Life w/PMDD/Severe PMS Support... - Page 5

[allgirls]

[QUOTE=DanishMom;13076952

My cycle is becoming a bit irregular and I'm afraid it's perimenopause. I'm 34 and want another child in a year or two.[/QUOTE]

My cycles started to become a bit irregular around age 35..not terribly so but noticeably so. I had a daughter at 37 and another at 39. I did have a chemical pregnancy in there. There are no guarantees but at 36 we concieved the first month we tried. At 38 it took longer but I was nursing so that was part of it.

Perimenopause can go on for years..I'm 42 and it's still going on though it has worsened in the past year. I really think I'm heading towards menopause in the next few years but I guess we'll see.

[momofPL]

Thanks for the comments about the B Complex with the B6! I have been trying the B6 and so far it seems to be working along with lots of exercise. I need to drink lots more water than I have been the last few days. I love this thread for this stuff, thank you so much ladies. Especially Danishmom and mystic~mom for all of your research and comments.

We will see what this next cycle brings. I just finished my period and this month went great due to everyone's suggestions. Next cycle may bring new challenges as this is my last week home on maternity leave. I have gotten almost 4 wonderful months off and will return to work until summer when I am home again. It will be interesting to see how I do with the added stress of working full time again and trying to deal with finding time to pump (in an elementary school) and deal with this. YIKES! Hopefully I can keep taking care of myself like this and continue all the exercising I have been doing. I must add for anyone that excercise seems to help me so much...for what it is worth. Now if only I could lose the baby weight...

[DanishMom]

Originally Posted by momofPL

Thanks for the comments about the B Complex with the B6! I have been trying the B6 and so far it seems to be working along with lots of exercise. I need to drink lots more water than I have been the last few days. I love this thread for this stuff, thank you so much ladies. Especially Danishmom and mystic~mom for all of your research and comments.

We will see what this next cycle brings. I just finished my period and this month went great due to everyone's suggestions. Next cycle may bring new challenges as this is my last week home on maternity leave. I have gotten almost 4 wonderful months off and will return to work until summer when I am home again. It will be interesting to see how I do with the added stress of working full time again and trying to deal with finding time to pump (in an elementary school) and deal with this. YIKES! Hopefully I can keep taking care of myself like this and continue all the exercising I have been doing. I must add for anyone that excercise seems to help me so much...for what it is worth. Now if only I could lose the baby weight...

So glad to hear you are doing better!! Yes, exercise is great. Just walking really fast for 20 minutes helps me a lot.

Keep us updated.

[mystic~mama]

allgirls mama, hugs! I know that impending pms feeling (i'm teary right now just thinking of it s)....this cycle I was asking myself:

what are these feelings here to teach me? (I also think to myself, okay, I don't like this, it doesnt feel great to feel this way and I'd rather be my normal self but, this is a part of my cycle and it has a purpose so let me see what it can teach me and not forget it will pass, something like that.)

what exactly am I feeling right now beyond the tension? (what is behind that tension, what issue in me is thing bringing up for my attention?


I ordered the red tent and the dance of intamacy the other day, really looking forward to reading those again.

mamaofpl~ glad you found this thread and it was helpful I agree, exercise does help and if you can do it out in some real nature that is really healing to the soul as well. I am blessed to be living in the beautiful pacific northwest now and we did a beautiful hike this week, I felt so refreshed during and afterwards. Good luck on going back to work! Its nice you have your summer to look forward to.

[Awaken]

I'm so glad this thread is here. I've really been struggling with severe PMS, wondering at times if it's PMDD.

It started about 1 1/2 yrs ago- I wondered why sometimes I'd wake up in a cold sweat with my heart pounding and have nightmares, and my sleep even more disrupted than my usual (and sleep is usually really tough for me anyway), and this overall feeling of despair and hopelessness, and not coincidentally, unable to get along with the kids and extreme irritation with them and anger at people around me. One day it just hit me, with the night sweats, that this is what happened after I gave birth, and it was hormonal and it all clicked that this was PMS.

I saw an herbalist and got a few personalized tinctures, but then I got pregnant unexpectedly and never got to experience the effects of the herbs. Then I lost the pregnancy and things were better for a few months, but eventually went right back to how they were.

I did start taking Calc/mag and B complex when I started the herbs and the severe cramps and physical discomforts went away. Now it's just the emotional effects that are a major problem.

Thanks for all the reminders here- I hadn't been doing so well with staying hydrated, and now I am making a concerted effort to drink water. I've cut back on caffeine (but really do enjoy my am coffee), and drink chamomile tea from lunchtime on.

I want to add herbal teas or tinctures to my routine but there are so many different ones that may help, I don't know where to start. I don't want to take a bunch of stuff and not know what's helping and I can't buy all of these over the long term- I want to choose 1 or 2 and stick with them. I also need to get back into EFA's, but am not comfortable with fish oil, and don't know if just flax is adequate. I'm sure my adrenals and liver and everything else is probably tapped out, but I'd be on 500 different supplements and broke, if I took something for every single thing! I'm trying to stick to the essentials.

Re: B vitamins, can someone explain how megadoses are effective? As far I knew, they are water soluble and not stored by the body, so are peed out when the body hits it's limit.

I did read The Red Tent, several times, and love it. So many great insights there. I hadn't thought about taking time to turn inward during this time, paying closer attention to my emotions, and looking at that in a positive light.

[mystic~mama]

hi Awaken (i love your user name ). I am happy you found us here...I think we women need to connect more and I think that is a part of pmdd.

hope all is well with everyone.

blessings

[jillmamma]

Can I join? I am pretty sure I have PMDD as well. I have had problems with depression since before having kids and was on Prozac for several years till it quit working and now am taking Effexor XR. I have noticed since DD was born and AF came back that my worst times seem to be right before/during my period and a day or two around ovulation (I chart my cycles, so I can definitely tell when I have ovulated). This totally sucks, and definitely affects my relationships with DH and my kids. Around my period, I sometimes get migraines, feel REALLY tired, achy all over (even before flow starts), am SO easily set off by dumb stuff and irritable, get down to the depths of despair over stuff that would not bother me during my "normal" phase, could care less about how the house looks (basically just do enough to barely get by), my patience is shot, and I tend to lash out at DH and my kids out of nowhere. I HATE acting like that! It is tough too because DS is special needs (autism spectrum), and DD is just 3 (enough said there), and neither needs a wacko mommy yelling at them.

I have not tried any specific treatments yet other than Effexor XR which I take all month long for depression, but after reading about how B6 seems to help some of you, I think I am going to try that. Also, I know my greyhound would love it if I got out more often to take her on walks, so I am resolving to try and do that at least once a day too for exercise.

I would really like to have another baby someday soon too, but am having a hard time convincing DH as he says it seems like when I have this I have a hard enough time dealing with the two we already have. I want another child anyway, but I have to admit that the idea of getting rid of this for 2 years (9 months pg + 15 months no AF due to BF) sounds like a great idea to me too!

Is there anyone here who also deals with depression as well as PMDD? If so, and you take meds, have you tried increasing your dose during that time of month or adding additional meds during that time of month? Do you think that I should try discussing that option with my doctor? Obviously since I am hoping we have another baby, the pill is not what I want.

I am so glad to know I am not alone, and I hope all of us can find good ways to help cope with this!

[mystic~mama]

jillmama

more later...

[DanishMom]

Originally Posted by allgirls

My cycles started to become a bit irregular around age 35..not terribly so but noticeably so. I had a daughter at 37 and another at 39. I did have a chemical pregnancy in there. There are no guarantees but at 36 we concieved the first month we tried. At 38 it took longer but I was nursing so that was part of it.

Perimenopause can go on for years..I'm 42 and it's still going on though it has worsened in the past year. I really think I'm heading towards menopause in the next few years but I guess we'll see.

My mom's cycle stopped at 40 and it's making me a little nervous. I've conceived very fast (and sometimes too easily) so that's a good thing!I wont have another one before I'm 36.

Jillmama + Awaken: Welcome, this is a great place for support.

I think existing depression can be made worse by PMS/PMDD. Upping the meds can possibly help. I think zoloft and other SSRIs are first choice.

I have problems with depressive feelings around O too. Now that my PMDD is almost gone I still feel my mood changing a lot around O. (another good cycle here despite my mom's illness and I'm four days short of AF). I tried to skip st.johns wort but felt worse so I guess I'll have to stay on it along with B6, B-complex, vitamin D and mag./calc.

[guestmama9917]

hi everyone, i just wanted to post that i am doing a little bit better since starting bcomplex/b6 and magnesium about 2 cycles ago.

this past cycle ( i am on cd 16 right now) i was still a bit of a 'lose cannon' and flipped out about a dust bunny and blamed my husband. so, i was still acting a little irrationally.

hope all you ladies starting the b vits get some relief, i am just about to move into my third cycle with the vits and i will see how i do.

hugs all around.

[dipmama]

Hi all...

I've been lurking on this thread for some time and figure it's time to jump in! I started tracking my cycles very closely since September, when I started Lexapro for anxiety and depression. I'd never really tracked before, but dh says he's noticed more of a connection between my cycles and my moods over the years since having the kids. I tended to dismiss him- I figured that this is just one of those things men say about their wives.

Anyhow, two days ago my mood went to the pits. Yesterday my period started.

I started taking 100 mg of B6 about 6 weeks ago on top of other stuff I am taking (just about to post a separate but related thread).

What adds insult to injury to all of this for me is that my cycles are 21-23 days long. Which means I get a week of bleeding, a week of respite, and then a week of PMS-y stuff. Bah humbug.

I'm 42 and wondering about perimenopause. I have my annual physical in a couple of weeks and my doc will for sure send me for a bunch of bloodwork. Anything I should make extra sure he includes?

Thanks!

[allgirls]

courtrn~glad you are feeling some relief..that gives the rest of us home

Welcome dipmama! I think we are cycle twins and we are the same age. I am having a long cycle this time(this is day 25) and this week has been so awful..my depression is out of control. I hope the vitamins do something for the next one.

[herbmama3-7]

Hi all,

I am in the middle of my period right now and to my surprise my mood was not as vile as it has been. I have had irritability, but have been able to get control of the anger and irrational feelings, i.e I don't let it rule my days. I have defiantely had some anger etc, but it literally only lasts for minutes and I am able to compose myself and not feel hangover and deal with the desctructive aftermath of it. I acknowledge the feelings and mindfully change my behavior. Howver I definately feel clearer and believe I owe it to the b6 etc as I would not have ever been able to be rational about my feelings in the past. Ther is a certain chemistry that has eased up in my mind, this cycle, although tough at times, not debilitating! On another note I just weened my dd and this has been the first true cylce I have had in a long time without a pregnancy or nursing, I am wondering if there is a connection. I am going to keep track of it for sure and continue my supplements.
Hugs and love to everyone

[allgirls]

So cd26..longest cycle in a long time and it's been horrible. I feel like af is going to start at any second and I've felt that way for a week at least. The cramping has been terrible.

If I have a LP problem(which I think I do) then the B6 should help that in the future. I'm going to continue with it because I started late this cycle.

I'm also going to pick up some 5htp today..there is only one store that I can get this in and I'm going today.

I'm trying to figure out a way to get some exercise. It's so cold here, I can't afford a gym membership but I need exercise. Maybe I'll come across a cheap treadmill somewhere..checking kijiji.

Anyway I should get my period today or tomorrow...sooner is better because for me the switch goes on the minute I start.

My mood has been awful. I've also had more going on so I'm not sure if it's just stress/timing that's caused it to be worse.

I'm glad to have this thread and hopeful about the B6.

If this cycle isn't any better I'm gonna look for some bioidentical HRT for the following cycle.

[dipmama]

hey allgirls-

Are you in eastern Ontario by any chance?I have been researching who does bioidentical stuff around here- and there are a couple of options. PM me if you're interested and we can chat more...

I'm at the end of day 2 now and while my mood seems to have lifted a weenie bit, it's only a weenie bit. Bah. This bites.

[allgirls]

I'm in Southwestern Ontario but I'd be interested in what you've found out. I haven't started looking at all yet.

[dipmama]

allgirls: So far, this is what I've found:

This guy in an ob/gyn who practices in north Toronto and partly bills under OHIP. Looks like he sells his own stuff too and apparently there's a hefty "fee" to join his practice:


http://drpettle.com


This is a clinic that specializes in integrative medicine. They have an MD who comes in once a month that specializes in hormonal stuff. He bills under OHIP, but the naturopath is there too...I think in the end you end up paying just for the naturopath's time. I've seen this naturopath and really like her.


http://www.vitalmed.ca


And then there's this compounding pharmacy in Ottawa that has clinics in bioidenticals:

http://www.nutrichem.com/

Then there's Dr. Edward Ragan, also in Ottawa. He's an MD who specializes in hormone stuff and used to work in Nutrichem's clinic until he started his own practice.

[mystic~mama]

Originally Posted by herbmama3-7

Hi all,

I am in the middle of my period right now and to my surprise my mood was not as vile as it has been. I have had irritability, but have been able to get control of the anger and irrational feelings, i.e I don't let it rule my days. I have defiantely had some anger etc, but it literally only lasts for minutes and I am able to compose myself and not feel hangover and deal with the desctructive aftermath of it. I acknowledge the feelings and mindfully change my behavior. Howver I definately feel clearer and believe I owe it to the b6

I really really relate to this! Pretty much sums up my experience from last cycle and I believe the b6 and the awareness and work on my feelings and counseling w/DP had been very helpful as well.

Hi dipmama, glad you joined us : )

[allgirls]

Thanks dipmama! I'm going to do some research to see if anyone is closer

So cd 27 here. I took a hpt(negative) because this is the longest cycle in ages. I'm wondering if I'll go to cd28..wow...that hasn't happened in a couple of years.

I'm not sure when I ovulated. I think it was later so my LP is not 14 days...I wonder if the B6 is lengthening it. I'm going to keep up on that for sure.

My moods been a bit better and except for an extreme break out and terrible cramps things are a bit different now. So I'm expecting my period to start.

I bought some 5htp and I'm going to try to get on this. I think I have SAD a bit as well...I hate winter...I don't know if it's SAD or just that I hate winter so much. My dh wants to move back to our home province where the winteres are longer and I've been in tears at the thought. I simply can't tolerate any more winter.

I've got to try to exercise too. I bought a belly dancing tape yesterday for a buck! I tried but the kids got irritating so I turned it off. I've got to get a tv for the basement and a dvd player and vhs machine for down there.

I slept horribly last night and I'm supposed to babysit my friend's baby today(she's in the hospital but she's going to be ok)

whine whine whine...lol

Hope everybody is ok

[jillmamma]

allgirls, I hope AF just shows up soon so you can get it over with! That sucks!

Thanks to all of you, I went out and bought a B6 complex, and started taking it Friday. I am hoping it helps out with this cycle. I am on the "good" part now...AF was over yesterday , and I usually ovulate around day 14-15 and have 28-29 day cycles. My poor little sweet 3 year old angel baby girl has a fever this morning though...I get to spend time holding and loving on her today.