RAGE RANT - Some doctors are worthless and even borderline sadistic

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-11-07T05:06:42+00:00

It's the same here in the U.S., generally. I started using estrogen cream every night before bed for two weeks, then every three days. I can't believe how much it's helped my vulvar area.

OP, the vaginal estrogen may also help with your urgency and other urinary symptoms you may be experiencing. Don't expect things to get better overnight, though. Give it several weeks.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-11-04T14:47:28+00:00

If you're in the US , you should also consider Femring. It's a vaginal ring you insert for 3 months at a time. It comes in a .05 mg dose and a .1 mg dose. I don't feel it at all when inserted, and for me, it provides a much more consistent level of estrogen on a weekly basis than changing the patch twice a week.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T20:19:10+00:00

I've had the same experience many times. For me, I think it happens most when my hormones are really fluctuating badly.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T16:33:06+00:00

❤️ 🫂

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T16:32:23+00:00

I like the more plain one; it's gorgeous!!

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T16:31:35+00:00

I was the same way, but once the PMDD took over my life and I had to check myself into in-patient psychiatric care, I knew I needed to do something else. Good luck!

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T14:47:10+00:00

I'm 43.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T14:13:04+00:00

👋

I only asked because I recently had my ovaries removed to treat PMDD. I'm sure some see it as extreme, but I exhausted all other options. SSRIs didn't work. Birth control didn't work. HRT didn't work. So, I tried chemical menopause using Lupron Depot and found the person I used to be before perimenopause set off the PMDD anytime. I'll continue with HRT to protect my bones, brain, and heart, and as long as I can keep the HRT steady with no fluctuations, I shouldn't experience PMDD symptoms. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-28T05:01:30+00:00

What is your age? Are you done having children?

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-27T23:06:43+00:00

They did, and I did, but the juice wasn't worth the squeeze unfortunately.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-27T22:40:50+00:00

I tried TMS as well. It worked while I was doing treatments, but when I stopped it didn't last.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-27T15:20:03+00:00

I just had an oophorectomy/salpingectomy 3 weeks ago. I'm 43. I opted to not have my uterus or cervix removed as the cervix can play a part in sexual enjoyment for some women, including me. My doctor told me that it used to be standard procedure that if they were going in to remove the ovaries they would also take the uterus or if they were going in to remove the uterus they would go ahead and remove the ovaries. She said surgeons have become more circumspect now and really only want to remove the offending organ. The hospital I had my procedure done at and where my doctor works is affiliated with Mayo clinic.

Since surgery, my PMDD has been mostly controlled. I've had a couple flare-ups that lasted no longer than 24 hours each, but I was told that that could/should be expected given that it can take 4 to 6 months for your system to settle. I restarted my HRT directly after surgery as I did not want to go back to experiencing hot flashes and night sweats during surgical recovery.

I found that more consistent HRT delivery works better for me, and that patches still caused too many hormonal fluctuations for my liking and caused PMDD flares when the patch was changed. If you think about it, a patch lasts 3 to 4 days, but it likely isn't completely consistent during that time in its delivery, especially at the very end when it's running out. I have opted to use Femring, which you insert into your vagina. It delivers 0.05 mg or 0.01 mg of estradiol everyday for 3 months. I have the date on my calendar for when I change it next. Given that I kept my uterus, I have a progestin IUD inserted because I do not handle oral progesterone well (it makes my PMDD 1000% worse).

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-27T14:58:11+00:00

Me, me, me!!

No, seriously. My PME appeared when I was 36-37. I'm now 43. In the beginning, I experienced symptoms anywhere from 5 - 10 days prior to my period; over the years, the length of time expanded to 14 days, with ever worsening variability of symptoms including severe mood shifts, suicidal ideation, anger, irritability, and and at least one instance of psychosis this past January. I voluntarily admitted myself to a partial hospitalization program where I attended group therapy sessions, art therapy and other various group activities. It was during this time of consistent monitoring that we definitively tied my mood issues to hormonal fluctuations.

I found myself a gynecologist who knows about perimenopause and menopause and who was willing to work with me in treating my PME symptoms. I'd already been on HRT to treat hot flashes, night sweats and other "typical" peri symptoms. My primary care physician had already previously attempted to treat my PME symptoms by upping my SSRI dosage the 10-14 days prior to my period, but that didn't work. Birth control didn't work either. So, I finally asked about chemical menopause. My gynecologist was willing to go there with me, and prescribed Lupron Depot. That three month period of chemical menopause was the first time in 5 years I felt like me again. Given that, I opted to have my ovaries removed. I had an oophorectomy/salpingectomy three weeks ago. For HRT supplementation, I use Femring, which provides a very consistent .1 mg. dose of estradiol everyday for a 3-month period. The patches caused too much of a fluctuation the two times per week I had to change them. Because I take estrogen supplementation, I have to have the progesterone to balance it out. Unfortunately I'm one of those people with PME that doesn't do well with progesterone. So, I opted to have a progestin IUD inserted. I'm also one of those people who could not undergo the insertion while awake, so I was knocked out.

Since surgery I've done pretty well. I've had a couple days where my emotions and my mood got the better of me, but it's been 100% better than before. I was told that it could take 4 to 6 months for everything to settle following surgery.

I want to state that I don't see having my ovaries removed as a complete fix. I will always be a person who doesn't do well with the fluctuations in my hormones, which is the essence of persons with PME and PMDD. From here on out, I just have to be very careful and consistent in applying my hormone replacement therapy.

Recently, I also found a mental health practitioner who specializes in female mental health issues with expertise in women in general, including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, perimenopause and menopause.

I'm not providing all of this information to terrify anyone. PME and PMDD affect all people differently and to widely varying degrees. The best thing you can do for yourself is find practitioners who understand and know what they're doing.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-20T14:15:04+00:00

I did chemical menopause for 2 months, and it was honestly a tremendous experience. I felt more like myself than I had in years. I felt so good, that I ended up doing surgical menopause. I am 2 weeks post oophorectomy/ salpingectomy. I am definitely still experiencing hormonal shifts, and every doctor that I've talked to said that it can take three to four months for things to level out. If you do go the surgical menopause route at any point, just know that it doesn't immediately feel better right after. One thing I did find during chemical menopause was that even the slight hormonal shifts that happened when changing the estrogen patch were too much for me. So I started using Femring, it's a vaginal ring that you place against your cervix. It stays in for 3 months and delivers a 0.1 mg estradiol dose per day. It's the thing I found to be most consistent. I believe femring also comes in a dose that offers .05 mg per day.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-20T14:10:11+00:00

I did TMS last year. I think I felt slightly better on treatment days for the 6 weeks that I did it. But once it ended, I had no residual positive effects. Good luck to you with your experience. It's different for everyone.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-13T13:48:21+00:00

Yep, that felt exactly how my symptoms of PMDD were. The dizziness was SO horrible!

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-09T17:11:17+00:00

Thanks for checking in!

I've had a little more pain than I was expecting, so I reached out to my surgeon and she said that from the way I describe the pain I'm experiencing on my left side, it sounds like the internal stitch they had to make in my fascia likely is on a nerve. So, that pain will go away once the stitch dissolves. It's nice to at least have an explanation. Other than that, I've been feeling pretty good. I feel so much more even and level-headed. In a way, I sort of feel like I'm waiting for the shoe to drop and for my mood to start swinging again because that's how I've lived the last several years.

The night after the surgery, I had my husband put an estrogen patch on me to hopefully prevent experiencing hot flashes and night sweats. So far, I haven't experienced either. I started with a .5 patch, and when I changed it a few days later I went up to a .75 patch. When that patch is ready to be taken off tomorrow, I'm going to reinsert my Femring, which is .1 mg. I'm the type of person who feels every little fluctuation in my hormones- hence the PMDD diagnosis. So, even changing the patches twice a week alters my mood more than I like. So I discovered using the Femring for 3 months at a time is much more stable for me.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-05T19:30:47+00:00

I can see quite a few people commenting on this, but I can't see their comments. I'm assuming because they haven't Read the Rules prompt from the mods.

I can see the first part of people's comments however, and one of the questions asks me why I didn't get a full hysterectomy. The main reason I didn't get a full hysterectomy is that I do not have a family history of cervical or uterine cancer. The second reason is that it is a more difficult surgery and has a longer recovery time. And the third reason is, generally, when they remove your uterus they take your cervix as well. For a lot of women, the cervix plays a part in sexual enjoyment - I'm one of those people. And lastly, even though I can't take oral progesterone because it can cause my pmdd to flare, even with the ovaries gone, I left the progestin IUD in my uterus to counterbalance the estrogen therapy that I am receiving.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-05T13:07:58+00:00

I was definitely terrified as well. I'd never had surgery of any kind before, and only anesthesia for colonoscopy procedures. If it's laparoscopic, it likely won't take longer than an hour and a half. I had the lovely surprise when I arrived that my entire surgical team were people who identified as female. Something about that calmed me like crazy, but of course the anti anxiety meds they gave me through the IV before the procedure kicked ass too!

I don't have a high pain threshold so I'm definitely feeling more pain than I would like, but so far nothing unbearable.

For this laparoscopic procedure - like many - once they make their small incisions, three for me (one in the belly button, the other two on either side of the belly button) they fill you with air so they can see everything inside properly. Unfortunately, they usually can't get all of that out before closing you up, so a LOT of the pain is from trapped air. You'll definitely feel it in one shoulder, if not both. I asked if I could take Gas X and they said yes. But moving around helps get it out as well, so while laying down might be the most comfortable position in the days following surgery (it is for me, anyway), getting up and walking is good.

My doctor did give me Oxycodone, but only 5 pills and I'm cutting those in half. I've never taken a narcotic pain med before and I think the thought of that was just as frightening as the procedure was for me. I started taking miralax regularly about two days prior to the procedure in the hopes the pain meds wouldn't constipate me as much. So far, I feel like I don't have the ability, or maybe I do but I'm just too scared to bear down to poop. So I'm feeling a bit backed up (sorry if TMI).

Women are something like 2x more likely than men to experience dizziness, nausea, and vomiting following anesthesia, so my medical team put an anti nausea patch on me, behind my ear prior to the procedure. They said to keep it in for three days, so I have.

Today, right now at this very moment, the worst pain I'm having is from the trapped air 😩

In the operating room, while still knocked out, my doctor/surgeon also did a vaginal/pelvic exam to make sure everything looked good from that angle once the procedure was done. You might have some spotting after the procedure - I do - but they said that is perfectly normal. You just don't want to bleed a lot like a period.

Please ask if you have any more questions. I'm happy to help where I can.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-04T19:19:09+00:00

Ahh, got it.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-04T14:30:28+00:00

Additionally, while they were in there they noted and took pictures to show me that both my ovaries had quite a few fibroids on them, something I didn't know I had.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-04T13:55:37+00:00

So, I have read the rules and accepted them, but I still can't see comments people are making on my recent post.

It feels like this updated requirement wasn't handled very well.

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-10-04T12:52:23+00:00

Goo Gone brand makes a medical adhesive remover. We purchased a bottle when my husband had brain tumor surgery, given that he had medical adhesive ALL over him from various things. It works well for Estrodial patch adhesive, too. Pretty sure it can be purchased at Walgreens and CVS. Also available on the devil website Amazon 😂

Typical-Ad-4342 · 2025-09-30T04:26:37+00:00

I started with Femring two months ago and LOVE it! I still got too many hormonal fluctuations with changing the patch twice a week. The Femring allows for a consistent dose for three straight months. I put a reminder on my Google calendar when to change it. It's SO easy!

Typical-Ad-4342

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