PMDD becoming a major issue in my life

[Pascal]

I know it has largely to do with my PMDD, Premenstural Dysphoric Disorder. It is very hard to cope with, almost unbearable. I don't know what to do. I use to take Prozac for my depression, but I'm not depressed anymore, I anly get violent, rude, bitchy and hateful the week before my period, and right before it ends. I am out of control, losing it. I don't know if I should go back to the doctor and talk to them in regards to taking Prozac for only when it gets to be around that time of the month. I just hate myself, and others around. PMDD is so hard to deal with I don't know what to do, my hands are tied, I have no control until after I have caused drama with the people I care about the most.
Sometimes at work I can't even type or look at the computer, I can't function normally or do one paper, I can't even make a phone call, I sit there and cry until I have no more tears to cry and figure I will somehow get through the day.

Sometimes I just feel so helpless, and all I can do is cry and feel bad. Nothing will make me feel better, and if it does it will last a couple of weeks and I'm back to me again. Sometimes when I'm so sad I just feel like I'm losing it. Like I'm out of control, I breathe really fast paced, I try to calm myself down, my tears just fall from my eyes like a waterfall that won't stop. I call my best friend up today and he had a surprise planned for me since last week and I was a total bitch to him, I took it out on him, I hurt his feelings and cussed at him, just because I knew I could and that he's a nice guy and knows that I'm just on my period or angry. I feel so bad, I called him back and apologized to him. But I did it to him last week too. He accepted my apaology then too. I just feel so edgy. I can't figure anything out anymore, I hurt the people around me, the people that care about me.

 

[sharyn]

:crap: uuugh now that sucks. Isnt there any uuum... mediaction (is that the right word?) that helps prevent that? I mean it all comes down to hormones, doesnt it? I sometimes get kinda violent and bitchy because of PMS but I guess your problem if far beyond normal PMS... have you tried anything besides Prozac? I know there's medicine that helps calm people down, maybe there's something that can kinda regulate your mood...

 

[amoona]

Okay I started taking birth control pills when I was about 17 because I wouldn't get my period. Like literally a whole 4 months I was in Palestine I didn't get my period! But when I did it was painful and I was either a uber bitch or totally depressed and sick. So I started taking pills after my mom forced me to go to the doctor and do something about it.

I've tried a two different pills and the birth control patch. DON'T TAKE THE PATCH! I did and I had to be rushed to the emergency room with the most unbearable pain I've ever experienced. The month before that I was throwing up non-stop.

Now the pill is hit-or-miss with everyone but the different levels of hormones are different on everyone and your doctor maybe able to find you one that helps with the PMDD. But I'm no doctor so you should go talk to someone and I'm sure they'll be able to do something.

I would say to stay away from Prozac though, even if your doctor recommends it, because your problem seems to only come around when the period monster shows up.

 

[Raerae]

Yeh, i'm not sure if your on the pill or not, but it worth checking out, regulating your hormones can do a lot for some people.

 

[Beauty Mark]

Go talk to a doctor about your options. You shouldn't have live with PMDD and let it ruin your life for a while. I don't know the options off the top of my head, but I know there are ones other than sitting and suffering

 

[Bernadette]

I was also thinking that the pill might help. Prozac or any similar drugs couldn't be taken just around that time. Anti-depressants take weeks to take effect so they can't be started and stopped.
You should go see a doctor and explain what is going on.

 

[giz2000]

You might want to consider seeing another doctor...sometimes, a fresh perspective might be exactly what you need...they may even prescribe another medication that may work better than the Prozac...hugs to you and hang in there...

 

[Pascal]

thanks for all your support. I know there are many things I can try, and no I am not on the pill, I have never had a reason to be, cause I'm not sexually active, and I'm afraid of taking the pill everyday. I think a mood stabilizer would work much better, my doctor has recommended a mood stabilizer in the past but I just got mad at him for even saying that to me it sounded so crazy at the time, but if I would only need to take it a few days out of the month to control my mood swings and abusive behavior then I am going to ask about that option. I'm just not willing to ever be on birth control, and anti depressants like prozac are out the door. They all casue a lot of organ damage in the end after taking them for so long.

 

[JJones]

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[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

I'm just not willing to ever be on birth control, and anti depressants like prozac are out the door. They all casue a lot of organ damage in the end after taking them for so long.

I'm not sure where you got that info, but it isn't correct entirely. The pill can cause issues, but the side effects are dependent upon other factors normally. The pill is often prescribed to control things, like bad skin, so I don't think the organ damage aspect is that true. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_pil...traindications.

 

[amoona]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pascal thanks for all your support. I know there are many things I can try, and no I am not on the pill, I have never had a reason to be, cause I'm not sexually active, and I'm afraid of taking the pill everyday. I think a mood stabilizer would work much better, my doctor has recommended a mood stabilizer in the past but I just got mad at him for even saying that to me it sounded so crazy at the time, but if I would only need to take it a few days out of the month to control my mood swings and abusive behavior then I am going to ask about that option. I'm just not willing to ever be on birth control, and anti depressants like prozac are out the door. They all casue a lot of organ damage in the end after taking them for so long.

Sweetie I know what you mean I was sooo scared to take it at first. I thought it was gonna mess me up and then I was scared everyone was going to think I was having sex (still a virgin hehe). But my mom told me to chill out because she went through the samething and she took the pill until she got married and right away she got pregnant with me

after she gave birth to me all her pain and rage and irregular periods went away. But you're doctor will know whats best. I hope it all works out.

 

[caffn8me]

Your mood swings are hormonal. Going on some form of hormone treatment (it doesn't need to be birth control pills) can even out the monthly hormonal changes and help prevent the mood swings. It's not a matter of taking hormones to prevent pregnancy, they have other uses as well.

You'd be far better off with a referral to an endocrinologist than a psychiatrist. Current thinking is that transdermal hormone patches are a good choice of treatment and are very effective in treatment of PMDD and there are also good reports on the use of Yasmin. In severe cases, drugs which act directly on the pituitary gland - GnRH antagonists can be used. These are given as an implant which lasts for several weeks.

Quote:

Extract from Why Are Estrogens Rarely Used for the Treatment of Depression in Women? The common condition of premenstrual syndrome (PMDD), with its psychiatric problems of depression, irritability and irrational behaviour, together with the somatic symptoms of mastalgia and bloating are clearly related to undetermined hormonal changes which follow ovulation. It follows that the essential tenant of treatment is to suppress ovulation and the cyclical hormonal changes responsible for the cyclical symptoms of PMDD. This can be done by GnRH analogues (9) creating a temporary medical menopause or by transdermal estrogens in a dose of 200mcg twice-weekly has been shown in a cross-over trial to improve every cluster of Moos symptoms against placebo (10). This treatment is as effective as it is logical, but not used by psychiatrists. This treatment, based upon suppression of ovulation and cyclical symptoms, is safe, simple and successful. It would be, in the view of many gynaecologists, first choice therapy if one was looking for a pharmacological treatment. Once again, this Lancet study has not been repeated.

 

[Bernadette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amoona Sweetie I know what you mean I was sooo scared to take it at first. I thought it was gonna mess me up and then I was scared everyone was going to think I was having sex (still a virgin hehe). But my mom told me to chill out because she went through the samething and she took the pill until she got married and right away she got pregnant with me after she gave birth to me all her pain and rage and irregular periods went away. But you're doctor will know whats best. I hope it all works out.

I felt the same way. I started taking the pill when I was 14 to help with severe period cramps (which it did, thank god) and didn't even kiss a boy until I was 20! I always felt weird having to tell nurses and stuff that I was on it. I felt like they were judging me. Anyway that's a whole other story...

Pascal,
I'm not sure what difference there is between a "mood-stablizer" and an anti-depressant like prozac. But as I said there are no anti-depressants that don't have to be taken continuously. I wouldn't be worried about that route though because it doesn't seem to be a psychiatric problem so I can't imagine why they would prescribe anything along those lines.
I agree that it is a good idea to possibly see a new doc. There has got to be an option they can find to help out with this. I hope it gets better! Keep us updated on what they suggest and if it works

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernadette I felt the same way. I started taking the pill when I was 14 to help with severe period cramps (which it did, thank god) and didn't even kiss a boy until I was 20! I always felt weird having to tell nurses and stuff that I was on it. I felt like they were judging me. Anyway that's a whole other story...

That goes along with the whole, "abstinance is best" line of thinking. You get parents that are totally afraid that if they let their daughters get on the pill for reasons other than BC, they will start sleeping around with every boy on the block because they dont have to worry about pregnancy. Same with that shot for cervical cancer prevention. You have parents not wanting to give their kids that shot because they will have to talk to their kids about sex at an early age.

Such a stupid line of thinking thats so outdated.

 

[Kels823]

*BIGSQUISHYHUGZ* I really dont know a whole lot about this, but Im thinking of you.

I do think however, that if your prob is not psychological and its physical, seems like a psychiatrist, etc., wouldnt be the way to go. But like I said, I dont know a whole lot about this. So maybe try a new doc to get a different viewpoint and see how that goes.. I take meds everyday for manic depression; I dont think theres nething wrong w/ it.

 

[Bernadette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae That goes along with the whole, "abstinance is best" line of thinking. You get parents that are totally afraid that if they let their daughters get on the pill for reasons other than BC, they will start sleeping around with every boy on the block because they dont have to worry about pregnancy. Same with that shot for cervical cancer prevention. You have parents not wanting to give their kids that shot because they will have to talk to their kids about sex at an early age. Such a stupid line of thinking thats so outdated.

I couldn't agree more! The logic is just beyond me

.
Of course if they don't have protection or birth control they won't do it

 

[BeccalovesMAC]

omg I have PMDD and today was the worse day ever. I feel bad because I take it out on my husband and kids. I can't control my mood swings at all. I don't feel depressed at all but I am in the worse mood.

 

[katred]

omg I have PMDD and today was the worse day ever. I feel bad because I take it out on my husband and kids. I can't control my mood swings at all. I don't feel depressed at all but I am in the worse mood.

If you often get these reactions, you should talk to your GP and get a referral to see a specialist (an endocrinologist, most likely). While it's normal to get mood fluctuations coming up to your period, severe shifts are problematic and there are ways to deal with them. Those ways don't have to involve a lot of harsh meds either- sometimes being aware of the timing of your cycle and adjusting your diet and/ or exercise regimen at certain points can be enough.

 

[DILLIGAF]

There are birth control pills recently on the market that in addition to regulating your menstrual cycle they treat or lessen the severity of PMDD symptoms. Yaz and Beyaz are the two the come to mind immediately. Tell your GP/GYN your concerns and maybe they will find a way to use medicine as an assist to alleviating some or all of your symptoms.

 

[BeccalovesMAC]

thank you for your suggestions. I will def be contacting my GYN to get some help before I physically hurt someone lol (just kidding)