Never had PMS until after childbirth (age 36) - I used to listen to my friends discussing it and had no idea what they were on about. My periods didn’t give me that much trouble either. Now I get into a foul mood in the run-up and a splitting headache the day before. I also get ‘flooding’ now - there is one day (day 2?) when I really can’t leave the house. I’m 44. My mother had a very late menopause (well into her 50s) so I wonder how many more years of this I have to endure. 
And if this isn’t your estrogen starting to go wonky, better to know now so you can start looking for other causes, because what you are experiencing doesn’t sound desirable to live through.
But, I’d be inclined to bet on the estrogen thing.
Sounds like peri-menopause all right. My own experience has been different in the particulars, but that sense of “this can’t be normal, my body has never done this to me before, therefore it won’t do it to me now” seems oh so familiar.
Oh, no you don’t! You don’t get a vicarious diagnosis through me! Get your butt down to the doctor now, missy! If I can do it, you can too! I bet you’re one of those women who hasn’t had a mammogram in the last two years, and can’t remember when she last had a Pap smear, hmmmmmm???
FTR, I work full time too. My doctor has late office hours, and I’m working 7a-4p next week to make the 4:45p appt. No excuses!!
taps foot menacingly
No way, man - I have my pap smears regularly. No mammograms, though, because the jury’s still out on mammograms for younger women, and my doctors haven’t started recommending them yet. They probably will when I go in for some hormone therapy, though.
You’re in Canada! You don’t even have to pay for the doctor’s visit!
eyes narrowing, looks for cookies to throw at featherlou…
Well? We’re waiting here. (Now my foot is tapping. 
)
See post 17. My appt is Feb 13.
When’s your appointment?
Ah, my bad. When you said next Wednesday, I thought you meant yesterday.
And I don’t make appointments for doctors - I just go and sit in a waiting room for 2-3 hours. I haven’t felt like doing that yet - maybe this weekend.
Shouldn’t that be ‘You’re in Canada! Good luck finding a doctor who’ll see you before 2009!’?
Well, I was trying to keep the thread friendly. 
Why don’t you make doctor’s appointments, featherlou? Even I wouldn’t wait 2-3 hours to see a doctor, except, you know, if I was vomiting blood or had lost a limb or had a metal pipe through my head.
I don’t know if we really want to get into how truly, utterly and systematically messed up Calgary’s healthcare system is. I don’t have a regular doctor, and there are very few doctors here who are taking new patients, so I go to the same walk-in clinic in lieu of a family doctor. The waits there are never less than an hour, usually closer to two (I exaggerated the three hours a little, but not much). Cat Fight isn’t too far off - if I need any kind of specialist appointment or surgery, we would be booking in 2009 now. Sitting and waiting for two hours in an uncomfortable waiting room full of sick strangers is something I basically have to steel myself to do.
I saw my doctor yesterday. As I’m telling her what’s been happening, she’s nodding and saying “Mmhmm, mmhmm” like “Yep, I know where this is going,” which made me feel less crazy. She confirmed that when I had my bloodwork done back in Sept my hormones were not tested. She said there is a blood test for hormone levels, but it is not always definitive, and the more accurate saliva test that costs $125 is not covered by insurance.
She gave me a list of supplements to try (magnesium, calcium, etc, I’ll post the list if it won’t violate board rules) and said to give it three months. I’m also going to get my blood tested in the week before my period, and if she thinks it’s necessary, the saliva test will be an option.
She also said Prozac has been FDA-approved to treat peri-menopause depression. I’m a bit wary about going on anti-depressants, because most of the time I feel fine, it’s just those few days where I go into a tailspin, but she said you don’t take the Prozac for the entire month.
She also agrees that this sucks.
That’s where we are…I’m not nuts, there is a way to get through this, and my doctor is sympathetic. All in all, a good visit.
Please do post the list. I’m waiting with bated breath (and yes, I am planning to see my own doctor very soon 
).
I began taking Prozac a few months ago for my HORRIBLE PMS symptoms – they became so much worse after my daughter was born that I thought I was going nuts. The Prozac has made a big difference. I’m taking it every day, not just during the week or two before my period, and I may end up increasing the dose during those weeks, but I can tell a real difference in how I feel during PMS week. My husband can tell a difference too. I was reluctant to begin taking it but now am very glad that I did.
My doctor suggested these mineral supplements for perimenopause symptoms. These doses are to be taken daily.
500mg Magnesium (be careful of diarrhea)
1000mg Elemental Calcium
50mg B[sub]6[/sub] (may be toxic in higher doses)
600 IU Vitamin E
1000mg Evening Primrose oil (taken twice a day in 500mg doses.)
She said to give it three months. I am horrible about taking vitamins on a daily basis…I have cranberry pills, a multivitamin, and chondrotin, and if I remember to take it every two weeks it’s a good month.
Hmmph. I’m 51, on BCP still (for PMS control), and plan to be going off of them sometime this year. I was worried about the big mood swings and depression which may come about when I do so, and told my OB/GYN so. His attitude was sort of “Yeah, that’s what happens. Sucks to be you.” I took that to mean that I’d just have to grit my teeth and tough it out. What you post here makes me want to change to a different OB/GYN.
That is a very sucky attitude for a doctor to be taking to any concerns of a patient. Even if your patient is a grade A hypochondriac, I don’t think a doctor is supposed to poo-poo the patient’s concerns. And there are lots of treatments for menopause/peri-menopause/PMS - toughing it out is not the only answer. Your doctor should be discussing all your options and why some would be better than others for you.
How does one be careful of diarrhea? Wear extra-thick underwear? Don’t leave the house? Stick a hose up your butt? Seriously for some reason that phrase is cracking me up.
Ok, on a more serious note, it sounds like you’ve been through hell hon. I’m glad the doctor visit went well. Hey, any suffering will just make your music that much more emotive right?
Oh, and if you ever have issues with self-mutilation again, hie thyself to a psychologist!
[[hugs]]
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Thanks, Auto. For a guy with a weird ladle fetish, you sure know how to throw a good OrlanDope!
I think she just wanted me to be aware that magnesium can cause diarrhea, so just keep an eye out for the symptoms.
teela, it wasn’t too long ago that people realized PMS is a real condition. If your doctor shrugs you off, go find a new doctor.