To ask about your PMDD / PMS

[ThinkFirstPlease]

I have had pretty awful PMS, along the lines of bursting into floods of tears and yelling at my poor DH for absolutely no reason for a couple of days before I'm due on. It's been awful.

I have just started the mini pill this week in the hopes that it will stop or minimise the hormones, can anyone tell me if they've have had success with this or is this in vain? Thanks!

[Inthebathtub]

I feel your pain! I have the same problems and quite bad physical symptoms as well, I had the mini pill for a few years and it did help a lot, felt I had a normal life! As I'm a fat smoker approaching 40 though, I was advised to come off it especially as I no longer need it for contraception now and whether its because I'm older or because of being on it previously, I have noticed things aren't quite as bad now though I do have months where not killing someone is a major victory!
My main problem was with a history of anxiety and depression, that's what always got the blame, I'm torn really, does the PMS make the depression worse or is it that the PMS (and the consequences from my behaviors, isolating myself, being unreasonable etc) causes the depression? I used to feel like I spent 2 weeks in a hole before I came on and then 2 weeks doing damage control!
I take citalopram (advised by gp) every other day and then every day in the last week and pain relief etc for physical symptoms. I'm convinced that I'm only treating the symptoms and the change in hormones is the real problem but it's making my life easier so I do it.
Hope the mini pill helps you, I know what its like and it's awful x

[ThinkFirstPlease]

Thanks @Inthebathtub I appreciate your reply.
I'm really hoping the mini pill works, I don't think me or DH can take any more mood swings 😔

[WobblyLegs5]

Mini pill made my pmdd worse, as did all other pills until I found yawning, designed for pmdd & it saved my life

[Motherbear26]

Mini pill didn't work for me. After trying every herb/natural remedy I could find (none worked!) I was talked into low dose anti-depressants which actually made a huge difference, but I was nervous about tskung them long term. The doctor finally put me on Yasmin pill. This has been life changing. My moods are better, my skin is better, I only wish I'd done it years ago. The only slight downside is this is not suitable for everyone as it has a slightly higher risk of causing blood clots. Apparently it isn't often prescribed to older women (I'm late 30's and must admit to being a little put out at that description!) but as I am fit and healthy and not overweight I was able to give it a try. It has made a huge difference to our lives and after years of not wanting to take hormones as I was concerned about the effects, I am now a convert.

[Justreadingtheforum]

I can recommend magnesium it helped me a lot, you need a high dose.

[Whatsername17]

I found that the contraceptive implant and cutting down on sugar helped enormously. No oral pill? Mini or otherwise, has ever suited me.

[WhooooAmI24601]

I found exercise was my only salvation. I have to force myself because, frankly, going for a swim or a run or a circuits class when about to begin my period sounds like a fate worse than death, but I find if I tire myself out physically I haven't the energy to be a vengeful bitch from hell and instead just burn it all out elsewhere. Hormones haven't ever helped via the pill or the implant. Evening Primrose is good (also it cleared up a stubborn patch of eczema as a little bonus).

I find the ones I growl more at are the DCs; I hear myself in the morning and think "fuckit, must go for a run tonight". I also do meditation when I feel it building. It sounds pretentious but it helps.

[LemonadeWithACherry]

I only started getting pmt after 40, I am 44 and probably in perimenopause. I am thinking of going to the gp because this month was particularly bad. I spent the whole day in my bedroom crying and feeling hugely depressed. My boobs were incredibly sore too. I didn't even realise it was pmt this time, I thought the thing I was upset about really WAS that bad!

I only get it for a day or two at a time so I am lucky by the sounds of others' experiences, but I am interested to hear what has worked for other people. I really don't want anything that will make me put on weight though, and ideally I would like to not have periods any more either as I am disabled and find them a massive pain. Does such a treatment exist?