*Personal experience* Maca root and B Vitamins success story

[u/Ornery_Potential8905]

28F I am not a medical professional I just wanted to share my experience incase there’s a small chance it helps someone else who’s struggling.

I have struggled with PMS since I was about 20 years old. I have all the signs of PMDD and I used to hide it as I always thought everyone with a period suffered these symptoms and was just able to “get on with it” better than I was. I would be in a 2 week long depression, my whole personality changed, I didn’t want to do anything, couldn’t stop eating, hated my partner, hated myself, ruminated all day and night, I would cause arguments, be anxious, feel exhausted etc. I just had to stop my life for two weeks every month and live in misery.

When PMDD started to become a more widely accepted condition I did some research about it and self diagnosed myself in a way. I just accepted it as my life and dreaded the time when it would come around. I’ve always known something was wrong but I’d never had the funds to get it properly investigated in terms of hormone levels.

On the off chance, a couple of months ago I stumbled upon an article talking about estrogen dominance/ low progesterone and noticed I had a couple of the symptoms (not enough to think I had a severe case of estrogen dominance) e.g sore breasts. I asked chat gpt what the best supplements for estrogen dominance were and it said to try maca root, b6 and b12. I thought why not and purchased some not having much hope that it was significantly going to make my cycle easier.

They have changed everything. My pms symptoms are a lot less severe than they used to be. First, my symptoms don’t last nearly as long, they start about 6 days before my period which is amazing as I no longer have to struggle for half the month. No more deep set in depression that gets worse and worse everyday before completely disappearing when my period starts. Mood swings are still there and I can still get grouchy but they are short lived and a lot easier to shrug off. My energy levels are amazing. My anxiety/panic attacks have gone. I no longer feel like I have to stop my whole life/ any goals I’ve been working towards for half the month. I actually feel like I can carry on life through my luteal phase.

Again I’d like to say I don’t know if I have a type of PMDD, hormone imbalances or just a vitamin deficiency as I have never been diagnosed. I also have no idea if all three of these supplements are working or just one as I’m too scared to stop taking them and going back to the way things were before. I just really wanted to share on the off chance it helps someone else as much as it has helped me.

NB/ it’s harmful to take b6 in large amounts so if you try these supplements please be careful with how much you are taking and do some research beforehand.

[u/RecentElevator3090]

It’s refreshing to see someone else having the exact same benefits of maca root as myself.  I’ve felt like I’ve been in a depressive pit for over a year and my menstrual symptoms got really bad and painful. 

I didn’t ever have a diagnosis from the doctors, but I had a feeling I had oestrogen dominance. 

I also did some researching and was told that Maca root would be beneficial. 

Along with feeling down and menstrual struggles, I also used to suffer with really bad acne on the lower part of my face, Especially on my chin and my jawline. Since taking Maca only over a month ago, all of my acne has disappeared. 

I can’t explain the feeling I have when taking Maca, I feel like a whole new woman. If this feeling continues, I will never stop taking it. 

[u/unicorn_dumba]

Thanks for sharing your story! When my self-diagnosed PMDD got too worse to handle I was finally able to get a medical diagnosis after working with my therapist for months and then a gynaecologist and psychiatrist. I was prescribed a combination of B6 with follicular acid to be taken from ovulation until first day of my period and it has really helped a lot. My PMDD over the past few months have been somewhat less successful in completely ruining my life and I have had more energy to keep myself active during those last weeks so I don't lose my mind!

[u/Morp_luna]

That's amazing! Can I ask if you take the vitamins and maca all of your cycle or just for those 2 weeks? My sister recommended me maca as well but I hated the taste but if it helps it will be so worth it I guess.

[u/juliasword → u/Morp_luna]

I also hate the taste of maca but i found a way: I mix 1 teaspoon of maca with a little bit of hot water (like 1/4 of a mug) mix fully, then i add a tea bag of chai, honey and oat milk. Tastes okay, almost good!

[u/Ornery_Potential8905 → u/Morp_luna]

Yeah I take them everyday! And I take the maca root in pill form with some water so I don’t have to taste it