[celeste123]

I have a bit of a query for anyone that knows anything!!??!!
I've been suffering from depression for a few years. But this last year i've started to notice a pattern. Before my period i get really suicidaland feel completely useless and unable to do anything.
I mentioned to my doctor as to whether this was an issue i was wondering whether there was new medication or whatever that would help with this.
But she completely dismissed it and said that maybe i should try a PMT diet but that really hasn't helped at all.
I feel shes not hearing me.
What can i do does anyone have any ideas or advice? I'm getting pretty desperate.

[gardenergirl]

Sounds like you have PMDS, Pre-menstrual Dysphoria Syndrome. It's exactly as you describe...depression symtoms get much worse in the premenstrual phase. There are treatments available. Some folks take SSRI's all the time for it. There are some marketed especially for this, such as Sarafem. Other folks take an increased dose during the premenstrual phase. Also, if you are on birth control pills, these can affect your depression symptoms. Hormones can as well. I would try talking with your GYN about this. See if you can get your thyroid hormones checked. TSH should be somewhere around 1-2. Guidelines say it is "normal" as high as 5, but for many people, myself included, that causes me to feel more depressed when it is that high. Finally, you might consider seeing a pdoc or even an endocronologist if you do not already. They might be better equipped to help you deal with this.

Good luck, sweetie.

gg

Thans for the info gg, I feel that I'm similar to that too..

~K

[gardenergirl]

You're welcome. Incidentally, I didn't get better from it until I got into my late thirties.

gg

[Wants2Fly]

Interesting, Garden Girl. I've heard so many say that they didn't really start to be me until later in life -- sometimes not even until menopause, when the kids were gone . . .

[gardenergirl]

Well, it's just the PMDS that got better. And it could be that it got better once I started taking Synthroid. That seemed to affect my GYN hormones because my periods got regular for the first time in my life once my hypothyroidism was discovered and treated. Depression got better although has not gone away permanently once I started taking an MAOI. Still working on the root cause of it in therapy, though. Took until I was 37 to feel ready to go to therapy. I suppose it's different for everyone. I am in awe of the clients I see who are in their early twenties. And kind of jealous of them. Wish I had been able to go the therapy at that age.

Warmly,
gg