Posted by Talula on March 10, 2007, at 20:50:25
In reply to Re: Doug, posted by KarenB on November 24, 2000, at 11:13:05
Hello all,
I am new to this forum, and have been reading through many of the threads here on PMDD. After a few years of noticing a pattern to my mood changes, researching, and trying to scrape up enough courage to seek treatment, I am (finally) very motivated to find an answer to my problem. I suspect it may be PMDD (and in fact, have been tracking my symptoms), but I'm also wondering about depression and/or anxiety. I am new to my area, and have yet to establish a relationship with a physician, so, I am hedging around, trying to figure out WHO to go to. I don't want to go to just ANY phsyician or psychiatrist. I want to go to someone who is well-informed regarding PMDD and mood disorders.In this post I was reading, posted by KarenB in response to Doug, Karen suggests locating a "mood disorder specialist." My question is, how would a person go about finding someone who is a mood disorder specialist? Very few docs seem to be advertised as such.
And, not to further complicate this post, but does anyone have any experience with psychopharmacologists or neuropsychopharmacologists? From all the reading I've been doing, it seems that it may also be advantageous to find a doctor who has a deep understanding of the "chemistry" of the brain (e.g. the role of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, etc). Anyway...any advice on any of these topics would be deeply appreciated.
> Doug,
>
> It is good of you to hang in there with her - I think. If she refuses to seek help, however, it is time to make decisions for yourself that are right and healthy. If she is abusive AND refuses to seek help, well, I hope you would know what to do. First, though, ask her to get help when she is not in an irrational, proud, "I'm perfectly fine" state of mind. I am assuming you are not married (?)
>
> I would strongly suggest that she seek a consultation with a mood disorder specialist like Dr. Steven Dobovsky here in Denver, to find out just what is really going on with her. I am not talking about just any psychiatrist. It may be a mood disorder and not only PMS or PMDD (PMS from hell). She may find that a mood stabilizer may just change her life. If she is bipolar, Prozac will not.
>
> I can't tell you how many years I thought I just had REALLY BAD PMS, only to find that my mood swings were not corresponding with my cycle or menses - they were just considerably WORSE from ovulation straight through my period. I have tried every natural herb you can imagine, every tea. Exercise, diet restrictions, you name it. Over the years my cycles of insanity simply got closer together, until it was one fast and scary roller coaster ride.
>
> Since I have been on Tegretol (almost two months) I have gone through a complete cycle without becoming Mrs. Hyde or contemplating suicide. This could be kind of a miracle but I'll give it some more time before I make a judgment. I too have gotten my hopes up more times than I can count, only to be dissappointed. That's not what I am expecting this time, though. I think this time, it may just be for real. I am always hopeful.
>
> Too bad that the docs can't fulfill my request for some kind of permanent euphoric hypomania. Oh well...
>
> Hi back to you, Anna and Janice!
>
> Karen
poster:Talula
thread:3315
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070308/msgs/740013.html