No medication for mood swings??????

[luvmyfam444]

I'm gonna have to try some of these as well. I get into a funk (on the verge of tears - short temper - just feel blah mentally) about the same time each month - it seems like it is 2 weeks after my period every month. It lasts a week or so - though I haven't tracked it specifically.

I had my hormones checked by an internal med dr last year & everything was normal - but I don't know what they checked exactly. Maybe they didn't check all the ones I needed to have checked I'm pretty sure thryroid was checked

 

[Gagirl69]

Just gonna throw this out there. I was having the same issue and it turned out my progesterone levels were WAY low. I've been on progesterone now for two months, and I feel like myself again. I'm not dragging, crabby, miserable at all. I get tested again in about a week, but I know it's better. Good luck!

You definitely need to get your progersterone levels checked. I used to be in an eternal bad mood. Got tested and found out I was estrogen dominant. I am on progesterone cream (bio-identical) that a local compounding pharmacist made up for me. I love life again. Enjoying doing things. I used to have road rage just about everyday. Not anymore. Progesterone is your mood leveler. Many women that are on antidepressants actually just need to get their hormones in balance. Good luck!

The most accurate way to check hormone levels is the saliva test. Blood work will not give the correct levels.

 

[luvmyfam444]

You definitely need to get your progersterone levels checked. I used to be in an eternal bad mood. Got tested and found out I was estrogen dominant. I am on progesterone cream (bio-identical) that a local compounding pharmacist made up for me. I love life again. Enjoying doing things. I used to have road rage just about everyday. Not anymore. Progesterone is your mood leveler. Many women that are on antidepressants actually just need to get their hormones in balance. Good luck!

The most accurate way to check hormone levels is the saliva test. Blood work will not give the correct levels.

Hmm - didn't know there was a saliva test...good info!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'm gonna have to try some of these as well. I get into a funk (on the verge of tears - short temper - just feel blah mentally) about the same time each month - it seems like it is 2 weeks after my period every month. It lasts a week or so - though I haven't tracked it specifically.

I had my hormones checked by an internal med dr last year & everything was normal - but I don't know what they checked exactly. Maybe they didn't check all the ones I needed to have checked I'm pretty sure thryroid was checked

This is exactly how I was. Horrible for two weeks out of the month (the week before and the week of). Would sob uncontrollably, non-communicative, miserable. It was also coming up on the 1 year anniversary of 9/11 (I work in NYC/live nearby in NJ) and I was a mess. When I explained this to my gyno he said it sounded like PMDD, as well as PTSD. He prescribed the Sarafem and it was amazing how much better I felt. I also went for a regular checkup a week later with my MD and explained everything to her and she said she would have prescribed the exact same medication. It made a huge difference for me. I was on it about a year or so, came off, went back on for another 6-8 months and have been off for a few years now.

I realize the original post was about options other than prescription meds, but just thought I should mention this as an alternative for others who might consider prescription meds. Either way, discuss anything you take with your doctor first. Wouldn't want anyone hurting themselves.

 

[136368]

I'd be cautious when it comes to antidepressants - they are infamous for exacerbating the hypomanic stages. If I had a choice, I'd opt for a mood stabiliser stroke anticonvulsant. The Lithium family is the classic choice for mood swings, but low doses of atypical antipsychotics such as Quetiapine can also be useful (if a little on the expensive side.)

 

[luvmyfam444]

I'M just too scared to take anything( other than something for headaches & that scares me enough! ) I don't even take birth control!

 

[Imzadi]

I agree with getting hormones and blood checked. I had severe anemia & still have a hypothyroidism. Both were undiagnosed for a long time. I was a crazy woman. When my meds or supplements are off, either of them can cause mood swings, depression or extreme fatigue. The meds are still being tweaked a bit.

I am also taking calcium, magnesium & zinc supplement. Not sure if it helps my moods, but wow has my skin texture & tone improved considerably. My skin is also tighter. Magnesium is responsible for aiding about 300 body functions. When I accidentally miss a couple doses now & then, my skin gets all draggy & tired again.

I also take a high Vit B & C complex along with mega-doses of iron.

You definitely need to get your progersterone levels checked. I used to be in an eternal bad mood. Got tested and found out I was estrogen dominant. I am on progesterone cream (bio-identical) that a local compounding pharmacist made up for me. I love life again. Enjoying doing things. I used to have road rage just about everyday. Not anymore. Progesterone is your mood leveler. Many women that are on antidepressants actually just need to get their hormones in balance. Good luck!

The most accurate way to check hormone levels is the saliva test. Blood work will not give the correct levels.

I'm looking into progesterone cream. The hypothyroidism caused massive uterine fibroids from a too heavy Aunt Flo. I've been reading that progesterone cream may be a way to shrink them as I probably have too much estrogen.

I cut out red meat as they are high estrogen animals. In the 3 months since doing that and adding the supplements & meds, my Aunt Flo reduced about 70%! That in itself has helped my mood.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'M just too scared to take anything( other than something for headaches & that scares me enough! ) I don't even take birth control!

Then definitely get some sunshine. (I find my PMS is worse the darker it is out.) And I think almonds have both magnesium and zinc.

 

[AtlantaSue]

Another big endorsement here for progesterone cream (known around here as "happy cream.") I use Arbonne's.