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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 36 to 60 of 226. Go back in thread:
Posted by Wendy on January 8, 2001, at 17:57:33
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Noa on January 8, 2001, at 6:13:04
Not exactly. It has the same active ingredient as Prozac, but with different components added (I beleive, but don't quote me on this; I don't have the literature on hand).
It's an SRRI med, and used for the same "purpose" as Prozac, but under a different diagnosis.
I've recently been to my doctor, and while he's somewhat hesitant to diagnos me with PMDD, he does believe that I will benefit from drug intervention (meaning that I "know" I can't fix myself, and I'm past the point where talking about it and trying homeopathic remedy is doing any good); he's chosen Paxil in lieu of Sarafem though.
He's more comfortable with the positive results he's seen using this drug choice over the little he's been exposed to using Sarafem. We'll see. At least SOMETHING is going to happen for the better in my 'mood-coaster' ride of late.
Posted by Noa on January 9, 2001, at 15:53:50
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Wendy on January 8, 2001, at 17:57:33
I hope this strategy works for you--good luck.
Posted by Wendy on January 9, 2001, at 17:34:36
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Noa on January 9, 2001, at 15:53:50
Thank you. I will report back in a few weeks as to it's success (I hope!); I've been prescribed a one month supply and then back for a follow-up.
Apparently, if it's going to work, I'll know it for certain within the first month.
Posted by Doug Anderson on January 10, 2001, at 19:55:00
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Wendy on January 9, 2001, at 17:34:36
> Thank you. I will report back in a few weeks as to it's success (I hope!); I've been prescribed a one month supply and then back for a follow-up.
>
> Apparently, if it's going to work, I'll know it for certain within the first month.Wendy,
I have read and been told that Sarafem has good benefits but that is may take as many as three cycles to see a difference. No matter what SSRI you take it may take some time to see the benefits. Don't get down if it does not work in the first month. Keep tracking your symptoms and hang in there. Many quit before they give these drugs a chance to work. No matter what please let us know how things went. I am desperate to help someone who suffers like you. The Docs are real reluctant to use the PMDD diagnosis because it can mask so many other things. Like all Docs they cover their butts. I will say a little prayer for you that this therapy will work for you.
Doug
Posted by Wendy on January 10, 2001, at 20:09:45
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Doug Anderson on January 10, 2001, at 19:55:00
> >No matter what SSRI you take it may take some time to see the benefits.< <
Well, my DR. says the results (if this IS the right med for me) will be noticeable within the first month; if not, I don't think he'll hesitate keeping me on for another month to see.
> >Don't get down if it does not work in the first month.< <
I won't. The funny thing is, I'm so RELIEVED to be DOING something, that I feel a wee bit 'lighter' already!?
Thank-you for your well wishes - they are received with gratitude. I'll report back.
Posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Wendy on January 10, 2001, at 20:09:45
Hi. This is my first time posting a message anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
Thank you.
Jules
Posted by Doug Anderson on January 28, 2001, at 8:26:11
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
> Jules, You are right to start looking for answers now. First you may need to find a Doc that specializes in these things. The SSRI's do have some side effects and may rob you of your desire for sex. There are a ton of drugs that are being tried. You just have to research them all. Then you need to watch closely to see if you are pregnant so you can stop quickly. Some drugs must be phased out and not abruptly withdrawn. These symptoms will keep coming back and get worse as you reach menopause. The problem is that each woman reacts differently because of body chemistry. You are right that diet and exercise are not enough. Herbal remedies have very little affect in severe cases. Research carefully and find a Doc who is sympathetic and knows about PMDD. There are a few I hear. I go through this agony with the woman I love. She is older and has suffered like you since the onset of puberty. You at least are looking for help. That is a huge step in the right direction. You obviously have a loving husband who is willing to ride out the storms with you. Getting this straightened out will help you both. I'm about to lose it and we are not even married. I hope you find what you need and if it works then let me know. I keep trying to get her to get help but so far she resists. Doug
Posted by shelby on January 29, 2001, at 11:01:32
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
I don't know if you live in the States or Canada but I was looking for the same answers about pregnancy and anti-depressents. I phoned a hospital in, I think, Toronto and they answered that I could take elavil will pregnant. But, of course, you should do some searching and ask your doctor questions.
I also became depressed after the birth of my son. I have a history in my family of depression and it was triggered about 3 years after his birth from a death in the family.
So, there are answers out there, you just have to search. Also, don't be intimidated or scared by what people say or recommend. I've been there and have found that what works for one person, does not for another. It is just trial and error.
Good luck.
Shelby
Posted by Wendy on January 29, 2001, at 15:51:02
In reply to Re: PMDD:So many questions!, posted by shelby on January 29, 2001, at 11:01:32
> >Also, don't be intimidated or scared by what people say or recommend.< <This is sound advice. Some people speak with athority when, in actuality, they have no real knowledge on the subject.
> >I've been there and have found that what works for one person, does not for another. It is just trial and error.< <
This, IMO, is also very true. What your own system might accept is not necessarily what another with the same symptoms does. It's a tough road, but giving up after only one try on a medication is not the wise choice. If you've made it this far, why go back to what you know is an unacceptable way to function?
Posted by ms. b. on January 30, 2001, at 12:21:04
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
Hi Jules,
Run, do not walk, to the nearest bookstore (or hop on Amazon.com) and buy the recent book by Valerie Davis Raskin, MD, called:
When Words are not Enough: the Women's Prescription for Depression and Anxiety. (New York: Broadway Books, a division of Bantam/Doubleday/Dell, 1997)
From the blurb on the back: "Valerie Davis Raskin is one of the nation's leading experts on the impact of psychiatric drugs on women. A Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, she is the co-author of This Isn't What I Expected, a guide to postpartum depression..."
Specifically for you, Jules, is Ch. 11, "I want to have a baby: guidelines for medication use during pregnancy." Her main points are that: you shouldn't assume you have to choose between alleviating your illness and having a baby, that many medications for depression and anxiety (also used for what you have - PMDD) do not appear to increase the baseline risk of physical birth defects, that studies have neither proven nor disproven the possibility of harmful effects of medications on the developing fetal brain, etc.
She recommends that each woman's situation be considered on a case by case basis, balancing untreated illness with the so-far theoretical risks of taking medication while pregnant. She says also that cultural biases against women with emotional illnesses becoming mothers makes women wait far too long to report problems to their doctors in the first place. And then they don't get the treatment they should because doctors tell them to hold out for as long as they can against medication...
So Jules, you're doing really well to find out all you can beforehand and make the best decision for you and your family. In my personal opinion, and please don't take this the wrong way, it's not fair either to your husband or for your new baby to have a wife or mother who's at her wit's end for 3 weeks out of 4. Heck, it's not fair to you! And if you feel so out of control that you feel you can't drive safely, it's a very REAL risk to yourself and your infant. That would be enough for me to get the medication necessary. Your OB/GYN should be able to refer you to a good psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist who can answer your questions and prescribe you something, if you choose that route.
My own depression developed while I was pregnant, and Raskin talks about this in detail, too. Amazing how our bodies and chemistries are all so varied!
All the best, and let us know how it turns out for you in your search for some answers...
B.
> Hi. This is my first time posting a message anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
> I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
> I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
> I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
> My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
> We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
> I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
> While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
> He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
> I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
> Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
> I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
> However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
> The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
> Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
> I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
> It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
> On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
> And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
> Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
> Thank you.
> Jules
> Hi. This is my first time posting a message anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
> I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
> I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
> I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
> My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
> We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
> I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
> While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
> He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
> I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
> Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
> I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
> However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
> The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
> Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
> I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
> It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
> On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
> And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
> Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
> Thank you.
> Jules
Posted by Jackster on January 31, 2001, at 0:54:07
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
I've never been able to figure out why I developed agoraphobia with panic attacks - apparently it usually starts with a trauma. Then I started realising that my panic attacks were worse just before my period, and that they started about the age of 13 (the onset of pubity). I'm now convinced it's something to do with hormones, but can't seem to find anymore related information.
Posted by Annie1962 on January 31, 2001, at 1:38:32
In reply to Re: PMDD:So many questions! » Jules726, posted by ms. b. on January 30, 2001, at 12:21:04
Hi Everyone,
I just finished reading threads from the beginning and did not see any mention of acne as one of the many symtoms. Does anyone else experience all of the symptoms with the addition of painful cystic acne, my skin is clear for 10 days and then my cycle hits and I develope a 3rd eye or extra chin, which is filled with fuild and grows to the size of a marble? I have always had Problems with my cycle since I started at age 11, the acne didn't start until after my 1st child at age 27. I did have thyroid problems and had a total thyroidectomy last June, now on a combo of T3 and T4. My symptoms seem to be getting worse with each passing month and many Doctors later I still suffer 20 days out of the month. I have been to Shrinks, Gyns, Internists, all with their own theories and prescribtions, but to no avail. I have even been told that "God helps those who help themselves" or my favorite, " Your acne is caused because you don't like yourself". Ten days out of each month I'm the greatest Mom, Wife, Friend etc. and I like myself, it's when Dr. Jekyl meets Mr. Hide that all heck breaks loose.
Has anyone tried a total Vegan diet? Or any other natural remedies >
Thanks,
Ann >
Hi Jules,
>
> Run, do not walk, to the nearest bookstore (or hop on Amazon.com) and buy the recent book by Valerie Davis Raskin, MD, called:
>
> When Words are not Enough: the Women's Prescription for Depression and Anxiety. (New York: Broadway Books, a division of Bantam/Doubleday/Dell, 1997)
>
> From the blurb on the back: "Valerie Davis Raskin is one of the nation's leading experts on the impact of psychiatric drugs on women. A Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, she is the co-author of This Isn't What I Expected, a guide to postpartum depression..."
>
> Specifically for you, Jules, is Ch. 11, "I want to have a baby: guidelines for medication use during pregnancy." Her main points are that: you shouldn't assume you have to choose between alleviating your illness and having a baby, that many medications for depression and anxiety (also used for what you have - PMDD) do not appear to increase the baseline risk of physical birth defects, that studies have neither proven nor disproven the possibility of harmful effects of medications on the developing fetal brain, etc.
>
> She recommends that each woman's situation be considered on a case by case basis, balancing untreated illness with the so-far theoretical risks of taking medication while pregnant. She says also that cultural biases against women with emotional illnesses becoming mothers makes women wait far too long to report problems to their doctors in the first place. And then they don't get the treatment they should because doctors tell them to hold out for as long as they can against medication...
>
> So Jules, you're doing really well to find out all you can beforehand and make the best decision for you and your family. In my personal opinion, and please don't take this the wrong way, it's not fair either to your husband or for your new baby to have a wife or mother who's at her wit's end for 3 weeks out of 4. Heck, it's not fair to you! And if you feel so out of control that you feel you can't drive safely, it's a very REAL risk to yourself and your infant. That would be enough for me to get the medication necessary. Your OB/GYN should be able to refer you to a good psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist who can answer your questions and prescribe you something, if you choose that route.
>
> My own depression developed while I was pregnant, and Raskin talks about this in detail, too. Amazing how our bodies and chemistries are all so varied!
>
> All the best, and let us know how it turns out for you in your search for some answers...
> B.
>
>
> > Hi. This is my first time posting a message anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
> > I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
> > I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
> > I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
> > My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
> > We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
> > I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
> > While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
> > He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
> > I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
> > Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
> > I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
> > However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
> > The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
> > Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
> > I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
> > It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
> > On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
> > And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
> > Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
> > Thank you.
> > Jules
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi. This is my first time posting a message anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
> > I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
> > I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
> > I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
> > My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
> > We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
> > I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
> > While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
> > He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
> > I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
> > Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
> > I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
> > However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
> > The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
> > Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
> > I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
> > It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
> > On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
> > And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
> > Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
> > Thank you.
> > Jules
Posted by Wendy on January 31, 2001, at 7:18:07
In reply to Re: PMDD:Acne,diet help!, posted by Annie1962 on January 31, 2001, at 1:38:32
> >the acne didn't start until after my 1st child at age 27.< <
Same here! Who ever heard of a pimple on a nursing mom?!? I was told it was perfectly normal and would eventually go away. No such luck. Nearly 7 years later, and I still get (mild) acne; usually shows up 7-10 days prior to my cycle starting, and clears up shortly afterward.
> >I have even been told that "God helps those who help themselves" or my favorite, " Your acne is caused because you don't like yourself".< <
Hmmm. Even taken with a grain of salt, those comments still reek of idiocy!!!!! Pay no mind to those who "quote" like that. It usually means they have nothing intelligent to say.
> >Ten days out of each month I'm the greatest Mom, Wife, Friend etc. and I like myself, it's when Dr. Jekyl meets Mr. Hide that all heck breaks loose.< <
Are you on any meds with regard to these symptoms now?
> >Or any other natural remedies< <
I found that my skin clears up considerably in the summer months when I spend lots of time in the garden and get more sun. I also went tanning for 15 days and had clear skin for an entire month - right through a cycle! So, perhaps sun therapy would also be a consideration for you. (spf/UV protection didn't change the effects, but still kept my skin protected)
Posted by shellie on February 1, 2001, at 11:36:09
In reply to Re: PMDD:Acne,diet help!, posted by Wendy on January 31, 2001, at 7:18:07
I use retin A (a prescription) and it works wonders for acne, as long as you don't have very dry skin.
I also use products by Sandra Cope (you can look her up on the internet)--she has a product called clear skin which is natural and magic (it gets rid of my occational acne in two days), and I also love her aloe spectrum cleaning cream. Her product line is also available at Fresh Fields and Whole Foods if you're on the east coast, or by mail from her web site. All her products have an aloe base.
But if I was to pick one product I'd get my doctor to write a prescription for retin-A. Shellie
Posted by natg on February 1, 2001, at 12:57:23
In reply to Re: PMDD:Acne,diet help!, posted by Wendy on January 31, 2001, at 7:18:07
Hi,
I, too, suffer from horrid mood swings prior to my menses.
I have a question if you don't mind answering what kind of natural remedies help?Thanks, it is much appreciated.
Nat
Posted by ARR on February 1, 2001, at 13:25:29
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
Dear Jules,
This is also my first time posting anything on the internet, but I know that I have something to contribute to this conversation, so here goes. I really understand how debilitating this PMS can be but I am very hesitant to label it PMDD. It do not think that it is aptly identified as a mental illness. I know that there are many severe and debilitating emotional symptoms, and I certainly understand that their is an imbalance in the body's chemisty that contributes to it, but
jumping from that to conclusion that taking an anti-depressent is the solution is a leap I am not willing to make. As a health care practioner, I am part of a growing field called Functional Medicine which is based on the premise that symptoms such as PMS are the result of functional imbalances in the body's biochemistry that can be effectively identified and eliminated using a variety of lifestyle changes and what are frequently (but in my opinion erroneously thought of as "alternative" therapies)I have had a great deal of consistant success in helping women eliminate these symptons. It often takes more individualized analysis and recommendations than the simple "eat a good diet and take this herb" but it works effectively.
I'll write down a few of the approaches that I have found to be successful, and you can start looking into it: Correcting essential fatty acid imbalances often utilizing either Evening Primrose oil of EPA/DHA; improving hepatic detoxification; dietary changes that improve blood sugar balance; testing for and then correcting estrogen/progesterone levels using natural sources of progesterone. Dr. John Lee has written extensively about this, and I would suggest getting his book. Chasteberry is a very effective herb, as is a specific Chinese Herbal Formula formulated by a company called Metagenics ( which is a company that works with professionals and has a just released a new line of products for balancing hormones naturally that is cutting edge and very effective. You might check out the web site of Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories; they have developed a number of laboratory tests that go far beyond what are typically offered.
These are just a few ideas; I hope that they lead you towards some real solutions. I've seen it happen again and again
Best of luck to you
> Hi. This is my first time posting a message
anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
> I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
> I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
> I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
> My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
> We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
> I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
> While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
> He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
> I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
> Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
> I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
> However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
> The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
> Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
> I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
> It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
> On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
> And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
> Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
> Thank you.
> Jules
Posted by LauraD on February 1, 2001, at 17:57:10
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
I'm currently reading a book titled "Women's Moods, What every woman must know about hormones, the brain and emotional health."
It is by Deborah Sichel, M.D. and Jeanne Watson Driscoll, M.S., R.N., C.N.It focuses quite a bit on PMDD and how to diagnose it and how to curb it. They mention that Prozac is OK to take when you're pregnant.
I study Microbiology and prefer scientific texts. This one goes into detail about the hormones and how they interact with your brain. I really recommend the book. (I got it at Border's Book and Music)
laura
Posted by anita on February 2, 2001, at 8:44:59
In reply to Re: PMDD:Acne,diet help!, posted by Wendy on January 31, 2001, at 7:18:07
Hi,
Just thought I'd add my two cents ... regarding getting acne before your period, I've found that spironolactone helps. It decreases the type of testosterone that can cause oily skin and breakouts. It's also a diuretic, which helps with bloating, but you'll pee a lot at first and feel thirsty.
I've tried everything for acne (antibiotics, Retin-A, etc.) and this stuff really does work. If you get your testosterone levels checked a few days before your period and they are higher than normal, I'd give spiro a try.
anita
Posted by Marchelle on February 2, 2001, at 13:51:10
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Wendy on January 10, 2001, at 20:09:45
Wow, I am not alone! I came to this site in hopes to find some first hand feedback from women who who have tried Sarafem to help with the curse of PMDD. I have recently been given a Rx from my
Dr. for the drug, but I am very hesitant to take it. Probably because of its association with Prozac, and fear of the possible side effects such as decrease in libido. I, too, am curious how women who are taking
Sarafem would describe its effects. Meanwhile, I will be reading those articles about PMDD that have been previoulsy posted... Best wishes, Jennifer
Posted by Marchelle on February 2, 2001, at 13:56:39
In reply to Re: Sarafem=Prozac(np), posted by Wendy on January 10, 2001, at 20:09:45
Wow, I am not alone! I came to this site in hopes to find some first hand feedback from women who who have
tried Sarafem to help with the curse of PMDD. I have recently been given a Rx from my
Dr. for the drug, but I am very hesitant to take it. Probably because of its association with Prozac, and fear of the
possible side effects such as decrease in libido. I, too, am curious how women who are taking
Sarafem would describe its effects. Meanwhile, I will be reading those articles about PMDD that have been
previoulsy posted... Best wishes
Posted by Wendy on February 2, 2001, at 16:43:33
In reply to Prescribed Sarafem,hesitant » Wendy, posted by Marchelle on February 2, 2001, at 13:51:10
> >I have recently been given a Rx from my Dr. for the drug, but I am very hesitant to take it. Probably because of its association with Prozac, and fear of the possible side effects such as decrease in libido.< <
Well, while I can't speak for the drug Sarafem, I can speak for Paxil. Not only has it NOT decreased my libido, but the positive effects of 3 1/2 weeks on this med has helped me so much that the 'intimate' aspect of my marriage has become much more comfortable and 'wanted'. I think a healthy sense of self is the main reason for this; I'm much calmer and therefore less agitated in all areas of my day to day life now.
Posted by Marchelle on February 2, 2001, at 20:16:57
In reply to Re: Prescribed Sarafem,hesitant, posted by Wendy on February 2, 2001, at 16:43:33
> > >I have recently been given a Rx from my Dr. for the drug, but I am very hesitant to take it. Probably because of its association with Prozac, and fear of the possible side effects such as decrease in libido.< <
>
> Well, while I can't speak for the drug Sarafem, I can speak for Paxil. Not only has it NOT decreased my libido, but the positive effects of 3 1/2 weeks on this med has helped me so much that the 'intimate' aspect of my marriage has become much more comfortable and 'wanted'. I think a healthy sense of self is the main reason for this; I'm much calmer and therefore less agitated in all areas of my day to day life now.You made a good point. Now I am begining to realize that the potential for harm is greater in not doing anything than in trying out new ways correct the present problem.
Posted by Marchelle on February 2, 2001, at 20:23:58
In reply to Re: Prescribed Sarafem,hesitant, posted by Wendy on February 2, 2001, at 16:43:33
> > >I have recently been given a Rx from my Dr. for the drug, but I am very hesitant to take it. Probably because of its association with Prozac, and fear of the possible side effects such as decrease in libido.< <
>
> Well, while I can't speak for the drug Sarafem, I can speak for Paxil. Not only has it NOT decreased my libido, but the positive effects of 3 1/2 weeks on this med has helped me so much that the 'intimate' aspect of my marriage has become much more comfortable and 'wanted'. I think a healthy sense of self is the main reason for this; I'm much calmer and therefore less agitated in all areas of my day to day life now.I am brand new at this posting thing. I forgot to tell you thanks! And wish you continued success with this. M
Posted by Wendy on February 3, 2001, at 7:09:44
In reply to thanks » Wendy, posted by Marchelle on February 2, 2001, at 20:23:58
> >I am brand new at this posting thing. I forgot to tell you thanks! And wish you continued success with this. M< <
You are most welcome! Having this board to read was one of the first steps to 'doing' something for me as well. I'm fortunate that the med my own doctor prescribed was right for me at first try. Even my kids (14 1/2 and 6 1/2) have noticed the positive changes.
Son to dad: "Geez, mom didn't even spaz on me about it!?" That in itself sais a lot!
Best of luck to you as well.
Wendy
Posted by bobbin on February 5, 2001, at 11:10:11
In reply to Re: thanks, posted by Wendy on February 3, 2001, at 7:09:44
> > >I am brand new at this posting thing. I forgot to tell you thanks! And wish you continued success with this. M< <
>
> You are most welcome! Having this board to read was one of the first steps to 'doing' something for me as well. I'm fortunate that the med my own doctor prescribed was right for me at first try. Even my kids (14 1/2 and 6 1/2) have noticed the positive changes.
>
> Son to dad: "Geez, mom didn't even spaz on me about it!?" That in itself sais a lot!
>
> Best of luck to you as well.
>
> WendyWould you be able to mention the prescription your doc gave you? I'm 44, tried everything, prescribed and alternative, been afraid of antidepressants but after 7 years of this, I'm ready to try. Have Prozac, Elavil but wouldn't take it. What about others? Sarafem, Paxil, etc.? Any input about side effects, whether or not it worked for you would be great. Thanks.
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