Hi there,

Before I was dx with peri, my gynea dx me with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder(PMDD)......I did not pay much attention......just another label to add to the list of my fave psych illnesses......

But I have done some reading......and it is terrifying.......only because I have seen MYSELF.

I always temper research with a generous dose of skepticism.......but when looking at the effects of PMDD on the symptoms of peri, Chernobyl doesn't have a lick on me......it is critical mass, nuclear fallout......and the one thing you can count on when a reaction reaches critical mass, is that instead of expanding, it turns in on itself, and destroys itself. Thats how I feel......

I discounted the effects of PMDD as being of a clinical depression orientation(it can mimic Major Depressive Disorder)......the symptoms are the same, the treatment is the same(although usually a BCP is thrown in as well with PMDD), however the difference is cyclic. So, instead of having some sort of warning signs or triggers, you literally "wake up" with crushing melancholia, intense rage, severe mood swings, delusional thinking, paranoia, intense fear/dread and so on for at least a couple of weeks, sometimes up to 3 weeks, without a break.......sound familiar? yes, it sounds like peri......but peri seems unpredictable in its entirity.......the cycles of ovulation and menstuation can seem predictable in symptoms, but you never know when that is going to happen.......someone said on something I read, that PMDD is like PMS x 20.......yep, I wholeheartedly agree.......so when my well meaning and much loved friends who have all their "virility" and hormonal routine in tact, say to me "Gosh I now how you feel, my PMS was quite bad this month".......I just look at them in seething and narcissistic fury bubbling inside and think "YOU HAVE NO IDEA!! Just wait and see, buddy". Besides PMDD is NOT PMS......it is classed as psychiatric disorder. PMS is not.

I am normally very empathetic and NEVER compare trauma.....trauma is trauma no matter what it is.......but I cannot help but feel that deep sense of hopelessness and irreverence when comparing their discomfort to mine. There are documented stories of women who have killed their significant other in the name of PMDD......I mean, I am sure things where not going that well in their relationship, and their partner just pushed it to the limit.......but there seems to be a common thread of "He just pushed me over the edge.....I was not myself......I don't even remember what I did and I don't even know how I got THAT angry". PMDD is a noted disorder in the psych bible DSM-IV under "depressive illness not otherwise specified"........so where do we fit in? Do we fit in with the clinical/endogenous depression spectrum or the cyclic hormonal disorder spectum?........or both?

Some even argue that PMDD does not exist.......yeah whatever.......come spend a couple of weeks with me leading up to my period and we will see about that.....and if my period does not come when it is meant to(thanks to peri) well just drag that time on a couple of weeks, or a month....

So how much is peri?......and how much is PMDD? They are good friends...... they play in tandem in the sand pit.......sometimes I find myself begging them to just be a bit kinder......to me.

Michah

Any takers?........A hug would be nice........

Michah

((((BIG HUGS))))

love & hugs Michah

Lara

Hi Michah,
You know I often wonder if I'm experiencing pmdd symptoms instead of peri. I'm one of the unique ones where I had blood work done at 36 and ob gyn diagnosed me as peri. This has been going on for 5 LONG years. My symptoms are as you describe them.....massive mood swings, definitely the delusional thinking, intense fear, gloom and doom. I never had bad pms before this all began so the PMS x20 is a perfect analogy to compare this time in my life. I have tried many hormonal and natural therapies but nothing truly worked or did the trick. It makes me very upset when I hear these women's hormonal issues are classified as a psych disorder. Be strong and hang in there!!

(((Denise)))

I've been having problems with this...seems like every month its to a greater or less degree, some months I feel okay...others I feel really badly like this. My OB prescribed me Zoloft to be used between ovulation and period each month but the side effects of insomnia and jittery weren't worth it...and then the next month I felt okay anyway. I'm only 34 but its so weird that I'm already having alot of the symptoms you all talk about on this board....

You know-I have only recently heard about this PMDD in the past few months. I don't know how long it has been recognised as a medical disorder as I never heard of it when I was younger. I only knew I had severe PMS but I truly believe with hindsight that it was what I had for a very long time. It nearly destroyed my marriage and I was a wreck for three weeks out of four with intense anxiety, paranoia, rages etc etc.
I went to the doctor many times about it. The only treatment I was offered was Duphaston which made me worse vitamin B6 and Evening primrose oil which gave me indigestion but not much else. I had a nervous breakdown for no good reason other than intense hormonal anxiety in my early 40s.
I seemed to suffer with it more and more as I got older and it sort of melted seamlessly into peri. The only difference seemed to be the start of hot flushes and irregular periods-otherwise it was exactly the same!

I would say that PMDD certainly does exist. The trouble was I thought it was normal because it was all I had ever known-that was until my three daughters grew up and not one of them suffer in the same way. They get a couple of grouchy days when they crave chocolate and that it the extent of PMS for them. Consequently I have never had much sympathy from them.

I am not sure giving it a name is helpful unless there is something medical that can be done about it-other than ADs and therapy. I do empathise with you though and I hope it will stop once you are through menopause. It has stopped for me thank goodness!

janet c

Thanks all for your replies.......I was beginning to think I was the only one!

As far as treatment goes, it seems as elusive and as experimnetal as peri I guess whatever works you stick with, even if it only works for a short period of time. It seems that some things work when the hormones allow it......then the levels change and so does the efficiency......hhhmmm

It just so happens that my gynea is switched on after many gyneas that weren't......he believes that things happen for a reason, that NOTHING is a coincidence......in saying that, he has had to put up with me, bawling my eyes out, because nothing works......or works for some things and makes others worse......and all he can do is look at me with pain in his eyes, knowing what I am going through as he has many women all going through the same thing, and offer me a tissue and a kind word. It must be hard for him, because I know he is trying. And yet I still want to pull his face off in dreadful frustration and anger. Yep, it is hard.....

To all of you that suffer through this, peri, pmdd, pms or anything else, thanks for giving me your support and hugs. And I hope answers are coming our way.....

Big Hugs,

Michah

Hi there......and welcome!

I was 31 when I started symptoms sweet......had PMDD long before that, undiagnosed....and endometriosis as well......
If it exists for you, you will find great support here, but also talk to your gynea if you think you are entering peri......there are more options out there now.....

Take good care,

Michah

What tests do they give? Just estrogen and progesterone, or are there others?

Generally, peri is elusive......and with testing of any hormone in the endocrine system, it is not always just about the amount of hormones in the blood. The receptors in the body that pick up the hormones also need to be functioning properly. That is much harder to test for. There is a test for thyroid receptor anti-bodies to check for auto immune diseases of the thyroid......but as far as I know there is no test for eostrogen receptors.

So you can have all the hormones in the world but they may not be getting to the right spots. IF you have blood done for peri, it is unlikely that much will show what is actually happening. It is a good idea to get them done just in case, but don't be disheartened if you do not get an answer. And yes, if you go the tests are generally estrogen, Estriol, Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone(or full panel ANDRO for all male sex hormones in the female body), LH FSH, Cortisol, ACTH(adrenal studies), Full thyroid panel and your doc may want to test for other things.......

There is no test for PMDD as such.......it is more the relationship between fluctuating hormones and the impact on neurological function. Estrogen fluctuations cause all sorts of havoc with neurotransmitters(serotonin, dopamine and so on) an it is more about dealing with one to fix the other....

You really need a good gynea and GP through this if you can babe......people who will listen even if the blood is "normal". After all if you feel like hell, chances are, it is hormone chaos....

Take good care, and let us know how you go......

Michah

Oh ok...I did get my hormones tested and everything was normal except progesterone was slightly abnormal but the drs didn't comment on it. At this point I don't remember what it was though! That was last year when I first started getting my thyroid checked out. I believe I was still ending breastfeeding at the time too, so that could have affected the test.

I have become SO much more aware of my hormones lately and weird symptoms, so I know its an "aging" process, its just at age 34 I'm not sure if any dr would consider it "peri" yet. :-)

Hi there Kitagirl. I wonder if you and I are going through a similar situation? I just turned 35 10 days ago and have a son who just turned two. I nursed him until he was 17 months old and shortly thereafter had a miscarriage with our second child. Ever since those two events (weaning & the miscarriage) I've had a ton of symptoms found on the menopause list. A few very kind ladies have responded to my posts on this site and explained that they, too, experienced a period of very weird menopausal symptoms after weaning or childbirth (during their 30's -- I wonder if being an older Mom and hormones that are beginning to shift causes this phenomenon?). I'd love to know more about your situation. Perhaps we can help each other? You can search and read my posts if you'd like. Take care. Sarah

My use of natural progesterone cream took care of most of my PMDD symptoms for many years, which I buy from a compounding pharmacist. The rage went away on it. However, 7 years later, I got crippling depression, panic, anxiety, hot and cold sweats, insomnia, paranoia and some irritability but I don't know if the irritability is my peri or side effect of my anti-epileptic drug Keppra.

Hope using progesterone cream works as good for you as it did me for my PMDD.

I've been going through this crap since I was about 40 years old. I am now 48 years old, with a whole new profile of symptoms, different from those I began with at 40.

I don't know...interesting isn't it? My hormones started to go weird before I had my last child but otherwise yeah we are very close to the same age and situation......