The two weeks leading up to my monthly menstrual cycle are pure h-e-l-l for me and for my family. I have acquired quite a lengthy list of health conditions and PMDD and the perimenopause symptoms are probably the hardest out of all of my health problems for my husband and son. I wrote a post the other week, Symptoms of Perimenopause vs. CFS, where I describe the similarities in many of the symptoms between the two. So if you are dealing with both, it’s like being hit with a double whammy.
A little over two years ago I was diagnosed with PMDD, or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Basically, PMDD is PMS gone mad. According to PMDD Factsfor Health, the definition states that PMDD is…
…a condition associated with severe emotional and physical problems that are linked closely to the menstrual cycle. Symptoms occur regularly in the second half of the cycle and end when menstruation begins or shortly thereafter. PMDD is not just a new name for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a condition that affects as many as 75% of menstruating women. It is, however, considered to be a very severe form of PMS that affects about 5% of menstruating women. Both PMDD and PMS share symptoms in common that include depression, anxiety, tension, irritability and moodiness. What sets PMDD apart is its severity. Women with PMDD find that it has a very disruptive effect on their lives.
It is now about three days before my cycle is to begin (if it comes on time) and I am feeling more and more exhausted and agitated as the week continues. I take my Prozac as prescribed, and my symptoms aren’t quite as severe, but they are still bad enough to disrupt my daily living. Add Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS along with it and I am totally and completely miserable.
While the symptoms are hard enough to deal with, how it affects my family bothers me the most. Last month my husband said I was pretty hard to take. He said I was really grouchy and mean and was flying off the handle for no reason. I also was really grouchy and impatient with my parents and family when we were together and I was a total mess the day after. I was crying, and depressed – I felt like I did right after I gave birth to my son. I called my mother, crying, apologizing for being difficult and she understood.
This month has been better than last butI still feel horrible. I’m going to go back to bed now! Wake me up when the next week is over!
Sandy – You are writing my life. I am in ME/CFS perimenopausal hell. I don’t know how you even cope (well I guess because you have to) with a young child. Mine are 21 and 24 (at the end of this month). Although they are great kids in the scheme of things, I don’t even want to see their faces or voices. Now – this is coming from what was once the quintessential soccer Mom – heading all kinds of committees – lives revolving around the kids and we loved it. These days – I have times where I can’t stand their voices, attitudes or even facial expressions. The 21 year old is in college, so he’s removed. The 24 year old graduated college, is employed (thank God), goes to night school for his Masters in Electrical Engineering. What more could a mother want, right? I just have no tolerance, patience, or fight left in me to keep on keeping on. I have no patience for the “I know it all attitude”, and I’m losing the resolve to keep my mouth shut. Not a good combination. I’m so beat to death from these illnesses and perimenopause and clinical depression (which is treated, but you’d never know it).
This week has been madness in my brain and body. Last night at 2 am I was talking to the dog (she sleeps with my husband and I – she would have been the dysfunctional third child – lol). I am so sick and tired of being so sick and tired. I’ve always been known as the person who perseveres, has an upbeat attitude, goes above and beyond the call of duty in life. I don’t know who I am any longer. I don’t even recognize the person looking back at me in the mirror. I look as though I’ve aged 30 years (so I missed middle age and jumped to 80) and the excessive weight gain from medications, the inability to exercise and so on.
You know this whole scenario. It’s truly unfathomable most of the time. I’m so tired of holding on one day at a time. I’m glad you posted this today. It was a catalyst for me to write down some of what I’m feeling. Thanks, Nancy
P.S. – I’m praying as I’m sitting here at my desk asking for peace for us both. God bless.
Hi ladies, just wanted to let you know I had fibromyalgia and CFS and pmdd for 2 years. I ended up doing some integrative therapies which I believe cured me, including oxygen therapies. I still have pmdd but I have started Network Spinal analysis care and regular qigong and it is making a big difference. Also a natruopath is helping balance my hormones. I feel much happier and in control. Best wishes.
Hi Georgia,
Your post really interest me. I have CFS, fibromyalgia and PMDD since 2011. I was wondering what kind of integrative therapies you did that cured you. Please reply. I’m very desperate to find a solution.
Thank you,
Julie
I really didn’t think anything would come up when I googled ‘pmdd cfids fibromyalgia’. I’m glad something did. Thanks for posting this.
Thumbs up on not listening to your dr about perimenopausal symptoms, I’m only 23 and it I know it’s not uncommon for those to start around 40, I’ve even heard of it starting in late 30’s.