PMDD

[mudthefarcuss]

yea still a long way to go but I’ve had “better months” and some improvement still some battles but it will take time I guess.
im against the pill personally wasn’t what I wanted and she listened to me and didn’t just push that on me unlike my dr.
it really depends who you get the dr I see has studied PMDD at great lengths which helps massively

I'm glad to hear you've had some improvement and your doctor is a clued-up one. Hope it continues to improve.
They won't offer me the pill or HRT as I get 'migraine with aura' and it isn't a safe combo apparently (can increase risk of stroke for those who get aura-type migraines).

 

[fishsticks]

I was diagnosed with PMDD late last year after years of suffering. I'd previously been to the GP who basically told me it's normal even though I knew it couldn't possibly be normal. I went back to the GP late last year after it started to really affect my marriage after my little one was born. I was fortunate enough to get an appt with a new Dr who's husband is an obs/gynae consultant and she shares the same interest... She immediately diagnosed me with PMDD (I'd done a bit of research so I wasn't too shocked) and also picked other things up such as PCOS (this is also linked to depression).

I've been given sertraline to help with the PMDD, although she's thinking of moving me to fluoxetine instead. No idea what difference it will make changing, but I'm definitely feeling more grounded and level-headed. I didn't like the idea of anti-depressants, but I'm glad I accepted that help nowl.

 

[ivenotimetotiktok]

Thanks for this info, I had no idea what to expect. Did you find it helpful at all? E.g. the supplements and lifestyle changes?

yea still a long way to go but I’ve had “better months” and some improvement still some battles but it will take time I guess.
im against the pill personally wasn’t what I wanted and she listened to me and didn’t just push that on me unlike my dr.
it really depends who you get the dr I see has studied PMDD at great lengths which helps massively

 

[Wetmyplants]

Has anyone here been diagnosed with PMDD?

I’ve really struggled for most of my adult life and my symptoms have been put down as depression/anxiety/suspected bipolar. At the beginning of the year, I came off all antidepressants and contraception’s and decided to track my moods with my cycle and it all points to PMDD?

I’m try to manage my symptoms naturally with supplements but is there anything else worth trying?

Are GPs knowledgeable on this? I’ve had two very bad recent experience with the NHS and have moved to a new area where my GP surgery isn’t the best, so I’m super anxious that I won’t be taken seriously.

 

[mudthefarcuss]

Hello all, I was diagnosed a year ago after decades of symptoms. I have been taking loratidine (antihistamine) and it helps somewhat.
The GP that diagnosed me made a referral to a gynaecologist, and the appointment is coming up in August. Does anyone know what a gynaecologist could/would do for this condition? I'm in perimenopause and probably only have a few years of periods left...

 

[mudthefarcuss]

I’ve just had my second app with a gynaecologist after being diagnosed first app she done some in depth bloods. And spoke about life style changes and things that can help supplements etc.
follow up app which was 3 months after we reassessed what was going on with me now any change/improvement in symptoms etc.

Thanks for this info, I had no idea what to expect. Did you find it helpful at all? E.g. the supplements and lifestyle changes?

 

[pecan]

I've been seeing a lot about antihistamines potentially helping with PMDD. There's limited evidence but I've seen people say it helps. I'm going to try it and it may be worth giving it a go. It really does get to a point where you question everything. It's not over dramatic and negative, it's genuinely causing you distress there's nothing over dramatic about it.

Thank you for your kind and reassuring words. I have so much…shame I guess? over the way that the condition affects me and I often think oh get a grip there is so much worse going on. But at the end of the day we all have to deal with our own circumstances and living with any chronic conditions really drags you down.

I’ve seen a lot said about antihistamines too. Unfortunately I don’t think they help me in that way. I take daily Fexofenadine for allergies for quite a while now and there’s been no change or improvement as far as PMDD goes. It’s fantastic for the allergies though - highly recommend lol.

 

[MF92]

Just looking for a bit of advice/experiences on taking the progesterone only pill for Pmdd, I was at the doctors yesterday and it has been suggested that I try this to help with my moods and irregular periods (I also have PCOS) . Has anyone taken this before and it’s made a massive difference? I have already started a full lifestyle change at the start of the year trying to lose weight which isn’t shifting due to my PCOS, but my moods are really getting me down and affecting my relationships and work life . TIA x

 

[mochibean]

I have it and GP agrees but haven't been formally diagnosed or anything because I can't be arsed. It's hell, I don't know how to treat it. Am also bipolar so can't touch antidepressants as they trigger mania even just for a few days. The pill made me moody and gave me acne. If anyone has any other recommendations let me know... For a week most months I trash my life and spend the rest of the month trying to repair.

Are you on any mood stabilisers? Antidepressants usually make me manic too but since being prescribed a mood stabiliser alongside it I find it's helped me stay stable and made my PMDD a little bit better as well.

 

[Nottonightbabe]

Has anyone here been diagnosed with PMDD?

I’ve really struggled for most of my adult life and my symptoms have been put down as depression/anxiety/suspected bipolar. At the beginning of the year, I came off all antidepressants and contraception’s and decided to track my moods with my cycle and it all points to PMDD?

I’m try to manage my symptoms naturally with supplements but is there anything else worth trying?

Are GPs knowledgeable on this? I’ve had two very bad recent experience with the NHS and have moved to a new area where my GP surgery isn’t the best, so I’m super anxious that I won’t be taken seriously.

I have it. GPs can be hit and miss with their knowledge on it. You might get lucky and find a good one though. I was only diagnosed by a hospital after I ended up in there after becoming very unwell during a mental health episode. Mine is treated with sertraline, and I use propranolol for anxiety symptoms. The consultant in hospital wrote to my GP and asked him to specifically prescribe the sertraline, as this is the SSRI that works best with it apparently. I have to say it has been better for me than any other SSRI I've tried in the past. GP can refer you to gynecology, to discuss other solutions, have to say I found our gynecology service useless! So I went no further than the initial phonecall with them. Good luck, it's a tough condition to have

 

[pecan]

There’s 4 separate threads for PMDD but I think this is the most recent one. I just need somewhere to vent. I am on the verge of my period and feeling so, so bad. I can’t even list how many things are worsened at this point in my cycle and it feels completely overwhelming every month. The lines between anxiety, depression and PMDD are so blurred now that I barely have any good days sometimes and at my worst it’s difficult to function. Speaking to the GP never achieved anything. It was either the pill or SSRIs. Tried various forms of both and it always ends in disaster. The thought of living this life for another ~20 years is unbearable. The condition alone is difficult to deal with but when you throw in daily life and any other ailments or conditions that you live with it can make you wonder what is the point? I know this is so over dramatic and negative but I thought a dedicated thread would be a good place to get it out.

 

[ivenotimetotiktok]

Hello all, I was diagnosed a year ago after decades of symptoms. I have been taking loratidine (antihistamine) and it helps somewhat.
The GP that diagnosed me made a referral to a gynaecologist, and the appointment is coming up in August. Does anyone know what a gynaecologist could/would do for this condition? I'm in perimenopause and probably only have a few years of periods left...

I’ve just had my second app with a gynaecologist after being diagnosed first app she done some in depth bloods. And spoke about life style changes and things that can help supplements etc.
follow up app which was 3 months after we reassessed what was going on with me now any change/improvement in symptoms etc.

 

[pecan]

Pyridoxine worked wonders for me. So much so, my first period after starting it took me by surprise because I had always relied on wanting to die/kill in the run up to tell me it was on its way.

That’s B6 right? Just wondering what dose you take and do you take it every day?

 

[youwhatdahlinn]

Has anyone tried the Evra patch to help alleviate PMDD symptoms? I've recently been prescribed it and on one hand I'm quite positive at the prospect of it helping the hell that is my pmdd rearing it's ugly head for 2 weeks of every month, but I'm also scared half to death of it potentially turning me into a different kind of crazy woman