Am I struggling with this psychosis?

[mandyjcoleman32]

I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me for over a year now. For 28 days each month I am fine. But one day prior to beginning my period, I turn into Ms. Hide. My symptoms have grown to resemble severe psychosis, paranoia, altered perception with reality, ect. I chew family members out and stir up problems. I feel like a raving lunatic! For one day and one day only. And, I wake up the next morning and have started my period. Only then do I realize that's what was wrong in the first place. After that, I'm fine for the rest of the month. No issues. It's getting worse and worse with each period, but it never last beyond the next morning. What can I do? If I keep going this way I won't have any family left to talk to me because I've bawled everyone out. I don't have health insurance either.

Please help. Need some sort of consolation.

[Naomi_at_app Volunteer]

Hi Mandy

There is a condition related to PP called menstrual psychosis. It is very rare - but from the symptoms you describe it sounds like it might be worth you talking this through with your doctor as soon as possible.

This link is a bit technical as it's from the main researcher in this area, Prof Ian Brockington but you could print it out and take it to your GP. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

It should be possible for us to put you in touch with Prof Brockington to talk about the best treatments etc from his research.

If we can support you in any way keep letting us know

N

[mandyjcoleman32 in reply to Naomi_at_app]

And, yes. I would love it if you could possibly bring some attention to this situation with Prof. Brockington. I realize this research is rather new and he seems very passionate about it. I think he is driven to bring not only clarity to the issues surrounding menstrual psychosis, but advocates a great deal of care for both the mother and her children. I think its absolutely wonderful. Please find out what you can. Any info that might help would be greatly appreciated. I am a good person, a good mother, but for 1-2 days each month, I am delusional. I flipped out and chewed my little brother out last night for no reason at all and laid in the bed depressed all day today. Now I'm better and I'll be fine for the next 28 days. Please keep me updated on anything you can find.

Blessings,

Mandy

[mandyjcoleman32]

Not really. We have a local mental health center that is income based, but it takes 3-6 months to even get an appointment. I went a few years ago, waited several months to get in, and they had me interviewed by a 19 year old intern. I do believe they prescribed me something equivalent to benadryl. It was a small green capsule that was "supposed" to work on the histamine levels producing a "calming" effect (more like a inconvenient wore down slumber). I just never went back.

[mandyjcoleman32]

For some reason I received this post prior to the one with the info about Prof. Brockington. Actually, I emailed him and one of his associates today. This is the first time I have been able to find any sort of information in concerns to my problem. I am in a very rural area and the doctors here are somewhat close-minded. My gynecologist is my primary care physician. When I mentioned my issues after giving birth to my son 3 1/2 years ago, he prescribed me Prozac. I just won't take that. I'm sorry, but I haven't had any sort of neuro-imaging done and I will not take something that might throw my chemicals further out of whack.

[Naomi_at_app Volunteer]

Hey Mandy

It sounds like you have had a nightmare with health care so far. I forget how lucky we are with the NHS over here in the UK. I completely understand your hesitancy around Prozac etc as it is very over-prescribed both here and in the States.

What interests me is that some of the treatments Prof Brockington has outlined at are hormonal. So it could be as simple as taking some form of contraceptive pill... I'm glad you have emailed him direct though as he will be much better informed than me!

Hope you get some answers soon, and we are here to talk through treatment options, side-effects of medications... all those type of things when you get a bit nearer to a diagnosis.

N

[mimra]

As a woman that suffered this illness menstrual psychosis for many years I tell you to go look deep in to the forums. Women have been self-treating and sharing information for years. There is another diagnosis you could look at catamenial epilepsy or premenstrual epilepsy look at Andrew Herzog’s work Psychoneuroendocrine Aspects of Temporolimbic Epilepsy Part III: Case reports

neuroendocrinology.org/PDF/...

I wish you all the best and hope you don’t make the same mistakes I made. Life is for living I wasted 2 years of my life with a misdiagnosis.

ps my problem days are only during my period and I just use a small amount of natural progesterone cream and it works really well for me. So go put on your detective boots and find the answers other women have found.