[TgrsPurr]

I'm going to keep this in the first person as I can only speak for myself.

The week before I'm surfing the crimson wave I find my emotions to be quite unpredictable...mimicking bp, the ups and downs.
I find that sometimes I confuse the two and blame my illness.
When I was younger, this was never an issue. No irritability, emotional outbursts or unwarranted waterfalls of streaming tears. And while I've always been a sexual person, this particular time I'm ridiculous in my desire to do the crazy wacky tomato all the time. Unfortunately, on a much lesser scale, I continue to feel this way into the week that follows...which can be quite frusterating!!!

My point, is that, it wasn't until I tracked my moods for several months and continued to do so, that I realized this pattern and blamed it all on my illness. Kind of like when a person passes gas and then blames the dog, lol.
(of course I'VE never done that!). The culprit is hormones!

So girls, what do you think? What might you have to say on the issue? Can you relate? Any suggestions?

Okay, for you boys who snuck a peak...Some of you might be grimasing, I warned you, you big lug! I'm done now, 'kay. TgrsPurr, xo.

[NLITEN]

Yes some of the symptoms are defo similar and difficult to distinguish from BP, but for me the bp ups/downs are much stronger (so are the desires ).: Which I always thought was kind of odd (that they don't amplify one another: it would be interesting to understand how which hormones effect which especially estrogen, progesterone, and seratonin). But I think that I am defo not the best person to comment on this at the moment. My moods have reached a hole new level of severity and intensity as of late. Not only are they more intense, but I have less (alrgiht i'll admit it: I have NO) ability to keep them in check. This has been a very bad combo (especially in terms of sex).
I don't know what's up with this new level of intensity. I think it may be because I have never been treated with mood stabilizers (only anti-depressants and sleeping pills: Whcih are no good), or that the symptoms/problem is getting worse as I age (especially with out treatment)???
I can see how it would be difficult if you're trying to chart your moods, but in me PMS symptoms are of different severity and tone. Actually I have had such rapid and intense cycles lately (changing several times throughout the day/week/month), that I think PMS leaves me toned down in comparison to how I get the rest of the month (who'd have thunk huh)?
OK I am stopping right now, before this nonsensical jibberish gets any worse... hope you get something out of this reply!
lol
-Valerei

[SeaTuon]

I have actually always wondered about this. My husband has bi-polar. I am no where near normal myself, I've come to believe that there is no normal way to act or behave. The problem is when you have something like bi-polar (realize I am no professional, plus I'm fairly new at bi-polar) you don't know on what scale your normal maybe, and what to define PMS normal vs. Bi-Polar. I know that when I am going through PMS, I get bloated, anxious, grumpy, I can rarely get depressed. I have never been one to become truely depressed, obviously we all have our times of depression.

I think the best way to learn the difference, is to write how you feel each day in your journal and keep on a calendar the exact days you go through that "time of month" and such.

It's hard I know, believe me I feel like somedays I'm there in the mix of Bi-Polar myself. There is no easy way, just take it day by day.

*hugs*

[dogtanian]

oh my god, my pmt is a force to be reckoned with! it's always worse when my bipolar is less under control, but it's usually like a severe mixed state episode which lasts about a week before coming on. i get cramps for 2 weeks and bad skin and chocolate cravings for 3 weeks! mad!!

going back on the pill has really really helped.

i actually had to request going back on it, even though i have no need for contraceptives, because it is a living hell and i make the world hell for anyone around me too when i'm due on. i am intensely aggressive, *****y, moody, tearful, angry - just horrible. a lot of my "sane" friends get PMT but they get a bit upset, a big sad, annoyed - i go right off the scale! it's horrible. when on the pill, i tend to cut my periods right down - 2 a year if poss. i know it's not entirely healthy, but hey, i'm not exactly a walking health book anyway and well, it's better than alienating every one i know every month!

[Mahali]

bump

[darkeyes]

Unfortunately, our PMS and bipolar make it hard to say if it is our disorder or both combined.
As I got older PMS wasn't too bad as the younger days, I was a total witch
I do find over the past 4-5 years I've been on mood stabilizers, the PMS is tolerable, but now istead of being a witch for those 2 weeks, I get very tired (always did before) and melancholy then it passes, when it doesn't I get nervous thiking the meds aren't working, so I endure that drop in mood.
If it does get intese then I would call the pdoc. just to be certain if a med change or dosage change is needed.
Ah, these damn hormoes and the changes, I mean this for the young girls and middle aged ones (me) ha!ha!

Take care,

DE