Posted by ARR on February 1, 2001, at 13:25:29
In reply to PMDD:So many questions!, posted by Jules726 on January 27, 2001, at 19:14:46
Dear Jules,
This is also my first time posting anything on the internet, but I know that I have something to contribute to this conversation, so here goes. I really understand how debilitating this PMS can be but I am very hesitant to label it PMDD. It do not think that it is aptly identified as a mental illness. I know that there are many severe and debilitating emotional symptoms, and I certainly understand that their is an imbalance in the body's chemisty that contributes to it, but
jumping from that to conclusion that taking an anti-depressent is the solution is a leap I am not willing to make. As a health care practioner, I am part of a growing field called Functional Medicine which is based on the premise that symptoms such as PMS are the result of functional imbalances in the body's biochemistry that can be effectively identified and eliminated using a variety of lifestyle changes and what are frequently (but in my opinion erroneously thought of as "alternative" therapies)I have had a great deal of consistant success in helping women eliminate these symptons. It often takes more individualized analysis and recommendations than the simple "eat a good diet and take this herb" but it works effectively.
I'll write down a few of the approaches that I have found to be successful, and you can start looking into it: Correcting essential fatty acid imbalances often utilizing either Evening Primrose oil of EPA/DHA; improving hepatic detoxification; dietary changes that improve blood sugar balance; testing for and then correcting estrogen/progesterone levels using natural sources of progesterone. Dr. John Lee has written extensively about this, and I would suggest getting his book. Chasteberry is a very effective herb, as is a specific Chinese Herbal Formula formulated by a company called Metagenics ( which is a company that works with professionals and has a just released a new line of products for balancing hormones naturally that is cutting edge and very effective. You might check out the web site of Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories; they have developed a number of laboratory tests that go far beyond what are typically offered.
These are just a few ideas; I hope that they lead you towards some real solutions. I've seen it happen again and again
Best of luck to you
> Hi. This is my first time posting a message
anywhere on the internet but I really need some answers.
> I am 28 years old and have been suffering these terrible symptoms since I was about 12.
> I'll never forget how one day I woke up and all of a sudden had no self confidence, began having panic attacks, couldn't control my temper and overall was just not a happy person.
> I guess I should start on how I found this message board.
> My husband and I just had our first child in June of 2000 (which since I was pregnant I have had none of those feelings).
> We would like to start trying to have another so I went to the doctor to see if there was any way to tell whether or not I was ovulating(I've been breast feeding exclusively until about a month ago--now only twice a day).
> I still have not menstruated since I got pregnant but those awful feelings are back and surprise, surprise, yesterday I got my period.
> While I was at the doctors I described the awful emotional turmoil I go through every month due to my period (my husband jokes that he only gets one good week out of me a month because I begin acting crazy two weeks before and the week of).
> He didn't come out and say that he thought it was PMDD but he gave me some samples of Celexa to try.
> I wanted to do some research before I began taking them because my doctor said there wasn't enough literature out to say whether or not it's safe to take while trying to get pregnant (but there are no studies showing negative effects).
> Reading through some other message boards I became extremely scared due to all the awful side effects that people were experiencing.
> I am a Masters student in exercise physiology so I know the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.
> However, I know there is some chemical imbalance within me (and I have always known but everyone told me I was just sensitive)and exercise and diet alone is just not enough.
> The past 17 months have been wonderful due to not having to deal with this but these past couple weeks have been brutal(on myself and on my husband).
> Could someone please tell me what they know of the available drugs out there that may not interfere with me getting pregnant or while being pregnant(I feel if I do not do something that I will not be able to become pregnant just due to stress)?
> I do have to say that I feel so much better finally knowing that this has been something that I couldn't control and that there ared others who are dealing with these issues as well.
> It is amazing how disruptive it can be to your life and relationships.
> On one of the boards someone was talking about that they even need to be driven around by someone else when this happens.
> And it's funny because I told my husband yesterday that I should not have been in the car because I was out of control.
> Well I'll be looking forward to hearing some news.
> Thank you.
> Jules
poster:ARR
thread:3315
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010131/msgs/53112.html