Thread: Pmdd???

Hi there - I suffered from PMDD for over 2 years before realizing what it was, or how to alleviate it. (Mom also suffered from it and chose the anti-anxiety +anti-depressant route - she was on meds for nearly 30yrs!)

My symptoms were severe and almost entirely psychological /emotional. Every 2 weeks (mid-cycle and end of cycle), I would experience anxiety, depression, anger, and complete loss of self-esteem. Even though I had always been a very happy-go-lucky and successful person, have very supportive people in my life, and knew these thoughts/moods were not based in reality, they would come like clockwork and last for 2-3 days. It was totally debilitating, embarrassing, demoralizing, and probably dangerous, had this condition persisted... sound familiar?

After doing some research online, I figured out that I may have a problem with estrogen dominance and also some sort of contributing nutritional deficiency. I had been taking Microgestin for a year, then Lo-Estrin. My gyno switched me over to Yaz (the only birth control approved by the FDA for reducing the symptoms of PMDD). At the same time, I started taking Rainbow Light brand Woman's One food-based multivitamin, Nordic Naturals brand Omega 3, and 365 brand Evening Primrose Oil (a natural source of GLA/Omega 6 and 9). I found all those vitamins at Whole Foods Market.. you can probably find them at other food stores. Almost immediately after making these changes, I WAS 95% BETTER!!! I still, of course, have a bit of irritability right before my period, but it is minimal (normal, I'd say).

Also, want to add that just taking the Yaz (without vitamin and fatty acid supplements) was ineffective for me. I tried this for 3 weeks, and saw my symptoms slowly return. I haven't isolated which nutrients I am actually deficient in, because, honestly, the specific knowledge isn't worth experimenting with my mental health. I'll probably continue taking the food-based multi, Omega 3, and Evening Primrose Oil every day for life. Ok by me.



I feel like I have to share this with as many forums as possible, as this advice (that I put together from online testimonials and research) has had an immeasurable impact on my life already.

Best of luck you ladies! Keep your heads up, and keep trying for some relief!!

Yours - Lindsay

Side note: The onset of my PMDD did coincide with me cutting red + white meat out of my diet and replacing cow's milk with daily soy milk. However, I continue to be a vegetarian, and my symptoms are nearly nonexistent now that I take Yaz and the supplements.


One more side note: Do be careful if considering taking St. John's Wort. It is an herbal supplement recommended by some websites and books for mitigating PMS symptoms, but it can have serious side effects for some people and may make your birth control less effective. Personally, I opted not to try it.

Hi everyone
I can certainly relate to many of the symptoms mentioned. While my symptoms are not as bad as some of my friends, they are bad enough...in particular hot flashes. I've tried many natural solutions and found that (for me anyway), flaxseeds and flaxseed oil significantly reduces the intensity of my hot flashes. I read the results of a recent study by Mayo Clinic which initially offered warn comfort - flaxseeds reduced the symptoms of hot flashes by 57 per cent. However a subsequent study revealed less promising results.

From my perspective, flaxseeds work and have certainly made my life far more comfortable. There is a high level of fibre in flaxseeds and (according to Mayo Clinic), even if they don't help with hot flashes, they have other significant health benefits.

Anyway, that's my 'two-cents' worth...hope it helps!

Warm regards
Kathy