Getting a professional opinion on pmdd

[daysees.livejournal.com]

I apologize for spamming the comm today but I am wondering what sort of professional I should make an appointment with to see if I have and can be treated for PMDD. (general physician? Gyn? Phyciatric?)

I've been struggling with this for a couple years and now I really want to get professional advice. I know I have it and the birth control pills I am on don't seem to help. I'm still manic each month and it's tiresome.

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Comments

[chelseathirteen.livejournal.com]

PMDD?

[daysees.livejournal.com]

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It's an extreme form of pms that can be incredibly damaging. :(

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

If you have a doctor you like, any of those specialties should be able to help.

People in this recent post suggested a psychiatrist, though it depends on what kind of help you want.
http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/20657681.html#comments

[daysees.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[septicidal.livejournal.com]

I was diagnosed with PMDD by my psychiatrist. She had me track my symptoms by writing down my feelings/symptoms every day as well as separately tracking my menstrual cycles, to help determine if there was a pattern. I think I lucked out in that I was happening to see a psychiatrist who was more familiar with treating patients with PMDD, and so she was willing to spend more time with me than some other psychiatrists I had seen before.

[tornattheelbo.livejournal.com]

i have mild cyclical mood changes, and I can tell ya that oral contraceptives usually made things worse for me, depending on the brand, etc. but I was hard pressed to find one that I liked that didn't cause me to have seemingly bizarre mood shifts from time to time.

Have you considered other forms of contraception? IUD maybe? I had a mirena and despite (or maybe in leiu of) the hormonal content I felt myself to be more even-keeled.

[daysees.livejournal.com]

I am thinking about something like mirena. But I've had the symptoms prior to being on an oral contraceptive. Back then my period was period was worse and my emotional swings were just as bad. I feel like I'm at a loss and wonder if the best way to avoid the emotional swings would be to not have my period at all. >_

[tornattheelbo.livejournal.com]

YES. this was my hypothesis, and while i did still have a cycle on mirena I found that it was a lot less swing-y. I still seemed to suffer from PMS a bit, I would tend to get weepy and sensitive right before I would bleed, but i found it to be a lot milder and I was more able to recognize that I was having hormonal shifts, and not just totally wacko.

[elialshadowpine.livejournal.com]

Oral contraceptives helped me, but the Nuvaring has been a lot better. Dunno if it's because of how it's absorbed. It's been a freaking godssend.

[sweetchild92.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking you could probably start with a GP, if that's easiest for you.

[dkwgdk.livejournal.com]

I was d/xed with PMDD by my psychiatrist, who said "hey! your depression gets way worse right before your period!" But, I had a preexisting mood condition and was already under her care. Some folks find that being on the pill helps even out their moods, while others (points to self) find that being on the pill makes the mood swings worse. Even though I cycle from "normal" to "depressed" without any stops in mania, I do benefit a lot from mood stabilizers: Lamictal and Equetro.

[daysees.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their feedback! I got an appointment with a new GYN for next week. Hoping it will go well. :)