What kind of doctor do I see for PMDD?
It is so funny to me to even type the above question, but so necessary.
You would think that since (1) Only Women suffer from PMDD (2) It goes along with a Womans period (3) It’s compared to PMS over-charged, that you would visit your Gynecologist.
WRONG! For some Women their Gynecologist do help, and help without making them feel ridiculous. For other’s they help by prescribing medication, but don’t offer much info. For other’s they just aren’t comfortable dealing with PMDD, writing medications for it, or believe that Women should see a Psychologist or Psychiatrist rather than them.
The doctor that helped me the most was actually a Family Doctor. She wrote a book on Menopause and offered great info regarding Women and their bodies. Because she was a family doctor she also did Female yearly checks, but she wasn’t a ‘Gynecologist’. Now, even though she was my favorite she was still only comfortable prescribing my Prozac.
She worked closely with a Psychiatrist when it came to my Topamax. She wanted to make sure that there wasn’t anything else going on that was causing my PMDD to get worse, other than it’s not out of the norm for it to worsen with age. I also had quite a bit of stress at the time.
I appreciated the concern, I wouldn’t want her to just throw some scripts at me, but on the other hand I was still frustrated because I did know about PMDD from all of my research.
During one of my searches for a new doctor, before I found the one I liked, I found a general doctor who didn’t have any problems prescribing TONS of meds to me, all at once. I didn’t even fill them, I just left.
Fortunately, I knew better. I was so sad though thinking of what it would have been like if someone else would have gone in not knowing as much as I did.
I actually left with a script for my Prozac, a sleeping pill (I had never taken any), a pain killer (for my migraines) and another med for bi-polar (all this after one visit)
So little research is done on PMDD, Doctors don’t even know who should be helping or where to send us.
All I can tell you is that I have been there and I feel your pain. I am emailed alot by Women who are asking, “What kind of Doctor do I see for my PMDD?” All I tell people is that there really isn’t any ‘one’ for-sure doctor type to help with your PMDD. It’s actually about finding a doctor, regardless of what kind, that will listen to you, work with you, and want to learn more about PMDD.
Just as one medication doesn’t work for everyone, one type of doctor won’t either.
I moved back to TX and my prescriptions are almost out so I will be searching again for another doctor. Here is what I do. I call and ask if the nurse is available. Of course ,they almost always have to call back which is fine. When they call back I ask them how often the doctor deals with PMDD. A lot of times they will say, we deal with all female issues…that isn’t good enough for me. I want to know in advance if there is going to be a problem with me getting refills on my Prozac (usually not), however, the Topamax (not all doctors will prescribe).
I don’t feel bad calling and getting all of this info in advance. I have been to too many doctors, paid too many copays, spent too many hours at offices, etc…and not received the sort of help I deserved. Now, I find out in advance. If doctors aren’t going to find out more about PMDD then I want to know, in advance, who has taken the time to do what it takes to help patients like me. I don’t want to find a sitter, pay a copay, etc….to be told any B.S.
I feel like I have gone on a tangent a bit here. I hope that this posting does help you know that you do have the right to call a doctors office in advance to find out what they know. PMDD is a subject that hardly anyone speaks about and very little research is done.
It is debilitating to a Woman’s life and that in itself deserves research, by ALL doctors.
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Comments (13)
Aimee Zimmermann
October 1st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Hi Steph, thank you for your comment on my blog! It’s funny because I have actually run across your website before in researching PMDD myself, I just never contacted you. I’m so glad you contacted my though! As I’m sure you know from reading my story, I have tried so many different medications and avenues to deal with my PMDD. After finding some new information about PMDD actually being a part of one’s DNA and the only way to officially cure it (you can find the article in my PMDD posts) I decided to have a hysterectomy. I knew it was a very big decision and could potentially pose some other problems down the road, but the good seemed to outweigh the bad. Simply put, if one of the side effects wasn’t suicide, it was better than what I was going through! It has been a little over 2 months now since my surgery and I feel like a new woman. I have not had one PMDD symptom, I can’t even describe how it has changed my life for the better. I remember the despair I felt every month during that time, I felt like I couldn’t go on. Now, I am excited about life and being a good mommy to my kids. That was the biggest reason for my decision, I didn’t want my kids to grow up watching me go through all of that every month. If I can help others in any way by sharing my story, I will. There is so little known about PMDD and doctors are pretty much clueless. Thankfully I found and OBGYN who was willing to listen to me and consult his collegues to find as much information about PMDD as he could. It is so frustrating to not be able to find answers, you just feel hopeless. Thank you for sharing your story and providing a place for women to learn more about this. Let’s keep in touch, and that is so funny that we both have a Zane!!!
Sincerely,
Aimee
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admin
October 1st, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Very interesting.
I have it up on my screen right now reading about the hysterectomy option. It is one that I haven’t done a lot of research on, but am open too.
Like you, my kids not going thru anything is at the top of my list.
Thank you too for coming out and help spreading the word. I hope more research will be done.
My PMDD is controlled to a degree with my meds, but I just stay very quiet during my 2 wk time which is totally not me. It just keeps me from raging.
Has the surgery taken away the PMDD physical and emotional symptoms?
Any other info is greatly appreciated. I am going to have to find a new doc in the next month or two and would like to know what I want to do by that time.
I am ready to feel great ALL month long, not just 1-1.5 wks of the month.
Stef
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Riquel
October 1st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Hi Stef, love your blog. I’ve come to the conclusion that the best doctor to see for PMDD is one who specializes in it, which in most cases will be a psychoneuroendocrinologist (it also helps if they are a woman… it might be 2008, but some male doctors are still prone to stereotyping, medicalizing women’s emotions, or not taking their distress seriously). Psychoneuroendocrinologists combine psychiatry and endocrinology. Some focus more on the endocrinology, others focus more on the psych side. Personally, I don’t believe that any treatment for PMDD which focuses soley on the body, or the mind, will be effective in the long term. They must be treated together (when the time is right), and only a psychoneuroendo or a doctor that has had experience in the treatment of PMDD (or perhaps postpartum depression) has the knowledge and experience necessary to offer the right kind of treatment that takes into account ALL of the possible contributing factors that might be causing PMDD. The hard part is trying to find one! Which is what I’m doing right now.Re: the hysterectomy option. I’ve looked into that too. I know of women who’ve had great success with it (just as Aimee says). however it is likely to reduce your libido… and that’s not something I’m prepared to sacrifice! – Riquel
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Susan
October 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hello ~I am wondering where Aimee lives? In other words, where is the doctor who performed her hysterectomy located? Thanks you.~ Susan
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Aimee Zimmermann
October 8th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I live in Arizona and my doctor is in Surprise, Arizona. Please feel free to contact me. I would love to answer any questions you might have. I am SO glad I found help and want to help others in any way I can. My email is doublezranch17@msn.com.
Aimee
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suzanne Reply:
October 21st, 2008 at 2:29 am
Aimee, do you mind my asking how old you are? I just turned 40 and I have a 5 1/2 year old and I don’t want to put her through this for another 10 years. It takes up half of my life. When you mentioned suicide, I completely identified…if it weren’t for my daughter…
thanks, Suzanne
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Aimee Zimmermann Reply:
October 21st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I am 29 (Very young for this type of surgery I know!). Thankfully I have two beautiful children, and I decided if at some point my husband and I want to have more, we can always adopt. I actually wish I had done it sooner if you can believe that! Words can not describe what it was like going through desperation every month, getting closer and closer to ending my life. I know you can relate. But I kept rationalizing with myself (after coming out of my PMDD state of mind)…well, I got through it, it’s not so bad, do I really need surgery? It’s hard when you feel like yourself again after that time of the month, but unfortunately, the rest of your family is still left with the emotional damage. I was destroying my relationship with my husband & kids, as well as myself, and it finally became clear that having the surgery was worth it no matter what. I was heading down a worse path than any side effect I could ever suffer from a hysterectomy. I feel like a have a whole new lease on life now:). Well, that was probably more info than you wanted, sorry:). Let me know if you have any other questions.
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suzanne
October 21st, 2008 at 2:23 am
I asked this question of my endocronologist and she said that we are the patients that “fall through the cracks”. Well, with rage for 2 weeks a month, confusion, exhaustion…etc., I couldn’t afford to let it go. After 14 months of charting my moods and realizing it was hormonal and I was not crazy, I started seeing doctors. My primary care brushed it off, my gynecologist prescribed Prozac (worked for 3 months), but my endocronologist suggested acupuncture. I have had some relief for almost a year now. I take chinese herbs 3 times a day and schedule my appointments according to my cycle – 3 times a week for the 2 bad weeks, twice a week for 1 week and then 1 time a week for my “happy week”. My acupuncturist has had specific training on these issues, and I would not go to any acupuncturist. His mentor and trainer is a Dr. Chang and all I know is that he lives somewhere in CA. I was planning a move to RI from WA, but now have to stay because I can’t find a dr.trained by Dr. Chang there. They treat my body and mind also – it really works. It’s the only hope I have.
thanks for the blog, I need to know I’m not alone – no one seems to understand – it’s pretty awful…
Suzanne
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trae
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 am
What a blessing this site is to me ! For the last year I have been in search of the perfect cure for the madness that happens to me for about
a week and a half each month. Last year my GYN prescribed Wellbutrin. That may have helped for a short while, but then it was back to the same old thing. My back was killing me one day at work and a co-worker offered me some Tramadol and wow…that cured the pain and really elevated my mood. I wanted to take it more, so I went to my GYN and told him about it and he said that it was habit forming and suggested that I try a new med called ‘PRISTIQ’, which I tried for 9 days and it kept me up every nite, but it did make me feel much more calm and nice, but when push came to shove, the old feelings came back. Also it did nothing to help with the leg aches and back pain.
What about a hysterectomy ? I have read so much good and bad that I don’t know what to do. My GYN says he will do it because I have already had a myomectomy 4 years ago to remove fibroids and they are back, so he can medically justify it if that is what I want.
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Theresa Smith
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:39 am
Hello everyone I am turning 49. I have been searching and searching for information on PMDD and how it has affected my life and relationship of 7 years. I too am tired of going to my Gyn to only tell me I am too young to be going thru menopause or pre-menopause. Every month I go thru the same irritating feelings and a soon as I get my period I am all lovey dovey again. But it has taken it’s toll on the love of my life and I am devastated. When I started finding and reading more about PMDD I couldn’t believe how much information that sounded just like me! What an eye opener and a huge relief since I was also guilty of just writing it off to being a little PMS and no one wanted to hear about it. It’s like getting shoved aside as if it was no big deal. Over the past year my swings have become more severe and as I mentioned has taken a toll on my relationships and my self well being.
I am searching for a good doctor in the Arlington/Fort Worth Texas area and have exhausted spending a lot of time out of work trying to find a good doctor and spending money on co-pays. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Theresa
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admin Reply:
August 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Hi Theresa,
I don’t have a PMDD doc in the Arlington/Ft Worth area, however, being from Dallas- all my family is still there.
My sis saw an incredible doc, problem is it’s very expensive. They will turn your paperwork into insurance for you, but they don’t ‘accept’ insurance per se. Personally, i couldn’t see him right now.
Here is the link so you can look at his office/info and I will throw another shout out to my sis to find out if any of her g/fs have great doctors. She has come to me with regards to some of her friends feeling as though they may have PMDD or at least severe PMS, so she may have some good one’s for me. It may just be a bit of a drive for you- Arlington to the Frisco/McKinney area is a drive.
Stef
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Mandy
April 5th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
It’s nice to know I am not the only one frustrated out there. I am so sick of dealing with the same frustration every month. To add insult to injury I end up with a new symptom every year. I think I get my PMDD to a some what manageable state by scrambling from OBGYN to Psychiatrist for several months then along comes the new yearly symptom. I would love to have it all taken out. Unfortunately no OBGYN will do it. They say I am too young. It buts me at risk for osteoporosis and breast cancer. Also that it will start to age me to quickly. I guarantee you if one of these doctors had to but up with what I go through for one week they would already have ripped it out. Sorry I just needed to vent. I have just recently moved to the Fort Worth, TX area and am looking for a good OBGYN. I have to renew my Loestrine. I take it because if I didn’t I would have bleeding every other week. The latest of the most wonderful symptoms which I received two years ago. Does any one have a suggestion of a good OBGYN in the area? I had heard rumors that there was testing being done on PMDD by doctors in the area. I am not sure if it is true.
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Merideth
May 7th, 2010 at 12:13 am
Mandy-I would recommend Yaz over loestrine. I tried six different birth control pills and they all made my PMDD worse. Yas and Zoloft have contolled my PMDD for five years. But it came back in the last couple of months. I am 32 and a single mother to a two year old so I really need to get it back under control. This last episode lasted 10 days and i became suicidal. Than I woke up with my period and felt normal. I live in alaska so might be difficult to find a doctor. This website is awesome by the way. Very helpful!
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