‘Mad woman’
Her husband, who called her a “mad woman”, finally asked her to see a psychiatrist. This she did.

“She prescribed some anti-depression drugs, saying they should help me calm my emotions and be more controlled,” said Ms Tan.

PMDD is a condition which comes under the speciality of psychiatry.

Ms Tan took the medication a few times but the side effects hit her like a sledgehammer.

“I was in the supermarket. There were knives on sale. I kept stroking the knives and saying I should be dead,” she said.

That scared her so much, she stopped the medication and did not seek help again for a couple of years.

A year ago, she read a newspaper article on how the Pill can help women with PMS.

She got a doctor to prescribe her the Pills. They worked at first. But the positive effects wore off after a few months.

She consulted Dr Tan Thiam Chye, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist (O&G) at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), whom she had seen previously for the Pill.

“The second time, he coupled the Pill with vitamin B6,” said Ms Tan.

It worked 80 to 90 per cent of the time.

“I am very happy. For the last three months, I noticed my moods have stabilised.
I no longer flare up at the maid,” said Ms Tan.

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