[BlueInanna]

I'm wondering if bp ladies have a harder time with 'time of the month' than our non bp friends. I don't know anyone, except my bp daughter who gets pms as bad as I do. And during also, we act like insane witches. This adds up to about half of every month! Not fair! Any insight?

[Miswimmy1]

I am not sure about bp, but I know that for me ADHD and OCD get worse during certain times of the month. So i assume that other mental disorders have the same effect... :P It sucks

[eloquentdisaster]

I've never noticed my bp acting up in accordance with my period, or pre-period. I have no pms symptoms or cramps or anything, so that may have something to do with it? Don't know.

[tallwaters]

I am period free since 2004 due to hysterectomy.When I did have it Pre was awful I would come out of my skin with anxiety and then snap your head off! Then turn manic and be feeling wonderful. My daughter was same way and was diagnosed with pmdd. Prozac really helped her.

[LiveThroughThis]

YES. You nailed it---6 months out of the year, essentially, I feel pretty ok. The rest of the time is nothing short of nightmarish. My irritability/anxiety/moods/OCD all of it increase by about 50%. I am seeing an internist in a couple of weeks to see if he can help pinpoint the reason--maybe something's off with my hormones?

The cramps/cravings I can deal with. But my sleep gets exponentially worse as well. During my last period--the worst day of it--I was so anxious/on edge I seriously considered calling 911 (no one was home) because I thought I was either about to lose my mind, in the middle of losing my mind, or I would hurt one of my animals out of sheer frustration and insanity. Thank god it passed; it lasted about two hours (during which I reminded myself the hospital would only sedate me, as I'm already under psychiatric care and taking multiple meds, plus now (at least here) they're trying to keep from holding people overnight for evals (yay healthcare! the hosp bill would be an added stressor), that if I think I'm going crazy it's actual just anxiety and I won't die, but it was horrific. I could deal with it a lot better if I wasn't alone when it happens. I've tried telling my bf---it's like the most intense discomfort you can possibly have, minus actual pain.

I have half-joked to him to find a straightjacket to wrap me up in during those kinds of days before he leaves for work, just so I know I can't hurt myself or anyone else. I honestly think I'd feel better if I had one.

Needless to say I dread my periods. It's been like this on a minor level for years, but in last several months or more it's gotten much worse. If I thought I could live without the estrogen, I'd get a hysterectomy. It's not worth all this...

Side note: the SSRI I'm on for my OCD is also supposed to help PMS/PMDD.

[Trippin2.0]

I haven't had 'lady stuff' since 2005, simply bcoz I choose not to. My BC keeps it away in answer to your question: nope, my period never affected my bp. But I wasn't ever symptomatic to begin with. No pre,during, or after symptoms. Had my first cramps when I went into labour...lmao imagine my suprize!!!!!

I am bpd and i am a total b****h when it is time of the month

[Faraway tree]

Yup I get mega down / anxious and pretty much just want to die for the week leading up. I usually take the pill for three or four months at a time just to dodge even having a period at all each month, three or four a year is enough for me. Mines got more irregular as my biploar has got worse too, wonder if anyone else has the same?

[purpledaisy]

I've always turned into super-mega ***** from PMS through post-MS.

Since being diagnosed and looking back, I wonder why my family didn't realize something was way off kilter (along wtih all of the other signs).

Over the last few years (untreated/unmedicated for bp), I got to the point where I was almost suicidal when that time of the month rolled around.

I had to tell myself, "It will get better. Only a few more days."

Over-the-counter pain meds for cramps, etc., just don't work on me. Not strong enough.

I have some leftover pain meds from a medical experience, and I've used those as needed.

My big problem, along with PMS irritating all things bipolar, is the fact that my periods have returned to what they were like back in high school -- they last for 9 days, very painful, and flooding like crazy. Makes it difficult to go to work, even.

All I know is that my ex knew it was "that" time of the month before I did was it the weeping at sentimental commercials or my b***** behavior or the fact that I was a cup size larger for almost a whole week! Yippee!

[faerie_moon_x]

Well, I'm on an IUD so I don't know my cycle. I never had really bad PMS, mostly just cramps and fatigue. I actually think hormonal birth controle has a huget effect on me, both emotionally and physically. The IUD is lower dose so I do better.

[LiveThroughThis]

Originally Posted by Faraway tree

Yup I get mega down / anxious and pretty much just want to die for the week leading up. Mines got more irregular as my biploar has got worse too, wonder if anyone else has the same?

Mine have always been pretty regular, but last month for example I spotted for three or four days (never do that), before my actual period started. Imagine my surprise when I think I've started early and it's just really light, then 3 days in, full-blown menstruation.

Originally Posted by purpledaisy

I've always turned into super-mega ***** from PMS through post-MS.

Over the last few years (untreated/unmedicated for bp), I got to the point where I was almost suicidal when that time of the month rolled around.

I had to tell myself, "It will get better. Only a few more days."

Over-the-counter pain meds for cramps, etc., just don't work on me. Not strong enough.

My big problem, along with PMS irritating all things bipolar, is the fact that my periods have returned to what they were like back in high school -- they last for 9 days, very painful, and flooding like crazy. Makes it difficult to go to work, even.

Same with me about the cramps...recently mine have gotten like they were in high school (and I don't drink caffeine or eat sugar pre-time, ), and one Aleve every few hrs will keep it tolerable. Also, weirdly, in the last couple of years I went from having solely back cramps to now having back and stomach cramps, That's just not fair.

I'm definitely bringing up birth control to my internist when I see him. I always assumed BC caused meds to not work as well, but my P-doc said if there's any lessening of the meds' capacity (I'm not awake) it's very minimal.

So maybe birth control's the way to go. But god if it is I hope I don't gain weight--I'm overweight as it is. Maybe if I could go the IUD route....

[purpledaisy]

I hadn't even thought of using birth control to make things more bearable, because I haven't had sex since 1998.

[BlueInanna]

Thanks for replies! I was suspecting that bp ladies would have worse pms, etc. But no proof of that here, just the regular wide variance of experiences.

My daughter has a gyno appt in a couple days, I will ask some questions. I know she wants / needs birth control. I thought the 4 month shot sounded great, but pdoc said no, don't put something in here body that lasts that long, because if she has a bad reaction you cant get it out of her system. It's been 2 yrs since her last hospitalization,, but just last night she was talking about sui

So much to say... maybe I need a new thread... but any advice on birth control for someone with adhd & bp like my daughter. I know she'll forget to take the daily pill. And one gyno told me that because of her small size and never having had a child, that an iud would cause her continual pain.

[LiveThroughThis]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

So much to say... maybe I need a new thread... but any advice on birth control for someone with adhd & bp like my daughter. I know she'll forget to take the daily pill.

I KNOW I would forget a daily pill.

[BlueInanna]

Originally Posted by LiveThroughThis

I KNOW I would forget a daily pill.

And I know I DID forget many times, 3 kids later lol...

[faerie_moon_x]

My advice is don't put her on Depo. It is aweful. It not only made me feel like crap literrally, but it's actually very bad for the body. It saps your bone density and many, many women later have fertility issues. There are thousands of forum posts about it that I stumbled across when it was making me sick. The longer you are on Depo the more likely it seems to make you infertile.

So despite the convenience, I am anti-depo.

I don't think they will put an IUD unless you have had a baby. Best to talk to her GYN and see what they recommend for forgetful girls. I was on pills for about two years and I forgot them a lot, so I know what it is to be forgetful.

I have really bad pms, like suicidal. and I do not even usually get that low when I am depressed. It's a real nightmare, starts about a week before and mellows out a few days after it arrives. If you google this you will find some info about bipolar and women during that time of the month. There isn't a ton of info there, but some. I don't think it's all that uncommon, part of my mood tracking my pdoc had me do always including my menses on the chart.

I got pregnant on my first shot of depo, I know that's supposed to be a very rare occurance but it can happen . Also it made me extremely depressed, and you can't just stop taking it, so I think your dr is right with that idea.

I had an IUD for about 1 month, I had horrible stomach pains, could not have sex, and ended up with a bad infection, and had it removed. I suspect the infection was from actually putting it in and maybe wasn't steril enough. I have never been on the pill so I have no experience with that. I rely on condoms, and it's worked good for us. But we are in our 30's and can always be prepared for that.

[Blue Poppy]

I think that my mood drops lower during my period. Leading up to it, I usually have what I call one "day of rage"! What has really sucked the past few months is that I am trying to get regulated on birth control again, after being off it for many years, primarily because of all these bipolar meds. They are not working well and I have had my period for three weeks both months. Aaaaaahhhhhhhggggg

I am BPD and it depends on the month, but I am often almost psychotic during that time. My image of reality is totally warped and I'm upset about everything.