PMS issues/concerns - ack!

M

midwestchick

Cathlete
Hi everyone,

I posted to another thread this am alluding to my PMS that have been horrible of late, and thought I'd get at least some "been there, done that"s so I don't feel like such a hag, lol.

I've been on YAZ for a couple of years(which is supposed to alleviate PMS to a certain degree) and also 300 mg welbutrin for anxiety/stress/depression. I happy with the combination for the most part. My problem on the BCP is that I don't cycle on the "off" or placebo. If I do cycle, and some months I don't at all, it's on week 3 when I'm still on the meds, NOT the placebo. I wouldn't necessarily call it break through bleeding, because when it does occur, it always does at the same time.

Even on these two meds, I get really moody and emotional - a downright psycho bitch to be around. I feel like absolutely anything could set me off, I could punch a wall, and my poor family sits and lays low until the thread subsides, lol... Well, earlier this week I wasn't sure why I was feeling so edgy -- I didn't anticipate my period starting since I'll go months with nothing. I was horrible to my family - yelling, flying off the handle, making the kids cry, threatening to leave since I obviously couldn't please ANYONE in this household. I even had passing glimpses of hurting myself - would anyone even care? (I mean I know you guys would, come on, lol!) Well, I just went to bed Tues. night at 8 pm and cried most of the night. Lo and behold, Wed. morning I started. Well, hindsight being 20/20, I figured out why I was a raging maniac!

Even so, I'm really worried about when this occurs again. I called my OB who put me on the bcp and welbutrin. She thought about changing me to the Nuvaring or changing my anti-depressant....well, I hedged because I'm basically happy with the combination otherwise. I don't really want to change BCP and deal with potential side effects/breakthrough with a new BCP. So, she mentioned taking a Xanax on those days I feel homicidal:eek: lol

Anyone do anything like this? Anyone take Xanax as needed for anxiety or other ailments?

Just want thoughts or experiences - thanks!

Heidi
 
Heidi:

I suffered through about 5 years of turning into a witch for 2 weeks out of every 4 until I was so depressed and hated being in my body so much I was nearly driven insane. At that point my lovely OB-GYN suggested that we could surely make me feel better than that.

She put me on the Nuvaring and I have never has cause to regret it. I only have to remember it once per month and it comes with handy stickers you put on your calendar. It does not fall out and it has a steady low dose of hormones that prevents you from going through the emotional ups and downs because there are no peaks and troughs in the hormone levels. I have felt the best I could be, given that I also suffer from anxiety and depression, separately, and cannot take anti-depressants for it, since starting using the Nuvaring. Not only does it keep my moods under control but it has cleared up my skin and I no longer get horrid spots every month. I use it continuously, and do not take "off weeks." I did for a while, about a year ago, but now I can't any longer. At 43, my hormone levels are changing in my body and if I try and take an off week, I am driven insane with migraine headaches. So, I just stay on it.

I am sure it could be combined with Zanax or another anxiety medication, if you needed it. But no medication can do it all. You have to make changes in your life also to reduce your anxiety levels since you are someone who does not respond well to too much stress. I have done this and it is a big improvement. Better nutrition would also help, big time. I work on that one constantly.

Try the Nuvaring. It could change your life.

Clare
 
Hi Heidi. Sounds like you are really riding the roller coaster with this, my heart goes out to you. I'm no expert but as I read your post I wonder, can you predict this change in yourself as coming each time on week 3? If so, I think it would make sense to add something in advance of the descent.

I too would be hesitant to change, although I'd be more willing to fuss around with the birth control than the wellbutrin. Back when I took OCP's I did try just about every brand and strength on the market at the time because I would skip periods.

Have you considered one of the longer no-period regimens? It almost sounds like your own hormones are "speaking" through what the pill is offering.

Again, I'm no medical expert but I have spent my share of time on the pill.

My GYN suggested to me that I take St. John's Wort for my PMS just on an as needed basis. I asked about the dosing - don't I need to take a bunch of pills a bunch of times a day for weeks and he said no and he was right. It works, and works well for me, but I'd be careful about taking it with OCP's and wellbutrin unless you cleared it first. He also suggested extra calcium. Granted, these are pretty mild remedies but sometimes I've found I need to experiment to find what works and it can sometimes be something pretty simple.

Best of luck to you and hang in there!
 
I've been going through some of the same stuff. I just quit nursing my 10 month old last month and I've had two cycles. Right before I start I am a total bi**h. I am screaming at the kids and husband, I'm just plan nuts. The rest of the time I'm normal no problems. I'm not taking anything at all because of the nursing but I'm calling my ob tomorrow for BC and I'm going to ask her about this. I hope you can get this figured out. I've never had any hormonal issues till now I was hoping mine would just go away after a few months.

Farrah
 
My doctor put me on a very low dose of progesterone during days 12-24 of my cycle. So far, so good. My PMS is much, much better! And since I am starting to get some of those lovely night sweat things, the progesterone has even helped with that. BTW, I am only 42, not on birth control--my DH is alot older than me so well, you know, its easier for me to keep track of when I ovulate.;) I would experiment with that Nuvaring, that might do the trick.
 
I have to chime in here with my experience with Yaz. It was horrific, to say the least. I had panic attacks, I was a complete and total bi*ch most of the time, got depressed, and almost manic at times too... I literally thought I was going crazy. I stopped it and away went all of this stuff. When I went back to my GYN, he said that this was something that was starting to show as a side effect. Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo is perfect for me. My moods are steady and I'm much nicer. I hate taking the pill though, so last month, thought I would go off and see how I did. It's not so pretty right now x( My patience level is not great, and that's the main thing with my mind. My skin is getting oily again but I wanted to see if not having the fluctuating hormones would help me feel better. All of my weird health issues happen in cycles. I did get horrible headaches going off it though. I may try the Nuvaring mentioned above. DH is "fixed" and I just take the pill to help my own hormone issues, and to not ovulate which is usually hell for me for about a week. My hope is that the low dose I was on maybe worked me down enough for my body to do ok, but I'm prepared to start up again next month if it is bad. On the upside, I'm not retaining as much water now... I write all of this to show that there are better pills out there, and sometimes you don't realize they are making your life a living hell until you are off of the bad ones. They all seem to usually come with their own set of problems, but some are just much worse than others. Good luck. Having been on Yaz, I know what you are going through, at least somewhat.
 
Shana:

just to add to my earier comments about Nuvaring: I have experienced absolutely no weight gain and no bloating with it. Good, huh?

Clare
 
Thanks for all the information, everyone. Funny you bring up the Nuvaring because when I initially went into my GYN to be put back on bcp, I actually brought up the nuvaring but she talked me into Yaz. Wow, I didn't realize it could actually cause problems vs.ameliorate them. Interesting. And thanks for the "no weight gain" clause - that also makes a difference. Being bloated and gaining weight makes me just as cranky;)

Hmm...it's food for thought. Perhaps I'll give it a go. I just was thinking I didn't want to do the birth control run-around and trying and swapping out multiple kinds -- been there, done that and I spent what felt like an entire summer wearing a light days pad which sucked.

Heidi
 
As additional incentive, I experienced no spotting at all the first year of using Nuvaring. Had some the second year, not so much recently. You just need to experiment with either using it continuously or taking the week's break every month. When I had the potting, I then swapped to taking the monthly week's break for a while, then the migraines started and now I am back on continuous usage. Seems to work for me. Experimenting with alternatives has to be better than continuing on as you are and suffering.

Clare
 
Clare - I am so glad you wrote about that. I think I will try it. I love the part about no weight gain or bloating. I lost 5 lbs as soon as I went off one pill I was on - literally within a few days. I want something to keep my moods even, my headaches away, and my body running smoothly - and good skin too :) Really - I don't ask for much...! I am going to look this up. My doctor has tried to talk me into it before - should have listened it sounds like.
 
I am on a traditional bcp (Ortho Tri-cyclene) and am taking Cymbalta for depression. I asked my doctor about switching to Wellbutrin a few months ago and he said NO WAY!! Wellbutrin is used to treat anxiety ( which I do not experience) and Cymbalta is for depression, which sounds like what you have. Before I was on Cymbalta, I had exactly the same symptoms you have! I would cry all day for no reason and fly off the handle for the tiniest things. Maybe look to switching the Wellbutrin instead of the Yaz? Or maybe both (from what others have said about Yaz?!)
 
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