Thread: Suffering from PMDD...can anyone relate?

I don't know if its the same thing but I am currently on a prescription called megace to stop heavy menstral bleeding (it is a progesterone pill) and I find that I have outrageous angry at the drop of a hat and yell and find myself getting fits of anger. this is the second time on this medication and i beg my doctor not to put me on it but I have to be right now....the mood swings suck!

I am a 41 year old woman who has been dealing with this for roughly five years (PMDD). I have physical symptoms 10 or so days prior to my period (moderate breast tenderness, heart palpitations out of nowhere day/night, some night sweats, some hot flashes, never a headache/cramping, aches/pains in joints, etc.)

Unfortunately, the mental manifestations of PMDD are the real kicker. So yes, I relate very well to what you are saying. Bring on the night sweats any day!

I've had thyroid tests, hormone/endocrine tests, etc etc. I have had these tests done at different times of the month and the results all show no major hormonal fluctuations.

Here are my facts:

For five years and presently:
1) 10 days before period, I can sleep 12 hours easily. Really tired. Heart palps out of nowhere.
2) 2 - 10 days before period, mental fogginess kicks in (pretty major - I feel like a confused idiot at work and I'm not an idiot otherwise!)
3) 2 - 3 days before period, I become Mr. Hyde. I am extremely irritable, the slightest things really anger me, I cry more easily over bizarre little things (like looking at my dog), I have compulsions to clean and vaccuum and dust (and I'm not even close to being a fantastic housekeeper).
3b) I feel like I have a sort of flu (generalized aches/pains/feverish/hot face, hands and feet) and heart palps are wildly unpredictable and increase the anxiety/irritability.
4) The day before my period, I stay to myself as much as possible. My head reels with angry/negative/irritable thoughts. My brain feels different, if that makes any sense.
5) The day I get my period, I am back to normal. It's as if the flood gates opened and I'm free of the mental mess of PMDD.

I hope when you say "I want to end all the pain and suffering" you will try a few things and also get help from a sympathetic counselor of some sort. I presently live in a small town, or I'd go to a support group that they have in some bigger cities.

What works for me are the following:

1) I take Ocella (generic of Yasmin or Yaz, I believe). It regulates my period better so I can plan meetings, etc around the time I am NOT going to be wacky PMDD.
2) I do yoga/meditation/deep breathing when I am feeling particularly bad (which is 10 days before my period).
3) I have been to a therapist (three months) to learn biofeedback for the anxiety/irritability (relaxation techniques).
4) Write on forums like this, or blogging about it. Or just writing in a journal.
5) Give your partner a book about what you are going through. Or print off things from the internet so they can understand. My husband is a patient man, and I am very grateful for that because I know I am unbearable.
6) Try to plan vacations for when you are going to be "full-swing PMDD". Obviously, you can't take a vacation every month, but I find that when I can take a "PMDD vacation", the symptoms are somewhat lessened.
7) Take a brisk walk. Or heck, shut yourself in your bedroom and cry and holler. Works for me. Then I take a nice, hot bath.

I hope you know you are definitely not alone! I feel for you, and I feel for myself and all the other women who are more concerned with the mental problems brought about by PMDD.