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AUDIO HERSTORY: Trina Shares Her PMDD Story & How Bad Her PMS Really Is

By EmpowHER
 
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SHARE YOUR PMDD STORY BY POSTING BELOW

TRINA TELLS HER STORY

There is no location too remote to stop EmpowHer’s quest to bring you information that could help you heal quicker. To prove my point, let’s literally go out onto Highway 12, in Illinois and speak with a woman name Trina who is right now sitting in traffic, on her evening commute home. Trina has agreed to share her Premenstrual Dysphoric

Disorder story (other wise known as PMDD).

Learn about the symptoms of PMDD that Trina experiences.

• Sadness and crying

• Feeling nervous, anxious, and irritable

• Strong cravings for certain foods

• Problems paying attention and concentrating

• Physical problems such as breast tenderness, headaches, joint or muscle pain and swelling or bloating

• Trouble sleeping

DO YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS?

SHARE YOUR PMDD STORY BELOW

Find out if her period was always this bad or if it's gotten worst
and hear her explain the "extreme bitchiness" that has ruled her life.

Add a Comment8 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

It's so nice (and well not, cause I'd wish this on no one!) that other women suffer as I do. I thought I had gone mad, it's like one week a month I feel like my whole life is terrible. No one is good enough, I remember only bad things about people and situations. I get frustrated so easily, I've even yelled, threw things and just completely freaked out on my husband. I've told my friends to eff off cause I know they don't care. My anxiety goes through the roof, I feel out of control, I need to eat like every 3 hours. If I don't get what I crave, I freak out about that on my poor husband. Who is always very calm with me and gets me what I want, even if I yell at him I don't care and to not bother. Sometimes I get depressive feelings, and sometimes feel suicidal and sometimes even homicidal! Nothing I'd ever act on! Then, I get my period *poof* All better, and full of regret! It so strange. I've ruined my life in a weeks time. I was so glad to be diagnosed, even though it's hard to control my symptoms. I try to at least keep in mind I am PMDDing, warn all my friends/family, and try my best to either stay mostly alone, or not to argue until later. I try the exercise (which ends up pissing me off for some reason lol), I always eat healthy (but a little less because of my high sodium and cheese cravings). I tried birth control, and it made me act like I was PMDDing ALL MONTH! Tried anti-depressants, but that was a bad idea cause my doctor didn't seem to know it would set off my Bipolar Mania! Ugh! Although, I tried this HTP-5 "natural mood booster" and it actually seemed to work (and quicker than any anti-depressant!) The only thing I didn't like was that it gave me some minor stomach cramps and diarreah, and made me manic (when I took it all month) *sigh*. When I lessened the dose, and only took it a few days before and during PMDD, it seemed to be much better. It lessened a lot of the symptoms, they weren't completely gone, but tolerable. So I'd reccommend it to anyone to at least try it out! :) I know I'll try anything at this point! I didn't have any this month, and there was hell to pay. 0_o My poor sweet husband. I hope this helps someone!

December 29, 2010 - 12:34pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

My name is Jessica. I am 21 years old and I was diagnosed with PMDD about 3 weeks ago. I had been doing research because I knew there was something wrong. My relationship with my boyfriend of three years has suffered drastically because I can't seem to express the severity of the disorder to him. I have noticed that my grades are been drastically effected and my social life, even more so. I am currently taking a generic anti-depressant called Citralopram, and have yet to see any positive or negative effects. They say it takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks to work, but when it works, you know it and you can feel it. No more anxiety and no more Extreme mood swings. I don't know how to truly express to my friends and family what I am going through. I had thoughts of suicide (though I would never go through with it) and thoughts of complete inadequacy. I hope this medication takes effect soon, because I don't think my family can take much more of this.

September 29, 2008 - 10:19am
Expert (reply to Anonymous)

Hi Jessica,

PMDD feels awful, and I’m so glad for you that you’re on your way to feeling much better! I suggest that you speak with a therapist who not only understands this condition, but one who can help you with a whole plan of action. Medication may be part of the answer, but you also need to understand your feelings and know how to educate those closest to you about what PMDD is, what will help you and what will not help you. Once you have some tools for coping through the tough times, you’ll feel more in control. Hopefully the therapist can also suggest specific nutrition and other simple, natural healing for you, since the cause of the PMDD needs to be addressed as well, and an antidepressant doesn’t do that.

Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D.
http://ClearSky-Inc.com

September 29, 2008 - 11:56am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Dr. Shoshana Bennett)

Thank you so much for all of your help. I have noticed that the medication has started to take effect and I am feeling much better. I really appreciate the nutritional help as well. It really is amazing how something that small can make such a huge improvement. This site is such a help to relieve some of the emotional burden that is being carried with this. It really helped. Thanks!

October 1, 2008 - 7:39pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Hi Jessica, Thanks so much for sharing what you're going through and I'm sorry to hear that you're not feeling like yourself.

After doing some research, it appears that Citralopram may take one to four weeks to work. How long have you been taking it? For the three weeks since your diagnosis? You may find it helpful to read this article about the drug that says sometimes, its users feel suicidal. Have you discussed these feelings with your doctor? And according to PMDD.org, "before switching, it is important to be sure that the dose and the length of the treatment have been adequate. The good news is that quite a few medicines can benefit PMDD. You may need to be patient until the one that suits you best is found."

In addition to the medication, was wondering if your doctor recommended any lifestyle changes to help ease the symptoms of PMDD? Such as cutting out smoking or alcohol if you use them?

In addition to the medication, there are a number of other steps that you can take that are reportedly helpful including eating regular, frequent, small balanced meals rich in complex carbohydrates and low in salt, fat, and caffeine, regular exercise, stress reduction and management (ie -- a yoga class), regular sleep, and possibly a nutritional supplement plan that includes vitamins B, E, calcium carbonate, magnesium and tryptophan may help. You may also find support groups helpful as well. I found this article extremely informational. You may want to check it out.

To help those around you understand what you're experiencing, you may want to start a journal that will help clarify your thoughts (Most women experience a certain level of fogginess as their hormones fluctuate at different points in their lives) Once you're able to articulate what you're feeling on paper, it will make it easier to communicate those feelings to others. You may also want to ask others for help (subtly, if you choose) If you're feeling down, ask a friend, family member or your boyfriend to meet you out somewhere and engage in an activity you enjoy.

This will accomplish a few things for you ... You'll fight potential isolationism and activity will help ease your mood.

We'd love to hear more from you Jessica and hope that you'll share your successes with us as you fight PMDD.

September 29, 2008 - 11:36am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

hi my name is jen i have had major pmdd for years , i went to doctors for it for probably 14 years and have had doctors actually look it up in a health book ,i have been of and on prozac for years and others,and it scares me that the doctors really have no clue what women with pmdd goes through, so i feel there will never be real help out there. I only fight with my husband when i am pmdding and get frustrated with my kids . i now that there are many more symptoms out there that they are not aware of. i fell like something takes hold of my body and i am not in control anymore lasts anywhere from a week to 2 tired irrated out of control blureed vision and if anyone comes between me and food time watch i am worse then a pregant women. been done the birt control the exercise the healthy diet. nope still have it worse then ever this a same that woman out there like us have to suffer cause no one can figure this out. if any one needs info about it i know alot and i am still searching for more help hang in there.

June 25, 2008 - 2:38pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Jen, I apoligze if you're getting multiple emails from me-- I am new on the blog scene. I am so with you. Untreated, PMDD has the potential to destroy lives and relationships--I know this to be true. Had I not recently, and finally, found a woman doctor who prescribed Prozac, I would probably be in divorce court. I hate my behavior during the 2-weeks of living hell and as I approached menopause, things were getting much worse. I have been on 10 mg daily for 4 months now, and notice that the meds do not seem to be working quite as well during the 2-week PMDD timeframe. I am wondering if it is reasonable/safe to increase the does to 20 mg for the two weeks and then back off to the 10, since it seems to be helping me overall...all the time. Any experience with this?

July 25, 2008 - 5:14am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Jen, I am so with you. Untreated, PMDD has the potential to destroy lives and relationships--I know this to be true. Had I not recently, and finally, found a woman doctor who prescribed Prozac, I would probably be in divorce court. I hate my behavior during the 2-weeks of living hell and as I approached menopause, things were getting much worse. I have been on 10 mg daily for 4 months now, and notice that the meds do not seem to be working quite as well during the 2-week PMDD timeframe. I am wondering if it is reasonable/safe to increase the does to 20 mg for the two weeks and then back off to the 10, since it seems to be helping me overall...all the time. Any experience with this?

July 25, 2008 - 4:56am
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