a few other things people mentioned. How quickly did you see an affect?

[Mom2legomaniacs]

What has helped me tremendously is zoloft. While not for everyone, it has made a huge difference in my life. I also was having some anxiety issues along with the really bad pms. Both are under control and I feel so much better now!

I hope you find the solution that works for you. It is a miserable way to live, isn't it. Good luck!

[Bess]

Thanks Bess, I think I will start on this and find a few other things people mentioned. How quickly did you see an affect?

Honestly I felt the affects of it within a few days. It does make you tired, so that's why I take it one hour before I want to fall asleep at night. I sleep like a baby. I really hope you find relief with it!

[LisaTheresa]

((Christina))

I've found that if I avoid white flour and sugar *completely* I stay much more even-tempered all month long. Especially if I avoid them right around ovulation and then when PMS starts through my period. It's honestly night and day for me. If I'm relapsed and eating junk, then yes, one day after ovulation I'm one angry mood swing or crying jag after another. Then again 3-4 days before my period...rage, tears, weird dreams...once my period starts I feel just fine again. Poor kids and dh! It took me a long time to actually *notice* that it was only those few days every month that I was convinced my marriage was a failure and that I was the worst mother ever. But I was pretty sure it wasn't depression since 3 weeks a month I feel great about life! Honestly though, for me it's the carbs. I'm so much nicer when I'm sugarfree.

I hope others chime in with more help and wisdom about meds/supplements. Oh, taking a B-complex vitamin helps and Fish Oil capsules.

Jami

This is my experience exactly. I am simply a different person when I cut out the refined carbs and sugar.

Lisa

[Mary H]

I am right there with you too!! I have very sever depression w/sucidial thoughts durring this time too (sometimes). The Lord is the one that gets me though the sucidial thoughts, and then I go to bed and stay there or pray until it gets a little better. I have tried horm cream, prozak (this was horrible!!!!), vitiamns. I even think a lot of horible thoughts with crying, accusing, irritability, and the like. I am doing ok right now but look out in a couple of weeks, and there i go again. I thank God for my dear husband!!! It has been so hard with this and he hasn't left me yet!! Any way, I would go to your obgyn and get advice from her.

Mary H

[mirth]

Need to revive this thread.

How are the PMDD remedies going?

I think I have been affected by PMDD since turning 41. It is too weird.

[KrissiK]

I can say this last AF was one of the worst emotionally I have ever had. (and I am 41 btw) It was horrible. It was long, I had cramps every day (as opposed to the normal one day) and I felt hopeless, anxious and a mess for about 9 days. I do have an appt. with my Gyn in a couple of weeks. I hope she does more than give me a couple of pamphlets and tell me to cut out caffeine.

[Deanna in TN]

Bio-identical hormones have done wonders for me. I am on progesterone, bi-est (estradiol/estriol) and testosterone. The first thing I would suggest is to educate yourself. A great place to start is this book:

The Natural Superwoman by Uzzi Reiss

This is a fantastic book. Once you have some understanding, you need to find a doctor who prescribes compounded bio-identical hormones so that they can be adjusted for you specifically. Then they will do hormone testing to find out what you need.

[transientChris]

My 16 yo dd suffers from this (as does her family who has to deal with her). For her, Lexapro did the trick for a few months but she had a horrible relapse yesterday (though she had missed a pill and it probably was the day before her time started which is traditionally her completely worse time). Her cycles are very irregular and she also has pain during the time. Last month, on her fourth day of her period, she looked like she was about to pass out, she was in so much pain. We quickly gave her her pain medication and something to drink and she got better. WE will see whether this re-occurs this month and if it does, back to the gynecologist she will go.

PMDD is total hell and while it isn't all that common, those who get it really suffer. My worry is how she will do in college? I just hope she gets more regular and her hormone levels start levelling off in these less than two years. I do think she needs a single room.

Christina, I don't have more cures up my sleeve but I would suggest that if you have any other medical problems, they can get aggravated by the hormone changes. I know my arthritis and my asthma get worse and sometimes my neuropathy flares up.

[kwiech]

I totally know what you are going through. I have started writing my start dates on the calendar so when I'm in my jammies, shoving down chocolate and yelling at the kids I can look at the calendar and get my light bulb moment. Oh yeah, it's that time of the month. I am good for about one week, ok for a week and half and totally out of it for 1 week and a half.

I have found exercise (as long as I make myself do it) and cutting down on sugar or loading up on sugar will get me through it. Yes, cutting it out is great but sometimes I can just keep myself going with a sugar high for a week and be great! Just depends on the effort I want to put into it.

Kelly