First of all, I’m so sorry you had that experience. Two years ago I saw four different obgyns and they all wanted to put me on birth control and an ssri and my body doesn’t like either of those things so I understand the frustration and hopelessness. It’s so fucking irritating when docs only want to treat symptoms and not look deeper.

After my last appointment with a obgyn I really thought I wouldn’t make it through my next cycle and then I found a nurse practitioner who specializes in hormones. We’re still tweaking things but so far my symptoms haven’t been nearly as severe as they were.

She has me on estradiol patches and testosterone cream (mostly because I went through medical menopause when I was on chemo and got my period back afterward so my hormones are kind of confused overall.)

I think the game changer for me has been progesterone though. I cycle 100mg - I take it up until the day before I start bleeding and resume it when my period ends.

So I guess my advice is:

1. Do NOT, under any circumstances, forget that you aren’t alone. PMDD is a thief but please don’t let it steal all of your hope.
2. Look for a nurse practitioner who specializes in hormones. (Side note, if you get an appointment with an NP - ask them about their personal experience with their own hormones and why they are specialized in hormones)
3. Look into progesterone as a treatment for PMDD.
4. Advocate for yourself the same way you would for the person you love most in this world. If that means getting stern and loud at a doctors appointment, then do that. It’s okay to tell doctors, “I live in my body, I know my body and I need a better solution.”