Women's Health Community

Hello,

I don't really know where else to turn at this point....I have been to countless doctors through the years (I'm 28), and have found very little help for my hormones. They are destroying my life. Every doctor I see tells me that they don't know much about hormones and can't really tell me anything, they don't really seem to listen, tell me it's normal, or prescribe something that doesn't work, even if I tell them I've tried it in the past and it doesn't work. I get severe PMS, which makes me extremely depressed and irritable, puts a HUGE strain on my relationships, I am tired most of the time, my hair falls out, my brain feels completely foggy, I have had acne since I was 14 and it's only improved marginally, I get heavy periods w/ clots, terrible cramps, irregular periods w/ irregular PMS symptoms (like swollen/tender breasts), feel fatigued MOST of the time, I get a persistent yeast infection the 2 weeks before my period, I have a non-existent sex drive except, usually, for the week after my period....and my periods are becoming increasingly shorter as they used to last a week, sometimes longer, and are now down to 3-4 days. They also occur farther apart and my PMS is dragged out into 3 weeks long!!! I can't take anymore!!!!!

I am an emotional train wreck, I take everything personally and find the unhappiness in just about everything and only feel at all NORMAL during the week after my period. Then I feel myself sinking further and further in the pit of despair all over again, month after month.

I have tried several anti-depressants, which always make me feel very weird and kill what (very) little sex drive I already have, I recently tried Adderall for my ADD symptoms and, initially it made me feel MUCH better emotionally, but had too many intolerable side effects (then made me irritable), I have tried birth control pills in the past...they made ALL of my symptoms MUCH worse, and right now I'm trying progesterone cream since I seem to have many of the symptoms of PCOS and low progesterone. This is my 2nd day on it and, already, I am overwhelmed with fatigue, feeling depressed (2 days ago I was ok) and am starting to bleed very lightly even though my period ended 2 weeks ago......so this does not seem to be the solution. I have also been tested for thyroid dysfunction a few years ago. Everything came back fine, but I am being tested again and waiting on results. I have also tried countless "alternative" solutions such as acupuncture and candida cleanses.

I have no insurance right now and put off seeing a doctor for a very long time...only to be told the same thing again by one the other day and completely waste my money. She just gave me a prescription for an anti-depressant I've already tried before and sent me on my way....didn't even do any pelvic exam b/c I didn't have the additional money for the pap smear, which I was not told cost $300 extra upon making the appointment.

I am SO fed up, FRUSTRATED, depressed and HOPELESS. There is no light at the end of this tunnel and I'm just miserable. I recently moved to the New Jersey/New York area....if anyone knows of an EXCELLENT doctor there that deals w/ hormones or can give me any kind of advice here...I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!!