I think I have premenstrual dysphoric disorder, need advice

I've been living with these symptoms since I was a teen, but since having DD
they seem to have got progressively worse, maybe as a result of the
pregnancy, but probably also due to the additional stress of having a
toddler. I always considered it 'normal' for me, but I've been frightened
recently by how severe my mood swings are and how angry I get. It has got to
the point that I really don't have that many 'good' days a month, and I
worry it will destroy my relationship that is already under a lot of
pressure.
I have a poor history of tolerating birth control pills and a wide range of
antidepressants, that seemed to make me more crazy, if that was possible!
I'm also afraid of being medicated again because of some pretty bad memories
of it and I don't want to expose DD. I know, I know - there are medications
that are safe to take while BF, but I have a hang up about it because I
remember how they made me feel.
There are other symptoms that make me suspect a hormonal imbalance, such as
weight gain and extra hair growth - not severe, but enough that I notice.
I'm considering seeing another doctor as mine was pretty unhelpful when I
had PND, and I'm thinking of progesterone treatment as an option. In the
doses needed to treat PMDD, is it likely to make my mood swings worse or
affect breastfeeding?


--
Amy
Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
& Ana born screaming 30/06/04
http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/

OK. I don't know if this applies to you or not, but....

I had read an article not to long ago about people who suffered
from bi-polar disorder, but were misdiagnosed as depressed and
the medications they were given actually made them worse. Again,
I don't know if it applies to you, but if you think it might, you
might bring it up with your caregiver.

Larry

Mum of Two writes:
: I've been living with these symptoms since I was a teen, but since having DD
: they seem to have got progressively worse, maybe as a result of the
: pregnancy, but probably also due to the additional stress of having a
: toddler. I always considered it 'normal' for me, but I've been frightened
: recently by how severe my mood swings are and how angry I get. It has got to
: the point that I really don't have that many 'good' days a month, and I
: worry it will destroy my relationship that is already under a lot of
: pressure.
: I have a poor history of tolerating birth control pills and a wide range of
: antidepressants, that seemed to make me more crazy, if that was possible!
: I'm also afraid of being medicated again because of some pretty bad memories
: of it and I don't want to expose DD. I know, I know - there are medications
: that are safe to take while BF, but I have a hang up about it because I
: remember how they made me feel.
: There are other symptoms that make me suspect a hormonal imbalance, such as
: weight gain and extra hair growth - not severe, but enough that I notice.
: I'm considering seeing another doctor as mine was pretty unhelpful when I
: had PND, and I'm thinking of progesterone treatment as an option. In the
: doses needed to treat PMDD, is it likely to make my mood swings worse or
: affect breastfeeding?


: --
: Amy
: Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
: & Ana born screaming 30/06/04
: http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
: http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
: My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/

You sound like me. Look into insulin-resistance. I suspected it with me and
went to the doctor. Turns out that I *am* insulin-resistent (pre-diabetic)
and was put on medication that diabetics take and I cannot believe the
change it has made. I feel so much better and my moods have been regulated
because my sugars were all over the place. I don't know if you are extremely
tired or not, but I was and that is something that has gone away now that I
am on medication. I too, couldn't stand how the anti-depression medication
made me feel; however, I do feel that I could be depressed, but I decided
for *me* that I would go unmedicated unless I seem to get really bad, but
straightening out my diet has been the ticket and exercise. If you need to
talk, email me anytime. )
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

"Mum of Two" wrote in message
...
I've been living with these symptoms since I was a teen, but since having
DD
they seem to have got progressively worse, maybe as a result of the
pregnancy, but probably also due to the additional stress of having a
toddler. I always considered it 'normal' for me, but I've been frightened
recently by how severe my mood swings are and how angry I get. It has got
to
the point that I really don't have that many 'good' days a month, and I
worry it will destroy my relationship that is already under a lot of
pressure.
I have a poor history of tolerating birth control pills and a wide range
of
antidepressants, that seemed to make me more crazy, if that was possible!
I'm also afraid of being medicated again because of some pretty bad
memories
of it and I don't want to expose DD. I know, I know - there are
medications
that are safe to take while BF, but I have a hang up about it because I
remember how they made me feel.
There are other symptoms that make me suspect a hormonal imbalance, such
as
weight gain and extra hair growth - not severe, but enough that I notice.
I'm considering seeing another doctor as mine was pretty unhelpful when I
had PND, and I'm thinking of progesterone treatment as an option. In the
doses needed to treat PMDD, is it likely to make my mood swings worse or
affect breastfeeding?


--
Amy
Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
& Ana born screaming 30/06/04
http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/

wrote in message ...
OK. I don't know if this applies to you or not, but....

I had read an article not to long ago about people who suffered
from bi-polar disorder, but were misdiagnosed as depressed and
the medications they were given actually made them worse. Again,
I don't know if it applies to you, but if you think it might, you
might bring it up with your caregiver.

Good point, thanks Larry. I have a first cousin who is bipolar, but he gets
highs - not something I tend to get. Ok, I have the odd mad cleaning spree
about once a year but I don't think that counts. I have a friend who is
bipolar, epileptic and breastfeeding a toddler, so maybe I'll check it out
with her too.


--
Amy
Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
& Ana born screaming 30/06/04
http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/

"Sue" wrote in message
...
You sound like me. Look into insulin-resistance. I suspected it with me
and
went to the doctor. Turns out that I *am* insulin-resistent (pre-diabetic)
and was put on medication that diabetics take and I cannot believe the
change it has made. I feel so much better and my moods have been regulated
because my sugars were all over the place. I don't know if you are
extremely
tired or not, but I was and that is something that has gone away now that
I
am on medication. I too, couldn't stand how the anti-depression medication
made me feel; however, I do feel that I could be depressed, but I decided
for *me* that I would go unmedicated unless I seem to get really bad, but
straightening out my diet has been the ticket and exercise. If you need to
talk, email me anytime. )


Thanks Sue, that's a big help. That's not something I even considered. I
have a first cousin who is Type I diabetic and my mother is Type II
diabetic. If I was pre-diabetic, do you think I would have passed the
glucose tests during pregnancy? They were fine AFAIK. I do have a sugar
addiction, and I do get rapid mood swings. Sometimes I am incredibly tired,
but there are other times, like last night, that I can't sleep at all.
Do you know if diabetic medication is something that you can take while
breastfeeding? I'm thinking yes, because there must be a lot of diabetics of
childbearing age and it isn't a contraindiction I've heard of.
I'll mention it to the doctor when I get my second opinion, I really need
ideas like this because I feel I've exhausted all the other possible causes
what is wrong with me, and been labelled a hypochondriac. My Dr. wouldn't
even diagnose me with PND.
The exercise is something I know I have to work on - that, and cutting down
my salt and sugar intake. I would also prefer to avoid antidepressants. I
felt a huge sense of relief when I finally stopped taking them six years
ago. They work really well for some people, like DH, but I don't think they
work for me. I'm open to trying Zoloft having had a think about it, not
something I would have considered while pregnant or when DD was young. Not
for any logical reason, just personal paranoia.


--
Amy
Mum to Carlos born sleeping 20/11/02,
& Ana born screaming 30/06/04
http://www.freewebs.com/carlos2002/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ana%5Fj%5F2004/
My blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/querer-hijo-querer-hija/

"Mum of Two" wrote in message
Thanks Sue, that's a big help. That's not something I even considered. I
have a first cousin who is Type I diabetic and my mother is Type II
diabetic. If I was pre-diabetic, do you think I would have passed the
glucose tests during pregnancy? They were fine AFAIK. I do have a sugar
addiction, and I do get rapid mood swings. Sometimes I am incredibly
tired,
but there are other times, like last night, that I can't sleep at all.

I passed all GD testing, so that definitely doesn't seem to matter. Hello,
my name is Sue and I am a sugar addict ;o) It totally depressed me to think
that I cannot have my little goodies anymore, but it actually has been
pretty easy to get rid of the sugar. I'm feeling much better, so that was a
definite plus for me.

Do you know if diabetic medication is something that you can take while
breastfeeding? I'm thinking yes, because there must be a lot of diabetics
of
childbearing age and it isn't a contraindiction I've heard of.
I'll mention it to the doctor when I get my second opinion, I really need
ideas like this because I feel I've exhausted all the other possible
causes
what is wrong with me, and been labelled a hypochondriac. My Dr. wouldn't
even diagnose me with PND.

I don't know about that, but the medication is metformin (Glucophage) so you
can look it up to see if it is compatible.

The exercise is something I know I have to work on - that, and cutting
down
my salt and sugar intake.

Yes, exercise is something that I don't have a lot of time for, but I really
need to because it helps put out those natural endorphins.

I would also prefer to avoid antidepressants. I felt a huge sense of relief
when I finally stopped taking them six years ago. They work really well for
some people, like DH, but I don't think they work for me. I'm open to
trying Zoloft having had a think about it, not something I would have
considered while pregnant or when DD was young.

I have Zoloft just in case also. I have not started them yet. The doctor
gave me the Zoloft and another one and I hated how the other one made me
feel. I just couldn't tolerate it. I am thinking that maybe Zoloft might be
better, but I am actually doing better without anti-depressants for now.

Not for any logical reason, just personal paranoia.

I'm with ya. I just don't like the idea of myself being medicated, but if
things get really bad or my kids are being affected, I will need to do
something.

Good luck Amy, I hope you can find an answer. Until I discovered
insulin-resistence my life was absolute hellish.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

I really don't know what to say, I know I had something pretty bad that went
with my menstural cycle, but pregnancy, breastfeeding, mini pill, pregnancy,
breastfeeding, mirena has meant it is over 3 years since I have had a
"normal" period. Which leads me to suggest have you tried a progesterone
only method of contraception?

Anne

Larry wrote:

I had read an article not to long ago about people who suffered
from bi-polar disorder, but were misdiagnosed as depressed and
the medications they were given actually made them worse. Again,
I don't know if it applies to you, but if you think it might, you
might bring it up with your caregiver.

now that's interesting, apparently postnatal depression presents differently
to normal depression, though it would appear that what is going on the in
the brain is the same and is often misdiagnosed as bi-polar disorder and/or
borderline personality disorder (both bpd, how confusing!). I discovered
shortly before having Ada that this is what my psychiatrist had diagnosed me
as! Thankfully he had actually been mistreating me for that, ending in the
correct treatment for PND. I then discovered that a friend had the same
psychiatrist and he was trying ever so hard to diagnose her as having
bipolar disorder, so maybe he's quite a fan of it! I think it's one of those
things that is either under diagnosed, and put down to bouts of depression,
or overdignosed. Thankfully this guy retired and I now have a very down to
earth psychiatrist who is like yup, classic PND and it working with me very
sucessfully to prevent a relapse.

Anne

"Sue" wrote
Do you know if diabetic medication is something that you can take while
breastfeeding? I'm thinking yes, because there must be a lot of
diabetics
of
childbearing age and it isn't a contraindiction I've heard of.


I don't know about that, but the medication is metformin (Glucophage) so
you
can look it up to see if it is compatible.

Metformin is an L2 according to Hale. I've started re-taking it for PCOS.

Jean

--
DD - June '02
DS - May '05

Mom of Two wrote

I've been living with these symptoms since I was a teen, but since having DD
they seem to have got progressively worse, maybe as a result of the
pregnancy, but probably also due to the additional stress of having a
toddler. I always considered it 'normal' for me, but I've been frightened
recently by how severe my mood swings are and how angry I get. It has got to
the point that I really don't have that many 'good' days a month, and I
worry it will destroy my relationship that is already under a lot of
pressure.
I have a poor history of tolerating birth control pills and a wide range of
antidepressants, that seemed to make me more crazy, if that was possible!
I'm also afraid of being medicated again because of some pretty bad memories
of it and I don't want to expose DD. I know, I know - there are medications
that are safe to take while BF, but I have a hang up about it because I
remember how they made me feel.
There are other symptoms that make me suspect a hormonal imbalance, such as
weight gain and extra hair growth - not severe, but enough that I notice.
I'm considering seeing another doctor as mine was pretty unhelpful when I
had PND, and I'm thinking of progesterone treatment as an option. In the
doses needed to treat PMDD, is it likely to make my mood swings worse or
affect breastfeeding?

Wow sounds like me! Then I went way downhill. On top of mood swings and
being unable to cope I started waking unable to breath. Doc said it was
panic attacks. I was diagnosed with PPD and given Zoloft.. I felt better for
a while, that turned out to be pshychological! Then I saw a shrink who told
me it sounded like sleep Apnea. I had a sleep test and sure enough it is!
Lack of sleep on top of having a big family makes me crazy!

There can be so many causes of symptoms like ours..

Andrea mom of 6.