Hi. I haven't been on this forum for quite a while, but i want to respond to your original question. I had the DS open on 4/12/99. I guess I was a pioneer of sorts...I started at 391, stablized at 160-180 while having two more kids during that time, and now I'm at 220. But this post is not about weight. It's about PMDD. I am very far out. 15 years. but I had such horrendous PMDD that I was severely depressed, moody, couldn't function, slept constantly, was diagnosed with severe depression and literally felt mentally ill during that period. Food cravings ? That was the least of my worries. It was, and still is, dehabilitating. I took prozac just to combat those 5-6 days a month, and lots of other strategies. Finally, I did a lot of research and realized I needed to stop ovulating to make sure it was truly PMDD. When I finally divorced my abusive ex last August is when I truly tracked the depression and craziness, and it was truly coordinating with specific dates. So i went to OB GYN and asked for a three month lupron depot injection. He prescribed it, saying it'd cost me 1200 bucks, but I was desperate, I'm a single mom of 4 with full custody and my own business. Because I pick up the shot myself, it was 40 dollars through insurance.
Lupron is controversial, but it has solved my problem, to a point. one, you aren't supposed to take it more than two years because it causes bone loss. Two, i've had timing issues with the injections. Last month I could feel the PMDD coming on even after only 2 months post injection, so I ignored it, then requested to go to the office for the injection 2 weeks early, but I missed the window. I spent 6 days in HELL again 6 weeks ago, and during that time committed myself to actually having surgery to have my ovaries out. I see the surgeon on Weds this week to discuss, but I'm actually seeing Dr John Rabkin for a follow up for the first time in 5 years finally on Monday, June 2. in two days.
Lupron sent me into chemical menopause. I'm taking estrogen bioidential gel supplements, for hot flashes, horrible insomnia, etc. I've gained 25 pounds and I am feeling very heavy, as I really only feel like myself physically at less than 200 pounds. My thyroid is screwed up too because I went off thyroid suddenly a year ago. Filing for divorce and custody was extremely stressful...but I'm back in the saddle again. And i again have to thank Diana Cox for her undying support, though I haven't been in touch with her lately...
I would HIGHLY recommend Lupron if you truly have PMDD. pmdd really leads me to be a completely different person. And I can't afford that week of the month to be that person. However, at 48, I do not want to have a hysterectomy, with a tummy tuck, open DS, hernia repair with a mesh, and 4 csections of adhesions under my belt now I have enough adhesional pain to begin with. The timing of the shot is tricky, and you'd have to fight and educate doctors to have it prescribed, plus I injected myself once, and that time it didn't work as effectively so I go to the doctors office to do this, but if you have more than just food cravings but are really suffering from this, where people really have committed suicide from pmdd when it was severe I suggest looking into Lupron. Most people responding to this thread haven't directly addressed this, so I had to. I don't like the weight gain but the alternative of PMDD is unbearable.
Kim
It's not b&j's in mah belleh, but it's still awesome 
