PMDD

I went to my doctor a while ago, like last Septmeber? (yeah, long time..), and apparently I have PMDD. It's a "very severe form of PMS" if you didn't know.

I got put on birth control, some generic brand or something because it's all we could afford. (Old health insurance wouldn't pay for it and we don't have our new one yet..)

So, my problem is.. what I'm on doesn't help. Not with what I'm taking it for. It's not even what I should be on I guess. I should be on Yaz? (That's like around $65 a month!) or a mild antidepressant which I'm kind of afraid to be on.. I don't know why.. but I mean, I don't get cramps anymore (which was a big problem too) and I know exactly when I'm going to get my period but.. Sometimes I really want to stop taking the birth control I'm on now because I know it's not doing what I need it too. I also get worried it makes things worse.. (It made my mom suicidal when she tried it once for only a few days.. which I hear from my doctor isnt uncommon? Like really bad emotional side effects?)

This is majorly affecting my life and at the moment it feels worse than ever. My bff basically hates me now, so I'm also paranoid about everyone hating me if I say anything and I've been crying for like a week straight and freaking out and all this other crazy stuff. I didn't talk to anyone in school today, I was so upset. Everyone probably thinks I'm crazy now..

Now, I was also wondering, since I can't see a doctor yet, if anyone thinks it could be something worse than PMDD. The symptoms are supposed to end around when you actually start your period, but sometimes mine don't until like a week later. I can't figure out if all the stress.. I basically put myself through.. with my friends and everything is causing this or if I have something worse like.. some kind of depression?

I'm really worried right now and I don't know when I can visit a doctor. I just need some kind of answers right now.
(advice on how to get my friends back would also be very much appreciated =[..)

First of all, I think there's nothing wrong with being on a generic pill. It's just a non-brand name version of one of the brand name pills. No difference in the drugs you're getting.

If the pill you are on isn't helping you, you should probably talk to your doctor about trying a different pill. Each one is a slightly different balance of hormones, so you might find that a different one works better for you. Some of them don't have generic versions. I have no idea where you live, but are there any ways for you to get samples or cheaper pills, like family planning clinics or something similar? Often if you talk to your doctor about finances they can suggest something, or they may have samples they can give you. Drug companies love to give doctors samples so they often have them lieing around.

As for your mood, it sounds like you're going through some life stress right now that is probably making everything much worse. Maybe it's time to branch out and make new friends? It can be really hard (trust me I know, I have major social anxiety), but it might help you to feel better if you make the effort. Then when things have cooled off with your current circle, you can try to smooth things over. If you want to. I really know nothing about you and your friends so I can't really advise you there.

I am sorry that you're feeling crappy, and I definitely would tell you to not be afraid of going on an antidepressant. It's not such a big deal, although I know it can feel like it. And it can take time to work, and then to find the right medication to work for you, so the whole thing takes patience. What helps is to have support along the way - a doctor or even just somebody to talk to, like your mom, a friend (I know your friends are being asshats right now), or a counselor. Do you have access to a counselor through work or school? Are there resources in your community for people who can't afford counselling? (Which can be freaking expensive).

You've just got to hang in there, and try not to give up or get too frustrated. This site is a great place to come to for moral support also, so please continue to utilize it!

Yeah, Yaz doesn't have a generic brand.. I guess it's too new for them to have one but I'm pretty sure it's been out for at least a few years now..

There is this place that gives free or cheaper birth control not too far from here. I brought it up with my mom once but she never seemed too thrilled about ever having to go there.. It's really one of those place that just gives out like free condoms and birth control pills to people who cant pay for it or like teenagers who don't have access to anything.. ?? My school guidance counselor told me about it, but I havent talked to her in a while because she's really the like help with your classes and schedule counselor.

And I'm kind of thinking my bestfriend won't ever understand or even try to because well they are a guy soo.. They don't know what any of this is like. He knows I have this and all but he just doesn't get it I guess.. He makes me feel like it's really my fault and I could do something about it but .. I don't notice sometimes what I'm doing when I just go off about stuff..
Ehh, I think he hates me right now..

IIf you have PMDD then would say that getting the right pill is really important. Can the Doctor give you some free samples to try first? I'm currently on the third pill version, never tried Yaz, because I'm not based in the US, but I know that when I was taking a supposedly "better" pill for it, I was doing worse than I am now. You might need to experiment for a while until you find something that helps.

If you aren't sure PMDD is your problem you should start recording your moods every single day and how it corresponds to your cycle. Maybe you are manic depressive, but with out the manic, apparently that is actually pretty common.

Other things I would recommend is taking omega 3 supplements, they help you feel all over happier, smarter and lots of other things.

I don't know if my doctor could give me free samples, she never mentioned anything like that to me before.

and what are omega 3 supplements?

I don't really have an answer, just a word to let you know that you are  not alone.  My 16 year old daughter was diagnosed with PMDD and prescribed YAZ.  She started taking it and after a couple weeks we saw a great deal of improvement.  However, after a couple of months she thought she was feeling so good she didn't need it anymore and without discussing it with me or her pediatrician she stopped taking YAZ.  Within days I saw a decline in her emotional well being and overall moods so I point blank asked her if she was still taking her YAZ and she admitted that she had stopped.  It took me several weeks to convince her to start taking it again but she finally did.  It's only been about 3wks since she started back on it and already there is such a noticeable improvement.  PMDD is very real and very treatable (not curable but definitely treatable).  If money is an issue, try looking on the Internet for help with PMDD or assistance with birth control.  You may be able to find natural remedies that although they won't be as good as YAZ they might be better than nothing.  Talk to your guidance counselor at school.  They can't really endorse birth control but they might be able to give you a starting point for getting to someone who can help with your medical condition.  Just don't give up. 

Omega 3 capsules are fish oil. This link has some info on how they can help improve mood:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-2 0030103-000005.html

Like I said before, start a mood journal, a printable sheet can be found here:http://pmdd.factsforhealth.org/drsp/drsp_mont h.pdf

I don't know if your doctor can give free samples, but it couldn't hurt to ask. I know some prescriptions are expensive, but compared to the alternative of how I felt before I realised what was wrong, even $65 a month would be worth it.

In hindsight I suffered for alot of years before I realised what was wrong with me. Don't think it will go away by itself, it won't. You need to get the help you need now.

I would hope that your guidance counselor would understand that prescribing a pill for PMDD is not the same as prescribing it as a form of birth control.  I think that being able to go and see your counselor with a started journal would be helpful in stopping them from thinking you are trying to be on birth control for other reasons.

escm - I'm really sorry that your daughter stopped taking the pill even though it was helping, personally now that I am feeling better I am so scared to stop taking the pill I don't know what I will do when I decide I want to have children. I admit the first months I was taking it was hard for me too, I was better when I was better, but when I felt worse, I felt worse. I hope she is able to keep getting better

Definitely talk to your doctor about free samples. I have gotten up to three packs in one visit which is three MONTHS worth. It saves a lot of money and doctors expect that you may need to switch pills and try new meds to find what's right for you. Your doctor should have some on hand and if they don't, they should order a pack or two for you. No question.

I second the omega 3.  I am just over 40 and there was nothing available for me when I was in my 20s and 30s.  I suffered through the PMDD.  It was horrible and seriously effected my life!  I think I spent 20 years depressed and nearly suicidal 2 weeks of every month.

But when started eating tuna 3 times a week I had a stunning reversal.  I have never ever ever ever ever felt better in my life.  Fish oil is probably a better source than the fish though.  Fish oil is purified and not likely to have mercury.

I was diagnosed with PMDD back in February and my Dr put me on Yaz. I have noticed a HUGE improvement in my life! I really recommend what some other posters have said about keeping a mood journal. That will help you and your Dr so much in realizing if you have PMDD or if there is something else going on with you. I noticed for myself that my symptoms would last a few days after my period ended, which my Dr told me still indicates PMDD.

As far as improving your relationships with your friends, there are a lot of websites out there on PMDD. There were a few that I looked at when I was looking for answers that had dialogue starters for how to discuss your PMDD with your friends and explain to them what is happening in your body. The dialogue was very in depth, giving lots of suggestions on what to say if they react with anger or just can't understand what is going on. I don't remember which websites I looked at (sorry I really wish I had some links for you!) but I would search online and see what resources you can find. There really is a lot of helpful information out there on how to repair your relationships.

In the US, there are organizations such as Planned Parenthood that provide medical support for women on a sliding scale.  If you can't afford it they reduce your payments until you can.  Birth control may or may not be the answer, but you will get a physical from a doctor before they give you birth control so you'll be able to discuss your issues in detail.

I can see why a school counselor might not be comfortable to discuss this with.  As I recall their focus is on school work rather than personal problems unless they interfere with school work.

All forms of birth control are NOT the same. If you've been taking one since September and it's not helping you like it was supposed to, you really need to go back to the doctor NOW and get a different one. They have different hormone levels and balances in them, and you might just need something different. You can't say that just because the first one didn't work that none of them will... it's not your fault that your hormones are out of whack sweety.

I believe I have PMDD but I know all they'll throw at it is BCP (i want to get PG) or antidepressants (which I have tried about all of, and its a huge racket and you get addicted and have to go on a new one to get off the old one, battled 5 years and feel better now off than I did on - unless you're suicidal its not worth it to ever start taking them because its pure hell to get off)

I use B-100 in the morning and 5-htp for my depression. Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of the right omegas to help with the PMDD. If I slip into my insomnia, Tryptophan and Valerian root help me get my sleep. (I either take the 5 htp or tryptophan- not both together). The 5 htp helps a lot for my PMS - I double my dose for that week.

Won't be perfect, but you'll be better and not addicted to BIG PHARM poisons. I hate those guys.

But you'll get through the day without giving up, crying in the bathroom and wanting to rip your insides out and strangle yourself with them.

Oh - 5-htp is about $10/month supply, tryptophan is $20 for 60 pills, B-100 varies but usually $10 month. EPO can be a little pricier, but you can take it 2 weeks instead of the whole month and get benefits, starting 2 days before your PMDD starts kicking in. I just haven't bought it in a while so I can't remember exact cost. The 5 htp has really helped the most with the PMS/PMDD, and the B-100 helped with the depression.

My generic is only $10/mo.. and it works great for me. I was on a different on for about 3 months and it made me feel like crap.. but I felt great after I switched.  Just be careful with Yaz, a friend of my had very serious complications and even had a seizure because of some of the side effects caused.

Original Post by kysserminfrites:

I went to my doctor a while ago, like last Septmeber? (yeah, long time..), and apparently I have PMDD. It's a "very severe form of PMS" if you didn't know.

I got put on birth control, some generic brand or something because it's all we could afford. (Old health insurance wouldn't pay for it and we don't have our new one yet..)

So, my problem is.. what I'm on doesn't help. Not with what I'm taking it for. It's not even what I should be on I guess. I should be on Yaz? (That's like around $65 a month!) or a mild antidepressant which I'm kind of afraid to be on.. I don't know why.. but I mean, I don't get cramps anymore (which was a big problem too) and I know exactly when I'm going to get my period but.. Sometimes I really want to stop taking the birth control I'm on now because I know it's not doing what I need it too. I also get worried it makes things worse.. (It made my mom suicidal when she tried it once for only a few days.. which I hear from my doctor isnt uncommon? Like really bad emotional side effects?)

This is majorly affecting my life and at the moment it feels worse than ever. My bff basically hates me now, so I'm also paranoid about everyone hating me if I say anything and I've been crying for like a week straight and freaking out and all this other crazy stuff. I didn't talk to anyone in school today, I was so upset. Everyone probably thinks I'm crazy now..

Now, I was also wondering, since I can't see a doctor yet, if anyone thinks it could be something worse than PMDD. The symptoms are supposed to end around when you actually start your period, but sometimes mine don't until like a week later. I can't figure out if all the stress.. I basically put myself through.. with my friends and everything is causing this or if I have something worse like.. some kind of depression?

I'm really worried right now and I don't know when I can visit a doctor. I just need some kind of answers right now.
(advice on how to get my friends back would also be very much appreciated =[..)

You sound like me.  They straight-up put me on Sarafem (the expensive name for Prozac) and birth control. Generic birth control did not do it for me, and Sarafem strengthened my symptoms.  I am on Yaz and exercising/eating well, and that's what's doing it for me.  Sometimes Yaz is the only thing.