For the women in this forum frustrated with mood disorders.

[bling bling]

I've been seeing professionals in the mental health field for over 16 years for depression and other (probably co-morbid) conditions.

I should add that I've been mis-diagnosed many times and frustrated quite often. I've never felt like anyone had any real solutions for me. I've always known there was something *else* going on above and beyond their diagnosis and that the course of treatment they offered was really just a temporary bandage. The meds worked until they didn't. The self-help books weren't really as helpful as I'd hoped. Then I was back at square one. Never truly moving forward. Never truly understanding what exactly was going on with me. Was it my childhood? Was it my genes? Why am I this way? Why can't I just get better...permanently?

Why did it never occur to me that while I was pregnant in my 2nd semester I felt better than I had in years. I mean, I realized it, but I never really thought that hard about it. The fact is, when you're pregnant, your estrogen levels are soaring. Ding ding ding. Connection?!. And when the baby was born my moods were unstable and all over the place. The fact is, when you give birth, your estrogen levels plummet. Ding ding ding. Connection again!

Isn't this connection between moods and estrogen for pre-menopausal women worth looking into more? So why did it never come up in any of my hundreds of meetings with professionals that hormones could be contributing to my situation? In fact, one doctor even noted the ups and downs of my moods in her journal and concluded that I'm bipolar (long story short, I stopped seeing her directly). Why didn't it occur to her that the ups and downs were *cyclical*.

All I'm saying is if you're pre-menopausal and frustrated with your diagnosis like I was/am, then your hormones may be something you want to consider. They may be un-balanced in some way and your doctor almost certainly hasn't factored that in. When you look at the similarities between mood disorders and pre-menstrual disorders, it's pretty stunning that the Psychological Industry isn't taking more steps to incorporate hormones into their diagnostic and treatment plans. It's not stunning, it's sickening. Take a look at this, for example, and BTW, people affected by pre-menstrual disorders can be affected for up to 2 weeks out of every month.

*****

Table 3. Diagnostic Criteria for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder<2>
Five or more of the following symptoms must be present; at least 1 symptom must be from the first 4 listed:
• Depressed mood or dysphoria
• Anxiety or tension
• Affective lability
• Irritability
• Decreased interest in usual activities
• Concentration difficulties
• Marked lack of energy
• Marked change in appetite, overeating or food cravings
• Hyperinsomnia or insomnia
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Other physical symptoms, ie, breast tenderness, bloating

A. To be considered PMDD, symptoms must occur during the week before menstruation and remit a few days after onset of menses.
B. Symptoms must impair functioning at work, school, usual activities or relationships.
C. Symptoms must not merely be an exacerbation of another disorder.
D. Criteria A, B and C must be confirmed by patient prospective daily ratings of symptoms for at least 2 menstrual cycles.

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhpms&msg=3516.1&ctx=0

*******

Knowing the role that hormones play into your moods is like having the clouds lift because you finally have a focal point. Even if there isn't a clear cut solution at least you can stop wasting time on wondering WTF is wrong with you.

[EFerrari]

1. Somebody give this poster a grant.

:thumbsup:

[bling bling]

2. You must have been reading my mind.

I've been thinking the same thing lately. I wish I knew how to go about getting more scientists to research the role of the estrogen and progesterone balance and how it impacts our brains (and how to get funding for it). There is so much that seems to be unknown. I'm getting a book tonight called "The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman" written by an endocrinologist named Geoffrey Redmond. It's supposed to be an excellent resource for this subject.

If I find anything that I feel others could benefit from I'll post it here.

[EFerrari]

3. Thanks, bling bling!

:)

[fizzgig]

4. there is a study going on at colorado state university right now

that is looking at the role of estrogen receptors play in depression

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/CSUZONE01/612150335/1110

but you do have to wonder what took them so long to figure out there might be a connection

[bling bling]

5. I'm really glad to hear that.

I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time. I feel like there are probably millions of women who can and will benefit from a better understanding of hormones and our physical/mental well being.

I cannot put this book down on the subject. I referenced it above as "The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman" but when I went to buy it I found out it's actually called "It's Your Hormones." Anyway, it explains the biochemical process of hormones and presents it all in a way that I'd never thought about before. We all all know our hormones play a role in our moods. But how many of us have really, really, thought about that. You know, as in, what *exactly* do the hormones do, and how *exactly* can they affect our moods?

I feel I am learning so much about myself as I'm reading this book and researching the subject on the internet. I'm starting to take the focus off of the brain processes in terms of the abstract idea of mis-wired neurotransmitters and focusing on the actual chemical processes that are taking place by the complex system of the endocrine glands. It's like a whole new avenue of understanding my moods, behaviors, and physical well-being has opened up to me. I wish I could buy this book for every woman I know who has frustrating mood instability issues in their lives and has never felt like they were taken seriously or properly diagnosed by a professional.

I'm looking forward to hearing the results of that study you referenced. I have a feeling the results are going to be interesting, and that the psychological industry as we know it will be adjusting their theories a whole lot in the coming years as more information on hormones becomes known.

[mzteris]

6. A-f'ing MEN - er WOmen!! ? !!

So what do we do about it?

I came in here to post about the damn meds - again - and still will in a separate OP - but I've always thought this was a problem. No "doc" seems to agree. WTF?

Hormones - can't live without 'em. Supplements are supposed to be "bad" for you. But then again - can they be any frickin' WORSE than the damn meds they're prescribing??????

Mood swings. Anxiety. Depression. Insomnia. Here - take this and this. And this. Oh yeah - and this. Oh - that's giving you this side effect - take this, too.

You know another problem related to hormones that doctors REFUSE to consider and I KNOW absolutely that there is a connection for? Bedwetting in girls. (I don't know about the boys.....) LONG story - but suffice it to say, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a connection. Do you think I could get ANY Urologist, Pediatrician, GYN to listen? nooooooooo - it was "just coincidence"....... anyway - if you know of any pre-teen/teen girls with this problem, let me know and can expound.

[no name no slogan]

8. I'm a guy, and part of my mental probs are hormone-related

I have a defective pituitary gland, which means that my body produces an abnormally low level of testosterone for a male. Consequently, I'm also doing testosterone replacement in addition to my psych meds. As far as I can tell, it has made a difference in my energy level and overall mood.

Unfortunately, it's also quite expensive-- over $300/month. Thankfully my insurance covers it.

[bling bling]

9. Can I please ask you a couple of questions about that?

How did you come to find out that your pituitary gland was defective? What were your symptoms, and what kind of doctor were you seeing that thought to have your testosterone levels checked? Or was it you that requested it?

Thank you so much for your input here.

[no name no slogan]

11. It came up during a physical

I won't go into details, but my GP noticed symptoms of a testosterone deficiency during a physical (low energy level and a low level of muscle mass in my chest were the big ones). He referred me to an endocrinologist, who did some tests and confirmed the deficiency.

The endocrinologist ordered a PET scan of my brain which revealed I have something called "Empty Cella Syndrome", which is a condition where the pituitary gland is mis-shaped because of a rupture in a membrane wall.

Although it's from a pharma company, this site has some good info.

[bling bling]

12. Thank you.

Something I find interesting in my case, is that I actually have an endocrinologist. I've been seeing one for years for a common thyroid problem. Every year I do a follow up where he feels my neck and then sends me next door for blood test and tells me he'll call if any problems.

He's never asked me about moods as part of the check-up even though he knows that I take medication. He never explained how the endocrine system could play a role in the condition I'm taking meds for. I guess I'm probably expecting too much there. But after over a decade of reaching out for help from so many people and still feeling like I don't have any answers, I'm a little frustrated at the medical community that not a one of them has ever mentioned hormones to me. Oh well. Didn't mean to unload on you.

Thanks for responding. It sounds like you have a pretty decent GP, or at least in that situation it sounds like he was on the ball.

[Blue_Roses]

7. Ding, ding, ding

I'm so glad you posted this:)

[hashibabba]

10. I had PMDD undiagnosed for years. I was Ms. Psyho Bitch

just before my period every month. It gradually increased until it was most of the month! So my gyn. put me on Prozac. Whew, that was so great! I still have not had anyone ask to check my hormones or my thyroid, although I'm probably going to ask my new shrink next month when I have my other blood tests. It's been years and I'm finally doing fine, but if I can *fix* my hormone or thyroid levels and give up some of these meds it would be nice.

[bling bling]

13. The important thing is that you're doing well.

I totally understand how distressing it is to have uncontrollable mood swings and feel like a psycho bitch. It gradually got worse for me too, to the point where my estrogen levels are so low right now I'm not even having a period.

I have no idea if taking synthetic estrogen is going to help or not because I just started taking it. I really hope so. But I may have to consider taking an anti-d as well to help get me back on track, as much as I don't want to. Things like good sleep and exercise and all that can impact hormone levels to some degree too, maybe help keep them maintained or whatever.

I've been dealing with problems for years too. I think it's possible that my periodic bouts of clinical depression came whenever I gradually exhausted my neurotransmitters due at least in part to insufficient or totally out of whack hormones. And in between those bouts of depression it was really bad enough with cyclical mini-depressions and mood swings and all the other related issues that go along with it.

Anyway, like I said. The important thing is that you're doing well right now. Embrace it, and I hope it stays that way for you.

[hashibabba]

14. I stopped getting my period at 42. I was in pretty bad shape then

so I didn't really pay much attention or care. But that's when my depression was at its worst too. I haven't been to a gyn since otherwise I might have gotten help for it!

I hope the synthetic hormone works for you and works soon!

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I have been off all meds since my hysterectomy

I am a believer in a hormone link to depression. I feel better now that I have since I was about 13 years old.

[bling bling]

16. I'm truly glad to hear that.

And thanks for your input. After what I've been reading on this topic lately from various sources there's really little doubt in my mind that there is a very real and important link between the hormones and depression.

In fact, I'm starting to think there is a much greater link of hormones to all kinds of disorders than anyone has been aware of, including certain personality disorders.

Unfortunately, I'm seeing that funding for testing and research is limited. I'd really like to see the issue of funding for mental health addressed more by our politicians. I'm only starting to think about it now but I'm thinking about finding out who lobbies Congress for funding to find out what people like me can do to help.

I just hope that by the time my daughter is my age they'll have a much better handle on the biochemistry behind our mental health and how better to test for it and treat it. I fear she may inherit some of my genes and I don't want her to suffer without answers or real solutions the way so many of us have had to do for so long.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. My bipolar is without a doubt tied into my hormones somehow