story time: pmdd✨🥚
i feel like my diagnosis brought me a sense of relief and peace.🕊️
i got my period a few months after i turned 10 years old. It’s been 10 years i’ve struggled with horrible, god awful periods. i’ve been on birth control for about almost 3 years and that made a significant difference.
when i was sexually active for the first time i had pain and that pain never went away during sex for me. i truly believed i had endometriosis and my doctors agreed they thought a laproscopic surgery could be beneficial.
welp i don’t have endometriosis except for one little itty bitty piece they burned off. they told me i had a inverted pelvic or something i cant remember the term im typing this absolutely fried rn.
a few months go by and im still feeling so so depressed and im on a high dose of zoloft. i started thinking i was bipolar because of the impulsively, sleep, mood swings. my sister is bipolar so it wouldn’t have been a real shocker. but i did a lot of searching and reading about different things because i was so tired of fighting to stay alive.
the diagnosis
PMDD.
had you ever heard of pmdd? i didn’t until i started to see a pattern in my cycles and i started doing some research.
“Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that includes physical and behavioral symptoms that usually resolve with the onset of menstruation.”
i’ve been diagnosed with anxiety since i was in 1st grade, depression in 7th, and medicated starting in 7th grade i believe as well. im currently 19 now, almost 20. i got my period when i was freshly turned 10 years old. It’s been 10 years i’ve struggled with this disorder and i had no idea. now that i’ve been diagnosed i was able to adjust my meds to try them out. and of course, the right dosage, the doctors who listened, and my mom for being along my side for all of this.
i’m not a dr don’t listen to me medical wise but just as a take away, fight for your health if you know somethings wrong. listen to your gut, don’t wait to book appointments and put it off.
i hope someone finds this and feels a bit less alone. i hope you always prioritize your health, mental and physical. i’m always here if anyone wants to talk or if you need resources feel free to reach out🫶
#storytime #lemon8contest #embracevulnerability #Lemon8Diary #healthylifestyle2024 #mentalhealth #PMS #periodhealth #WomenHealth #anxiety
My diagnosis journey with PMDD was incredibly confusing at first. What I now recognize as pmdd mood symptoms felt like a completely different beast than typical PMS. I'd swing from feeling fine to deep despair, intense irritability, or uncontrollable anger, often leading to isolation. It was a profound, debilitating emotional shift, not just feeling a bit down. I constantly questioned, is this just really bad PMS, or am I dealing with something more serious, like depression or bipolar disorder? Learning the distinctions was crucial for me. For anyone struggling with PMDD vs PMS, it's essential to understand the difference. While PMS might bring mild irritability or bloating, PMDD manifests with severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, extreme mood changes, and even suicidal thoughts. The cyclical pattern is key – PMDD symptoms usually start 1-2 weeks before your period and significantly improve or disappear shortly after menstruation begins. This pattern helps differentiate it from constant conditions like major depressive disorder. Recognizing these pmdd mood changes helped me realize my experiences were far beyond typical period woes. I also learned about various risk factors for PMDD. A personal or family history of depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders, as well as high stress levels or past trauma, can increase your susceptibility. It truly made me reflect on my own life and mental health history. Another symptom I battled was pmdd insomnia. It's incredibly frustrating when your mind races, making sleep impossible during those pre-period weeks, especially when you're already grappling with intense emotions. Restful sleep felt like a luxury. My original article briefly mentioned pain during sex, and dealing with sexual health issues alongside PMDD can be really tough. Heightened emotions, low self-esteem, and physical discomfort can make intimacy challenging. Communicating these feelings with a partner and a doctor is vital. When I was in a hospital gown and hospital bed before surgery for what we thought was endometriosis, I remember feeling so much physical and emotional distress, and it made me wonder about all the ways my body was feeling out of sync. Regarding queries about Pepcid for PMDD or Pepcid AC and PMDD: it's understandable for people to explore every possible avenue for relief. While Pepcid is primarily an antacid, some individuals have discussed trying it, perhaps due to theories about histamine involvement in inflammation or gut health affecting mood. However, it's important to remember that it's not a recognized or clinically recommended treatment for PMDD. My doctors never brought it up, and if you're considering does Pepcid AC help with PMDD, please consult your healthcare provider first. They can guide you through evidence-based treatments and ensure any new approaches won't interact with your existing medications, like Zoloft or birth control.
This was difficult also knowing that I had severe mood swings that most people just ignored, I may not have pmdd but we have to inform others about this, we got this sigmas!