PMS & Depression

[newsomz]

When is it depression & when is it just feeling down? That's the problem I seem to always come up against. I've had a major depressive episode before so I know what that feels like.. but every month a few weeks before my period I get teary, feel sad, feel down... Not as bad as the "I don't even want to get out of bed & nothing is interesting" depression but it still interrupts a few weeks of my life per month. Does everyone experience this? I feel I could be so much more productive if this didn't happen every month!

I'm going to the OB/GYN soon and will talk to her about this. I just want to get an idea of what other women experience.

[ChristieinMB]

A few weeks every month is too much. It is good to discuss with your gyn, how long have you been feeling like this every month?

[mbrogier]

Are you currently taking any type of birth control pills? Some work differently than others and switching them around could help your symptoms. I sometimes get bitchy or weepy for a day or two and right now I'm all over the place with when it happens because I don't have a regular cycle. I'm trying different birth control brands to help with hormone related migraines. A day or two is one thing, but weeks is unacceptable. Your doctor will be able to help you. I have heard other women say that different pills made them feel really poorly. I was once on Ortho-Tricycline, and that pill turned me into a raving lunatic.

[Leslie Ferguson]

I'm not well versed in the physical implications of PMS (being a guy) but I have first hand experience with a nasty little disorder called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD for short). My wife has been diagnosed with the disorder for going on 4 years. It's a really nasty thing but is treatable.

You can find out more about the American Psychological Association discussion of PMDD (http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct02/pmdd.html) here and another discussion and links from the Madison Institute of Medicine about PMDD (MIM) (http://www.pmdd.factsforhealth.org/) and lastly an article from Healthline.com (http://www.healthline.com/health/womens_health/007193.html?utm_source=247&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=articles&utm_term=PMDD) about the disease.

Like I said, this is a real thing and shouldn't be treated lightly. Having experienced my wife's symptoms (and she has most of them) and the ramifications of the disease I feel for you. Please get it checked out and let us know what the doctors say.

Peace,
Les

[newsomz]

I should clarify. I don't feel weepy & teary for a few weeks every month.. that comes and goes for a few weeks every month (maybe 2 times/week). Though I can't shake the feeling that I don't feel completely 100% myself those few weeks when I'm not teary. I'm going to start keeping a mood journal this month so I'll have some better data to go on. This has been going for quite a long time - probably since I began my period - though it definitely got worse when I started birth control pills. Currently I am on no BC pills partly because I wanted to check things out and see if the birth control pills were responsible. I've been off them for over a year so I know they are not the problem.

I have a feeling it could be something like PMDD I'm just not sure how "severe" symptoms have to be for it to be PMDD. Though I'm glad to hear there is treatment. I'm waiting on my health insurance to kick in but you can be sure as soon as it does I'll be at the doctor.

Thanks for all your thoughtful responses.

[clairea]

Newsomz, I was interested to see this thread, as I have been experiencing something similar for about the last year. For me it seems to hit the hardest about a week after my period and last for 4-5 days, and then get better. Like you, I have had an episode of depression so I know what that feels like (and it feels similar, but doesn't go on for long enough to meet clinical criteria for depression). I have an appointment with my gyn in April so will discuss it with him then. In any event, you are not alone, and I will be thinking of you.

[Leslie Ferguson]

My understanding of PMDD is severity is somewhat subjective but the operative phrase is the mood swings/depression must impinge on your day-to-day living and how you interact with those around you.

I talked with my wife this morning (she was asleep when I posted last night) and she reminded me that the dysphoria starts relatively benignly and "picks up speed" as it progresses. She related a couple issues that she had that would normally not have set her off yet caused her to have mood swings and not those which would be associated with depression.

I wouldn't discount PMDD just because you aren't always teary for 2 weeks. There are a lot of symptoms and manifestations (as the second link noted) for different women. Since I'm not a doctor I can't really diagnose nor would I try over this bulletin board but the possibility of your issues being PMDD are certainly food for thought.

I hope that you and any other people who suffer from the dysphoria get it diagnosed and treated. My wife is happier and more productive and more like the woman I married nearly 23 years ago now that she has been treated for nearly 3 years.

Peace,
Les