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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 0:04:27
This month, right now, I have the WORST PMS I've ever had in my life. I was so depressed today, I actually thought about suicide. I am not ordinarily suicidal. On Sunday I had the most extreme irritiability, tension and foggy thinking ever. Monday I felt very confused and couldn't concentrate on anything. Tuesday I felt more depressed than I ever have. The depression went right to the core of my being and penetrated everything motion and every thought. I've also had terrible joint pain which is exacerbated by the cold weather we've been having. I feel as if my bones are breaking. This is not like me! If any of you ladies have any ideas to help me or any magic potions to suggest, I will be eternally grateful. I cannot go through this again.
Posted by misty99 on March 6, 2002, at 12:11:29
In reply to Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 0:04:27
Hi Becka,
As one who has dealt with similar issues, what seems to be helping me this month is taking the following vitamins and supplements:
daily multivitamin
50mg B Complex
200IE E Vitamin
250mg Vitamin C
600mg CalciumSome experts have suggested taking magnesium. I did that for a few days but my mouth seemed every drier than it already was with the medication so I cut it out. If you think it might help, maybe 250mg would be helpful
I have also started including more fish in my diet and I have elminated caffeine, which is easy for me to do since I am taking Adderall.
Also, as one who tended the minimize the effects of exercise, I strongly urge you to start a program if you haven't already. Yesterday, I did low intensity treadmill walking for close to an hour and it make a huge difference. I felt that was alot more beneficial than my previous days of walking which were more high intensity but weren't as long.
Anyway, I recently went through a med change from St. John's Wort to Luvox, (a disaster)and back to St. Johns Wort again. So far, in spite of having PMS, I have been able to get by with 300mg and this time, I am not getting the hyperness that I was getting previously from it. So I think the PMS remedies are greatly helping.
Of course, check with your doctor for his/her thoughts. Also, if you decide to take magnesium, be careful because several months ago, it gave me problems. But fortunately, it didn't this time but as you can see, even supplements aren't harmless.
Hang in there as I really do feel for you.
Misty
Posted by sid on March 6, 2002, at 16:52:21
In reply to Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 0:04:27
I am suicidal myself 3 days per month, welcome to the club.
I know that low-dose ADs help many women, taken all the time however.
Otherwise, the pill can help, especially monophasic ones. I am on that, and I take a break each 4 months only, so that I don't even have my period most of the time.
If it happens again in the next few months, be sure to talk to your doc or pdoc about it, they might adjust your other meds too if they are ADs.
- sid
Posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 20:46:11
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by misty99 on March 6, 2002, at 12:11:29
Hi Misty. Thank you very much for your suggestions. Other than the dry mouth, were there any other problems associated with the Magnesium?
I will get some of those supplements. I do exercise, but this month the PMS has been so bad that the exercise didn't even help, and that's very unusual.
By the way, you said you're on Adderal. When you were on Luvox, did you take Luvox with Adderal? I ask because a few summers ago, I tried Luvox with Dexedrine and it was a disaster! I have a lot of trouble combining meds, and for some reason, that combo was particularly bad, but I don't know why.
Thank you so much again for your help.
Posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 20:49:33
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! » Bekka H., posted by sid on March 6, 2002, at 16:52:21
Hi Sid. Thank you very much for your help. Yes, this month has been the worst ever, and I don't know why. Could you tell me about the monophasic pills? I'm not familiar with them. I took BC pills many years ago, and I am not up to date on the latest. Do they have both progesterone and estrogen?
Do you take an antidepressant, too?
Again, thanks so much.
Posted by tammy on March 6, 2002, at 21:36:47
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sid, posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 20:49:33
hi bekka,
i posted last month, all of a sudden, starting in dec. cycle.... i became not myself (bad) that i noticed, and i traced back to oct. around period time i get mean, angry and it triggers my ocd, cause once i start thinking, i think and think and think, went to the dr. in jan. just thinking i was having anxiety alittle more then usual, he put me on welbutrin, seemed to be working, until feb. pms time and didnt even touch it i was back to the same thing.... so i told my doc this, and he changed me to celexa, saying it will help the ocd and pms... i didnt take it as of yet, cause i wanted to see that it really was a pms thing...sure enough 2 1/2 weeks i was great 3 days before my cycle boom right back to the same ol nonsense.. now im sure its the pms, so i will be starting it next week for next cycle, hopefully it will kick in for it (which i doubt) he said it proably wouldnt kick in till the 2nd cycle, im 31 and just started feeling this way.... how old r u ?????
sorry so long but just wanted to let u know u'r not alone...........
p.s. i work out 6 days a week.......
hang in there we can find something that will work... :) tammy
Posted by misty99 on March 6, 2002, at 21:40:49
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 20:46:11
> Hi Misty. Thank you very much for your suggestions. Other than the dry mouth, were there any other problems associated with the Magnesium?
You're very welcome. Glad you asked that because I forgot an important point in the last message. When I took it several months ago, my heart seemed to do something weird. This time that didn't happen and I think it has something to do with calcium/magnesium ratio. But I am not a doctor so that's why I always put that standard disclaimer one way or another:)) Anyway, I think that's another reason why I cut it out as that experience is still in the back of my mind.
> I will get some of those supplements. I do exercise, but this month the PMS has been so bad that the exercise didn't even help, and that's very unusual.
That must be so frustrating. Here, you're doing everything that you should be doing and it's not helping. I really feel for you.
>
> By the way, you said you're on Adderal. When you were on Luvox, did you take Luvox with Adderal? I ask because a few summers ago, I tried Luvox with Dexedrine and it was a disaster!Yes and it was still a disaster:)) The combination of Zoloft and Adderall worked great until the Zoloft pooped out. Since then, no SSRI has worked but that feeling on Luvox was weird and I hated it. It makes me really wonder about that drug.
Hopefully, your doctor can help figure the right medicine for your PMS. Hang in there.
Misty
Posted by Chloe on March 7, 2002, at 9:59:14
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! » Bekka H., posted by misty99 on March 6, 2002, at 21:40:49
The newest BCP, Yasmin is marketed to decrease PMS and PMDD. I have written posts about it in the archives, and there is good information on it if you do a google.com search and type in "Yasmin, pms."
My gyn has me take the active pills only, so I don't have periods and have very little pms or cycling from hormonal changes. Yasmin has been a good addition to my AD's and mood stabilizers. I think of it more of a psych med than a BCP! It also have very tolerable side effects. No weight gain, hair loss, etc..
Sorry, can't add more now, in a rush.
Take care
Chloe
Posted by Roo on March 7, 2002, at 16:08:37
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Chloe on March 7, 2002, at 9:59:14
How interesting about yasmin! Do you think it
significantly reduces the irritability associated
with PMS? (that's the symptom that bothers me the
most). Do you think for people who have more of
a PMS than depression that it might be enough to
do the trick without having to have the AD as an
add-on?
Also--some BC pills lower your sex drive--do you find
that to be the case with Yasmin?
Posted by sid on March 7, 2002, at 18:39:49
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sid, posted by Bekka H. on March 6, 2002, at 20:49:33
> Hi Sid. Thank you very much for your help. Yes, this month has been the worst ever, and I don't know why. Could you tell me about the monophasic pills? I'm not familiar with them. I took BC pills many years ago, and I am not up to date on the latest. Do they have both progesterone and estrogen?
I am taking Allesse 21, but 4 boxes in a row (84 days straight), then 1 week off. I am not sure what's in them... I tried Ortho-Tricyclen before and I felt pretty bad during the placebo week and the week before, so my obgyn told me to try a monophasic (always same dosage, so your cycle does not affect you).
> Do you take an antidepressant, too?
Yes, but for dysthymia and anxiety, 75mg a day of Effexor XR. Unrelated to the PMS issue; or rather, when I stop taking the AD, I'll probably keep taking the pill.
BTW, if you're in your early 30's it could be like that for a while... for women with PMS, apparently the worse is in one's 30's. I've had that problem since I was about 30 and I'm 34 now. So I hope it gets better for you soon, otherwise you'll probably have to address the issue agressively because it could last a while. It can happen in pre-menopausal women too to have more sever PMS (my sister's case; she's 48).
> Again, thanks so much.
You're very welcome. Good luck.
- sid
Posted by sid on March 7, 2002, at 18:42:03
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Chloe on March 7, 2002, at 9:59:14
Ah... I'm taking Allesse 21 non-stop, which is the Canadian version of Yasmin. So if you're in the US, Yasmin should help.
> The newest BCP, Yasmin is marketed to decrease PMS and PMDD. I have written posts about it in the archives, and there is good information on it if you do a google.com search and type in "Yasmin, pms."
>
> My gyn has me take the active pills only, so I don't have periods and have very little pms or cycling from hormonal changes. Yasmin has been a good addition to my AD's and mood stabilizers. I think of it more of a psych med than a BCP! It also have very tolerable side effects. No weight gain, hair loss, etc..
>
> Sorry, can't add more now, in a rush.
> Take care
> Chloe
Posted by Chloe on March 7, 2002, at 20:13:13
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chloe, posted by Roo on March 7, 2002, at 16:08:37
> How interesting about yasmin! Do you think it
> significantly reduces the irritability associated
> with PMS? (that's the symptom that bothers me the
> most).Yes, I would have to say it does help me with irritability. I find I have several really good days, then I might feel a little snappy. Then what do you know, I had a little break thru bleeding. So I think my irritable mood was hormone related. It quickly passes and doesn't last more than a few hours. Nothing like the days of pms!
> Do you think for people who have more of
> a PMS than depression that it might be enough to
> do the trick without having to have the AD as an
> add-on?Yasmin has a very unique progestin, that is new to the market called drospirenone. It seems to have a slight diuretic effect that lessens some of the fluid retention and imbalance. Hence, I think it relieves some of the "tension" that women experience right before their periods (ie, breast tenderness, bloating, irritability). Yasmin is being marketed as an alternative to AD treatment for pms and pmdd. So, yes, it is possible it could be the sole treatment for pms.
> Also--some BC pills lower your sex drive--do you find
> that to be the case with Yasmin?That is a tough one. When I first started Yasmin, I had a low drive, but it is not an issue now. I think it takes a while for the body to adjust to a new hormone regime.
I really like Yasmin. It's the only BCP I have been able to tolerate for more than a day or two. I found it calming when I first started it. It was a nice change from the intense anxiety I felt on all the countless others BCP's...
I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions, I will be happy to answer them.
Chloe
Posted by Bekka H. on March 9, 2002, at 0:17:54
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Chloe on March 7, 2002, at 9:59:14
> The newest BCP, Yasmin is marketed to decrease PMS and PMDD. I have written posts about it in the archives, and there is good information on it if you do a google.com search and type in "Yasmin, pms."
>
> My gyn has me take the active pills only, so I don't have periods and have very little pms or cycling from hormonal changes. Yasmin has been a good addition to my AD's and mood stabilizers. I think of it more of a psych med than a BCP! It also have very tolerable side effects. No weight gain, hair loss, etc..
>
> Sorry, can't add more now, in a rush.
> Take care
> Chloe**********************************************
Thank you Chloe! I am going to see my gynecologist and will discuss these new versions of "the pill." I so much appreciate your help.
Posted by BLPBart on March 11, 2002, at 10:16:10
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Bekka H. on March 9, 2002, at 0:17:54
Has your doctor ever suggested prozac. A drug called Sarafem is now on the market which is actually just plain old 20 mg prozac. Apparently it has been shown to be helpful with PMS so the FDA allows the manufacturer to market this version specifically for PMS. I was dealing with PMS and depression and my doctor gave me prozac. It worked well for me as far as the depression and PMS but unfortunately I had to stop it because I started having some side effects from it like weight gain, lethargy, muscle and joint pain. However, from what I've read, I think there are some people who respond that way to SSRIs but most don't.
Posted by anaya on March 12, 2002, at 22:15:17
In reply to Re: Severe PMS -- HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by BLPBart on March 11, 2002, at 10:16:10
Debilitating.
That's what PMS has been for me. And in the past 3-4 years, I bet I have experienced 80% of my cycles like this.And amazingly, this month was totally different!!
I virtually had no PMS depression, and other than some insomnia, sweet cravings and breast tenderness, I was happy and positive. A stark contrast to the usual self-deprecating roller coaster and 12 hour tear fest.So why the change? Here's my current program:
Vitamins, especially B-vit cmoplex all month long. Calcium at bedtime, esp. after ovulation
Vitamin C 500-1000mg a dayVitex (Chaste Tree Berry), hormone balancing herb taken over last 5 months
Raspberry Leaf, during PMS time,to flush out excess estrogen
St. John's Wort (Supercritical Extract by New Chapter. Strong enough that I seem to only need 600mg a day, instead of 900mg)
Ginkgo (forget dosage)L-Phenylalanine (my chosen Amino Acid for depression. Not necessarily appropriate for everyone)
Pumpkin Seeds (RAW)-a perfect food, rich in tryptophan, and essential fatty acids. I have been eating a lot of these this last month.
Flax oil, fresh ground flax seeds, and wild salmon for EFAs
Lots of dark leafy green veggies (KAlE, COLLARDS)
Fresh fruit, esp grapefruit.Frequent exercise, especially vigorous yoga.
Sauna. I think this may have been the kicker (plus the yoga, kale, and pumpkin seeds).
I can't stress enough the importance of detoxing, especially before you bleed. I am ready to buy a sauna for my home.Acupuncture can help too
Chinese formula RELAXED WANDERER is great, but not so good if you get a little sick before you menstruate (weakened immune response). Anyway, the formula contains bupleurum for liver detox, which will help flush out excess estrogen, and can help with the tension and anger flare ups.I think one of the important things is to eat right all month long. Taper down on heavy proteins after you ovulate. Drink more water and eat more veggies. And steer clear of junkfood.
We have to deal with the fact that our bodies (including our brain) are complex organic systems that function optimally with good fuel. Of course, if I feed my body chips and alcohol and sugar, no exercise, television and negative thinking, it will respond with a debilitating week of PMS. Some of us are more sensitive like this. So tis our responsibility and opportunity to create health for ourselves. And the things we do for PMS will certainly reflect in every other part of our lives as well.
But it sure isn't easy.
Good luck, sisters.
The pre-moon time can be a powerfully creative time, I hope more and more of us get to experience it that way.
Posted by Pamela Lynn on March 14, 2002, at 0:05:42
In reply to First Month of NO PMS in so long!, posted by anaya on March 12, 2002, at 22:15:17
WOW! That all is really great for you. I went the 'all natural way' for awhile myself. It turned out to be WAY too expensive for my budget with two little ones and a husband to take care of. Most of those supplements are pretty expensive....but, again, more power to you, and I hope you continue on happily. P.L.
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