I was diagnosed with PMDD about a year ago. I went to the gyne because i was really starting to upset my boyfriend, and years after my mother SWORE i had the worst PMS ever, I finally did something about it because I didn't want to hurt those i love so much.
My doctor put me on Sarafem almost immediately, and I was a little wigged out about being put on an antidepressant at 21. But man did it help; that first month i felt like i was on top of the world 24-7. After being on it a year, I tried to take this month off and see if the PMDD got any better. It didn't at all, and I was miserable and got in numerous fights with my boyfriend. I felt incredibly out of control and my mood would jump from horrible to weirdly happy to horrible again.
My advice to the boyfriends/husbands? Encourage your woman to see a doctor and seriously consider drugs. I have second (and third and fourth) opinion on the drugs and they say that since it is such a low dose (10-20mg) the side effects are few and it really helps. Also, don't blame everything on PMS; chances are she knows why she's upset and will just feel worse hearing the words "oh, you just have PMS" I know it's hard, and I'm sorry for everyone who has to deal with it, because being a woman should be wonderful not a horrible existance for almost half of your life. I'm going to see a therapist this week and ask their opinion on "treating" PMDD with SSRIs. Good luck to all, and take care.
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