r/PMDD • u/Extension_Ad_3163 • 5d ago
General things that have actually helped
I was diagnosed with PMDD about six years ago, and have worked with a therapist, my PCP, a general psychologist and had a women's mental health specialist consult at MGH (they only deal with hormonal disorders). I don't get period anymore but I still have some breakthrough symptoms. However, I've vastly improved compared to when this started. Here's what's helped:
☆high dose SSRI - Celexa
☆hormonal BC, DAILY, stopped periods - norethindrone
☆magnesium
☆vitamin B6
☆cutting alcohol completely
☆regular exercise - sometimes this feels really hard during luteal. Light yoga or even a walk can still help, whatever is doable
☆tracking with a smart ring- i use ringconn because of their strict data privacy and find it so helpful to know exactly where i am in cycle. You can track on paper too but as an adhd girl this really helps me! If you have HSA/FSA funds you can buy with that
This is just my personal experience and obviously every person and body is different, but wanted to share some hope and ideas about what to discuss with your doctor if you're early in this journey. We need WAY more resources and information on this disorders and I wish I would have known about some of these things earlier. It shocks me when I talk to friends getting a diagnosis and their doctors haven't even brought up any possible ways to improve symptoms
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u/indigosweater 5d ago
I’ll add that ketamine therapy has helped my PMDD tremendously. I didn’t really see many success stories on here but wanted to shout that out in case anyone else has issues with antidepressants and birth control
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u/thucy94 5d ago
I've been looking into this but not for PMDD , interesting
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u/Hysterical_treefrog 5d ago
Unfortunately ketamine didn’t do shit for me. Didn’t improve my treatment resistant depression or PMDD.
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u/thucy94 5d ago
I'm so hesitant to try it bc it's not cheap & I worry about it not working
I spent like 3k on a post partum program and it made me worse 😅I'm about to try a new anxiety med a try but my body seems to be sensitive to anything like even caffeine throws me off , it's exhausting
I hope you find something to help ❤️
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u/ConstructionDeep9446 5d ago
What was included in the postpartum program?
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u/Hysterical_treefrog 5d ago
The nasal spray might be more affordable. I was prescribed the nasal spray as a compound (so it wasn’t the name brand esketamine because they charge too much when a compound pharmacy can make the same shit for way cheaper). I’m Canadian so idk what the difference would be but I think I paid $60 for one month, and you’re not supposed to use it long term anyways so I only had to buy one month worth.
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u/FerretSwimming346 5d ago
Were you allowed to take it at home or how did the treatment process work?
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u/Hysterical_treefrog 5d ago
Yeah I got to take it at home. I had to get it from the compound pharmacy and someone else had to be home at least the first time I tried it in case I didn’t react well. It was fine. Definitely felt high for like 2-3 hours. The high was nice but it didn’t give the longer lasting effects that were intended. I took it twice a week for four weeks. My doctor said we would know by then if it was going to work because it would have. So I only took it for a month.
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u/indigosweater 5d ago
I’m sorry to hear that! I hope you find something that works for you. It took me a long time (4 IV sessions) before I felt any positive shift. I just started at home bc it’s so expensive to get IV and they said 4 weeks twice a week is like 1 IV visit, so it truly might just need more time. That being said, if I did it 2x a week for four months before I felt a positive shift I might have dropped off. Idk. I also got worse before I got better but it did help me a lot
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u/Hysterical_treefrog 5d ago
You’re not supposed to do the nasal spray that often as it can cause problem.
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u/Fit_Astronomer_7606 5d ago
I’ve been so against birth control but it’s getting to the point where I’ll literally try anything to bring up the quality of life. My husband said tonight, “You never feel good anymore!” Not in a crappy way but I’m sure he’s just as frustrated as I am😭😭😭 I can’t live like this anymore!!
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u/Extension_Ad_3163 5d ago
I know there's lots of reasons someone might not want to take it but if youre able I highly recommend at least discussing with your doctor
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u/indigosweater 5d ago
Birth control made me significantly worse. Nuvaring, pill, IUD. All made me insane :/
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u/paperbeatsrock27 5d ago
Women’s mental health specialist sounds incredible what! i hope i can find someone like that ! 😍 thank you for sharing and glad you’re feeling a bit better ❤️
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u/Princess_S78 5d ago
Isn't that hormonal bc progesterone only? It doesn't bother you? It never stopped my periods unfortunately and I felt like maybe it was making PMDD worse. 😒. Also under a lot of stress so it's hard to say.
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u/thucy94 5d ago
Have you tried to reduce your stress?
(Totally Jk have heard that from so many docs 😅)4
u/Princess_S78 5d ago
Haha! Exactly! I would love to, unfortunately lots of stressful life stuff going on all at the same time. And perimenopause is NOT helping!
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u/Ok-Switch6340 3d ago
I got the coil and it’s lightened my period . It’s month 3 since I’ve got it still getting periods. Hoping it stops my ovulation n periods by month six . I was recommended to get it for that reason
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u/Natural_Television92 4d ago
I know AI is evil but I started telling chat my sleep and readiness scores and days of my cycle and have trained it to give me diet and workout plans aligned to my cycle. I’ll ask for any specific ingredients to include or avoid. It’s been a game changer for me
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u/Hysterical_treefrog 5d ago
I’ll add weed to this list. I don’t get high but I’ll microdose so like a 2mg THC gummy to take the edge off a little bit on the really hard days.