Thread: PMDD

HI, im new here, but i think i may be having problems with pmdd or severe pms. At the moment my mestrual cycle has become slightly irregular and is around 4 to 5 and half weeks between menses. However for 2 weeks before my menses i get terrible mood swings, including suicidal thoughts (which i dont get at any other time even though im diagnosed with depression), irritability, feelings of aggression, bloating, breast tenderness, migraine headaches, mild cramps, confusion, swiss cheese memory (may be the migraines), feelings of exhaustion, loss of a feeling of self control or poor sense of judgement, hot flushes, crying spells, food cravings, bizarre nightmares, electric shock sensations in my skin and sometimes diarreah.

Whilst i am diagnosed with depression and whilst i mentioned the suicidal thoughts before my period, as well as the other menstrual problems my dr didnt really take any notice of it. I dont act on the suicidal thoughts becasue i know from old that once my period arrives they will go away and any mood swings or major depression will lift.

Could this be PMDD, i suspect it is, but because of my diagnosis of depression my dr keeps telling me its just that. Thing is i dont feel depressed at other times of the month. The only time i really feel depressed for long stretchs of time is during the winter months.

I feel its the other way around, i feel my periods are causing the problem, not the depression causing problems with my periods. They first went out of wack after i had my son 9 years ago and were really irregular with really bad pms for years afterwards. It was during that time i was diagnosed with a panic disorder and depression. My periods back then were so irregular i never knew when i was going to have one. Somtimes they would be 2 weeks apart, others 6, others 5 and so on. I told my gp and they said thats normal after childbirth. It was like that for 5 years.

I was also unable to lose weight. I gained it like , but couldnt lose it.

Again they jsut kept saying it was depression and my irregular cycle was normal.

I once managed to regulate my cycle back to 4 weeks using exercise and diet. My pms went away almost completely and so did any depression except for during the winter months. Unforuntaly my mother passed away 2 years ago, and i started comfort eating to compensate. I gained weight and within 6 months my cycle had started to shift back out sync again. The pms returned, the derpession returned and so did the migraine headaches. Now im struggling to lose the weight again, although im trying desperately to regulate my cycle.

So is its deprssion or am i justified in feeling its hormonal in nature?

ES

Hi! You sound just like me!! I had irregular periods until I had kids. Now, I can wake up in the morning and just KNOW it has been 2 weeks since my last period. I feel like my life and emotions are controlled by my period. I get y, moody - physical symptoms...all two weeks to the day my period is going to start - I am praying for menopause - but I hear that isn't fun either!!! I feel all my relationships are controlled by the calendar and I cannot stand it. I have seen commercials for Yaz and even though, pregnancy is not an issue - maybe it will help controlling my crazy a**!!! I have acne too....I am 30...and I have had acne, same time every single month!! It drives me crazy!!! I have had no thoughts of suicide.....but one time, I seriously felt like leaving everyone!!! my husband, my kids, my family, everyone. I know everyone says that diet and exercise will help....but I use to exercise 5 days a week aerobic and 3 days strength training and it only seemed to get worse (or stabalize in medical terms, i guess). If you want to talk please email me at lori0479cfl.rr.com. I think people like to pass it off as depression, becuase they do not believe pmdd is real....like with all the jokes about PMS, like it's funny or something.....it's really ignorant for them to think that way!!