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PMDD, PTSD and Fibromyalgia

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Posted 3/16/2010 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I've been suffering from fibromyalgia for about 9 years, but I have also suffered from PTSD (fairly successfully treated with behavioural therapy) and have suffered from PMDD for about 22 years (although only diagnosed about 3 years ago).  My specialist mentioned today that there was a link between PMDD and fibromyalgia. I am wondering if other people on here have had similar experiences? And it leads me to wonder what came first, the chicken or the egg? As in, did the PMDD cause the fibromyalgia, or is there a link in the genetic predisposition of both? And how does PTSD link into that because it seems to be a linked factor in PMDD? I'm totally confused now I've typed that! I'd be interest to hear from others :)
Posted 3/16/2010 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ife!

And welcome to the fibro family!! This does sound very confusing and I'm sure it's even more so when you suffer from these conditions. One comment I will make is that scientific research has not found what causes the pain of fibromyalgia or why. So saying that PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is linked to fibro is a bit premature I believe. They might be overlapping in your case but so far I haven't read any double blind published studies linking the two. At some level it probably doesn't matter since there's no cure for the fibro...BUT there is management and that's a lot of what we're all about here. We share with each other ways we have a good life in spite of this darn disorder.

And a comment on the PTSD, which I also have. Research shows that fibromyalgia is often triggered by some "insult" to the body. It might be a car accident, surgery, childbirth, emotional distress of whatever may have caused major stress on your body. Yet there are others who can not relate their fibro to any cause. Several of our members have had fibro since birth so why is that? This is a very confusing misery we live with but by sticking together and supporting good research there is hope of finding a cause and then a cure for fibro. I'm praying for it anyway!

Chutz
Posted 3/16/2010 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
I had noticed that PTSD seemed a relatively common factor with fibromyalgia and was aware about trauma being thought to contribute. I actually cover the car accident, surgery, childbirth, emotional trauma and virus areas lol. But when I found out that a relatively large number of PMDD sufferers also suffer PTSD I was a little confused as to how that would link. Then the suggestion that PMDD and fibromyalgia were linked made me wonder if some people are more predisposed to all 3.
Posted 3/16/2010 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ife1973,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. I am so glad that you have joined us.

It is so hard to tell what causes fibromyalgia. Certainly emotional stress plays a huge roll in it. Often it goes back and forth. Stress effects fibro and fibro effects stress. So it is like a catch 22 I guess. Darned if you do and darned if you don't. Like you said, the chicken and the egg.

And it could all be coincidence, who knows. I just know that I have to try to keep my stress levels low. And depression in check. They effect eachother too.

I hope that you found some answers. There are so many questions, but I find taking it one day at a time works for me.

I hope that you have a wonderful painfree day today.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 3/17/2010 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
:) the trauma for people suffereing since birth could just be from the birth itself because birth is very traumatizing to a baby and everyone reacts differently to stimuli... of course with this definition then everyone would have fibro
Posted 6/11/2012 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
  Hello! For me personally, I have no doubt that my fibro and Pmdd are linked, my question is if it just isn't one and the same. I get my flare ups about 1 week before my period starts and they last for that whole week. Once my period hits I am usually fine but then the last day to 3 days I am horribly sick again. I have also read a few medical reports linking the two, however they were from japan:( and I have spoken with women who have had hysterectomies(for other reasons) and their fibro is totally gone now! I am struggling to find a medical provider who will even go down that path for me and address a relation. All they want to do is prescribe pain killers and anti-depressants. I'm sure I dont have to tell you how crappy those will make your life. I have four kiddos under the age of 7! I have to be alert at all times even if it is just from the couch on my bad days. Let me know if you find someone who will help you with that, Not that pmdd, or hormone fluctuations are the cause of Fibro for everyone, but for me I have no doubt that is what is making me sick.
Posted 6/11/2012 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Aslove,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. You have posted on kind of an old thread. I would suggest starting a thread of your own to introduce yourself if you are comfortable with that. It would let us get to know you better.

I remember having some terrible pms when I was younger, but I didn't get fibromyalgia until I was in my 40's. But periods became very uncomfortable after that. Then I started skipping up to nine months at a time. So I can't say that pms really effected my fibro, but I think the fibro effected the pms that I was having. It is such a strange disorder. Isn't it???

We have a thread called "fibro 101". It is the second thread on the forum. When you get a chance, do look at it.

I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/12/2012 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Funny that I should stumble across this thread. I have both PMDD and PTSD, among other anxiety/panic disorders, along with depression, Fibro, peri-menopause, vitamin deficiencies, etc....The list goes on.

I've never heard of one causing the other, but PTSD seems common in a lot of people with Fibro that I have spoken to. I believe my conditions came from different things also, from car accidents to emotional trauma.

I noticed one thing about my PMDD and fibro. Right before my periods my lower back starts. It hurts me soooo bad, before and during my monthly, it feels like someone continuously punched my back on both sides, where the tender points are, and if touched it feels bruised.

Just so you know, you are definitely not alone, as you can see by the responses you've gotten already. ;)
Posted 6/12/2012 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have PMDD, but my sister-in-law who also has Fibro did have PMDD. She had a hysterectomy and still has fibro, so unless you have another reason for a hysterectomy I wouldn't go down that path.

Joy
Posted 1/25/2013 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Eureka! I've found this old post. Now I know I'm not alone or crazy. I have PMDD & fibro. For me it starts about two weeks before I start. The first week I'll have more moodiness, angrier more easily, foggy, headache & a increase in fibro pain. By the second week I'm just miserable & the people around are to. All the symptom are worse. Some months are worse than other. I had pmdd first & was diagnosed with fibro a little over year ago. Anybody have anymore advise or want to share?
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