Pmdd

I spoke to my OB but she was little help believe it or not. She said it was hormones or SSRIs. Thanks. I left feeling really ignored. I mean, I exercise, eat right and do all the things that are supposed to help but I still felt like more was needed. I finally talked to my family care Dr (after crying on the phone with the receptionist) about how I just wasn't me for a few weeks a month. I was yelling at my son, crying a bit too quickly, etc. I wasnn't having bad cramps or bad periods, it was everything else though.

She said the pill was good for regulating periods, helping with bloating, cramps, etc. For the emotional stuff, something like Sarafem would be better for me since, like you, I really didn't want to go on the pill. It's a very very low dose of Prozac (10 mg as opposed to 30+ mg that is used for depression) that you take 2 weeks a month. I told her that my life was really good -- good marriage, financial stability, no job stress, etc. -- so I just assumed that I didn't need an SSRI. She said a lot of people feel wierd about taking Prozac, but in low doses it's also used to treat other things like IBS since the gut has more nerve receptors than any other part of the body. So, it's not just in your head was her point I think. I know some people have a negative connotation with antidepressants. I know I did.

Like you, I didn't want to go on hormones and dealing with the side effects I've had. After researching and talking to my friend who takes Sarafem too and my Dr, I thought I would try it even though I was really really hesitant to take something like that. It has been a life saver!! It's very very low dose so it didn't change me. I just notice that I don't wig out like I used to. My husband has noticed that I seem a lot less stressed and able to cope better. I like that it's not the commitment that bcp or other antidepressants might be either. If I decide I don't like it, I can just stop and there's no withdrawl, etc. You might talk to your OB or PCP about it.

I work in a doctor's office and we have a few patients who are on mood stabilizers due to their extreme pmdd. They find that their moods are controlled all month long and only notice a small change arond the time of their period, just something for you and your doctor to discuss...

Hi H., just liek Abbi-the post before me, I take Sarafem for PMDD. I loved it but I am prego now so I'm off but after I am finished nursing, I will be back on it. Good Luck!

This is a completely natural method that helps with normal PMS, so not sure what it would do in your case, but I imagine it could only help (though might not fix it!). I would suggest getting some Red Raspberry Leaf (either in tea form or capsule form) and taking it three times a day, every day.

Red Raspberry Leaf (or RRL) will balance hormones and help with PMS. It helps me hardly have any PMS at all. It also does other nifty things like help with cramps. I don't have to take pain meds for cramps anymore, and I used to have horrible cramps. I just regularly take (or took, since I'm prego now) RRL and it helped them go away. It's also great for pregnancy. For women having a hard time getting prego, it helps balance those hormones to make it more likely. Basically it's really good for the whole women's system.

It is pretty yucky in tea form, so if you can't stand that, take it in capsule form and drink lots of water with it. It's not technically really tea, it's just called that.

This is my first post, so I'm not sure how to send link, but below is a link to somewhere that gives a good summary of RRL:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/84392/the_benefi...

Anyway! Hope that helps some... Good luck.

H.,
the side effects of any drug are brutal.
I would suggest trying something natural. the older you get the worse it will be, I was diagnosed with Lupus many years ago because of my periods and anemic. I had terrible pms,
right now I am doing fine, I am old now but I know how that felt. please look into natural remedies. email me and i can send you more information about what can help with this.
thank you and God bless, ____@____.com

Hi! OMG I have that! The extra hormones that bc pills and everything else is very bad on me. I would go months and even 1 year before I would have a cycle. Was told after my first child and te miscarriage of my second that I could not have any more children cause I had lost so much of my uterus. Well 3 years later I found the love of my live and we got pregnant which was such a blessing and now another little one to make 3. But anyway I got put on medroxyprogesterone so that I would stop feeling and looking 9 months pregnant and with all the moods and stress. Well even though it made me hurt more than labor I survived but still lost control of my feeling and moods. My whole family had to see and i was bad!!! Finally I got put on an anxiety medication that I don't have to take everyday and makes it alot better. My life is so much more enjoable anytime of the month. YEA!

Try this and good luck!
S.

I'm not sure, but I thought that they treat PMS and PMDD with drugs like Prozac, Zoloft and not hormones. Even though it might be hormones causing the PMS, it's a mental condition and treated the same way as someone who is depressed or has anxiety, etc. Hopefully someone else knows more.

H.,

I practice a form of Massage, traditional to Belize, that has helped many women with reproductive issues. I live and work in Austin. Women have come from as far as Dallas to see me.

I personally have had wonderful success treating PMS/PMDD for many women, 16 to 45 year olds. Please look at the reviews my business has received on Mamasource, as well as my website michellebrown.massagetherapy.com

You will see some reviews from clients who had suffered their whole lives with menstrual difficulty, and helped as quickly as two treatments. The work is profound, yet very gentle.

I do carry organic Raspberry Leaf (see other advise), as well as organic Red Clover, which is even a bit more on target for the PMS. My herbal experience is also informed by my background as a midwife.

My ob/gyn prescribed Sarafem for my PMDD...it has been a God send! It does a little Prozac in it. BUT..you do not have to take it everyday, you do not have to wait 2 weeks for it to take affect, it works immediately, it does not make you drowsy either. I love it! It has also helped with my depression...it is the best medicine I have ever been on!

I also have PMDD, am sensitive to horomones, and I take Sarafem. It has been a lifesaver for me and my family. Talk to your GYN about it, I can't recommend it enough!