PMS

I have no idea if this is the right place or not . . .

I have horrible PMS. Psychotic PMS, even. (I was diagnosed with schizophrenia but I reject that diagnosis and all psychiatric treatment.) I go nuts before my period and I'm fine the day it begins.

Anybody else get bad PMS? This bad?

I'm not sure what to do. I refuse to take the standard medical treatments (birth control pills or antidepressants). I'm seeing an acupuncturist and I've taken starflower oil and evening primrose oil. What else?

I would say, make sure you keep peeing and pooping during pms week - don't let yourself get too bloated. eat veg, pineapple, stuff like that, exercise, and don't completely stay away from salt, just balance it out with extra potassium-containing foods, that will help the brain-bloat, which should help the moodiness.

Pre-menstrual mood disorder? Yes, mood disruptions can cause psychosis.

I remember reading something about evening primrose oil and schizophrenia not mixing, I know you want to reject the diagnosis but, do look into that.

I have bipolar disorder and PMS has caused me to switch moods!

I know you're rejecting standard medications in favor of "natural" drugs. May I ask why? Especially birth control. That's what helped me the most!

I just have a hard time believing (in fact, do not believe at all) that 'schizophrenia' is one uniform illness with one uniform cause. It may well be that EP oil may exacerbate something that is currently under the umbrella of 'schizophrenia', but eh . . . it's all far too uncertain.

Why? Primarily because the "treatments" do not work for me -- in fact, they made me significantly more ill and left me with lasting trauma and permanent physical damage. Secondary reasons include that there is no clear evidence for the treatments working, and the evidence we do have is confounded by fraud and conflicts of interest on the part of the drug companies. I figure that if nothing (standard medical or natural) has been proven to work and the standard medical treatments are backed by legal powers to compel, I'll just stay the hell away!

I won't take BC because taking daily medication gives me panic attacks -- one result of the compulsory treatment order I was put under. More generally, I am disinterested in seeing medical doctors. This is mostly because they try to blame all of my problems (from fevers to broken toes to vision loss) on the diagnosis they saddled me with. It's not that I have positively elected to take "natural" treatments, it's just the residue that's left once standard medicine is excluded.

I see your point of view. I don't want to sound argumentative at all here but, there are other forms of hormonal contraceptives that might help like the nuva ring. I doubt you'd risk a shot of depo every three months but, might do the trick.

Although I can see where you're coming from, I don't understand that "natural" remedy argument agains "big pharma". Many of those pills are made in labs that fall under the same corporations who make pharmacueticals. These "natural" drugs are marketed to target a different audience and given different brands for that purpose.

Tell me if I'm out of line. I ask questions only in an attempt to get a better understanding of where you're coming from. It isn't meant to be judgemental or to tell you what you should do for yourself, I fully support the idea that we diagnosed have all rights to reject treatment, the label or both. I also understand all too well from my own attempts to get the meds right, how what might work for me or what might have me psychotic won't necessarily work for someone else.

They have scrips for that " Celebrex " will solve that issue.

I would just say if you've had some sort of reaction/problems with BC be very wary of DEPO i had one cycle of it and had a terrible reaction to it. I was left me very ill for 2 yrs and i have been warn that i may find it has affected my fertility if i decide to try and conceive.

No no, I mean 'natural' like . . . diet or acupuncture or whatever. I can't swallow tablets anymore no matter what's in them

I might try the nuvaring, if I can find a sympathetic doctor. I'm terrified of them, eh.

But also the fact that natural remedies are all available OTC, that's a big plus in my book. It means choice, not some holier-than-thou doctor prescribing drugs from on high.

Anybody else get bad PMS? This bad?

I'm not sure what to do. I refuse to take the standard medical treatments (birth control pills or antidepressants). I'm seeing an acupuncturist and I've taken starflower oil and evening primrose oil. What else?[/quote]

My PMS is so bad I feel sad, I overeat,im confused, I pee quite often,I dont have the best thoughts.....BUT after exrcising I feel so happy.So I look forward to exercising for the rush......I take a combination of erbs etc all read from internet.I live in Asia and doctors and meds are so limited in views. Im mid 40's so its PMS thats closer to peri. I do my best thats all I can do.I hate feeling the way my PMS makes me so thats why Im in search of my own remedies constantly.I also meditate............

I feel a lot of hostility as part of PMS with near-weepy episodes. 90% of the time I have one crying episode before my period. The hostility is pretty disturbing - I get paranoid, hate my boyfriend, hate my job, hate traffic, people, coworkers, just want to be left alone. I calm down almost the day of my period starting though.

My pdoc wants me to up my sertraline when I feel this coming on but it still doesn't control all of these symptoms/reactions. I don't want BCP myself because of weight gain, side effects, and risks. So for now I just accept this for what it is. I am due for a full physical so maybe I will get some suggestions from a primary doc.

I struggle with things getting much worse before that time of the month too, and since I have gone off birth control (nuva ring) it has gotten sooo much worse. I've thought about talking to my doc about regular birth control pills but I don't want another med if it's unnecessary and I'm so bad about taking my meds as is (thus being on nuva ring in the first place).

Did you try the iud? No meds, no extra weight. I feel ok. And it lasts for 5 years or it can come out before than to.

One of my friends had an iud and they said they hate it and it is uncomfortable. I keep meaning to do more research on it.

I have PMS at least this bad, yes. I've always referred to it as suicidal-psychotic-PMS. Often, there is a great deal of rage, as well. And impulsive behavior... I get manic (not bipolar, but you wouldn't know it if you encountered me during that lovely week).

I can't tolerate hormones or antidepressants, so I gave up on those years ago. Someone told me that soy isoflavons are tremendously helpful. I've not tried. I've started taking a mood stabilizer and am hoping for the best.

I can relate...ugh. no fun. I just try to stay away from everyone, avoid anything remotely sentimental ( i will cry at the drop of a hat), not eat too much and avoid mirrors

sorry, i dont mean to make light of it, but i dont know what else to do. Every 21 to 24 days like clockwork.

Sweet pms memory: If i forgot to write down the last date of the. I would just ask my F...he totally remembered to a tee! (That would be around the time i was extra emotional or weeping with a Hallmark commercial. Hah!)

I thought one of the good things about taking an AD was it would help my PMS.....Yeahhhh right!!

I just seem to stay pissed off and raiding the kitchen for anything chocolate while crying over "The Golden Girls." Jeesh!

yeah it's the magnesium in chocolate and peanuts that you want for pms. also if you can catch a nap or get to bed early, I found that will help.