Does anyone here suffer from PMDD

[summerfinn]

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Just to let everyone know incase you confuse it with something else. But every month for sometimes 10 days before my period I turn into a different person completely. I get suicidal, depressed, angry. I just want to spend the time alone because everything my kids do and my partner makes my skin crawl. Like today my period is four days away and Iv cried all day and I'm not dressed and haven't been able to look after my toddler. It's horrific I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I'm going to see a top female endocrinologist in July but I don't know to live like this anymore.

Does anyone else experience this? Even just so I feel less alone. What helps you? Nothing seems to help me😭🙈

I am so sorry you are going through this. I don't have personal experience with it but a former student of mine suffered from PMDD and I have seen her suffering first hand. She used to write a blog to spread awareness of the condition and to bring women together to share information and experiences. I have not been able to locate it now but perhaps you would find reading about other women's experiences helpful. See here for a list of blogs (not all of them active or recent though). I very much hope that you will get the help that you need.

Me, I think, though I have to say it doesn’t start as early as 10 days before my period, it’s more like 2-3, but then continues during my period, becoming less intense. It’s not like PMT used to be, it’s completely different. It started after I was pregnant. I have just found this thread because I feel so awful I just feel desperate - furious, weepy, tense, dissociated, no hope, the only thing that stops me harming myself is knowing that though the feeling is real while it lasts it will pass. I tried to go out for some fresh air earlier and had to come back because I couldn’t stop crying. I tried to speak to the doctor about it a couple of months ago but as a tangent to something else so I think I’ll have to try again. I’m a bit low on b12 and am being treated for low thyroid. I don’t know if that’s helping or hindering. I’ve just had a go at my poor Mum. I hate this!
Physically I’m bloated with a headache. I woke up this morning and I looked puffy and pale and my eyes look red. I knew it would kick in today 😭
💐 for you

Thank you me too . I'm going to see a well respected female endocrinologist in July. I'm trying to hang in to sanity until then. I will have look at some of those blogs you suggested. Very kind of you to share 💖

It's just awful isn't it. Do you have children? I'm hoping my endocrinologist appointment will be the answer to what's going on with my hormones and I may get the help I need. Have you thought about going to see one?

I'm sorry to hear what your going through. But I am exactly the same. I went to the doctor finally last week and she prescribed antidepressants which I haven't taken. I started taking 400mg of Agnus castus and it is working. The anger, depression, anxiety and irritability are less and I feel more positive. I have been taking it for a month now but apparently it doesn't start to kick in properly until 3 months. I have been hoping to see an endocrinologist but haven't really found any worth going to as yet. Let me know how it goes please because this pmdd honestly is debilitating.

Anti depressants

Oh love, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I feel like my younger years were stolen from me due to this. I was diagnosed with depression and prescribed multiple different anti depressants throughout my 20s and 30s. Its horrendous and looking back it was definitely hormone related. I knew it at the time, but my GP didn't really care about the cause.
I'm now on HRT due to peri and have felt better with the mirena coil. Wish I'd tried it earlier, if you haven't tried it already, maybe worth a go.

My partner does
When I first met them it was like she was a totally different person for a day or two before period she would totally take things the wrong way ie "are you ok ? Would land on her ears as " what's wrong with you you cazy bitch !!?" And nothing I could say would convince her that I was genuinely saying " are you ok ? " " what can I do to help? " would be taken as " you can't cope you're pathetic ". I love you " would be wrong, I breathed too loudly
Menopause has made this 100 x more extreme
Medication hRT works well
All of her suicide attempts were in this time frame

I'm on two types of antidepressants for a long time. They haven't done anything for me. I went to a male endocrinologist and he asked had I tried taking the pill( Iv tried every type of contraceptive going)🙄 He literally hadn't a clue, I was so disappointed and gave up hope but found this amazing female endocrinologist that is all about helping women feel better and happy. She isn't going to just tell me to take a pill and go away. Honestly I think she may just save my life. I think when it come to female health especially with something like PMDD I think a male doctor would be pretty clueless. Maybe try to find a good female doctor?

I have tried it. I have tried every form of contraception it only made it worse🙈. It's very frustrating that PMDD is often wrongly misdiagnosed. Medicine is still so archaic when it come to women's health. I strongly believe like you I have been misdiagnosed all my life. It's so sad to think how women have been treated over the years . Many ending up in institutions suffering from "their nerves " . I seen it with my own grandmother. I'm so grateful to have found the female endocrinologist. I can't wait to see her.