Melissa is participating in the Mrs. Nebraska Pageant in 2022. Her platform focus is PMDD awareness and empowering young women to track their cycles.
“Do not take on the world yourself. PMDD is challenging but there are amazing doctors, support, and peers ready to love you just as you are.”
Meet Melissa
Melissa is a Nebraska girl born and raised, currently representing her community as Mrs. Omaha. She is set to participate in the Mrs. Nebraska Pageant in April 2022. Melissa’s platform focus is PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder) awareness and educating women (especially young women) on tracking their cycles. After many years and several doctors, she was diagnosed with PMDD in 2015 and also had successful treatments for adhesions, fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis in 2021. She hopes to help further research on these conditions, promote the education of menstrual cycle tracking to aid in early detection of reproductive system disorders, help create awareness of mood disorders caused by the menstrual cycle and be an advocate for suicide prevention as 30% of women with PMDD attempt suicide.
Melissa is also a Credentialing Manager for Aureus Medical Group (A Medical Solutions Company). She leads the amazing teams that ensure medical professionals have the proper work history, education, credentials, and a clear background prior to being allowed to work in facilities across the Country.
Her husband (Logan), son (Bryson, 16), and daughter (Hannah, 15) keep her on her toes. Melissa loves Husker football, anything baseball, traveling, and shopping.
Education with an Edge Podcast
Melissa sat down with the team at Education with an Edge podcast to share her story about living with PMDD, her work as a credentialing manager for medical professionals, and her upcoming Mrs. Nebraska pageant. Listen to the podcast below:
What is PMDD?
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a cyclical, hormone-based mood disorder caused by an abnormal sensitivity in the brain to normal hormone fluctuations over the menstrual cycle. PMDD affects about 1 in 20 women and individuals assigned female at birth worldwide. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and more, arise during the premenstrual, or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and last until the onset, or a few days into your period.
I think I may Have PMDD. What should I do?
A great first step if you think you may have PMDD is to take the PMDD Self-Screen, a short quiz about symptoms and symptom timing. Then if PMDD seems to be a fit, it’s recommended to track your symptoms daily alongside your cycles for at least two months and share this information with your doctor or a recommended provider for PMDD. This is how an official PMDD diagnosis is made and it can also be so empowering to get to know your own patterns of symptoms. From there, there are many treatment options, both holistic and medical. IAPMD also has free peer support chat if you need any help along the way.
Melissa’s Tips for Life with PMDD
Find a doctor that will listen to your symptoms and treats you with respect.
Track your cycle not just for period dates but to track symptoms.
Find the positive in every day and rely on the people who support you.
Be honest about your PMDD!! Don't be ashamed to let people know what it is and what you go through.
Always remember...IT IS NOT IN YOUR HEAD!!
Don't give up on finding a manageable treatment plan for YOUR PMDD symptoms. Everyone is different and it is not a one-stop shop for treatment.
