Anyone have PMDD (severe PMS)
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free skin care · Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:58 pm

I went to my doctor seeking help and all he did was told me to go to chapters and find things that helped other people. Didn't work. Anyone else figure anything that makes things easier throughout those nasty weeks in the month?

I do exercise...but i don't really have a clue what else to do..or even what vitamins to take. Even my doctor claims ..vitamins do nothing... i need another doctor LOL.

free skin care · Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:16 am

Wow, you really need to change doctors!
I can't believe he told you to go to Chapters!

Treating PMDD is tricky and usually you have to try different things until you find something that works.

I see you live in BC, have you gone to the Reproductive mental health program @ the women's hospital? I can get you their phone number if you want. You can get a referral from any family doctor.

Also check this website (maybe you already know it) that has useful information:
http://www.pmdd.factsforhealth.org/

Also the PMS manual from the women's hospital has a lot of good information:
http://www.cw.bc.ca/library/pdf/BCRMH_PMS_pdd_bw.pdf

I know people that have improved a lot with a combination of: SSRIs + CBT + melatonin

All I can say for now is... brace yourself because it is going to take some time to get better and change doctors because it is imperative that your doctor takes you seriously and works hard with you to try to find a good treatment.

All the best!
Josee

free skin care · Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:13 am

If only men had periods, eh? Rolling Eyes

My advice would be to always go to a female doctor for such problems. At least they have some idea of what we go through, and I find that they tend to be a lot more understanding and sympathetic.

I'm sure there are some male doctors who are helpful in this respect, but they seem to be in the minority, sadly.

I hope you find something to help you. You have loads of sympathy from me. Good luck!

free skin care · Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:50 am

See, you'd think he'd send me tom a women's hospital but nope LOL... well i will go to a walk in clinic and ask for a referral. Do you think it's better going there then to a neurologist?

Thanks so much for your help..i wish guys only knew what we go through!!

Josee wrote:

Wow, you really need to change doctors!
I can't believe he told you to go to Chapters!

Treating PMDD is tricky and usually you have to try different things until you find something that works.

I see you live in BC, have you gone to the Reproductive mental health program @ the women's hospital? I can get you their phone number if you want. You can get a referral from any family doctor.

Also check this website (maybe you already know it) that has useful information:
http://www.pmdd.factsforhealth.org/

Also the PMS manual from the women's hospital has a lot of good information:
http://www.cw.bc.ca/library/pdf/BCRMH_PMS_pdd_bw.pdf

I know people that have improved a lot with a combination of: SSRIs + CBT + melatonin

All I can say for now is... brace yourself because it is going to take some time to get better and change doctors because it is imperative that your doctor takes you seriously and works hard with you to try to find a good treatment.

All the best!
Josee

free skin care · Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:03 am

cortigirl wrote:

I went to my doctor seeking help and all he did was told me to go to chapters and find things that helped other people.

What the heck

!!! This is why I switched doctors 10 yrs ago. I went from a clueless, rude, ignorant male doctor - to a nice, considerate, open-minded woman. Made a huge difference!

My advice Cortigirl - change doctors!!

free skin care · Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:33 pm

Hi Cortigirl,

I too have had this my whole adult life, but it's gotten much worse in my 30's, even though I didn't imagine it could get worse. I don't have too much hope that changing doctors is going to help you either. I've had dozens of doctors, and often the women were worse than the men. Throwing an anti-depressant or a diuretic prescription at me and sending me on my (not) merry way.

It's truly disgusting the way allopathic medicine deals with hormonal issues. Sorry Josee, but SSRI's do nothing to deal with the actual issue at hand which is hormonal imbalance. All they do is treat ONE of the symptoms - which is severe mood swings and depression. They do nothing to address the myriad of other issues someone with pmdd has, however allopathic medicine doesn't really seem to be too concerned or interested in it, as perhaps it's not a big money-maker for them (until some new cure-all drug is found to market the hell out of). I'm thoroughly disgusted with how they're giving out prozac as the answer to pmdd under some new packaged name 'sarafem'. Especially as it's common knowledge that hormonal imbalance is the cause of the disorder, and clearly is what should be aimed at re. treatment.

You might be interested that I've been reading about and trying different things for close to 15 years now, and have my mothers experience as well, as she also suffered terribly. I had my best month ever this month past, after starting progesterone cream. I really feel for the first time my estrogen dominance is being helped. Read up on estrogen dominance, and you can buy a progesterone cream over the counter (I buy from iherb.com) and save dealing with a poorly equipped medical industry.

BTW - SSRI's almost caused me to be suicidal - even though I'm a generally happy and relaxed person - something they downplay so much. They're known to be very dangerous drugs for many. I went completely barking mad, and ran into the streets semi-naked. Not to mention how difficult they are to get off of. Read personal experiences with these. They are NOT a cure all. Especially as a good part of PMDD is physical - outrageous bloating, muscular aches, migraines etc etc, SSRI's are a ridiculous new way for drug companies to market their drugs.

Sorry Josee, I've tried this new wonderdrug. It sucks for this issue. We're not mentally ill, or depressed. We just get really out of whack when our hormones are out of balance.

free skin care · Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:46 pm

OMG I just went to the site that Josee suggested you visit for pmdd, and realized I'd been tried (unsuccessfully) on every drug listed. Basically it's anti-depressants, which only address (and poorly at that) one aspect of the issue, birth control pills, which made matters worse for me with instead of having a week long migraine at period time, I got a month long migraine instead! Yes, I stupidly stuck with it thinking things would improve, and had a migraine for an entire year. Of course I had to take piles of drugs to get by with having a daily migraine. Not really an answer, aside from the fact that there are plenty of risks involved with bcp's as well. And diruetics. Yes, they help with the fluid retention, but once again, that fluid retention is happening for a reason. Treating the symptoms (as modern medicine is apt to do) seems so ridiculous, and I'm so surprised they're still doing it. But hey, they'll pull your ovaries out failing everything else!

How about some research into hormones, and what is happening to cause such suffering in certain women? Is dealing with the cause too much to ask? I've dealt with the rudeness of the medical industry for too long, and am so grateful I finally gave up after years of trying idiotic medicines who's side effect profile was almost as bad or worse than the pmdd.

You'll have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid. Find someone who works with bio identical hormones, or just try a progesterone cream. The symptoms are synonymous with estrogen dominance, and I think you'll find the help you need by looking into this.

free skin care · Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:55 pm

oh!! I just can't stop. that website set me off!! It's just disgusting that they offer cognitive behavioural therapy to help you deal with this. For years I've been stricken with the guilt that it's possibly my own fault that I have pmdd. Perhaps my immense fatigue and all over body pain is my own fault!! I just need to exercise MORE. Yes, exercise is the answer, NOT!!! It's so absurd. They'll give you handy tips how to emotionally cope with feeling like a bag of crap for half of your life (as my pmdd was at least two weeks a month). Funny thing was, when I felt great again, for a week or so after my period, I didn't need any CBT to cope with that. By the way, I also was far more healthy than any doctor I ever saw. I eat a stupidly good diet packed with veges and fresh unprocessed foods. Unfortunately, I still had the hormonal imbalance, and all the CBT in the world wouldn't help that.

The medical industry is SOOOOOOOOOO behind the eightball with this issue. I'm one hundred percent certain they only came up with the new label pmdd rather than plain old 'really really bad pms' as I'd known it, to have a new 'illness' to market drugs too. Shame on them for repackaging drugs to fool people.

free skin care · Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:51 pm

Mmm.... I think we're somewhat missing the point here...

Every woman is different so while for some people SSRIs or CBT (btw CBT has nothing to do with one being feeling guilty or anything like that; it simply provides behavioral tools to deal with some of the symptoms of PMDD) or XYZ might not have worked, for others it has worked more than successfully.

Same thing with progesterone. Some women do well with progesterone cream, and others do horribly with their symptoms very heightened.

PMDD is a "title" used to describe certain symptoms but those symptoms are not caused by the same thing. Many women have PMDD but if you study their hormonal cycle, they don't have any hormonal (as in sex hormones) imbalance. So giving them estrogen or progesterone will do nothing and can even make their symptoms worse. On other women there is a deficit in serotonine, so SSRI will help. On others it won't. Others will have estrogen or progesterone imbalance so progesterone cream can work. And so on.

Finally, while it's nice and easy to blame doctors and pharmaceutical companies for everything, sometimes things are not just clear YET and there's not a good cure for certain diseases YET. (Many) doctors try their best but sometimes there isn't just a solution.

All the best,
Josee

free skin care · Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:38 pm

I loved what you had written...i found it very amusing to say the least. I agree with everything you say. I'm disgusted with the craphole of a medical system. I also have tourettes...ya..trying dealing with that and pmdd at the same time. Trust me, i'm still wondering why i haven't jumped off a bridge LOL. On the brightside, i do have a wonderful life for 2 weeks out of a month. Times are rough otherwise...it's tiring. I don't care to take drugs. Why? So i can feel even worse? Or maybe so i can become nice and fat and feel even better about myself. Ugh!

I will try what you suggested. I am currently taking these particular vitamins that someone swears by....so i will let you know if that works (doubtful but it's worth the try at least).

Josee wrote:

Mmm.... I think we're somewhat missing the point here...

Every woman is different so while for some people SSRIs or CBT (btw CBT has nothing to do with one being feeling guilty or anything like that; it simply provides behavioral tools to deal with some of the symptoms of PMDD) or XYZ might not have worked, for others it has worked more than successfully.

Same thing with progesterone. Some women do well with progesterone cream, and others do horribly with their symptoms very heightened.

PMDD is a "title" used to describe certain symptoms but those symptoms are not caused by the same thing. Many women have PMDD but if you study their hormonal cycle, they don't have any hormonal (as in sex hormones) imbalance. So giving them estrogen or progesterone will do nothing and can even make their symptoms worse. On other women there is a deficit in serotonine, so SSRI will help. On others it won't. Others will have estrogen or progesterone imbalance so progesterone cream can work. And so on.

Finally, while it's nice and easy to blame doctors and pharmaceutical companies for everything, sometimes things are not just clear YET and there's not a good cure for certain diseases YET. (Many) doctors try their best but sometimes there isn't just a solution.

All the best,
Josee

free skin care · Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:58 am

Cortigirl, many (like Dr Lee) have looked into the hormonal imbalance issue without being invested in the solutions they offer. For the first time this month I used a progesterone cream, and experienced 100% relief from my debilitating symptoms. My suggestion is to avoid the medical industry and find someone educated in natural hormones, or simply try some progesterone cream this month. Starting at ovulation time (around day 12) you use the cream (I used NOW natural progesterone from iherb, it was inexpensive) until your period, and report in then! If it doesn't alleviate your symptoms, I'll eat my hat. Also, if you don't eat a lot of cruciferous veges, think about adding DIM, which helps with estrogen metabolism. I could be wrong, but I think that estrogen dominance could be the main problem here.

I believe it's safer to try these things than getting stuck on Prozac or BCP's. BCP's have an apalling track record. Stroke anyone? I know how difficult it is for a doctor to not be aware that all that study they've done isn't the be all and end all. I know that difficult patients such as you and I are incredibly annoying to treat, and they often want to blame it on us exaggerating or being hypochondriacs. I've seen so many eyes glaze over, and the look of disbelief. Keep fighting!!! Or you may end up like my Mum who is now on Elavil (antidepressant) and has put on 20 kilos in two months, and although not suffering the mood swings, she doesn't feel too much of anything! The fantastic art she has been doing all her life is suddenly uninteresting to her, as is everything else... but, at least she's not 'suffering'.

free skin care · Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:20 am

BTW cortigirl, you're invited to our lively discussion on hormones over here;

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=34890&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0

and I hope your name isn't in reference to cortisone you're on... tell me I'm paranoid!!!!

free skin care · Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:25 am

also, if you go here http://www.hotzehwc.com/hormone/ and read the ebook on hormone replacement therapy, you'll find a good place to start. josee, I hope you read it, too!

Josee, I hope I haven't been too offensive in letting years of pain and frustration be vented your way. I know you're trying to help in the only way you've been taught how. But I really do hope these discussions help you to widen your education and thinking on these subjects.

Obviously these are very simplified for patients understanding, but I imagine if you're interested enough and look hard enough you'll be able to find more indepth medical info. Simply sticking with ineffective treatment protocols designed more by pharmaceutical companies than anyone else is damaging to your patients and perhaps yourself, too, as you age. I recently read an article in the NYT about a doctor who so regrets under-treating his pain patients all his life - until he was in agony post-surgery, and his own doctor gave him little to help. Unfortunately it was too late, as he was then old and no longer practicing. I hope our discussions here help awake something in you that you suspect to be true.

free skin care · Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:29 am

I have to agree with trigger.

On the whole, the medical profession don't seem to have a clue how to treat this - apart from, "Here's a prescription, now go away and stop wasting my time." That's certainly been the case in my experience.

I also agree about pharmaceutical companies. Their whole reason for existing appears to be to make as much profit as possible - and it seems to me that they will do anything to achieve that aim, even if it involves allowing people to suffer.

free skin care · Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:56 pm

trigger wrote:

Obviously these are very simplified for patients understanding, but I imagine if you're interested enough and look hard enough you'll be able to find more indepth medical info. Simply sticking with ineffective treatment protocols designed more by pharmaceutical companies than anyone else is damaging to your patients and perhaps yourself, too, as you age.

I am not sure you have the whole picture of how doctors spend their days (at least doctors who are also faculty of a medical school).

Besides the hours we spend with patients, we spend at least 3 hours per day either reading papers or conducting research.So yes, we could still look more "in depth" medical information, but we do like to have a life as well Smile

And while there is some research that is funded by pharmaceutical companies, there is TONS and TONS of research not funded by pharmaceutical companies. I have many papers published, have conducted clinical trials, and I have never received funding by any pharmaceutical companies. Neither has any of my colleagues as far as I can recall.

Now for e.g. the website you pointed me to ( http://www.hotzehwc.com/hormone/) is done by a doctor who profits IMMENSELY from prescribing his therapies and what not. I would not say that this person is an "unbiased" source of information. At least the studies funded by pharmaceutical companies have to go through peer review. In addition this doctor has ABSOLUTELY no papers published on anything, no hormone therapy, nothing. And he's an allergist. So personally, I would rather take information from people who are published authors in this area and who are not funded by pharmaceutical companies.

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