Honestly I feel so horrible... ten days to two weeks I have had severe cramping off/on, mood swings, I know all of this too well. I suffered PMDD several years ago and then went on ortho evra birth control patch. It seemed to help. When the bc patch stopped working, I got Mirena IUD three months ago. Last month, those same old ugly PMDD symptoms raised their ugly head and I feel like I am about to die. Cramps come and go all the time! I can't hardly eat as it makes my abdomen hurt. I get gas and bloating so bad that it feels like I am going to die! Just burst or pop open!

Then there are the moodswings. I start getting very sad, very depressed, not despairing, but close to it. I know what it is, so try my best to just remain quiet and keep it under wraps. But then it gets out of control on the very last day before my period and it seems I am unable to handle any stress whatsoever. Sunday I had a wedding tea to attend and the gift didn't turn out like I planned, I was frustrated to the point of tears, I dreaded going... I pulled it together enough and I had a good time once I got there. But it just upset me so much. Then that night I tried to talk to my boyfriend about how I felt. I become incredibly insecure and think he wants to dump me. I have terrible thoughts that he doens't love me anymore. I KNOW this is all not true, but there are these doubts that come when I am on my period.

I don't want to be around anyone. I isolate myself and will only be around my boyfriend or close friend. I dont want to talk on the phone to anyone. I won't take calls. I don't post on my message boards or my blog. It just gets to be where I dont want to be bothered. Then like I said, the day or two before I actually START my period, it gets the worst and I feel emotionally drained, spent, exhausted. I end up sleeping on the couch half the night after finally just falling asleep from sheer exhaustion.

I do not want to go on anything for this. Last time I took lexapro for about 10 days a month, and then later the gyn put me on lexapro every day of the month. I have been off of it for several years and done well. I just don't want to go back on it. Is there something that I can take just during those hard times?

I know I am not crazy. I know what it is. But that doesn't take away the cramps and bad moods... or the sensitive teary times. I needed a place where others understand what I am going through. Suggestoins? Stories?