natural remedies - PMS (anxiety) - Please help? Anyone heard of PMDD?

Jess2005 · Post by **Jess2005** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:39 am

Hey guys,
Need feedback any of you guys have info on natural methods? remedies? I was looking for info and seems when my PMS start it it HELL! I can't function really really bad... I just noticied that a couple of months ago I couldn't handle anymore and I had myself taken out of work for a month. Then started the program and after week 5 felt better and was not in PMS so I was seeing clearly so I stopped it. I do not exercice yet I had trouble because I am so tired so I felt like exercice would just drain me. I know it's not supposed to be that way but I don't know anymore. Now they stopped me AGAIN for a month because I couldn't bare anymore... I feel not normal. I know I have a trouble with anxiety but usually during the month I can cope. When something happens I have no sleep or really stressed I come into a big episode which just landed me 3 days in the ER with test done and nothing wrong with me. My doctor gave me xanax(which I took 2 times and sent me into the biggest black hole I have ever seen I felt like dying and couldnt see the light anymore It scared the living crap out of my boyfriend... it happened the two times I took this pill. I told my secretarys doc they said it's not usally what happens but what does she know! I took Exeffor landed me 2 times in the hospital also... with cramps that I couldnt even walk. I asked the pharmacist about the xanax reaction he said if somebody is depressed it makes them plummet and since I had so much emotionnal drainage from the PMS it make me plummet somewhere that was really scary. Had thought I never even had in my life.

The ER doc told me to take my birth control pill continously and take some vitamine B. I started all that, also gave me Paxil which I can't make my mind to take since I just discovered something called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder(PMDD) and that sounds a lot like my story. I want to delay taking the paxil for now because I know maybe with the exercice and keeping focused I COULD get thru all of this. Also I am looking at therapy with a life coach which I WANT to figure out WHY I am this way because if I take the medicine and it will always come back I need to search why I am like this... I am just 25 years old scared of not taking the pills because it seems to be just a once a month thing I can't handle. I am just scared of not taking the pills but with the symptoms that I had and week from hell I somewhere know inside myself I can do it with the program and maybe natural aide somehow...

Any help would be appreciate.

Thanks guys,

Jess

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:19 pm

Jess,PMDD is just a more severe form of PMS.If you don't have a fish allergy you could try some fish oil for mood it really helps with PMS symptoms I use Natrol brand and get the extra strength and take 1-2 a day.Also B vitamins are good for stress.And if you live in a wintery climate extra vitamin D because we don't get enough sunlight this time of year.Melatonin at night may help reset your sleep cycle but check with your doctor if other mental health issues beiseds anxiety/depression.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:53 pm

I watch alot of educational TV. On the Discovery Health Channel, I watched a program on PMS depression. A study was conducted to see whether CALCIUM (i.e. dairy foods) plus oily fish helped. The results were that this combination produced a 30% (average) improvement in mood.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:27 pm

Hello everyone.

I just want to say to you all to talk to your doctor if you decide to take natural remedies while on prescription drugs because you can still have dangerous drug interactions. Herbs can be very powerful and dangerous when mixed with other herbs or with prescription meds and herbs are not regulated and tested like prescription meds, so be careful when taking them. Another thing, ask your doctor about the specific herbs or natural remedies that you plan to use because if you have certain conditions, certain herbs can aggravate your condition and cause even more dangerous problems and have dangerous side effects.

Don't think that because herbs are natural, that they can't hurt you, because they can.

Take care. DeeDee.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:54 pm

Hey Jess, my OB suggested I may have PMDD but just prescribed the pill for me. No thanks, I am not a great pill taker, that is why I have 3 kids, lol. Vitamin B has been good for me, I have been taking a Bstress complex vitamin. Do you consume alot of caffeine? If so, you may want to cut back, especially around your period. This may sound strange and I haven't actually tried it myself but I have a friend who switched to organic fem hygeine products and swears it has helped her PMS.
DeeDee, I couldn't agree w/you more. I had a baaaaad reaction when I mixed myProzac w/herbs I had been taking, ones that I got from my accupuncturist. But, you still have to be careful, my MD told me it was ok to take them together. You have to do alot of research on your own, lots of it. It's just safer not to mix the two. I have been off prozac now for 3 wks and am waiting 3 more before starting my Good days vitamins. I know the horror of drug interactions and I would rather be safe than go through that again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:33 am

this is me.. my doctor thought I had pmdd- but it has never been confirmed and the only thing for it is to get back on the pill- which I stopped 3 months ago- and when i stopped the anxiety and nervousness kicked in- so here I am in a complete state of affairs every time my cycle starts...wow- I get blown away by the nervousness and anxiety- I walk the floors and I dont sleep well- usually 2 nights of not sleeping with break through nights- period stops and I am fine- until the next cycle..
this merry go round is a mess..
hang in there and just remember- it will be over soon- it only gets better- I use lavender oil and it helps so MUCH.....seriously-just plain lavender oil on a warm wash cloth at the top of the bed- be careful its kind of strong in aroma but it sure helps...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:22 pm

Man I also can relate to all of this as I too have trouble during the PMS time. So I have been reading thru these posts and alot of you have gone back on the pill. I still had the anxiety when I was on my pill but now that I think of it I guess I wasn't that moody (sad) as I get now being off of the pill. Now I am wondering if I should be back on it...I'm wondering though, is there a particular pill out there that would suit such anxious gals, does anyone know?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:47 am

HI,
Sorry for the days of Hell. I have severe PMS to the point of nearly divorcing my husband every month. I have also on some months turned to cigarettes as a way to cope. I take Ativan for anxiety and I take lunesta to sleep. PMDD is just another way of saying you change overnight to become a different person unable to cope and deal with the stress of life. I have that also. I have tried antidepressants, they didn't work for me. I have tried counseling it didn't work much. Now Im trying the tapes on anxiety and depression. The tapes are causing alot of hidden anxiety to come out. I almost lost it today after starting the tapes last night. Its like my mind wont let me heal or get better. Hang in there, hope this helps

talk2afriend · Post by **talk2afriend** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:30 am

I was put on a natural progesterone cream compounded by the pharmacist for two weeks before each monthly period and it was a God send. I slept better and calmed down. Best thing I ever did for the PMDD.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:16 pm

I was diagnosed with PMDD 7 years ago (when it first became known as a servre form of PMS). Advice...stop any caffiene and use either the birth control pill or an SSRI. I was 30 when I was diagnosed and never had PMS prior to that. I am on 20mg of Lexapro and it is amazing...no more PMDD symptoms. I don't even know when my cycle is coming (I am irregular to start with). It took me 2 years to find the SSRI that worked for me (Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft...none of them worked). I hope this helps.