Hello fellow women out there. I have multiple problems and since I've just turned 40, I feel I'm falling apart in every direction. I have had a history of PMS since high school and wonder if it is PMDD cause my moods are even more unpredictable. Small things bother me more than they used to and I even had to have some coaching at work due to a verbal confrontation with another employee, which I look back and regret.
I also suffer from TMJ, myofascia pain, carpal tunnel, osteoarthritis in my knees and really started this year in my hands. So ultimately, I have chronic pain most of the time and around my PMS all the back pain increased with tension and anxiety. I don't handle stress very well and have been on antidepressants for years. In fact, I fear ever to try to discontinue taking them. I've had a few emotional breakdowns at work due to stress and I fear I could risk losing my job and feel embarrassed. People probably think I am crazy or psychotic. Help!
All of this just creates a cycle of depression, moodiness, muscle tenion and fatigue. I wonder if I should also have my hormones checked besides just my thyroid. It seems hard to get my physician to try to test for other hormones. I had a gynecologist who refused to check my cortisol levels and who should I go to for all these problems? Please give me some suggestions. I currently see a chiorpractor and plan to try to get massage and tens unit for my back pain and possibly some other medicaiton to sooth my muscle tension. Flexeril increases my depression and moodiness and fatigues me the entire next day. Skelexen just doesn't work. NSAIDS make my blood pressure go up (so does the anti-depressant I take, so I take BP meds as well). My CBC and BMP look fine. Help me! I feel miserable!