Mood Swings: Are Birth Control Pills the Answer?

[Mommie2Hottie]

Five kids. That's enough for me. I knew that I didn't want to pop a pill every morning for the rest of my life so hubby did the chivalrous thing and got "fixed". Here's my dilemna. I can live with the irregular cycles, cramps, headaches, and chills. My mood swings are frightening me though. Bitchy doesn't even begin to describe the evilness I experience sometimes. I've considered not even going home some nights just to spare my family. I've even been concerned about my mental stability. A Dr. I consulted before said that bc pills would even out my mood swings and regulate my cycle, but that wasn't an option at the time because we were trying to concieve #1.

Now I am thinking about trying bc pills or the patch. I am preparing myself for my first competition in Oct and I don't want to risk the weight gain associated with the pill. Are there other options that you know of? Herbal or manufactured that won't interfere with being "natural"?

[redsquirrel]

Well, the complete opposite happened to me and several other females who took the Pill. We were really psycho ON the Pill.

However, it's possible you are over producing estrogen and the Pill may help even it out. What does your OB say about this?

Why not try a prescription anti-depressant? Welbutrin is really good because there is NO weight gain associated with it and NO sexual side effects. Those won't interfere with being natural.

[Mommie2Hottie]

Would the anti-depressent have to be taken continually or only during those 3-5 days of PMSing?

[redsquirrel]

Ahh...now I see what you are getting at...

I thought you were referring to the fact that you are constantly moody. If that were the case, then I would suggest the Wellbutrin.

Have you tried Premsyn PMS or Midol? Those OTC drugs are tailored for just that purpose. I would not get on the Pill just for those 3-5 days. IMHO, it doesn't really help with those symptoms anyway. It's really only good for the cramps and acne.

[Mommie2Hottie]

Originally posted by redsquirrel
I thought you were referring to the fact that you are constantly moody. If that were the case, then I would suggest the Wellbutrin.

Have you tried Premsyn PMS or Midol? Those OTC drugs are tailored for just that purpose. I would not get on the Pill just for those 3-5 days. IMHO, it doesn't really help with those symptoms anyway. It's really only good for the cramps and acne.

I am constantly chipper and perky which makes the mood swings even more distressful.

I will pick up some Premsyn tomorrow!!

Thanks RS.

[Puddles]

I have awful PMS symptoms and bad periods too. My gyn agrees that the pill often helps with these things but he won't put me on hormones because of my recent history of cancer. Since you're done having children, a procedure called ablation may be something to talk to your doctor about. It removes the lining of your uterus leaving your ovaries intact so no more periods which will alleviate the physical symptoms without changing your natural hormones. I started taking welbutrin recently and my mental pms symptoms last month were nearly non-existant. I do not think taking it just during the pms time will work, although I had wondered the same thing myself. It takes a few days for the welbutrin to build up in your system. You mentioned not wanting to go home sometimes because the pms throws you so off ballance, if the premsyn doesn't work for you (I never tried it) you may want to consider the welbutrin, I'm very happy so far with it's results. The only side I experienced with it was during the first week, it made me very tired and I was going to bed about 5 hrs. earlier than normal, but that subsided after the first week. Good luck!

[Mommie2Hottie]

Thank you Puddles. I dread PMS because it makes me so psycho. Hopefully the Premysn will work. I was going to ask the Dr. if valium or something like it would be an option since it doesn't have to be built up in the system.

[Puddles]

I've used vallium to help me calm down a bit but I don't like the grogginess/slowed-down feeling it gives me. Vallium doesn't calm the emotional rollercoaster for me but it's more useful after the feeings have built up and I need some help calming down.

I feel like Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde during PMS. It's like someone else has invaded my body and mind at times. Normally I've very easy going and not too emotional but damn, the monthly hormonal fluctuations really do a number on me at times.