Pmdd Puns

Abstract: PMDD is a mood disorder that affects approximately 3% of menstruating women in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The symptoms of PMDD have significant overlap with the symptoms of hypocalcemia. A literature review shows that women with PMDD have significantly lower urine calcium values in the luteal phase as well as lower plasma levels of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D and IGF-1. These lower calciotropic hormone values lead to impaired bone calcium and access and lower intestinal absorption. Testing these values would allow clinicians to monitor these micronutrient deficiencies and the effectiveness of supplementation in their patients.

I think we all know what PMDD is so I'm going to skip some of the introduction.

Introduction:

There is significant symptom overlap between PMDD and hypocalcemia which begs the question of whether PMDD causes hypocalcemia or if the symptoms of PMDD are exacerbated by an underlying calcium deficiency. Monitoring calcium levels in women with PMDD and addressing low levels could provide a simple, low-cost intervention that may improve the symptomology of women with PMDD.

PMDD: Depression (sadness, lethargy, social isolation, decreased motivation), Anxiety (insomnia, paresthesia), Fatigue, Irritability, Labile mood, Food cravings, Edema, Bloating, Abdominal cramps, Headache, Generalized aches and pain

Hypocalcemia: Depression, Anxiety, Paresthesia, Fatigue, Impaired memory, Impaired intellectual capacity, Personality disturbances, Neuromuscular irritability, Muscle cramps, Tetany

The average adult human body contains around 1000 grams of calcium, 99% of which is in the form of hydroxyapatite and is located in the skeleton. One percent of calcium is found in the extracellular fluid. In blood 50% of this calcium is ionized and measurable while 40% is protein bound and 10% is complexed with citrate and phosphate. Diet is our only source of calcium, and the only loss of calcium is excretion in the urine. Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) are the most important up-regulators. While calcitonin is the most important down-regulator. Vitamin D is a transcription factor that increases intestinal absorption. PTH increases renal tubule reabsorption and hydroxylation of 25(OH) vitamin D to the active form 1,25 (OH)2 Vitamin D as well as increasing calcium levels by stimulating osteoclast activity and bone breakdown. 12

The menstrual cycle is divided into two primary phases; the follicular phase which starts on the first da

I have an amazing doctor who specializes in women’s health and hormones and today she prescribed me Zyrtec for my PMDD, to be taken every day. She explained the relationship between PMDD and inflammation and it was really interesting. I’m excited to try it.

Has anyone else tried daily allergy pills/ antihistamines for your PMDD?

Edit: For those wondering, here's some of what I think I understand so far about the PMDD/inflammation relationship:

My doctor mentioned “mast cell activation syndrome” and said studies are starting to show it could be at the root of many disorders (or at least related), including PMDD. Mast cells are allergy cells and can get out of control in some people, causing systemic inflammation, chronic allergy symptoms, and possibly disorders like PMDD (there seems to be a strong link between inflammation and a TON of physical and mental health issues). So it sounds like taking certain histamine blockers counteracts some of that inflammation and can soothe a lot of those symptoms, at least for some people. Addressing inflammation in other ways (through diet, exercise, certain supplements, etc) seems to be super helpful for people's PMDD symptoms as well, so antihistamines might just be one more strategy for doing that that works well for some people.

It creeps in roughly two weeks before the period. The feelings here and there that I’m a man. The gender dysphoria about my chest and pronouns and jealousy of the statue of other men. Can pmdd cause all this? I mean it literally has dysphoria in the name, no?

Is anyone having adverse effects after taking the second shot and or the booster shot where your PMDD symptoms are worse after?

Is it just me?

Both times after taking the second shot and the booster, my PMDD symptoms have been excruciatingly devastating despite taking proper medications and doing what I need to do to keep the symptoms at bay. (i.e., proper diet, meds, etc.)

I’m legit curious to hear what everyone else says and I hope someone does a study on this.

I’m unsure about what flair to use, so just bear with me. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Edit: Btw, pro-vaccine over here and just asking out of curiosity/sanity purposes. Also, I feel like I’m losing my mind, but everyone’s answers so far have been validating (like ok, we’re definitely seeing a pattern here) and I hope everyone finds a way to deal with these symptoms post COVID shot.

Some of the answers I’ve been reading have been heartbreaking. Sending hugs and love to anyone who needs it.

My whole adult life I’ve struggled with alcohol- wine especially gives me horrible reflux, flushing and headaches. I’m Caucasian and before anyone asks it’s not an enzyme deficiency. Along with alcohol, I also seem to have a bad reaction to almost all birth control along with having diagnosed pmdd. I have found some relief with taking Claritin the week before my period so I’m wondering if I possibly have a histamine intolerance? Bc and alcohol both have an effect of histamine/histamine production and it’s the only real connection I’ve found between the three.

I’m going through a breakup and while it’s still ‘fresh’ (been around 1.5 months), I haven’t had flashbacks of our breakup/ the night of it etc until PMDD time

It’s like I start to think I’m getting over it/ coming to terms with it but PMDD hits me in the face REAL HARD.

It’s like I never thought abt it until PMDD time?

Note: we didn’t end on bad terms at all, we’re best friends actually. We ended it bc I’m going to university in another city and we only dated for around a month (stopped because we were really starting to fall in love and were scared it’d end in lots of heartbreak)

I remember one time I couldn’t stop crying about my aunt that died 5 years ago too?

I'm not sure if this is the right sub to submit this to, I'm sorry about that. I struggle with very bad mental health around the time before my period. It consists of lack of motivation, Lack of inner drive to handle responsibility, anxiety and constant recalling of bad memories. I hate to blame any bad behavior or lack of commitment to my work/study on periods and hormones nor do I want to be victimized, but I do notice a pattern at this point. It it costing me a lot considering I waste about 4 days not studying properly and it's like 10 days out of every month where I feel very bad.

I didn't get diagnosed with PMDD but in SOME months I did find that I covered a lot of the symptoms criteria. There are doctors that prescribe antidepressants for those symptoms but I prefer to refrain from them atm because I am already taking other meds.

I would very highly appreciate knowing if someone else feels the same and how you get around to planning your day and chores while combating this, or even supplements/diet recommendations that may help.

I was good with eating healthy and going to the gym for about 2 weeks, now the last week ive been having severe cravings for carbs, sugar, salty/savory foods and sugary coffee. Like its so much harder during pmdd because not only do i feel more hungry in general and have intense cravings, but my impulse control goes way down. I also use food as a comfort for my emotions during my pmdd weeks. So i caved and had like 3-4 cheat days this week and undid almost all my progress. Has anyone stuck to a diet with this, do you have any tips on how to ride out out these feelings and impulses?? I feel like I can never make actual progress with weight loss.

Thank you guys so much, so much great advice here. I feel more prepared for my next cycle and approaching this differently. Love this community.

I hate this disorder. It can't just give me a regular cycle. It takes away my ability to function as a human. I get symptomatic, stress prolongs my cycle, so then i just get STUCK. EVERY. TIME. It used to not be this bad...

Ive been with my boyfriend 2 months now ....I had a delusional moment where I thought he didn't love and care for me and the conversation ended with me saying "go f yourself" and yes, the next day when we woke up I said sorry, throughout our conversation but I also sent him myriads of links to information and vids and he refused to open them... his exact words "Uh huh. Great. Perhaps I'll watch it after I feel like you've appropriately apologized for and atoned for your unnecessarily shitty behavior and treatment of me today." I apologized a couple more times during the conversation. It was a long one and cut me to my core... more examples ...

"I will watch the video once i know and can believe that you're actively reflecting upon your own behavior, words and treatment of me instead of just throwing out various diagnoses, Google searched articles and info explanations disguised as self righteous justifications/rationalizations for being shitty to me. Cuz here's the thing, I have one of my own that I have developed from years, no decades of experience, whenever I feel or get the sense that someone is trying to emotionally manipulate me, I shut the fuck down and grow cold. I've been dragged behind too many trucks into too many meat grinders in my past. Been fucked over too many times. Have all kinds of trauma inside me too. I don't show it all or talk about it all, but neither do I use all of it as a justification/excuse to treat and be shitty to people I care about. That's the bottom line. No matter what the fuck either of us have ever been through, there is and always is an active and conscious choice on our part in the we conduct ourselves and interact with others. There's always a choice no matter how subtle it might be. Let's go back and start from the very beginning of this horsehit drama..."

"See you? You that me like shit for no viable or logical reason at all and you're wanting, nay, expecting me to truly see you afterwards? Nah, you're showing me who you are in every moment of this whole fucking thing. You don't seem to get that your words and actions have effects and consequences. And when you tell someone that cares about you and is doing their damn best to care for you to "go fuck yourself!" That shit right there is a bell that you cannot unring. The only one that is slapping you in the face is yourself. You created and caused this issue/problem that didn't need to exist and then get self righteosly indignant at how i react to it all. You c

Has anyone experience heart palpitations during period or before?! I feel like the older I get the worse my symptoms are. I know google isn't the best but I read it's a menstruation symptom and I've just started experiencing it this month.

I am 8 days away and starting to feel really off and weird.

TW: Brief mention of suicidal ideation

Longtime lurker, first-time poster. Just want to start by saying THANK YOU to everyone who contributes to this subreddit in any way. It brings me enormous comfort to know that I'm not fighting this draining condition alone, and I appreciate the tips that you share on how to improve life with PMDD.

I'm writing this just post-ovulation (which is usually when my PMDD symptoms start to show) and as I'm going through a cathartic break-up at the same time. Since my breakup 8 days ago, I've read up a lot on attachment theory and it has helped me to make sense of where my relationship went wrong. I figured out that I have an "anxiously-preoccupied attached" style, while my ex-partner has "dismissive-avoidant" style. Since these styles are on opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of emotional perspectives and needs, the dynamic often ends up being toxic. This is known as "the anxious-avoidant" trap (you can read more attachment theory here if you want).

During my last two cycles (when I was still with my ex), I had horrific PMDD symptoms. I believe it was because my anxiety was triggered by the emotional distance I perceived in my partner. Around NYE, I finally left him after feeling unbelievably rejected.

[Quick backstory on the breakup: He went away for 10 days to be with his family for Xmas, planned to return on NYE. We made vague plans to celebrate NYE together. On the day of his return, I texted to ask if he was already on his way. The last text I got was: "On the plane, going into airport mode." He didn't text me when he was back in our city (we live a block apart). He managed to go straight to a party outside of town, without informing me he had landed nor confirming to me that he was going. This, after I had been vulnerable and explained to him that I really would love to spend more quality time together, and that when we don't, I feel neglected. (I communicated this maybe 1 million times in all the healthy and unhealthy ways, to be fair.) He didn't wish me happy nye later that night either... meanwhile, I had been waiting at home twirling my thumbs, feeling needy/controlling AF for initiating contact every day, crying, etc. When I confronted him the next day by texting "To be honest, I'm heartbroken that you chose not to inform me that you landed and that you were going to a party." His reply was "oh sorry" with a funny emoji. That was the breaking point for me. I was so p

In my experience, emotions are heightened so I enjoy certain things more. Movies are better, I fall in love with characters, songs hit harder, etc.

Does anyone else here feel that way?

(Of course the good will never outweigh the bad because this is a serious condition...)

Edit: Aygestin 2.5 mg. Just read I have to cut in half

What methods, supplements, or herbs have you used? What were your results?

I personally use a combination of methods that have really helped me. I believe strongly in holistic medicine. I definitely don’t believe that one size fits all or that one herb/method/or supplement is a ‘cure all’ for PMDD. However, I think there should be more talk about a holistic approach to this disorder instead of the standard “here’s some birth control” 😑. Here are a list of herbs and methods that I currently use that I’ve personally had great success with:

Balance by ortho molecular Adrenal complex by standard process Valerian root complex Kava root complex Methyl B complex by ortho molecular Magnesium (powder) Red light therapy- 20 minutes per day meditation

Obviously, do your own research on these herbs/supplements and see a licensed practitioner.

I (33f) got diagnosed with PMDD WAAAAAAAYYY before any stupid old doctor brushed me off. HOW?? Im very very lucky that my sister is a Neurologist . I had pmdd since i was 23 yr old . Constant feeling low , aches , nausea ,palpatation, fights , crying spells , pushing partner away, sore breast , cant get up , rage and more rage. I took the courage and called my younger sister and told her my symptoms. I tracked every month by words written on my diary every night how i felt for 6 MONTHS. Reading after 6 months it was very clear my symptoms started after ovulation and i had 2 full hells week. She confirmed yes i have PMDD showed me DSM and immedtly put me on SSRI and some tabs. Iv since had only 3/4 sad days less soreness and over all managable pmdd. So, anyone brushing you off pmdd is not real is really outdated or has zero credibility of knowing the subject. Change your doctor , dont suffer.

Is it just me or does anyone else notice how beyond chaotic it feels inside the body when we are under retrograde and then on top of that we're already crazy naturally from pmod disorder. I feel so drained unbalanced and out of whack. But physically I seem so "chill". but this retrograde is just so …. idk ... just feel like scattered inside…. Also kind of down Bc I told myself how I was going to really reset major on my health journey (but I said this week before period) and it just went left lol but tomorrow is new moon. So I'm just trying to always try my best no matter what and not dwell. Just venting thanks

Do you ever wish you could just lock yourself away from the world?

I talk to people who are close to me about my PMDD because I felt the severity of my symptoms necessitate it. Or because I have no filter when on PMDD...who knows.

But sometimes I feel like it makes everything worse. I feel guilty for my words and actions. I feel bad for involving someone else on this pain. I regret saying terrible things to people during PMDD.

But, I don't think I can isolate myself, nor can I hide it from people who I have close relationships with.

I started Zoloft on Dec 11th for a few things. OCD, anxiety, depression, and PMDD. My period came a few days early, unexpectedly, yesterday. But I had absolutely no horrible PMDD symptoms like usual! I wasn’t majorly depressed, I wasn’t hating my body like usual, I wasn’t thinking of suic*de, I wasn’t deeply sad and gloomy. I was actually happy all day, despite bleeding out of my cooch. Yay!!! I enjoy not having intense depression right before my period. This is nice.

Hey all,

I (24F) get big clumps in my breasts during PMDD, the whole breast becomes hardened and heavy, and it feels like the skin goes from soft to hard and leathery.

These clumps on the sides and bottoms freak me out, sometimes it almost feels like marbles in there. Since it happens on both I always know that I don’t have a cancerous lump but it’s just frightening to feel like theirs foreign objects in my boobs.

Is this normal? Anyone else?

TW: General discussion of trauma

From what I’ve seen in researching PMDD, a lot of studies have correlated it to early childhood trauma. Does anyone else here experience both PTSD and PMDD concurrently? I figured folks here would def be able to relate.

I was diagnosed with PTSD first about 5 years ago and after a while in therapy, I feel like I understand how to meet its needs and care for myself. However, I had a major hypervigilance week recently triggered by an innocuous event at work - right in the one week during the month that my brain is free from PMDD bullshit.

I just feel like I’m constantly trying to claw my way out of quicksand but anytime I make some progress I’m sucked back in again. Currently the hypervigilance week is now overlapping with the beginning of ovulation, so I feel like I haven’t slept for a million years. Trying to remind myself that there is no shame whatsoever in struggling!

Solidarity to you all ❤️

What a killer combination seriously, BPD + PMDD. Plus masking burnout from over Christmas. The last week and a half (ish? Seriously struggling with keeping track of the passage of time because of it) have been hellish. I have lost access to social spaces as a result of extremely reactive behaviour. All of the triggers. I’ve made literally 5 trips to the shop over the last 3 days for binge food. I’m absolutely praying nobody saw me out as I was talking and humming to “myself” so much (out of fear mostly), tiptoe walking and dancing oddly just to get through that process because brain demanded sugar and fat but repeatedly made me go to one of my most stressful environments to get it. I do those things at home alone too but not so much because it feels safer. I’ve been super tense and dissociating often; my friends have been really concerned about me as I’ve been struggling with my speech/written language not making sense for the past few days. I’ve been super depressed and not making it out of bed until the afternoon and obviously all of these lifestyle things do not help. I feel so little self control during these times and it’s like I come around afterwards and realise I’ve just stepped out of some kind of fog. Like I’m aware of feeling bad and everything that’s been going on during it but just kind of disconnected from it.

It’s just been hellish, these are all things I tend to experience when I have stress in my life or with a PMDD episode but I think the time of year has really exacerbated it as this is the worst episode I’ve experienced for a long long time.

I’m so fed up of this happening but just as much I feel so mistrusting of seeking medical care for it as I’ve made multiple attempts over the last 10 or so years and haven’t been taken seriously that it’s an issue with my menstrual cycle despite being able to describe experiencing the exact criteria of PMDD years before I had even heard of this. My BPD issues have generally been healing really well the past year or so with therapy but every cycle of this it’s like my body is being taken over. I definitely feel able to differentiate these as although though the rage and emotionally-triggered issues with BPD are exacerbated during a PMDD episode they have been less intense than before I started therapy; whereas the more bodily sensations of depression, insomnia, fatigue, brain fog, food cravings and so on, these remain the same and aren’t triggered by emotional experiences, they just are happenin

This is supposed to fix all that but I'm afraid of the hormone changes. I'll be on hrt but I'm such a mess already.....what if I just go off the deep end? What if I still have pain...all I know is I'm pretty miserable now and I cant stay like this. Any advice or strength is appreciated.

I have PMDD and likely Endometriosis. I was diagnosed Autistic this past summer. I'm 40, and after iron replacement therapy and a surgery to remove fibrous masses, I've been approved for a hysterectomy. I'm seriously debating having my ovaries removed, as I'm incredibly depressed for over half the month from hormonal changes. The surgery is to stop over bleeding and causing anemia, but I'm also hoping to end the overwhelming mood swings. I've also been prescribed prozac for the first time to help with depression and high anxiety.

Has anyone else diagnosed had this surgery, or gone through menopause? Have you found relief from the mood swings? With hind sight, have you noticed a change in your Autistic meltdowns or panic attacks?

Does anyone else get paranoid during this time? I really hate questioning things but I also wonder what's true and what's not.