My PMT is frightening me

[lucyellensmum]

I have a marena coil and irregular, light flow periods. But the last 3 to four periods have brought with them terrible PMT, to the point where i have been suicidal. I am on citalopram for anxiety and depression anyway, and on the whole, im doing ok. But OMG, the PMT is now freaking me out. Its the whole thing - this week it started with tummy pains, felt really sick, back pains, constipation - nice. Then Tuesday and Wednesday i just felt terrible. Like a giant cloud had descended for no real reason - my health anxieties reared their heads again. I just felt as if i were on the verge of exploding ALL the time. Was terrible to DP, we ended up rowing becuase he is under much work pressure just now. I even shouted at my poor DD (2.5) and i don't shout at her, ever.

I caught a look at myself in the mirror, and i just looked demented, mad - had a horrible grimace on my face that i just knew had been there a while.

I need to talk to a doctor about this, im going to see one tomorrow, but my normal doctor is on maternity leave adn i'm scared that if i tell them how scared i am then they will take my DD away. I mean, i dont feel like i am going to hurt her or anything like that, but i just feel on the edge of throwing myself out of a window. I bashed my head against the chest of drawers yesterday because it was all too much. I have to do something about this, but how the hell do i make them listen and not take DD. Im really really scared.

The worst of it has passed now and i feel OK, just normal PMT, a bit miserable like i used to get, oh and forgetful. I just have one to two days where i feel absolutely dire and its really scary.

anyone?

aawwh lucyellensmum that sounds bloody awful.
Just tell the doctor how much you are suffering, I suffer from PMT and for 2 days every month life is not worth living and I am a horrible bitch. I don't have such severe physical symptons as you seem to be having so maybe the doctor can help with that. I have just started taking Evening Primrose Oil again as it has worked for me in the past, need to take it every day though.

Really feel for you, I suffer from PMT too but have never had the courage to go to the docs about it yet so I keep limping from month to month. You could always print off your opening post and show it your doctor as you have put very eloquently how you feel.
You obviously care about your situation and the effect this is having on your family. The last thing they would want to do is take your children away so please don't worry about that.

Well the doctor was AWFUL (a locum, my doc on maternity leave) i am so . I arrived late (and yes, i hate that too!) but dd did a poo just as we were leaving and as i usually have to wait AGES in the doctors i thought i would change her. Well the first thing she said was, after i apologised for being late "well you are 7 minutes late we don't have much time" NOT a good start then. So i explained that i wanted a repeat prescription for citalopram, but that i have been having really bad PMT to the point where i am suicidal. She just said, well citalopram treats PMT just up your dose (cant do that, on highest dose for me 40mg). So she said, i will just have to try herbal remedies, no recommendation though. THEN she asked me how long i had been on the tablets - i said nearly a year. Her reply was "well you really should start to take responsibility for yourself and not rely on tablets you cant stay on them for ever you know" I was almost too gobsmacked to speak. This is the response i get to telling someone i am suicidal . I just said, well i was given counselling but it wasnt enough - she said i should go private - um, i thought, have you actually read my notes. So i felt ok this morning, now im seething angry - condescending cow obviously had me weighed up as lazy, ignorant scrounger the minute i walked through the door in my scruffy gardening clothes!

i would ask receptionist for the name of the practice manager, some of the surgeries have it posted on the wall somewhere and write a stiff letter to him/ her and tell them what happened.((((((((((((((((((((((((((lem)))))))))))))))))))))

Hi Lucyellensmum. That is abysmal and a shocking way to treat a patient. I would complain to be honest to the Practice Manager and make another appointment with a different doctor. Write down while it is fresh in your memory everything the locum said.

Feel really for you.

IT just makes me wonder what the hell i would have to do to actually get some serious, useful help. My HV suggested i should have a psychiatric refferal - i might get in touch with her, clearly the doctor isnt going to take me seriously unless i actually cut my throat, which i am not about to do! but you can see what i mean.

Hi LEM,
That was terrible treatment by the doc,agree you should complain.
How long have you had the mirena coil and has the pmt been better or worse since then?
Have you tried vit b6 which is supposed to help pmt,you can get a supplement called magnesium ok which has a good amount of vitb6 in it.
I would make an appt with another doc,make sure is one of the partners and not a locum this time if poss.
I'm sure there is help there I'm sorry you're struggling to get it.

Have you a family planning place nearby, you might well get some more constructive help there. Some gynaecologists have an interest in PMS too. Agnus castus is the herbal treatment best known for PMS and I found it pretty effective. Some of the contraceptive pills cane be helpful too. Is there another GP at the practice you could see, this locum sounds rather unhelpful (to say the least).

ive always suffered with PMT to a degree and i cant say that i noticed a marked increase in it when the coil was inserted. I was certainly having PND before the coil was put in, i wonder if i shouldnt have had it but i was pre diagnosis so they didnt realise. The depression got really bad, then i started the tablets and i got better, that was last year, it has just been say, the last 4 or 5 "periods" (i get all the symptoms, terrible tummy pains, constipation WTF? etc this horrid killer PMT and then i spot for a few days), my periods have never been regular.

Part of my reason for the visit to the doctors was to get myself up to speed on what herbal medicines were safe with citalopram because they do not all interact well. I soon realised i was wasting my time, i have never felt so rushed out of a room in my life. My lovely doctor always took as long as i needed to talk, put up with my sobbing, general mithering and wittering on. Mind you, she would always be running almost an hour late, but i never minded actually because i know she always gives everyone the time they need. This woman was obviously on a work to rule. The thing is, i think i was actually her last patient