Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

[tyrellsg]

I've had a look for a thread on this and can't find one.

Does anyone else suffer with this?

I'm in my what I call shark week and struggling so much. Alot of the things I feel and go through could have potential trigger warnings so I will wait and see how to post that in a safe way.

I'm hoping to get some proper help after the new year from a specialist clinic I'm just so fed up with living by my cycle.

I use an app to track my symptoms and find it helps to know when the time is coming.

Sending love to anyone else with this because it's just horrible!

 

[Begborrowsteal]

I tried to discuss this with my GP and surprise surprise, he just nodded and moved past it.

The peak of it has changed over the years. From the rage, to suicidal ideation. Now its real overwhelm and brain fog, with a bit of rage thrown in for fun. Its awful. As soon as my period starts, its like a cloud has lifted.

 

[tyrellsg]

I tried to discuss this with my GP and surprise surprise, he just nodded and moved past it.

The peak of it has changed over the years. From the rage, to suicidal ideation. Now its real overwhelm and brain fog, with a bit of rage thrown in for fun. Its awful. As soon as my period starts, its like a cloud has lifted.

Yeah same with my GP, I got so fed up and asked to deal with a female gp, I got the mental health nurse instead and everything I told her she understood and put a referral in. It scares me to think how many cases have just been shrugged off as stress and anxiety.

Omg yes the brain fog I went shopping once and just stood there I'd not a clue what I was to get, I could feel myself getting really overwhelmed so darted out the shop. The rage is horrific, no matter how hard you try and let it pass its there burning away, I've spent most of my life creating a tit storm around my totm and then as soon as my period comes I'm back to me and spend the next couple of weeks trying to pick up the pieces of what I've destroyed it's no life at all.

Its so hard aswell if you have kids and partner thrown into the mix and they just don't understand.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Yeah same with my GP, I got so fed up and asked to deal with a female gp, I got the mental health nurse instead and everything I told her she understood and put a referral in. It scares me to think how many cases have just been shrugged off as stress and anxiety.

Omg yes the brain fog I went shopping once and just stood there I'd not a clue what I was to get, I could feel myself getting really overwhelmed so darted out the shop. The rage is horrific, no matter how hard you try and let it pass its there burning away, I've spent most of my life creating a tit storm around my totm and then as soon as my period comes I'm back to me and spend the next couple of weeks trying to pick up the pieces of what I've destroyed it's no life at all.

Its so hard aswell if you have kids and partner thrown into the mix and they just don't understand.

Yep! My OH is used to it all, but the kids obviously dont understand. Its horrible, you know its all irrational but you cant stop it Im approaching it now in the next week and im dreading it. Ive said to friends, when my period starts, its like im bleeding the demon out

 

[tyrellsg]

Yep! My OH is used to it all, but the kids obviously dont understand. Its horrible, you know its all irrational but you cant stop it Im approaching it now in the next week and im dreading it. Ive said to friends, when my period starts, its like im bleeding the demon out

Absolutely that's what it feels like! If you don't mind me asking do you take any medication to help with it, I've been on different antidepressants and they make me feel 10x worse, last tried Setraline which was awful so was put on Citralopram for when im in my bad time and it helps but I don't want to have to rely on that. I've tried agnus castus and evening primrose as a more natural approach which didn't help at all.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Absolutely that's what it feels like! If you don't mind me asking do you take any medication to help with it, I've been on different antidepressants and they make me feel 10x worse, last tried Setraline which was awful so was put on Citralopram for when im in my bad time and it helps but I don't want to have to rely on that. I've tried agnus castus and evening primrose as a more natural approach which didn't help at all.

Im on citalopram but i was diagnosed with BPD years ago so thats stemmed from that. It has helped in a way, the rage isnt as severe but its still overwhelming. I wanted to try agnus castus as id heard good things, but maybe not

 

[Bellaboo83]

I had a bit of success with GABA and 5 HTP supplements. The 5-HTP increases seratonin levels naturally so I take that (in the evenings as it can make you sleepy) as soon as ovulation ends and I enter the luteal phase along with a high dose krill oil tablet. Then as soon as I start to feel the emotional or physical symptoms of pndd come in usually about 10 days before my period I start to take GABA in the mornings. Gaba just calms you, it slows your brains anxious thoughts and increases mood. Then I stop everything about 3 days after my period until I ovulate again.

I'm wanting to try to introduce ashwaghanda into the mix but I need to read up on it first.

Also you can't take 5-HTP if your are on any SSRI antidepressant so make sure you research anything you want to try properly first to make sure it's safe for you!

 

[Pixipoppy]

I’m 99.9% sure I get this. Week or so before my period I have horrific mood swings, uncontrollable crying, feeling like everything is pointless, suicidal thoughts, intense anger at my partner, paranoid thoughts. Then as if by magic the day I get my period it all goes away. I’m on the pill so it doesn’t make sense, I can’t imagine there’s much more that can be done. I found starflower oil and some supplements ease it slightly, and it’s much worse when I’m already stressed.

 

[Isa Drennan]

Nothing seems to help, except “waiting it out”. I’ve cancelled appointments before. Tracking my period helps me to anticipate better. Lack of concentration combined with the clumsiness isn’t a great mix for important exams!

The inflammation part is horrendous. I get constant heart palpitations, which make anxiety worse! I avoid caffeine, try gentle exercise such as walking, and staying calm. I’ve previously had some nastier elements, such as paranoia and fleeting suicidal thoughts.

I wouldn’t ever discuss it with my GP, I asked for norethisterone once, you’d think I’d asked for a murder alibi by the response he gave me! Definitely think there’s something off with my hormones. I often get pain in my belly button, including sharp stabbing pains, requiring anti inflammatories which barely touch it. I have quite a high pain tolerance, so would like to rule out PMDD or endometriosis, but GPs don’t seem to take women’s health seriously

 

[Mamacita]

Nothing seems to help, except “waiting it out”. I’ve cancelled appointments before. Tracking my period helps me to anticipate better. Lack of concentration combined with the clumsiness isn’t a great mix for important exams!

The inflammation part is horrendous. I get constant heart palpitations, which make anxiety worse! I avoid caffeine, try gentle exercise such as walking, and staying calm. I’ve previously had some nastier elements, such as paranoia and fleeting suicidal thoughts.

I wouldn’t ever discuss it with my GP, I asked for norethisterone once, you’d think I’d asked for a murder alibi by the response he gave me! Definitely think there’s something off with my hormones. I often get pain in my belly button, including sharp stabbing pains, requiring anti inflammatories which barely touch it. I have quite a high pain tolerance, so would like to rule out PMDD or endometriosis, but GPs don’t seem to take women’s health seriously

Yeah I try to plan around it, eg. Plan meetings at work in different weeks etc but it's obviously not always possible and hard to live like that.

I do get inflammation as well, major anxiety, my heart rate is much higher in the 7-10 days leading up to period (like resting heart rate according to fitbit going from 57 to 67), I also always have 1or 2 days when during the day I feel so horrible and by the end of the day all I can do is lie down with my eyes closed, with whole body aches.

Not even going to mention the mood I'm in then, depressed would be an improvement.

I find what helps a bit is eating healthy fats but maybe its just placebo for me, not sure. It definitely doesn't resolve anything but seems to make it slightly less bad and not last so many days.

 

[LucilleBluth]

Sorry I’m late to this but I suffer this way too and I’ve found a short (like <12 minute) jog almost every day really helped. As did the 5HTP. And no alcohol for a week or two, and reduced sugar.

It’s wild how our brains / bodies can do this to us. I can almost pinpoint the exact minute when my hormone levels start to change in the lead up to my period. Like others have said, the world becomes a different place. Everything is a threat but at the same time everything is pointless and hopeless. It’s not far off feeling possessed sometimes! I definitely find that it’s worse if I’m already stressed about something else, like work or a relationship rocky patch or something, and so I just try to remember that a day or two into my period, I’ll feel like a different person again. But then there’s the physical pain to deal with I’ve thrown up from the pain before and it drives me mad how people think I’m just being a baby. Men have no idea!

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

I’m starting to think I might have this. I’ve noticed I start going a little crazy and ‘off the rails’ about 2 weeks before i come on. I feel how others here have described it with the rage and the irrational thoughts and behaviour and the anxiety. In my head I feel totally out of control, I’m quite anxious anyway but it’s intensified during this time. I also can’t sleep for tit in the few days leading up to my period, that’s become one of my main signs that I know it’s coming, not sure if anyone else gets this? It really messes with my sleeping pattern for the rest of the month (hence why I’m still awake and posting here).

Then when my period arrives, although I feel physically tit, emotionally it’s like a weight gets lifted and my mood improves. I can think clearly again and I don’t fly off the handle as easily. But as I have anxiety anyway I’m left with all the guilt over how I behaved during my crazy time.

Could just be normal pms I suppose but I feel like the older I get the more intense these symptoms get. When I was younger it was the opposite in that I didn’t really have/notice any pms symptoms but had horrific cramps where I could barely move. Now my cramps are manageable but pms symptoms have gone full crazy.

I am debating removing my implant and seeing if that helps but then I’d have to figure out another type of contraception/convince partner to get the snip/get the snip myself.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

I get extra tired with mine. I have zero energy and could sleep for hours!

 

[LittleMy]

Really think that I have this, but not sure how to approach it without being fobbed off. I’ve already tried speaking to my mum about it but she just tells me to stop being dramatic and it’s just PMS that most women get. I already have a diagnosis of anxiety and depression. It’s the rage I feel before I come on that really gets me. Once my period arrives the red mist lifts. I don’t remember ever having PMS this bad before (not been on any hormone based contraception for two years now). I’m so glad there are other people here who can share their experiences, I honestly felt like I was going mad.

 

[tyrellsg]

Im on citalopram but i was diagnosed with BPD years ago so thats stemmed from that. It has helped in a way, the rage isnt as severe but its still overwhelming. I wanted to try agnus castus as id heard good things, but maybe not

Sorry that was quite rude of me to create this thread and go a bit silent I've had a horrific few days and just wanted the world to swallow me up feeling a bit more like myself again thankfully!

I'm definitely going to look into trying the 5htp and cutting out caffeine I run on coffee so that will be hard.

I heard rave reviews about the agnus castus but it wasn't for me but please don't let that stop you we all take different to things x

International Association for Premenstrual Disorders

iapmd.org

What is PMDD?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a very severe form of PMS. Find out about the symptoms and causes of PMDD.

www.mind.org.uk

These are some really good links with information on pmdd.

To anyone who is worried their gp will fob them off, keep fighting and pushing, you know your own body better than any doctor or nurse, tracking your symptoms is also a really good way to keep you in the know of when the bad times are coming and doctors will ask for symptoms to be tracked for at least 4 months to work out a pattern (I use clue but there are other apps available). I'm 30 now and it's taken since my period started to finally get noticed but there is more awareness around pmdd now, there was a really good segment on the BBC news at 6 a month or so ago and it featured women discussing severe pms and how it affects them.