Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

[Leapoffaith00]

I think I may either have severe symptoms of PMS or it may be PMDD. Not sure, all I know is it's awful, just awful. The week before my period and during my period, I feel just awful. My symptoms are; severe fatigue, loss of interest in anything or anyone, anxiety, heavy feeling in my head, over thinking and just feeling awful.
I have tried to monitor my feelings/symptoms over the last 4 months and it's definitely around that time in my cycle. The thing is as soon as I start to feel human again, before I know it, it's that time of my cycle. I am really trying to look after myself and make the most of the good days, prep for the not so good. However, it's getting me down and sucking the energy from me.

Watching with interest as I think I have the same i was put on the pill but dh said it sent me loopy so came off it then put on sertraline but came off it as thought i was doing better after being a nightmare all week and coming on today I think I will try the sertraline again unless others have any suggestions

I was the same until I got onto an antidepressant that worked, for me it was trazodone but for others it will be different.

I have depression anyway, when it was bad then the few days premenstrually were awful. Improving the depression overall makes those days bearable.

Leap, I am in the process of getting a diagnosis. I have suffered from mental health problems since early teens. Been on antidepressants for 20 years. The only time I had relief from symptoms was during my pregnancies.

A couple of years ago it hit me during a terrible prolonged pre menstrual distress that I was losing at least half a month to it and having to fight suicidal ideation. In desperation I googled horrific PMS and found out about PMDD.

Look at iapmd.org/

It is an amazing resource where you will find support and so much information. You need to track your symptoms for a good length of time and there is a great app for this called me v PMDD.

I have been taking gamalinoleic acid regularly and that has helped a bit.

Feel free to pm me if you want to know more.

I meant to say that in spite of my antidepressant medication over the years which has varied from tricyclics to SSRIs, they never really stopped the terrible werewolf change ten days or so before my period. I too have very bad reaction to the pill, which is common in the disorder. As I understand it, a small percent of women have a very powerful allergic or chemical reaction to hormonal fluctuations. Sometimes, girls and women are misdiagnosed with depression. The onset extremely depressive moods definitely coincided with my menarch.

I used to think I was mad because I would cry uncontrollable before my period or experience frightening rages. I used to believe my womb was poisoning me! Maybe it actually was!

I have 'mild' depression and could probably cope fine without antidepressants, just by exercising, taking time for self care etc, were it not for the 1 week every month that I feel as though I'm having a major depressive episode. Basically I have to stay on antidepressants because of my severe pmt

Thankyou all so much. Thankyou Geppili, I'm going to look at the link. I'm desperate now. I really do not want to go on antidepressants as the side effects are not too nice either. I really try to do as much as possible in the 2 week window.
Today, I have woken with a heavy head. I too thought I was going mad as I would have periods of severe low mood, anxiety, sometimes so anxious I want to escape, and also not wanting to see people and not understand why. It comes from nowhere and then I was fine, socialising, planning, happy. Until I realised why this could be!
Should I go to the GP? How would a diagnosis help? Is there specific medication apart from antidepressants? I will google gamalinoleic acid now also.
I have been monitoring for 4 months and it's exact to the day. Although now I can plan for it, I dread it too.
Thankyou all so much. I'm sorry to hear you all suffer too, I really sympathise.

I have depression as well as PMDD so taking sertraline but my symptoms used to take a massive dive around my period. I was suicidal, got sent home from work because I couldn't stop crying, couldn't look after dd alone, vicious arguments with DH. It was awful. GP recommended taking the pill back to back so no periods which is helping immeasurably. I have a breakthrough bleed approx 2/3 times a year and take a 4 day break but I go straight to bleeding and the emotional symptoms aren't nearly as bad.

Definitely seek medical help, this is an awful thing to deal with alone.

Bobbiepin I might try the pill and sertraline together to see if that helps. I will google the acid as well. I am 42 and peri menopausal the 2 weeks after my period I feel great really positive high libido which was reduced on the pill but the 2 weeks before I am a nightmare anxious low mood emotional I can be fine one minute then just snap with dh

I'm sorry you're or have struggled, it's one of those hidden (to others) illnesses. I feel strangely better knowing what the causes are - nobody wants to feel like they're losing their mind. I'm going to really monitor my diet and prep for the good days. Just reading up on the link and found other links. I binge on high sugary foods at times of low mood and I drink wine too. Not excessively but it's something I'm going to cut back on. I know it's probably completely irrelevant but does anyone know if sweetener in my tea has any impact (I drink alot of sweetened tea). It just came to mind. Apparently there is something in it, not sure.
I'm going to read up on the pill too. I am definitely going to see a GP but I think I will read up on it some more as what I have read, PMDD is often not recognised and people are misdiagnosed.

I have this, the only solution that I found was to take the combined pill constantly so there are less hormonal fluctuations. I will have a break evry 6 months or so, but am prepared for this. I still get the modd swings and irrationality, but the suicidal ideation and the severe depression has lifted enough that I no longer think that DS would be better off without me.

It is something that is very misunderstood by common GP's, and it took me a while to find the right GP to listen to me and not say it's "just" hormones.

If men had the same issues, I'm sure there would be a lot more research done into the symptoms and treatment of PMDD. But since it only affects us little women, nobody with the money/power cares enough.

I was fine on the combined pill took ages for my periods to settle down I came on every day for a while went to get my next prescription and a different doctor refused because of my age so got the mini pill. It killed my libido but not sure about being loopy as was having a difficult time with dh anyway at the time so he may have used that as an excuse

Morning Leap

I should be packing for hols and I am sitting here feeling terrible willing my period to start before we go away! GLA is best found in good old evening Primrose oil. If I take it regularly, it really takes the edge off the madness. It has also made my skin and hair really healthy! I just buy high strength capsules own brand. Approx £5 per month.

I found peer to peer support from the foundation I linked you to, very quickly. They offer email support and all the supporters have PMDD.

If it helps you and others we could make your thread a PMDD support and info thread?

My heart goes out to you, because your desperation is palpable from your post. I also strongly relate to your suicidal ideation and feelings of unworthiness with regard to the DCs. The hardest part of this for me was the shame I felt. The more you can share and have RL support the better.

It helps me just to know I might have helped you a bit! You are not alone in this.

This is the App. It prompts you each day to rate your symptoms, physical and psychological. You keep doing it and then it creates visual charts and it's incredible to see the obvious cycle of intense distress resolve when period starts.

Great thanks. Just downloaded the app. I usually monitor it on my calendar but will try this too! Thanks again, it's good to talk.

I'm trying to come off sertraline and am halfway the but being unsuccessful. Last Monday, the day before my period started, I was terribly anxious and it culminated in a massive panic attack. Luckily I have enough pills to keep me going at least at the current dose before next review in mid September (!!!). I feel so much worse in general and been crying most of today, but right before period is due is just unbearable.

I give up and will tell GP that I need to keep going with meds.

Leap, well done! The great thing about the app is it offers each day a really comprehensive list of symptoms and it's easy to slide to your rating that you feel after you have done it a couple of days. My graph shows regular extreme peaks ten days before my period. Have you set the app's settings to enable notifications so it will prompt you to rate symptoms? It's really useful when work, kids, life etc gets in the way.

Going on our first ever hot family holiday tomorrow and I am willing my period to come so the anxiety will ebb away. But then I realize I will be on my period for at least 7 days, in the heat in a pool. I'm size 18-20 and even getting into a swimsuit panics me! Sigh. I'll be bleeding heavily and painfully but my mind will gradually be freed from the grip of insanity. Ha ha. My DDDH is super lovely and super understanding tho.
Hope u r ok.

Ageofanxiety I really sympathise. Coming of any SSRI is very difficult. I have tried to do what you did and I became very ill and desperate. Talk to your GP and don't try to go cold turkey again. The doc can titration your dose down gradually if you want to stop. I found it near impossible to stop antidepressant medication. I am now on an SSRI Venlafaxine which is notorious for a very severe withdrawal symptoms.

Geppili I was actually going very slowly upon GP suggestion, I have taken off a pill a week every 3 weeks so now I'm on 3 pills (half every day bar one). I feel constantly on the edge, if the day goes ok then it's fine but every minor thing triggers anxiety or depression. Today after my toddler cried at nursery drop off (as usual), I have cried at work the whole morning. I'm probably not ready to come off at all.

If you're on social media; have a look at 'soberkiki'

TheAgeofAnxiety - definitely keep taking your medication if it's helping. If this is something you want to do in the future (come off them), you must come off them slowly, under medical supervision. If they're helping it's ok to take medication. The reason I choose not to is because of the side effects. I am hoping to manage this suspected PMDD somehow. Already feeling hopeful as I have posted here. If it continues to worsen I will consider medication too.
Geppili yes, I have notifications. It's going to be my new best friend. Thankyou :)
I bet you are excited for your holiday and I'm glad you have a supportive husband. I know how you must be feeling. The thought of having a period whilst being away would have bothered me before but now, I would be in the same mind frame as you. I would want my mental health to be well to enjoy my time away. Just take each day as it comes, take things slowly (something I am teaching myself to do more of) as soon as you're in your costume and in the pool, you will feel relaxed (its always the thought of some things that get us down). Lots of self care! Have a fabulous time :)
boring485 ok, will do now.

Theage hope I didn't come across as bossy or know it all. I have been on Mumsnet for years but get nervous of posting for some reason. I feel really strongly about this disorder or syndrome. It makes my heart ache for all the women who have it. Having a DH who takes it seriously really helps. In fact it was him who really saw the stern of my behaviour and how severe it was.

Leap thank you so much!

I used to get severely depressed at start of each cycle; I broke the pattern when I recognised it. Stopped controlling me 30 yrs ago.

Useful article here www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/severe-pms-periods-psychosis-during-menstruation-warning-a7369146.html

I know this is an old thread but I am wondering how posters are feeling a year on with treatment?

I am considering the mini pill, to try and reduce the ovulation part, does anyone else take the mini pill I wonder after speaking to their G.P?