A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:I'm at my wits end here and really need some advice.I am a 25 year old woman. I'm generally a happy person who enjoys life. But the week (sometimes 2 weeks) before my period I feel as though I go absolutely INSANE! I'm extremely angry, depressed, and even suicidal. I can't focus on anything and all I want to do is sleep all day and be left alone. It makes going to work almost unbearable. I feel SO angry with everyone around me over the silliest things. It also affects my relationship negatively. I love my boyfriend to bits, but during the week before my period I can get extremely paranoid. I think he's cheating, looking for someone else, doesn't really love me, etc. We've been together for over 3 years, and he's a very sweet and patient man. I don't know where these crazy ideas come from. I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like this is ruining my life. I've tried everything to make it stop. I exercise every single day with weights and cardio. I watch my diet, don't drink or smoke and I don't have excessive amounts of caffeine (only 1 cup of coffee per day.) I've tried birth control, extra calcium, magnesium, iron, B6, vitex, passionflower, wild yam, black cohosh, chamomile tea, yoga, tai chi, meditation, hypnosis and even a few SSRI antidepressants. I'm currently on one now, but they have done nothing but make me feel sleepy. I'm so tense, angry and on edge right now, I feel as though I could literally rip my hair out. I cannot stand being a woman and having to deal with this crap every single month. I absolutely loath and detest my body for what it puts me through. I would definitely be willing to have a hysterectomy if I knew it would end this nightmare. I know 100% that I never want kids. Has anyone out there ever had this? What did you do for it? Is there anything I haven't tried yet that might help?Any help is appreciated!
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male
reader, JustHelpinAgain  +, writes (14 December 2012):
Poor you, my wife and past girlfriends suffered bad pms. I mark in my diary so as to remember. Your hormones do somersaults and there is not much we can help you with except to ask to please see a doctor and get more professional help. If you are not on the pill that may help, if you are then definitely go back to doctor. And google and try all reaspnable ideas as some might just help. Getting pregnant helps but has consequences! Good luck.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 December 2012): I'm so sorry you have this problem. I agree with the other commenters that you should see your OB-GYN. You probably need prescription medications to control this since it's so extreme. I've been blessed that I've never had PMS anywhere near what you describe. In fact I hardly notice any difference during my time of the month, except for a little water retention. If I'm already troubled by some issue then I may get a bit more pessimistic during that time of the month, but if I'm not troubled by anything then PMS doesn't change my mood or cognitive functions at all. I can't imagine the horror you go through, and to have to go through it every 3-4 weeks!!! Yikes!! How can you even keep your job and relationships and friendships intact if you turn into a monster and become flaky/unreliable at work every 3-4 weeks? You must see your doctors right away, you should not have to live like this. It's totally possible to live a normal life where PMS has little to zero effect on your life and is just a mere inconvenience. it IS possible, you just need to get the right treatment by medical professionals, because the DIY route isn't working.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 December 2012): You should look at this article
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1273114--is-pms-moodiness-a-myth
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (13 December 2012):
 My GYN always said extra E, NO sugar EXTRA B vitamins, avoid caffeine... and all the other things you are doing.
I had PMS so badly too... but they had not yet come up with the PMDD diagnosis back then. I had mood swings. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, crying jags, anger bursts, pain, emotional discomfort 3 days of severe cramps heavy flow.. the whole 9 yards. I feel your pain
I agree that talking to the GYN may be the best way to go.
and hang in there, I can tell you it will get better.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (13 December 2012):
 What you describe sounds like PMDD, pre-menstrual disphoric disorder , a severe , debilitating form of PMS which affects about 3 % of menstruating women.
The generally prescribed, and generally effective, treatment, is SSRIs, which you are already taking to no avail. Perhaps you need to have some patience, some SSRIs need 6-8 weeks before they really " take ". Plus, with SSRIs is a bit hit or miss, a person may respond beautifully to one, but not that much to another of different brand but very similar composition.
I think you should go back to your doctor and ,under his guide and supervision, try if you can find the SSRI antidepressant that works best for you.
Some times low dose alprazolam administered intermittingly during the luteal phase is considered as a second line treatment.
If nothing works, they may prescribe a gonadotropine-releasing hormon agonist , but for short periods of time, because of side effects.
A healthy diet, exercise, B6, and all the stress relieving techniques that you have tried alas don't heal your condition, as you have seen, but are a big help to attenuate and manage the symptoms , so don't give up.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 December 2012): You need medical help. You need to see hour doctor ASAP.
PMS is due to hormones changes during that time of month. That's an established fact. The difference here is in its severity. Therefore this is a medical problem.
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (13 December 2012): I'm not a woman but I'm married to one with some brutal PMS. I don't know what you can do to physically alter your symptoms, but one of the things that I don't understand about women is why they don't have a calender (on their phone or a real one) and color the days of the month when they'll be experiencing PMS with a marker. Then when it happens you can remind yourself that you are not crazy, your boyfriend is not cheating, your life doesn't suck, you don't want to die, etc, etc, etc, by looking at the calender or some sort of reminder (even a bracelet or something) and remembering that it's not you, it's your PMS. Snap back to reality and remind yourself frequently that your feelings may feel real but they're simply PMS.
Maybe that's not realistic but it makes sense to me.
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A
female
reader, sugarplum786  +, writes (13 December 2012):
 Hi, have you tried cutting the carbs. I generally crave carbs before my period and i feel the same way like you. I significantly reduced sugar, fried stuff including potatoes and biscuites and I find a world of difference. If you put on weight before the cycle then you are definately eating the wrong stuff and its contributing to teh PMS.
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A
male
reader, TrancedRhythmEar  +, writes (13 December 2012):
 Have u tried a counselor?
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A
female
reader, Anonymous 123 +, writes (13 December 2012):
 I'll be of no help here but I can relate to just about every single feeling of yours because I too have terrible PMS. Unfortunately there's no cure for it or if there is, then I certainly haven't discovered any. I've tried everything just like you but to no avail.
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A
male
reader, Xearo  +, writes (13 December 2012):
Hormonal imbalance I think is what you have. You should see a doctor or do some research, I think there are a bit of women who go through the same thing.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 December 2012): Have you tried getting a hormone test done? Perhaps your hormones are out of wack. Speak to your gynecologist about it and see if there are other alternatives?
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