Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) Support Group

YES! This is exactly what I experience! I'm still trying to get some help with it. I have an appt with a new gyn wednesday so hopefully she'll have some answers for me. I've been treated for anxiety, but the xanax really only helps me chill out about the fact i feel so horrible. The waves of heat/lightheadedness/high heart rate/sweating then feeling like I'm gonna throw up or pass out - they are so terrifying. I've been dealing with it for about 5-6 years now. Like I said, really hoping I can get some answers Wednesday! Hoping you're hanging in there - I'll let you know if anything works!

oh good! i'm so glad i'm not a lone....although i'm sorry you have to experience it...it is really terrifying. Please let me know what you doc says about it!

I will let you know what she recommends. Hang in there! It is good to hear there's someone else who's got this going on. I have anxiety but this is just plain different and I need my doctors to hear that! I know the difference. It's similar but these hormonal waves don't get better with deep breathing, xanax, or any other anxiety treatments - and I truly believe it's because there's something else going on.

I feel the same way...it feels so different from a panic attack.

Wow, I get the same thing. For awhile there I was thinking I was having hot flashes but then I thought that can't be I'm only 19. It only started happening to me when I started my period and it's the most intense when I'm on my period or near it. This hardly ever happens to me when I am not on my period. I get extremely hot, sweaty, and it feels like all the blood rushes to my face, then in the most extreme cases it feels like I'm going to pass out. I've never been treated for anxiety and it really only happens to me when I'm on my period so I don't think there is a connection.

I think there's a lot of possibilities. It could be our hormones going all wacky during that time of the month....it could be temporary anemia (many women have this during their period) it could be so many things....I just had a complete blood test yesterday and literally everything was normal, so i don't know. that makes me think even more that its simply stress-related.

Well I saw the new GYN yesterday and she's confident she "can fix this!". They took about 14 tubes of blood to rule out everything under the sun. She's prescribed Sarafem to be taken 1 time per day during the month with no symptoms, then as symptoms start to appear, 2 times per day. She also is having me stop birth control because too much estrogen can go along with these symptoms. I'm getting an ultrasound to rule out PCOS and then will meet back with her Nov 18th to discuss all the results and our plan.

thanks for the update....what is sarafem?

apparently it's just like prozac. they've found it works for people with PMDD. You take just 10mg on your good days, then 20mg on the days when you're symptomatic - which for me is usually the 2 weeks before my period. It also acts as an anti-anxiety. At this point - I'm willing to try anything. this is her kinda temporary attempt at fixing until we get all the labs back - especially since the xanax is doing a whole lot of nothing for me.

Well I've been taken off the Prozac. We thought my mono was out of control but it turns out we tracked back to the day I started and that's the day I stopped eating and started with constant indigestion and nausea. I talked to a pharmacist friend and he said Prozac can have HUGE stomach side effects.
I'm sad that this possible solution is gone but frankly, I was so sick from not eating or drinking - there's no way I could continue on that drug. So now we wait til I'm completely better and try again. I can't wait for my appt on the 18th - is it weird I'm almost hoping we find something in my labwork? I just want an answer. I don't want to feel so crazy and out of control!