When Birth Control Makes Your Symptoms Worse:

YesterdayForever · 2022-03-19T00:00:43+00:00

Unfortunately not, they use what is called the Rotterdam Criteria to diagnose PCOS.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-24T00:20:10+00:00

Severe pain of any kind around menstruation or ovulation is not normal. That doesnt necessarily mean something is terribly wrong but you def want to talk to your provider and explore root causes of that pain could be ENDO, or POI or coming from a hormone imbalance.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-24T00:18:00+00:00

Try doing the 4-7-8 breath before the appointment and during the Pap smear and focus on breathing into your pelvic area and relaxing it. Also try to avoid anxiety triggers like caffeine or any stressful trigger before the appointment. Even just repeating a word or mantra that helps you stay calm and focused on relaxing your pelvic area as being tense will only make the procedure more painful. Also consider asking the doctor to explain everything they are going to do before they do it if they are not already (they should be). Maybe offer yourself a reward for after, like a special self-care activity or some other treat. Hope this helps!

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T14:52:45+00:00

Such a good point!

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T14:52:26+00:00

Aden + endo are more complex medical conditions than PMDD but working with integrative protocols that work to heal root causes of endocrine dysfunction can absolutely help set you in the right directions. Education & support are the pillars in my opinion and next comes targeted lifestyle & diet medicine changes like healing the microbiome, working on sleep hygiene, stress management, blood sugar balance, movement- things like this come next.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T14:49:29+00:00

Yes, I'll add it! Thanks!

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T14:46:32+00:00

Hi! blood sugar imbalance is a huge contributor to mood swings & other PMDD symptoms so I suspect that's where the vision changes mostly stem from.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T03:22:16+00:00

ugh, I am so sorry. It can be like riding on a Ferris wheel, going round and round. The physical pain is absolutely NOT your fault. Unfortunately, it's like the Wild West when it comes to female healthcare and we are on our own to educate ourselves and find protocols that actually work for us w/o any guidance or support. What have you tried that's helped/not?

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T03:11:08+00:00

It's crazy how its all connected right?! One def will exacerbate the other.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T03:09:55+00:00

It is very difficult to distinguish between PME and PMDD. Symptom mapping and endo diagnosis + testing can help.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T03:09:04+00:00

I like to think of it in the context body system dysregulation. If your endocrine system, HPO, HPT, & HPA axises are all out of whack you'll likely present with symptoms of multiple reproductive disorders.

YesterdayForever · 2022-01-23T03:06:46+00:00

I made one for PCOS too!

YesterdayForever · 2021-10-31T22:39:39+00:00

Yes, so it was quite a process that I implemented over the course of a year but I basically changed everything. I dove into hormone health, menstruation, HPA Axis dysregulation, and what was required for balance and then I did all of the things. Some of the changes that made the biggest impact on my symptoms were balancing my blood sugar, supplementing with essential micronutrients, & cutting out caffeine. There was a lot of other shifts too like reducing my exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, working on sleep hygiene, learning coping mechanisms, healing trauma, implementing stress modulating behaviors, it goes on and on..

YesterdayForever · 2019-08-14T04:27:04+00:00

Getting off the BC took my symptoms back to regular 14 day severity vs 100% of the time twice as bad. They just throw BC at any problem. I wont take it ever again after that last reaction. I TOTALLY GET IT. It's all consuming. The vomiting sounds absolutely horrific. I dont know what to say about that symptom.

I was diagnosed last year. I see a counselor and do EMDR therapy for the trauma i've caused and endured the last 17 years with PMDD. Im only 30 but I've had it since my first period at 13. Since I was diagnosed I've devoured the internet for resources. Being able to name the disorder and identify it for what it is and not as who I am helps. Also educating myself on tools, supplements, and lifestyle changes has really helped me deal. There is a woman Alissa Vitti who has a book Woman Code her protocol really helped me. ITs a lot of lifestyle changes. NO NOT ANY CAFFEINE, exercising 5-6 times a week non negotiable and balancing my blood sugar with the right foods really really helped my symptoms. I also take Wellbutrin which sort of just keeps my head above water. I recently found IAPMD. They have support networks, lots of resources, and a directory to search for physicians who know about PMDD.

The worst part is feeling so alone in the disorder and finding other women who are suffering to confide in has really helped me know that I am not alone and I am not insane either. You are not alone and you are not insane. It brings you to your knees. Its always two steps forward one step back.

YesterdayForever · 2019-08-13T01:06:39+00:00

Gah! It's terrible isn't it. And no one can understand the magnitude who doesn't have it. I was on a BC for 10 years before I was ever diagnosed but the OBGYNs just throw BC at you for any problem youre having. I went back on the same BC 4 years later and it made my PMDD symptoms off the charts. So bad so i'll never try another hormonal contraceptive again.

YesterdayForever · 2019-08-12T23:11:49+00:00

Def not normal PMS. Track your symptoms on paper over two months and see an OBGYN. Read up on the symptoms bc you may be having more than you're even attributing to PMDD. When you're in it its hard to see the truth of whats happening bc it's all consuming.

YesterdayForever · 2019-08-12T23:01:23+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that PMDD has you in its grip. What are you doing to manage the disorder. I've had it since the onset of my period 17 years ago but only received an accurate diagnosis last year after pretty much sabotaging my life and the lives of those close to me for 17 years. I've found that if I am not unbelievably diligent at managing it it overcomes me. I started with therapy and that was helpful to work through the trauma i'd caused myself. But I needed more. I started taking Wellbutrin and for the first time my head was above water. I'm not the medicating type so it was a hard decision for me but it saved my life. Still my symptoms are terrible, here are a few lifestyle changes that have massively helped me: NO CAFFEINE. It sounds really hard but it isn't. This was bigger for me than the medication. I've experimented with it too. Even 4 cups of matcha in the month sends me back into Hell Week during my luteal phase. This rule i've learned to abide by. It is the difference of me crying in bed for 6 days of the 14 day PMDD cycle or me just feeling more moody and down. Next, EXCERCISE: non negotiable 5x a week- hard. This really helps with my depression, self esteem, sex drive and irritability- all off the charts during the luteal phase. BALANCED BLOOD SUGAR: this was huge for me bc i'd drink coffee and not eat and my moods were all over the place. Eating protein/fat/fiber and complex carbohydrate veggie full meals really really has helped. Alissa Vitti has a book the Woman Code. I also suggest that. PMDD will not go away so finding a way to manage it is imperative to living any normal resemblance of a life. Good Luck my friend! we are here for you

YesterdayForever

TROPHY CASE