I Am Looking for Some Relief from PMDD

I was experiencing PMS about 8 years ago and my DR. suggested that I try Evening Primrose(every day) and Vitamin E(every other day). I've been taking them ever since and it has really helped me.

I hope you can get some relief. I too have debilitating periods. I have many of the same symptoms. I have gone through cysts and tons of ultrasounds for endometriosis etc and none of it has been easy. My doctor just spoke to me about PMDD and I am in the process of doing some research on things to see what I can do.

Reflexology might help you greatly.
You can meet with a professional once, and they will teach you how to do it to yourself.

I have had a similar experience over the past year or so. My holistic M.D. has had me using a natural progesterone cream for the second half of my cycle (ovulation to the first day of my period). That helped immediately with the cramps and aches. He also had me start taking Vitex (chaste berry) 3-4 times a day (just put a dropperful in a little water). That has helped immensely with the mood issues. I still have my challenges, but It's an amazing difference from how I felt a year ago.

Good luck,
T

Hello, H.,
Your not alone! Since being pregnant with my now seven month old daughter I have been having the samy symptoms, minus the cramps. I know I'm about to get my period when I start to get unbelievably moody, anxious, depressed. It seems everything everyones does just drives me nuts, I actually feel very angry all the time! I feel like I could stay in bed in for days or at least until my period is over but with my new baby, well you know staying in bed is not going to happen there! I too went to the doctor and he put me on some depression meds that don't seem to work either. I did find that just going for a walk can help alittle to clear my mind and help me feel alittle refreshed. Sorry I can't be of any greater help, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone out there and I completely understand how crummy it can feel.

go to www.understandpmdd.com. this should help you..

L.

Hi H.,

I have found in life, that all Dr.s have different opinions and ways of treating you, so what I would do is go and seek the advice of another OBGYN if you feel that your current Dr. isn't helping! Also, I have never tried it but I have seen commercials on t.v. of people who have used Royal Jelly (From Bees) and claim to experience an energy boost that they could'nt find in anything else! Some of the users of Royal Jelly have been using it for 25 yrs.! I don't know the number, but if you call 1-800-555-1212 you may be able to find this out, I believe it is called "Bee Alive".

Best wishes!

R. ; )

Have your thyroid checked. I had the same issues and it turned out my thyroid was under active. Now that I am on medication I am not feeling as terrible. Also going on the pill can help also. Good luck!

Jenn Smith
http://jennsmith.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

Hi H.

So sorry to hear all the pain you are in you may want to do a food journal for a coulpe of months and take it to a nutritionist or even an allergist. Also there is natural remedies instead of taking prescription drugs. I know I hate taking them and aviod taking them as much as possible. There is a book out called New choices in Natural healing~ Bantam books got it at a local book store and they have a section on PMS and it states each case is individual but to aleviate the symtoms. they do recomend fish oil flaxseed oil evenibg primrose oil or black seed current oil in supplement form.
I know when a few years back when I went on the Atkins diet(not the best diet! but for short term its ok) he recommended fish oil omega 3 and such and I hardly even knew my period was coming only by the date! and this was from me who was in bed with cramps and pain and a mirgraine each month

I hope that helps! there is alot of info out there try your local library too!

H., I had most of the symptoms that you wrote about. It started after my son was born. He was my forth so im not sure why it started then. Bad cramps, back pain but that was not the problem, the pain i could deal with. I would take ibuprofen and it would help. But the feeling of depression, the shortness with my kids and just feeling lousy. I would cry for no reason...My doctor told me the samething she could put me on prozac for a week to help. She told me a lot of her patients do.. I did not want to do this so i just suffered.
Finally it got better and this is what i did. Excercise, eating right, lots of water and the thing that i believe made the most difference is Last year i was looking to work from home, and decided to promote a Wellness Company. So I started to switch my home to wellness products and i started taking their vitamins, supplements ect. They are amazing, I feel great. They also have a Luminex which is a patented combination of St. Johns wort, griffonia seed, folate and vitamin b12, helps keep your mood on track. Natural ingredients that can help.. I have not had to take this the vitiams and supplements are enough. Will they work for you?. I believe they will but the best thing is you can try the vitiams for 90 days and if you do not feel better you can send the bottles back empty.. I also think that using safer cleaner in my house has made a difference. The vitiams build up your immune system and with our enviroment deteriating this is so important..

I would love to share this amazing company with you, it is worth a try. My email is ____@____.com or my website is http://colleend.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

Hi H.. I also get my period pretty bad,with body aches, mood swings, tired all the time. I've noticed that when I take a vitamin with iron in it it helps quite a bit. I use Vita-Lea w/ Iron from Shaklee. I'm sure if you go to GNC you can get a multi vitamin & mineral w/ iron in it. I use Shaklee products as part of my "green" home environment. It has 2 to 3 times more of the individual vitamins and minerals in it than Centrum or One a Day.

Along with the vitamin I drink "Female Toner" herbal tea from Traditional Medicinals which can be found in the organic section in Shop Rite. This tea really helps a lot with the cramps, plus it's caffeine free and tastes good!

Hope this helps!
~J.

Dear H.,

I suck at spelling, so all apologies for any errors.

I too have pms--free of it since pregnancy and because of nursing...But dread it's return.
This is advice I was given and does seem to help me "when practiced"--the key to anything;doing it....:

Take once a day:
vitamin B complex 100 mg
vit.B6 100mg
vit.C 1000 mg sustained release
magnesium 250 mg
vit.E 400 I.U.
evening primrose oil--reccomended dose
*I would add calcium also as this deficiencey has been
linked to PMS, I don't know about PMDD

DO NOT SKIP MEALS
AVOID:
Caffeine, Alcohol, red meat,sugar,salty foods from mid cycle to after menses
EAT MORE:
Legumes, whole grains, leafy greens ,poultry,fish
MEDITATE
PRACTICE YOGA
*ask your doctor before you take any vitamins or suplements.

B vitamins will help your energy level and nerve function...As will magnesium.
I think starting with diet and rest and behavior is essential
before you go screwing with your brain chemistry with pharmaceuticals and possibly incurring the side effects of anti-depressants...some side effects are VERY disconcerting.
It sounds like you should also look into getting yourself on a yeast- free diet.Too much candida albicans, or yeast, many believe, can create PMS symptoms.Look online. I hope you find a solution that works for you.
If your energy is low, you could be run down from not taking care of yourself in general..."Me time" for mom benefits you and the entire family.Eat well, excersise,breath and be well.
best,
C.

hi, i've always had these problems (not always to the extent that you're talking about) but the dr had given me a prescription for naproxen, and it didn't really help my cramps all that much, i took 2-3 alieve (depending on how bad the pain was) and it actually helped the cramps...and it has naproxen in it! either that or i'd take 1 naproxen with 1 ibprophen.....which you can do also...just check the differences on the bottles for mg's as for being fatigue and moody....i wish you luck with that, my dr's wouldn't help me either.

Try using a natural balancing cream. I am a consultant for Arbonne International, a Swiss health & wellness company. We have a natiral balancing cream called Prolief. I've been using it since November, and my mood swings are less, my headaches are mild, and I don't experience any cramps. It suppposed to take about a month to experience a difference, but my headaches were gone within the first month. my website is www.annamariagrieco.myarbonne.com. You are supposed to use 1-2 times a day, days 12-26 of your cycle. let me know if you want more info. Good luck.

Go to you local health food store and speak to someone. I take Evening Primrose Oil and it really does seem to help. I take 1000mg per day and the week before my period I take 3000mg per day. I have also recently gone back on HBC to try and regulate my periods and hormones so far so good. I am using Nuvaring only to regulate becasue my tubes are tied.

I ahve been on the birth control pill called Yasmin... it is made for pmdd. i have been on it about 4 trs or more now and it really has helped. It took a couple of cycles but with each one the symptoms became less severe... now i hardly get any of the horrible symptoms...
I should alos addd that when i started, i was having 3 weeks of severe pms and 1 good week.. it was pretty bad.

Hello H.,
I have also had similar symptoms most of my post-puberty life. Additionally, going on birth control pills (any type- have tried at least 5) has sent me into major depression. I am a stay at home mom of two toddlers and one infant, also with a husband who works long hours. I found that after having children, my symptoms became much worse, especially the anxiety, anger, moodiness etc.. I tried increasing my excercise, eating healthier, joining mom groups etc.. (this did help a bit, but certainly not enough to function). I also tried meeting with a femal psychologist who specialized in post-partum depression--- this helped, but again, still not enough. With the birth of my youngest, I found my sypmtoms had increased even more. Finally, I asked about medication (I had been trying to stay away from medication b/c I was breastfeeding...). I have been on Zoloft for the last 4 months and my life has finally changed. I feel great! I have more patience with my kids and my husband and my marriage is better =). After reading all the research and talking to several OBGYN's I finally decided to continue breastfeeding. I was repeatedly told that although the medication does pass through the milk (in limited quantities) there have been no found risks for babies, that the benefits of breastmilk vs. formula outweigh any risks.
Although I am not a Dr. and do not intend to know all about what you are going through, I just want you to know that:
1. You are not alone. Nor, are you going crazy!
2. There is treatment. You can feel like you do on your best days all the time.
3. Don't be scared to try therapy/and/or/medication in addition to creating a healthier lifestyle.

It sounds like you need a new OBGYN! Here are some reputable links to more information. http://www.med.umich.edu/depression/dysphoria.htm
http://www.med.unc.edu/psych/wmd/htm/reproductive_mood_di...

Also, don't automatically rule out the fact that you may have a mood disorder. I now know that I already had mild depression. This was exasberated monthly with the hormone fluctuation, and even more so with each pregnancy and delivery. I didnt' even know how depressed I was until I began taking anti-depressants (took approximately 3-4 weeks to fully start working). In fact, the transition felt so natural, that I stopped taking the pills for a few days thinking that perhaps I didn't need them, I immediately began having severe symptoms again. Never again will I go off them!!!

My 8 month son has not exhibited any changes in behavior, sleep, eating, etc. since I began the meds. He is a very happy baby, thank goodness!

Good luck. Hope this helps a bit. Don't give up!