Most people have heard of PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome. However have you heard of PMDD? PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. The symptoms of PMDD are far worse then the “normal” PMS most women have and feel.
Some of the common symptoms of PMS are many, there are actually over 150 individual symptoms of PMS. They range from mood swings with high levels of irritability, depression, decreased concentration, menstrual migraines or severe headaches, food cravings, loss of sleep or excessive sleep, nausea, change in a woman’s sex drive and desires, bloating, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and breaking out of skin with pimples or acne.
Those symptoms in and of themselves are bad enough and hard to deal with. Once you get into PMDD the symptoms are much worse or much more severe. While up to 75% of women suffer on a monthly basis with some form of PMS only about 5% of women suffer from PMDD.
What is the difference in your run of the mill PMS and PMDD? The main difference with PMDD is the severity of the symptoms. In other words the symptoms of PMDD are the same as PMS, however the main symptoms of depression, anxiety, tension, irritability and moodiness
To be diagnosed with PMDD the main “checklist” is as follows according to the website of PMDD.factsforhealth
Very depressed mood, feeling hopeless
Marked anxiety, tension, edginess
Sudden mood shifts (crying easily, extreme sensitivity)
Persistent, marked irritability, anger, increased conflicts
Loss of interest in usual activities (work, school, socializing, etc.)
Difficulty concentrating and staying focused
Fatigue, tiredness, loss of energy
Marked appetite change, overeating, food cravings
Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or sleeping too much
Feeling out of control or overwhelmed
Physical symptoms such as weight gain, bloating, breast tenderness or swelling, headache, and muscle or joint aches and pains.
PMDD.factsforhealth.org goes on to say that all symptoms do not have to be present to be a part of PMDD but that at least 5 of the symptoms must be present and at least one of those has to be in the top four symptoms.
What do you do if you are having at least 5 of the symptoms and you have tracked these more severe symptoms over a few months? First you want to make an appointment with your gynecologist or family physician. Take a list that you have made of any severe symptoms that you have noticed. Be honest when your doctor asks you questions.
What is the treatment for PMDD? There are a few drugs on the market now that seem to ease the symptoms of PMDD. They are Paxil, Zoloft, and the new drug YAZ. Some of the more common treatments that do not involve medication are exercise and therapy to help with coping skills and relaxation methods. Some have also found an ease in the symptoms with supplements such as vitamins, and a few diet changes.
Though it is not completely clear what causes PMDD it is believed that normal ovarian functions cause an increase in serotonin levels in the female brain and this may trigger the symptoms in most women. There are some medications on the market that can effect serotonin levels and this could also be causing the PMDD symptoms in some women. Although there has not been a gene identified that cases PMDD some interesting numbers to think over are that identical twins have a 90%+ chance of sharing the disorder, while fraternal twins have a 40%+ chance of having the disorder. If your mother has severe symptoms beyond regular PMS then you are also more likely to have similar symptoms.
It is important not to mistake PMDD with an even larger issue of a psychiatric problem. This is why consulting a doctor is so important with PMDD. The symptoms of PMDD should only be present just after ovulation, PMDD symptoms will more then likely get worse the week before your menstrual period, and should completely disappear a few days before you menstrual cycle starts.
PMDD as well as PMS are serious matters for the women in the world that live with the symptoms on a regular basis. Serious issues can arise from these symptoms and it is very important that you consult a doctor for anything over a few monthly cramps. Hopefully a doctor or physician can help track your symptoms better and come up with a workable solution to the monthly nightmare that has become known as PMDD.
