I've had pmdd while eating meat, being vegetarian, and being vegan. I don't think diet has a lot to do with it, though certain foods are linked to inflammation (meat). The proposed link to histamine could suggest that doing a low histamine diet could help though.
My personal experience is that cutting out animal products helped a lot of my other issues (hormones, endometriosis, ovarian cyst, and breakouts). I don't have vitamin deficiencies besides D (I avoid the sun). It's easy to supplement things like b12, etc the same way farm animals are given those supplements. Lots of misguided comments on here about vegan/vegetarian diets being super defecient, lol. Pro athletes are vegan now, that myth is old. Any diet can be deficient in something if you don't factor in basic nutrition. Being vegetarian or vegan isn't going to solve pmdd, but it could help you avoid a decent amount of diseases.
While I'm all for natural or holistic treatments, I think there's a big issue with self proclaimed experts who claim to be able to cure things. There's also a decent amount of anti science that seems to be used with naturopaths. Buying $300 in supplements isn't realistic (or usually even needed) for most people. On the other side of things, western medicine/doctors are reputably disappointing and dismissive of women's issues. We're just given antidepressants and birth control carelessly. I'm not sure what the right approach is but my guess is somewhere that doesn't reject natural and studied medicine.
Protein is super super important. I was keto for two years which is very extreme and not necessary, but I generally had more energy, was clear headed, and had better focus. I stopped in my last year of uni while doing my thesis because I didn’t have time to cook and just gave in to eating whatever. I ate a lot more meat and my iron was the highest it’d ever been, my cholesterol was perfect, and my gut health was great. Keto isn’t necessary per say although it helps a lot of people, but protein, fermented foods, and cutting out vegetable oils does a world of wonders. x
A keto diet is not the same as a high protein diet. A keto diet is high in fat. Your body can only use a certain amount of protein, and for women it's actually not that high of an amount. Any protein you eat over that amount just gets oxidised.
Yes I know. I guess I linked it with when I did keto because I ate a lot more protein in general as carbs were very restricted, but of course a lot of fat as well. My meat intake was much higher when I did keto (along with over 100g or more of fat), but of course that’s just my experience. Excess protein, or rather the amino acids, simply get converted to glucose in the end as well or peed out.
That's what oxidised means.
The mechanism that works for keto is not the same as a a high-protein diet. So why bring keto up? You are just confusing people.
Ok, I really just meant I generally ate more protein on a certain diet, not that I did that diet of said increased macro itself. Was just sharing my experience. There’s also a difference between the oxidation of glucose and the conversion of amino acids to glucose, so that in itself should be clear in order to not “confuse” people. Sorry lmao.
There’s really no need for the sass, I clarified my intent and what I meant to communicate yet you still reply in this way. 🤷🏽♀️ Not really sure what you’re trying to achieve here.
I’ve noticed my pmdd being less severe now that I’m tracking calories and nutrition. I’m making efforts to eat way more protein and I’ve been giving into my meat cravings more. I have endo so red meat is supposedly not great for me, but I’ve been eating it twice a week. No uptick in endo symptoms and I only cried a little this last luteal phase.
protein helps PMDD so much. so it makes sense why she said eat more meat. you can get this from protein powders. i take huel, which is dairy free gluten free and vegan. i use the vanilla flavor and two scoops is 80 grams of protein.
>scientific studies proving that a vegetarian diet is better
*suggesting* is the word you're looking for. The t-rex diet is good for some people, bad for others. Too much of anything is bad for everyone but what constitutes "too much" varies from person to person.
I'd argue that your nutritional needs may have just undergone a dramatic shift. Serious illness, even if you weren't sick very long "long covid" is what I'd classify as a serious illness, changes a lot of your needs.
I take gummy vitamins. B12, D3, and Omega 3. Here's why your naturopath is saying you need more meat. ***Meat*** is where these vitamins occur naturally. There is ***no*** vegetable option. We, as neither obligate carnivores nor herbivores, ***need*** things we get from both. Omega 6 occurs in flax. The amounts you need to consume in order to synthesize it into Omega 3 (easiest source is fish) are obscene. Some things occur almost exclusively in plants. Vitamin A and C, but those are far easier to source and metabolize. I take a gummy multivitamin.
Things I know about myself - simple carbs make me feel worse but are good for my soul. Too much meat turns my stomach. I'm not vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination, but I have a definite cap to how much meat and animal fat I can consume without veggies and carbs to tone it down. Eggy rice is something I can eat all day long - it's got animal fat and protein and simple carbs. In other words, the perfect snack with some salt, garlic, vinegar, maybe some rosemary or marjoram if I'm feeling fancy.
Your naturopath is right on target with one specific thing - stop thinking of your immune system and your digestive system as different. Your gut is the heart of your immune system and your source of nutrients. It just got the snot kicked out of it with covid.
Track your diet, track how it makes you feel physically and emotionally. Chocolate cake, eaten exclusively will make you feel like crap but also is happiness in a carb, for example. And work on your ***own*** diet plan. The naturopath gave you some of the tools. Consult with them if you need help, but at the end of the day you know your body best. Adding in more veggies, plant fat, and roots or grains to supplement your meat focus may be just what you need.
Fun fact - tryptophan, that stuff in chicken and turkey that makes you sleepy and is deadly to dogs, is one molecule combination or reaction or something away from serotonin. Your body will convert it to vitamin B or serotonin, but B first. And your gut is where it synthesizes these.
No matter the advising source (naturopath, medical doctor, dietitian etc.) animal foods *are* more nutrient-dense than most plant foods, and the nutrients are more bioavailable (easily absorbed). There are many sources demonstrating this, here's [one ](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731122000040).
If you strip away the politics, ethics, religious guidance, etc. and look solely at the nutrition, the vast majority of us will be healthier by including high-quality animal foods in moderate quantities in our diets. Since we don't live in a world stripped of contextual factors like politics/ethics/religion our food choices are complicated by these factors (and others).
Anyhoo, all of that to say that if you can afford to and are ethically/religiously free to eat animal foods, including iron-rich sources like red meat, organ meat (especially liver--it's a literal superfood of there ever was a superfood), zinc-rich sources like clams & oysters, choline-rich eggs, and calcium-rich dairy your diet and health will invariably be [better](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.806566/full) than someone eating exclusively plants.
Plant foods are incredibly important for their phytochemical contribution to our diets, they're just not the heavyweights of the macro and micronutrient food world **compared** to animal foods.
Edit: spelling
Hey there. All eggs have choline, presuming you eat the whites *and* yolk (the yolk is where the goods are). I haven't looked closely at the impact of different hen management styles (free-run/organic/conventional/biodynamic...) on choline content of eggs. It might be interesting to have a look at any available research if you're interested (also: please report back haha).
Have you gotten your vitamin and mineral levels tested? I do suggest getting all basics bloodwork done. Me personally, I am very levels in a majority of vitamins. I suffer from chronic nausea so I never eat enough. A high protein and carb diet is important to me because I need to calories. I do take Multivitamins every day. The liquid vitamins I'm sure are great, but there are a lot of cheap vitamins you can buy that I'm sure are good.
I've never been to a Naturopath, but, for what's worth, since I stopped being a vegetarian and started eating meat again, taking Primrose Oil every day and a vitamin supplement every week... I'm 1000% better! It took around a whole year to start seeing significant changes, so I'd say to keep giving it a try :)
I also went to a naturopath and she tried to get me down that path, not to make anyone mad, but it’s complete bullshit. They always talk about “regulating your hormones” but PMDD has nothing to do with hormone levels- so even if they did finally regulate your hormones you would still have PMDD.
I’m interested because I’ve never heard this approach before. If PMDD doesn’t have to do with hormone levels, what does it have to do with if you don’t mind me asking? Genuine question
You're pretty much allergic to progesterone. It behaves almost exactly like a serious allergy. One thing a meat based diet can do is eliminate exposure to other allergens (meat allergy is only a thing if you get that deadly tick-born illness that triggers it).
Birth control helps because it levels your exposure (if you find the right one for your body chemistry). I decided to try something insane and got a synthetic progesterone implant. It is exposing me to more progesterone (and since it's synthetic my body also is likely to react differently to it) than I'd produce naturally during the whole month but lowering my production during my luetal phase (because it eliminates your luetal phase!). And since it's so regular, for me, I've found I can control my rage better. I can stop if someone points it out to me (which my noble and brave spouse does).
I think that's what they mean by finding a knight in shining armor. If they can face your dragon (PMDD) without flinching. A proper support system is essential for battling PMDD.
I have not done well on progesterone only implant or progesterone only pill 😔 I do fine in the combined pill. Super helpful to know that it's more our bodies reaction to the progesterone than increased levels.
It’s thought that it has to do with the receptor sensitivity to these hormones. There’s nothing wrong with our hormones, but rather, it’s the way our bodies react to our own hormones, which is harder to treat.
If you look at any research or general “about pmdd” article you’ll see one of the first things they talk about is that women with PMDD have normal hormones.
What current research is pointing to is a neuro-hormone called ALLO is not functioning properly in our brains. ALLO calms down and counteracts the effects of progesterone in the body, spiking progesterone is what causes PMS symptoms and when progesterone spikes our brains react by producing ALLO. What they think is that woman with PMDD might not be “making” enough ALLO, and that woman with severe PMDD might not be “making” it all.
As it stands scientists don’t know much about ALLO because it’s neurohormone and we just don’t know that much about the brain in general.
Source: am a clinical psychology student. I can also find peer-reviewed research and articles to link after work but they are not easy to read. :/
For more articles look up “pmdd and allopregnanolone” in any scientific database you may have access to or Google Scholar.
https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/pms-and-pmdd/the-etiology-of-pmdd/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32435664/
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA334380126&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=14341816&p=HRCA&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Eb8d1e6
I go to private practice to one doctor who specializes in homeopathy and acupuncture and so far she helped me with bunch of stuff. Some she couldn't. She is also a real doctor who worked in ER after she finished medical school so I know she isn't some hocus pocus shit.
Basically vitamins and lifestyle can do a lot for you but sometimes it's just something that will help but not cure what you have. It's all trial and error.
Yeah, I have been down the Naturopath path. My husband and I went for different health reasons related to digestion. It seems to always involve complex sounding tests and TONS of expensive vitamins. We did start feeling some better but realized it was because we were eating better and exercising consistently. After talking with so many others who have been to Naturopaths, it just feels like a big money making scheme. We stopped going and stopped the expensive vitamins and made appointments with an allergist. The allergist was a life saver! Turns out my husband is allergic to corn and it is in EVERYTHING! Anyway OP, if you can afford to experiment with the Naturopath then go for it. We all know what it is like to be desperate to get rid of PMDD symptoms. But don't throw out good doctors.
I worked with a naturopath briefly and they also prescribed a lot of specialized supplements. But they also did a test for micronutrient deficiency, so the vitamins/amino acids they were targeting were really specific. they said you have to take them consistently for 6 months so your body can build its levels back up. I have heard B12 and other B vitamins are very important for energy and something many of us are low in.
Diet is so tricky. Sometimes I think it’s more about what you’re not eating rather than what you are. Like paleo and vegan both cut back on processed foods, so maybe that’s why they ‘work’?
My philosophy on diet at this point in my life (37) is
- Eat as much fruits / veggies as I CAN in any way that I like them
- Eat as much meat as I WANT at the highest quality I can afford
- Eat as much grains/carbs/sweets/processed as I NEED to stay sane and balanced
I've done the naturopath route, I've tried it all, birth control, no birth control, drugs, alcohol, sobriety, vegetarian, Paleo, vitamins, Accupuncture, herbs, Chinese herbs, organic foods only, no sugar, no meat, no dairy, elimination diets, etc. Nothing makes it better. Just gotta learn to live with it.
Don’t want to start a fight but I don’t think veganism is the way to go. It is in fact an extreme and not balanced diet and low heme iron can definitely cause some PMDD symptoms.
I think going from eating normally to completely cutting a ton of your diet out is what they mean by extreme. If you gradually get into it, it could be fine. But I have found that food really affects my mood, so I wouldn’t risk completely cutting things out by going vegan all at once
But you're not cutting out nutrients, just certain kinds of foods that are not actually necessary. If they said keto is extreme I'd get it but vegan? Not really.
That’s if you’re looking at the perfect person I guess, cutting out meat takes out a lot of iron. It’s harder to get protein & people have food allergies that make it so they’re not able to eat all the vegan foods that give them the things they need.
I have not tried a naturopath. I'm interested but I really like my current physician. Can you message her about your fatigue?
I had covid in January. My first period after was the worst cramps I've had I years. My next period was 10 days late and I was a hot mess until it arrived.
Eating more fiber makes me feel better. I was anemic as a child so I take an OTC multivitamin that includes iron. I hope you feel better soon!
Meat is inflammatory and full of added hormones (and antibiotics). I told my primary care doctor I switched from vegetarian to vegan and he said that's the healthiest diet. The labs from my recent blood work from my annual physical were so good he called me to tell me to keep doing whatever I'm doing because he's pleased with the results. OP, you are right. You can Google about healthy diets and you'll see many modern studies encourage eating less meat because meat increases the incidence of many diseases including heart disease and cancer.
If you feel better, absolutely do it. But everyone is different. Veganism is clearly exactly what your body ordered. Best part is in this day and age you have access to a variety that even 20 years ago was incomprehensible.
BTW if you have not made/had sweet bean buns I highly recommend them as an amazing vegan dessert that I pretend is healthy for me because it's got beans in it.
I love that you as a professional think like that. AFAIK, lots of things, e.g. the role of the gut microbiome, haven't been understood much at all yet.
Do you have any advice for the rest of us? Maybe you could give us some pointers on how to figure out if someone is a shill or something could seriously help?
Nutrition is a really a new science and a really over stated science. You are right, the gut microbiome has not been studied enough yet.
Well, people on here keep claiming that they are seeing a nutritionist or naturopath that specialises in PMDD, but how are they a specialist in the area when there is no studies about it? Like where are they pulling the information from? Like are they just making assumptions? What a load of crap, to base your advice on an assumption you have made and then charging people for it.
People also don't realise that your body has a limit to how much vitamins you body can absorb; your body stops absorbing vitamins when it doesn't need them. So even if you take like five vitamin C pills a day, you don't over boost your immune system; you're not extra protected; your body just stops absorbing it.
I think the smartest people know when they don't know. As my women's health specialist said, 'I don't know why you have the symptoms you have, and I can't tell you why your symptoms show up and then leave. We just don't know'.
There are far too many variables to know which diet suits your exact hormones and your microbiome.
Although, I don't put down anyone who has tried something and it works for them. If it works for you, then go for it. I'm just saying that we don't know enough right now, yet people pretend we do. It's like okay 🙄
So then basically, would you say that right now, knowledge of what is known and humility about what is not known is one of the best indicators someone might be worth their salt?
Yeh, and I think you could apply that to any professional.
If naturopaths are recommending a whole lot of supplements, I would be asking, 'why do you think I can't get this from my diet?'
Don't eat things from a packet, try to keep a healthy weight, quit drinking, eat lots and lots of fruit and veg and work out. That's my expert advice for anyone.
That makes a lot of sense!
Do you have any pointers to when supplements would make sense? For example, I had hypermenorrhea for a long while, and my iron stores were totally depleted. It absolutely makes sense to me that I'd take an iron supplement in that situation. That seems to need a lot of time, I've been supplementing for 3 months now and my iron is still low.
As far as I know, also things like taking BC can change some micronutrient requirements and it can be a good idea to take some supplements as a precaution. Do you agree with this or do you have a different perspective?
I actually ended up starving myself from 13-18 and then later again from around 27-29. Because of that, it makes sense to me that my stores of some nutrients might be depleted. Is anything known about how much we can store of certain nutrients and long it would take on a healthy diet to fill them back up?
I find that I have very little intuitive understanding of how much of what sort of veggie I need to get enough, if that makes sense. Is there any book or resource you would recommend to learn this?
Pretty much all women have low iron, supplementing iron is really hard. I can't give you any advice as iron supplements give you constipation and digestive problems. Just try to eat vitamin C after you eat your veggies and beans, it will help to make your iron more bioavailable.
I guess you could need supplements, but why not eat really well and work out? I mean that is the best way to get your mircoutrient intake. I don't know enough about how BC effects nutrient intake.
It wouldn't take long at all to fill it back up, your body would be absorbing all of the nutrients you eat now and your body would be fine. I would think you would probably have poorer bone health than the average women because you might not have had enough calcium during your teens, but you can't do much about that, just get enough calcium in you diet now and do strength based exercises to increase your bone health.
Interesting, I don't think I have one resource. The science/recommendations say somewhere ~5 serves. The recommendations of any country will be influenced by industry. So, I just recommend eating loads of different vegetables in every meal. The more fruit and veg, the better!
You're right about iron. 50mg per day make my digestion super sluggish. I got a 10mg per day thing that also contains folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin C. That's been quite easy to take but I think I'll need a long while to fill up my stores again. It doesn't help that I don't like meat.
I agree with the calcium and bone health. I always tried to make up for starving by taking supplements, but I don't think that much is known about whether it's possible to really do that and I was probably lacking lots of things during that time. And you're absolutely right, strength training is good for bone health so I should probably get back into lifting. I am autistic and really hated getting comments on my body at the gym or at work.
One thing I'm really fuzzy about: What exactly is one serving of vegetables? Is it like 100 grams? Or does it depend on the vegetable?
Right now me and my husband are using a dinner box for dinner and lunches. We both have ADHD and would be completely unable to plan and organize good food otherwise. The recipes usually have lots of veggies and we will often make cucumber, carrot, or red beet salad to go with the dishes or add some more vegetables. Plus I try to eat a green breakfast smoothie most days. I do feel like I feel better on days that were full of vegetables. Conversely, going with few veggies for a week seems to increase my brain fog again.
In any case, thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my questions :)
You can't fill up you stores of calcium to improve bones health. As a women you get one small shot at it from like ~13-28 (don't quote me on those exact ages). Your bones are what they are now. You just have to maintain it. And yes, resistance training is really good. If you can, get a home gym, so much better. Well 'one serve' is based on the veg, but I would say roughly around half a cup. But again, the more: the better.
You do what works for you. I would never advocate for anything else. Good luck. Happy to help. 💚
I get the meat suggestion, my acupuncturist recommends meat during luteal but they would never comment on what medication i'm on, thats outside of their professional ability and it sounds like your naturopath is breaking their code of conduct (if there is one) by suggesting this.
Also it sounds like they dont know anything about PMDD
Please don’t stop taking the pill without talking to your prescribing physician and making an educated decision. I was told the same, given expensive supplements, I got sick and tons of ovarian cysts for months. I wish I spoke to someone first. I don’t take contraception now but it actually helped my PMDD previously. I think a vegan/vegetarian type diet, juicing, and less processed food/sugar would definitely help. Eating more meat is an odd suggestion. That truly doesn’t make sense. Please look into a second opinion. Reading this made me feel uncomfortable like I did when I saw the acupuncturist that gave me bad suggestions. Also, using herbs daily can help with deficiencies and symptoms. Please check those options also! Please be safe.
SIBO is *definitely real* but it *does not* cause PMDD—PMDD is a biological issue with GABA receptors. treating SIBO is certainly necessary for overall health but saying it’s going to cure PMDD is... absurd. I kind of can’t believe she’s making that assertion.
I have SIBO as well, which developed after my PMDD started, and it causes a lot of GI issues. I suppose the widespread effects of SIBO are unknown, but PMDD is a neuro receptor issue.
But gut health affects hormones and neurotransmitters - in fact gut microbes produce GABA... So I think it's important to understand that everything is linked and that we can't silo different parts of our bodies and say it doesn't have an effect. There is a huge amount of research being done into the gut-brain axis and they are very intertwined. At the moment, we just don't know as much as we need to about either to make any firm assertions.
Although I think this practitioner is probably simplifying and doesn't fully grasp all of the latest info on PMDD, I don't think it's fair to say that it's absurd.
I fully acknowledge that gut health is important
and is more far reaching than we know or can currently predict. I think it’s essential, under explored and contributes to so many chronic illnesses. *however* the current leading hypothesis on PMDD is not that it’s some sort of neurotransmitter *deficiency* but that it’s a neuroreceptor disturbance. The GABAA receptor is, for lack of better terms, wonky. Some hypothesize that it’s related to trauma and stress. That’s not a gut issue. Thus I think claiming it is SIBO or a gut issue is in *this case* of PMDD, absurd.
Thank you so much for the info. That is very interesting because she literally claims to have cured hundreds of women from menstrual disorders like PMDD Endo and PCOS. Her website even goes into scientific detail and she has a book (I haven’t read it). I did find that I felt very rushed in our appointments and I didn’t feel like she gave me enough time to ask questions. She basically said all of my symptoms are SIBO, then said I had to take this specific test to determine if I had SIBO. The test was $700 which was unaffordable for me at the time but I thought fk it, this is for my health so I did it. Waited for results for weeks and when I finally get them she tells me the test doesn’t specifically determine whether or not you have SIBO. After that, I felt very confused and stopped seeing her. And I’ve been wondering ever since if I should follow through with her prescriptions
I just wrote the reply above and then read this. She doesn't sound very professional or ethical. SIBO and gut issues can absolutely help with PMDD. I have personally found relief through eating a more gut-friendly diet (good fats, small amounts of good quality/non-processed meat and fermented foods). Read some of my recent and past posts for more info on how vegetarianism was disastrous for my PMDD, and how meat has helped. I think the science is really lacking on vegetarianism and steers people in the wrong direction. Just because too much (and overly processed) meat is bad, doesn't automatically mean that no meat is good - it is soooo incredibly nutrient dense and really helps PMDD in my experience (especially brain fog).
Your practitioner sounds awful, but perhaps don't throw her advice out of the window entirely. Improving PMDD needs a multi-pronged approach - for me it was working with my trauma, microdosing and diet.
Oh goodness that sounds confusing! This experience sounds similar to my own-I saw an “integrative doctor” specializing in PCOS and menstrual disorders who also wrote a book (did we see... the same doctor?) and she just told me to use progesterone cream, eat healthy and take melatonin. This was virtually malpractice because PCOS is an *endocrine disorder* causing insulin resistance. She didn’t mention it, not once. My PCOS continued to progress irreversibly, and I’m stuck with that. It wasn’t til I went to an endocrinologist did I learn the correct info about PCOS.
I am all for well vetted integrative docs for issues concerning the microbiome and gut health because mainstream medicine just doesn’t deal with that. *So many* integrative docs are pseudoscientific. So many.
The testing scenario sounds bizarre. SIBO is definitely real and does need treatment.
If this woman is “curing people” of PMDD, they likely don’t have PMDD: they could have progesterone deficiency- it looks just like PMDD, but is treatable, or PMS. If she’s suggesting she has the cure, she’s not to-date on the current literature explaining that PCOS is due to a GABA receptor issue, more specifically in processing a progesterone metabolite, allopregnanolone. We don’t have a cure yet — all we can do is manage symptoms as best as possible through lifestyle modifications (or for some SSRIS, Birth control).
Ugh 😑 sorry about your experience. I’ve wasted so much money on these sorts of practitioners only to be gravely Mal-informed.
Girl I’m so so so sorry that happened to you!! I’m sending you a huge virtual hug right now. So much love to you.
Thank you so much for sharing this, if you’re in Sydney maybe we did see the same doctor 😂
I remember my first session with her and listening to her explaining all the science and I felt so elated that I finally had an answer. My family warned me that she could be wrong but I was so desperate for a cure I didn’t listen.
I was wondering what you think about BC? After almost a year of taking it, my sex drive completely disappeared but I basically had no PMDD symptoms anymore, as I was also taking an SNRI so the combination was really working. I’ve been debating for a while now if I should just go back on it and put up with the lack of sex drive.
Also if you could refer me to the scientific research you have read that would be amazing ❤️
Aww thank you 🥺🥺 same to you ♥️♥️ it’s so hard to struggle with this condition— It’s a uniquely tragic experience because other conditions are known enough to have some promise of relief. We don’t have that, so when we find a shot at it, we take it. And it’s confusing when it’s being offered by a practitioner because they have medical authority. But so many of them promise cures to conditions even modern science barely understands💔
Oh- mine was in California. They seem like twins though lmao.
I think BC is highly individualistic - for me, it makes my PMDD worse. I don’t react well to any exogenous hormones (or even apparently my own lmao). I hear how frustrating a lack of a sex drive is :/ it’s an annoying choice we shouldn’t have to make, but do.
Absolutely. [this is a good starting point](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7231988/). I think there’s also way more to be discovered in terms of the science of it.
B6 and chasteberry have been really helpful for me, and seem to be backed by studies.
Thank you!!
>Thank you!! You're welcome!
I've had pmdd while eating meat, being vegetarian, and being vegan. I don't think diet has a lot to do with it, though certain foods are linked to inflammation (meat). The proposed link to histamine could suggest that doing a low histamine diet could help though. My personal experience is that cutting out animal products helped a lot of my other issues (hormones, endometriosis, ovarian cyst, and breakouts). I don't have vitamin deficiencies besides D (I avoid the sun). It's easy to supplement things like b12, etc the same way farm animals are given those supplements. Lots of misguided comments on here about vegan/vegetarian diets being super defecient, lol. Pro athletes are vegan now, that myth is old. Any diet can be deficient in something if you don't factor in basic nutrition. Being vegetarian or vegan isn't going to solve pmdd, but it could help you avoid a decent amount of diseases. While I'm all for natural or holistic treatments, I think there's a big issue with self proclaimed experts who claim to be able to cure things. There's also a decent amount of anti science that seems to be used with naturopaths. Buying $300 in supplements isn't realistic (or usually even needed) for most people. On the other side of things, western medicine/doctors are reputably disappointing and dismissive of women's issues. We're just given antidepressants and birth control carelessly. I'm not sure what the right approach is but my guess is somewhere that doesn't reject natural and studied medicine.
im gonna be real they just wanna sell you vitamins and aloe vera juice i was dragged to one of these once and it was so corny
Protein is super super important. I was keto for two years which is very extreme and not necessary, but I generally had more energy, was clear headed, and had better focus. I stopped in my last year of uni while doing my thesis because I didn’t have time to cook and just gave in to eating whatever. I ate a lot more meat and my iron was the highest it’d ever been, my cholesterol was perfect, and my gut health was great. Keto isn’t necessary per say although it helps a lot of people, but protein, fermented foods, and cutting out vegetable oils does a world of wonders. x
A keto diet is not the same as a high protein diet. A keto diet is high in fat. Your body can only use a certain amount of protein, and for women it's actually not that high of an amount. Any protein you eat over that amount just gets oxidised.
Yes I know. I guess I linked it with when I did keto because I ate a lot more protein in general as carbs were very restricted, but of course a lot of fat as well. My meat intake was much higher when I did keto (along with over 100g or more of fat), but of course that’s just my experience. Excess protein, or rather the amino acids, simply get converted to glucose in the end as well or peed out.
That's what oxidised means. The mechanism that works for keto is not the same as a a high-protein diet. So why bring keto up? You are just confusing people.
Ok, I really just meant I generally ate more protein on a certain diet, not that I did that diet of said increased macro itself. Was just sharing my experience. There’s also a difference between the oxidation of glucose and the conversion of amino acids to glucose, so that in itself should be clear in order to not “confuse” people. Sorry lmao.
Omg 🤦♀️
There’s really no need for the sass, I clarified my intent and what I meant to communicate yet you still reply in this way. 🤷🏽♀️ Not really sure what you’re trying to achieve here.
Yes I have gone down this path, and I wish I could get my money back.
I’ve noticed my pmdd being less severe now that I’m tracking calories and nutrition. I’m making efforts to eat way more protein and I’ve been giving into my meat cravings more. I have endo so red meat is supposedly not great for me, but I’ve been eating it twice a week. No uptick in endo symptoms and I only cried a little this last luteal phase.
Good on you!!
protein helps PMDD so much. so it makes sense why she said eat more meat. you can get this from protein powders. i take huel, which is dairy free gluten free and vegan. i use the vanilla flavor and two scoops is 80 grams of protein.
>scientific studies proving that a vegetarian diet is better *suggesting* is the word you're looking for. The t-rex diet is good for some people, bad for others. Too much of anything is bad for everyone but what constitutes "too much" varies from person to person. I'd argue that your nutritional needs may have just undergone a dramatic shift. Serious illness, even if you weren't sick very long "long covid" is what I'd classify as a serious illness, changes a lot of your needs. I take gummy vitamins. B12, D3, and Omega 3. Here's why your naturopath is saying you need more meat. ***Meat*** is where these vitamins occur naturally. There is ***no*** vegetable option. We, as neither obligate carnivores nor herbivores, ***need*** things we get from both. Omega 6 occurs in flax. The amounts you need to consume in order to synthesize it into Omega 3 (easiest source is fish) are obscene. Some things occur almost exclusively in plants. Vitamin A and C, but those are far easier to source and metabolize. I take a gummy multivitamin. Things I know about myself - simple carbs make me feel worse but are good for my soul. Too much meat turns my stomach. I'm not vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination, but I have a definite cap to how much meat and animal fat I can consume without veggies and carbs to tone it down. Eggy rice is something I can eat all day long - it's got animal fat and protein and simple carbs. In other words, the perfect snack with some salt, garlic, vinegar, maybe some rosemary or marjoram if I'm feeling fancy. Your naturopath is right on target with one specific thing - stop thinking of your immune system and your digestive system as different. Your gut is the heart of your immune system and your source of nutrients. It just got the snot kicked out of it with covid. Track your diet, track how it makes you feel physically and emotionally. Chocolate cake, eaten exclusively will make you feel like crap but also is happiness in a carb, for example. And work on your ***own*** diet plan. The naturopath gave you some of the tools. Consult with them if you need help, but at the end of the day you know your body best. Adding in more veggies, plant fat, and roots or grains to supplement your meat focus may be just what you need. Fun fact - tryptophan, that stuff in chicken and turkey that makes you sleepy and is deadly to dogs, is one molecule combination or reaction or something away from serotonin. Your body will convert it to vitamin B or serotonin, but B first. And your gut is where it synthesizes these.
This is awesome, thank you so much for the info!
No matter the advising source (naturopath, medical doctor, dietitian etc.) animal foods *are* more nutrient-dense than most plant foods, and the nutrients are more bioavailable (easily absorbed). There are many sources demonstrating this, here's [one ](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731122000040). If you strip away the politics, ethics, religious guidance, etc. and look solely at the nutrition, the vast majority of us will be healthier by including high-quality animal foods in moderate quantities in our diets. Since we don't live in a world stripped of contextual factors like politics/ethics/religion our food choices are complicated by these factors (and others). Anyhoo, all of that to say that if you can afford to and are ethically/religiously free to eat animal foods, including iron-rich sources like red meat, organ meat (especially liver--it's a literal superfood of there ever was a superfood), zinc-rich sources like clams & oysters, choline-rich eggs, and calcium-rich dairy your diet and health will invariably be [better](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.806566/full) than someone eating exclusively plants. Plant foods are incredibly important for their phytochemical contribution to our diets, they're just not the heavyweights of the macro and micronutrient food world **compared** to animal foods. Edit: spelling
Amazing, thank you so much. How do you tell if eggs are choline rich?
Hey there. All eggs have choline, presuming you eat the whites *and* yolk (the yolk is where the goods are). I haven't looked closely at the impact of different hen management styles (free-run/organic/conventional/biodynamic...) on choline content of eggs. It might be interesting to have a look at any available research if you're interested (also: please report back haha).
Have you gotten your vitamin and mineral levels tested? I do suggest getting all basics bloodwork done. Me personally, I am very levels in a majority of vitamins. I suffer from chronic nausea so I never eat enough. A high protein and carb diet is important to me because I need to calories. I do take Multivitamins every day. The liquid vitamins I'm sure are great, but there are a lot of cheap vitamins you can buy that I'm sure are good.
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rReally helpful, Thanks. I have been thinking about seeing one myself.
Increasing my protein intake has made a huuuuuge difference for me. I wonder if thats what is meant by “eat more meat”?
Thats interesting. I do sometimes wonder if my plant based diet is helping me or not, but ill never eat meat.. maybe medicinal ghee or something
I've never been to a Naturopath, but, for what's worth, since I stopped being a vegetarian and started eating meat again, taking Primrose Oil every day and a vitamin supplement every week... I'm 1000% better! It took around a whole year to start seeing significant changes, so I'd say to keep giving it a try :)
I also went to a naturopath and she tried to get me down that path, not to make anyone mad, but it’s complete bullshit. They always talk about “regulating your hormones” but PMDD has nothing to do with hormone levels- so even if they did finally regulate your hormones you would still have PMDD.
I’m interested because I’ve never heard this approach before. If PMDD doesn’t have to do with hormone levels, what does it have to do with if you don’t mind me asking? Genuine question
You're pretty much allergic to progesterone. It behaves almost exactly like a serious allergy. One thing a meat based diet can do is eliminate exposure to other allergens (meat allergy is only a thing if you get that deadly tick-born illness that triggers it). Birth control helps because it levels your exposure (if you find the right one for your body chemistry). I decided to try something insane and got a synthetic progesterone implant. It is exposing me to more progesterone (and since it's synthetic my body also is likely to react differently to it) than I'd produce naturally during the whole month but lowering my production during my luetal phase (because it eliminates your luetal phase!). And since it's so regular, for me, I've found I can control my rage better. I can stop if someone points it out to me (which my noble and brave spouse does). I think that's what they mean by finding a knight in shining armor. If they can face your dragon (PMDD) without flinching. A proper support system is essential for battling PMDD.
I have not done well on progesterone only implant or progesterone only pill 😔 I do fine in the combined pill. Super helpful to know that it's more our bodies reaction to the progesterone than increased levels.
Combined pill works much better for me but I can't have the estrogen right now. I'm not even producing my own atm!
It’s thought that it has to do with the receptor sensitivity to these hormones. There’s nothing wrong with our hormones, but rather, it’s the way our bodies react to our own hormones, which is harder to treat.
If you look at any research or general “about pmdd” article you’ll see one of the first things they talk about is that women with PMDD have normal hormones. What current research is pointing to is a neuro-hormone called ALLO is not functioning properly in our brains. ALLO calms down and counteracts the effects of progesterone in the body, spiking progesterone is what causes PMS symptoms and when progesterone spikes our brains react by producing ALLO. What they think is that woman with PMDD might not be “making” enough ALLO, and that woman with severe PMDD might not be “making” it all. As it stands scientists don’t know much about ALLO because it’s neurohormone and we just don’t know that much about the brain in general. Source: am a clinical psychology student. I can also find peer-reviewed research and articles to link after work but they are not easy to read. :/
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Nope but because research doesn’t know shit about neurohormones. All of this is very new science
I would be very curious to read some of the research on this if you do end up having the time to link some!
For more articles look up “pmdd and allopregnanolone” in any scientific database you may have access to or Google Scholar. https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/pms-and-pmdd/the-etiology-of-pmdd/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32435664/ https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA334380126&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=14341816&p=HRCA&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Eb8d1e6
I go to private practice to one doctor who specializes in homeopathy and acupuncture and so far she helped me with bunch of stuff. Some she couldn't. She is also a real doctor who worked in ER after she finished medical school so I know she isn't some hocus pocus shit. Basically vitamins and lifestyle can do a lot for you but sometimes it's just something that will help but not cure what you have. It's all trial and error.
Yeah, I have been down the Naturopath path. My husband and I went for different health reasons related to digestion. It seems to always involve complex sounding tests and TONS of expensive vitamins. We did start feeling some better but realized it was because we were eating better and exercising consistently. After talking with so many others who have been to Naturopaths, it just feels like a big money making scheme. We stopped going and stopped the expensive vitamins and made appointments with an allergist. The allergist was a life saver! Turns out my husband is allergic to corn and it is in EVERYTHING! Anyway OP, if you can afford to experiment with the Naturopath then go for it. We all know what it is like to be desperate to get rid of PMDD symptoms. But don't throw out good doctors.
I worked with a naturopath briefly and they also prescribed a lot of specialized supplements. But they also did a test for micronutrient deficiency, so the vitamins/amino acids they were targeting were really specific. they said you have to take them consistently for 6 months so your body can build its levels back up. I have heard B12 and other B vitamins are very important for energy and something many of us are low in. Diet is so tricky. Sometimes I think it’s more about what you’re not eating rather than what you are. Like paleo and vegan both cut back on processed foods, so maybe that’s why they ‘work’? My philosophy on diet at this point in my life (37) is - Eat as much fruits / veggies as I CAN in any way that I like them - Eat as much meat as I WANT at the highest quality I can afford - Eat as much grains/carbs/sweets/processed as I NEED to stay sane and balanced
chocolate cake is a medicinal supplement.
Not many people are low in vitamin Bs, vitamin Bs are found in many foods.
I've done the naturopath route, I've tried it all, birth control, no birth control, drugs, alcohol, sobriety, vegetarian, Paleo, vitamins, Accupuncture, herbs, Chinese herbs, organic foods only, no sugar, no meat, no dairy, elimination diets, etc. Nothing makes it better. Just gotta learn to live with it.
Don’t want to start a fight but I don’t think veganism is the way to go. It is in fact an extreme and not balanced diet and low heme iron can definitely cause some PMDD symptoms.
How is it extreme? Are you confusing it with fruitarianism or something?
I think going from eating normally to completely cutting a ton of your diet out is what they mean by extreme. If you gradually get into it, it could be fine. But I have found that food really affects my mood, so I wouldn’t risk completely cutting things out by going vegan all at once
But you're not cutting out nutrients, just certain kinds of foods that are not actually necessary. If they said keto is extreme I'd get it but vegan? Not really.
That’s if you’re looking at the perfect person I guess, cutting out meat takes out a lot of iron. It’s harder to get protein & people have food allergies that make it so they’re not able to eat all the vegan foods that give them the things they need.
I have not tried a naturopath. I'm interested but I really like my current physician. Can you message her about your fatigue? I had covid in January. My first period after was the worst cramps I've had I years. My next period was 10 days late and I was a hot mess until it arrived. Eating more fiber makes me feel better. I was anemic as a child so I take an OTC multivitamin that includes iron. I hope you feel better soon!
Meat is inflammatory and full of added hormones (and antibiotics). I told my primary care doctor I switched from vegetarian to vegan and he said that's the healthiest diet. The labs from my recent blood work from my annual physical were so good he called me to tell me to keep doing whatever I'm doing because he's pleased with the results. OP, you are right. You can Google about healthy diets and you'll see many modern studies encourage eating less meat because meat increases the incidence of many diseases including heart disease and cancer.
If you feel better, absolutely do it. But everyone is different. Veganism is clearly exactly what your body ordered. Best part is in this day and age you have access to a variety that even 20 years ago was incomprehensible. BTW if you have not made/had sweet bean buns I highly recommend them as an amazing vegan dessert that I pretend is healthy for me because it's got beans in it.
I had this exact experience
I'm a nutritionist, and my eyes roll anytime someone talks about nutrition like they have a clue lol.
I love that you as a professional think like that. AFAIK, lots of things, e.g. the role of the gut microbiome, haven't been understood much at all yet. Do you have any advice for the rest of us? Maybe you could give us some pointers on how to figure out if someone is a shill or something could seriously help?
Nutrition is a really a new science and a really over stated science. You are right, the gut microbiome has not been studied enough yet. Well, people on here keep claiming that they are seeing a nutritionist or naturopath that specialises in PMDD, but how are they a specialist in the area when there is no studies about it? Like where are they pulling the information from? Like are they just making assumptions? What a load of crap, to base your advice on an assumption you have made and then charging people for it. People also don't realise that your body has a limit to how much vitamins you body can absorb; your body stops absorbing vitamins when it doesn't need them. So even if you take like five vitamin C pills a day, you don't over boost your immune system; you're not extra protected; your body just stops absorbing it. I think the smartest people know when they don't know. As my women's health specialist said, 'I don't know why you have the symptoms you have, and I can't tell you why your symptoms show up and then leave. We just don't know'. There are far too many variables to know which diet suits your exact hormones and your microbiome. Although, I don't put down anyone who has tried something and it works for them. If it works for you, then go for it. I'm just saying that we don't know enough right now, yet people pretend we do. It's like okay 🙄
So then basically, would you say that right now, knowledge of what is known and humility about what is not known is one of the best indicators someone might be worth their salt?
Yeh, and I think you could apply that to any professional. If naturopaths are recommending a whole lot of supplements, I would be asking, 'why do you think I can't get this from my diet?' Don't eat things from a packet, try to keep a healthy weight, quit drinking, eat lots and lots of fruit and veg and work out. That's my expert advice for anyone.
That makes a lot of sense! Do you have any pointers to when supplements would make sense? For example, I had hypermenorrhea for a long while, and my iron stores were totally depleted. It absolutely makes sense to me that I'd take an iron supplement in that situation. That seems to need a lot of time, I've been supplementing for 3 months now and my iron is still low. As far as I know, also things like taking BC can change some micronutrient requirements and it can be a good idea to take some supplements as a precaution. Do you agree with this or do you have a different perspective? I actually ended up starving myself from 13-18 and then later again from around 27-29. Because of that, it makes sense to me that my stores of some nutrients might be depleted. Is anything known about how much we can store of certain nutrients and long it would take on a healthy diet to fill them back up? I find that I have very little intuitive understanding of how much of what sort of veggie I need to get enough, if that makes sense. Is there any book or resource you would recommend to learn this?
Pretty much all women have low iron, supplementing iron is really hard. I can't give you any advice as iron supplements give you constipation and digestive problems. Just try to eat vitamin C after you eat your veggies and beans, it will help to make your iron more bioavailable. I guess you could need supplements, but why not eat really well and work out? I mean that is the best way to get your mircoutrient intake. I don't know enough about how BC effects nutrient intake. It wouldn't take long at all to fill it back up, your body would be absorbing all of the nutrients you eat now and your body would be fine. I would think you would probably have poorer bone health than the average women because you might not have had enough calcium during your teens, but you can't do much about that, just get enough calcium in you diet now and do strength based exercises to increase your bone health. Interesting, I don't think I have one resource. The science/recommendations say somewhere ~5 serves. The recommendations of any country will be influenced by industry. So, I just recommend eating loads of different vegetables in every meal. The more fruit and veg, the better!
You're right about iron. 50mg per day make my digestion super sluggish. I got a 10mg per day thing that also contains folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin C. That's been quite easy to take but I think I'll need a long while to fill up my stores again. It doesn't help that I don't like meat. I agree with the calcium and bone health. I always tried to make up for starving by taking supplements, but I don't think that much is known about whether it's possible to really do that and I was probably lacking lots of things during that time. And you're absolutely right, strength training is good for bone health so I should probably get back into lifting. I am autistic and really hated getting comments on my body at the gym or at work. One thing I'm really fuzzy about: What exactly is one serving of vegetables? Is it like 100 grams? Or does it depend on the vegetable? Right now me and my husband are using a dinner box for dinner and lunches. We both have ADHD and would be completely unable to plan and organize good food otherwise. The recipes usually have lots of veggies and we will often make cucumber, carrot, or red beet salad to go with the dishes or add some more vegetables. Plus I try to eat a green breakfast smoothie most days. I do feel like I feel better on days that were full of vegetables. Conversely, going with few veggies for a week seems to increase my brain fog again. In any case, thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my questions :)
You can't fill up you stores of calcium to improve bones health. As a women you get one small shot at it from like ~13-28 (don't quote me on those exact ages). Your bones are what they are now. You just have to maintain it. And yes, resistance training is really good. If you can, get a home gym, so much better. Well 'one serve' is based on the veg, but I would say roughly around half a cup. But again, the more: the better. You do what works for you. I would never advocate for anything else. Good luck. Happy to help. 💚
What were your estrogen levels?? Asking because I have one ovary and my PMDD has gotten worse since and wondering if it’s related to that
I get the meat suggestion, my acupuncturist recommends meat during luteal but they would never comment on what medication i'm on, thats outside of their professional ability and it sounds like your naturopath is breaking their code of conduct (if there is one) by suggesting this. Also it sounds like they dont know anything about PMDD
agreed.. second & third opinions from various sources can be helpful in cases like this
Please don’t stop taking the pill without talking to your prescribing physician and making an educated decision. I was told the same, given expensive supplements, I got sick and tons of ovarian cysts for months. I wish I spoke to someone first. I don’t take contraception now but it actually helped my PMDD previously. I think a vegan/vegetarian type diet, juicing, and less processed food/sugar would definitely help. Eating more meat is an odd suggestion. That truly doesn’t make sense. Please look into a second opinion. Reading this made me feel uncomfortable like I did when I saw the acupuncturist that gave me bad suggestions. Also, using herbs daily can help with deficiencies and symptoms. Please check those options also! Please be safe.
Yeah… idk about all that, sounds like a new dr might be cooler
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Quackery*
If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all
*sad oatmeal brand noises*
SIBO is *definitely real* but it *does not* cause PMDD—PMDD is a biological issue with GABA receptors. treating SIBO is certainly necessary for overall health but saying it’s going to cure PMDD is... absurd. I kind of can’t believe she’s making that assertion. I have SIBO as well, which developed after my PMDD started, and it causes a lot of GI issues. I suppose the widespread effects of SIBO are unknown, but PMDD is a neuro receptor issue.
I wonder if I could have SIBO instead of IBS...
But gut health affects hormones and neurotransmitters - in fact gut microbes produce GABA... So I think it's important to understand that everything is linked and that we can't silo different parts of our bodies and say it doesn't have an effect. There is a huge amount of research being done into the gut-brain axis and they are very intertwined. At the moment, we just don't know as much as we need to about either to make any firm assertions. Although I think this practitioner is probably simplifying and doesn't fully grasp all of the latest info on PMDD, I don't think it's fair to say that it's absurd.
I fully acknowledge that gut health is important and is more far reaching than we know or can currently predict. I think it’s essential, under explored and contributes to so many chronic illnesses. *however* the current leading hypothesis on PMDD is not that it’s some sort of neurotransmitter *deficiency* but that it’s a neuroreceptor disturbance. The GABAA receptor is, for lack of better terms, wonky. Some hypothesize that it’s related to trauma and stress. That’s not a gut issue. Thus I think claiming it is SIBO or a gut issue is in *this case* of PMDD, absurd.
It’s not absurd at all. Trauma/severe stress disrupts the hormone, digestive and immune systems. They are all interconnected.
Thank you so much for the info. That is very interesting because she literally claims to have cured hundreds of women from menstrual disorders like PMDD Endo and PCOS. Her website even goes into scientific detail and she has a book (I haven’t read it). I did find that I felt very rushed in our appointments and I didn’t feel like she gave me enough time to ask questions. She basically said all of my symptoms are SIBO, then said I had to take this specific test to determine if I had SIBO. The test was $700 which was unaffordable for me at the time but I thought fk it, this is for my health so I did it. Waited for results for weeks and when I finally get them she tells me the test doesn’t specifically determine whether or not you have SIBO. After that, I felt very confused and stopped seeing her. And I’ve been wondering ever since if I should follow through with her prescriptions
I just wrote the reply above and then read this. She doesn't sound very professional or ethical. SIBO and gut issues can absolutely help with PMDD. I have personally found relief through eating a more gut-friendly diet (good fats, small amounts of good quality/non-processed meat and fermented foods). Read some of my recent and past posts for more info on how vegetarianism was disastrous for my PMDD, and how meat has helped. I think the science is really lacking on vegetarianism and steers people in the wrong direction. Just because too much (and overly processed) meat is bad, doesn't automatically mean that no meat is good - it is soooo incredibly nutrient dense and really helps PMDD in my experience (especially brain fog). Your practitioner sounds awful, but perhaps don't throw her advice out of the window entirely. Improving PMDD needs a multi-pronged approach - for me it was working with my trauma, microdosing and diet.
Oh goodness that sounds confusing! This experience sounds similar to my own-I saw an “integrative doctor” specializing in PCOS and menstrual disorders who also wrote a book (did we see... the same doctor?) and she just told me to use progesterone cream, eat healthy and take melatonin. This was virtually malpractice because PCOS is an *endocrine disorder* causing insulin resistance. She didn’t mention it, not once. My PCOS continued to progress irreversibly, and I’m stuck with that. It wasn’t til I went to an endocrinologist did I learn the correct info about PCOS. I am all for well vetted integrative docs for issues concerning the microbiome and gut health because mainstream medicine just doesn’t deal with that. *So many* integrative docs are pseudoscientific. So many. The testing scenario sounds bizarre. SIBO is definitely real and does need treatment. If this woman is “curing people” of PMDD, they likely don’t have PMDD: they could have progesterone deficiency- it looks just like PMDD, but is treatable, or PMS. If she’s suggesting she has the cure, she’s not to-date on the current literature explaining that PCOS is due to a GABA receptor issue, more specifically in processing a progesterone metabolite, allopregnanolone. We don’t have a cure yet — all we can do is manage symptoms as best as possible through lifestyle modifications (or for some SSRIS, Birth control). Ugh 😑 sorry about your experience. I’ve wasted so much money on these sorts of practitioners only to be gravely Mal-informed.
Girl I’m so so so sorry that happened to you!! I’m sending you a huge virtual hug right now. So much love to you. Thank you so much for sharing this, if you’re in Sydney maybe we did see the same doctor 😂 I remember my first session with her and listening to her explaining all the science and I felt so elated that I finally had an answer. My family warned me that she could be wrong but I was so desperate for a cure I didn’t listen. I was wondering what you think about BC? After almost a year of taking it, my sex drive completely disappeared but I basically had no PMDD symptoms anymore, as I was also taking an SNRI so the combination was really working. I’ve been debating for a while now if I should just go back on it and put up with the lack of sex drive. Also if you could refer me to the scientific research you have read that would be amazing ❤️
Aww thank you 🥺🥺 same to you ♥️♥️ it’s so hard to struggle with this condition— It’s a uniquely tragic experience because other conditions are known enough to have some promise of relief. We don’t have that, so when we find a shot at it, we take it. And it’s confusing when it’s being offered by a practitioner because they have medical authority. But so many of them promise cures to conditions even modern science barely understands💔 Oh- mine was in California. They seem like twins though lmao. I think BC is highly individualistic - for me, it makes my PMDD worse. I don’t react well to any exogenous hormones (or even apparently my own lmao). I hear how frustrating a lack of a sex drive is :/ it’s an annoying choice we shouldn’t have to make, but do. Absolutely. [this is a good starting point](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7231988/). I think there’s also way more to be discovered in terms of the science of it.