Ann shares her story
18 Sep 2007
Ann Wilkinson, aged 38, has suffered with PMS all her life, only gaining respite from the many and severe symptoms by having her ovaries removed.
My symptoms prior to medication
Before medication, I suffered from severe PMS for a full two weeks or more before my period often starting with stomach pain (ovulation pain, worse on left side). This was followed by:
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Mood swings, but always down, feelings of hopelessness and not wanting to go on, feelings of severe anger and confusion. I would cry a lot, have suicidal thoughts with a tendency towards bulimia
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Headaches and severe migraines peri-menstruation and sometimes around ovulation time, last for 48+ hours with vomitting
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Water retention, abdominal bloating, weight gain, breast pain
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Backache which could be severe
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Nervous tension
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Cravings for carbohydrates, bread, potato, pasta and sugar
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Very hot, then cold and shaky, nauseous
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Problems with sleeping, often shattered but unable to sleep with pains in both legs and the feeling of not being able to stop moving them, night sweats
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IBS symptoms got much worse
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Severe uncontrolled heavy blood loss with clots when had period lasting for 5 days
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Severe anxiety
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Severe frustration, anxiety and emotional pain
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Memory loss
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Weeping, feelings of hate
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Severe stomach cramps, abdominal bloating
These symptoms just got worse and worse as I got older - the severe emotional tension, like screaming inside was unbearable.
I tried the contraceptive pill but it gave me an immediate severe migraine with pins and needles and numbness and severe vomiting. I
often think that I must have had a hormonal imbalance but I have had my levels checked and they were normal.
Medication taken and how it has helped
Prozac 40mg daily
The prozac reduced the emotional problems and mood swings but they came back just as severe within a week of my period starting. Prozac also, amazingly prevented my hormonal migraines and reduced its severity.
Bendrofluazide 5mg daily
This really helped to reduce the pain I was experiencing in my breasts. I was still getting pain, but it was manageable. I also self medicate - B vitamins daily and blackcurrent seed oil for breast tenderness.
I suffered from severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), major pain and uncontrolled heavy menstrual bleeding with clots when I had periods together with hormonal migraine. Approximately six years ago I discussed with my then GP about the removal of my ovaries which she said she would support. This was not a hurried decision, but my only choice.
Professor O’Brien, a PMS specialist gave me Prostap which I took it for two years. it brought amazing relief from my symptoms and validated the decision that having my ovaries surgically removed was my only option and that it would give good results.
After two years I was told that I couldn’t have Prostap any more - Prostap puts the body into a chemical menopause and is unlicensed for use with PMS. After about a year of taking Prostap, its effects wore off slightly and for longer periods each month. I really needed my ovaries out but was told that I needed to lose weight before I could have surgery and that I was too young to have the surgery. However, I got a second opinion and I had my surgery on 16th October 2006 and I have never felt better. I have now got my life back.
Ann Wilkinson
