Pmdd peri menopause or both

[Alfiemoon1]

Please don’t flame me. Have been having problem periods for years very heavy feeling drained very down before I come on and have had little help from the gp. 4 years ago tried the mini pill was having some problems with dh he said it made me loopy although I felt fine and friends I confided in said he was wrong. Then got prescribed sertraline possible pmdd to go with it had no libido but felt ok as no periods but due to dh comments came off it

Have been back since describing my symptoms numerous time I am now 42 and told I am peri was offered a blood test for this and to check my thyroid but never got round to going symptoms are night sweats not hot just wake up wet and cold because of it brain fog really bad anxiety a few days before then depression sore boobs from mid cycle hair loss and not complaining but the sex surge to name a few

The main problem is my mood swings with dh I admit I can be vile without turning this into a relationship thread I keep bringing up the past we can be absolutely fine very happy then bang I kick off about the past horrendous anxiety paranoia followed by depression then my period starts and we are fine again I feel deeply ashamed but at the time it feels completely rational

Please don’t flame me I know I need to go back to the gp but after being fobbed off so many times I want to be armed with suggestions of things to try other than it’s female life. Feeling utterly worn out miserable from insomnia and got bloating and belly ache slight spotting and have work tomorrow and I just want to stay in bed depression mode has kicked in

[Gentleness]

I get it. It's miserable and so frustrating. I can only tell you what I've found - it isn't answers though.

I am now on antidepressants to manage the moodswings which track so precisely to my cycle. I had to do that for my family. The person I became when I was in ovulation terror or menstruation rage and depression was not me and they didn't deserve to have to put up with it. I'm SO much better on them, but the symptoms are now manageable, not gone.

Honestly, I wish I knew how to make the gp take this more seriously. I know antidepressents are not the best answer but also that previously hormonal drugs have played havoc with me, perhaps due to PCOS. So I'm very nervous about HRT. Also, my gp has twice prescribed hormonal drugs that a friend (also a gp and specialising in this area) has said are no longer recommended. So there's been a loss of trust. Tests on thyroid and so on are coming up fine even though I tick off 90% of the symptoms.

I hope someone comes along with better news!

[Alfiemoon1]

Thank you so much for your kind reply I expected to get flamed. I think I will go back on sertraline to calm my moods and hopefully it will help with the awful anxiety that I have never had before
I will try the gp again for something to help with the physical symptoms as the thought of living like this for the next few years fills me with dread

[Hairydogmummy]

You sound v similar to me OP. I'm 41 but have already been having issues for years. It started with my cycle being like a juggernaut. Period really heavy, felt totally drained, nausea as hormones rise, ovulation caused pain and loads of discharge but really high sex drive, hellish PMS with rage, palpitations, dizzy, then it all started again. Then I started with terrible anxiety, night sweats, odd numb feelings, brain fog, memory problems. I now take Tranaxamic acid for the periods and just started Sertraline for anxiety. The PMS is better now which is about the only saving grace. I'm not totally regular. Cycles vary from 24-32 days.

[Hairydogmummy]

Just remembered. I took Angus castus for the mood swings. Definitely felt it helped. Doesn't touch other stuff tho.

[Alfiemoon1]

Thanks hairy that is definitely me will start the sertraline again when I am off in a few weeks as nervous about the side affects while working but don’t remember having many last time I took them

[Hairydogmummy]

I was nervous about the side effects of Sertraline too, but they've been fine really. I am really anxious but no worse days than the bad days I was having before under my own steam anyway! I don't understand why the problems we can have at this stage of life aren't more widely discussed. Also google 66 peri menopause symptoms. Most of the people on there are American but it's quite reassuring.

[Hairydogmummy]

Oh and don't let the GP give you Mirena coil. Only helps with the heavy periods everything else got worse for me.

[Alfiemoon1]

They suggested that but changed their minds due to my low mood. I’ve got to get sorted snapped at dh again last night well he snapped at me first because we are having a tough time at the moment with his mum who has dementia but i went on and on where as usually I would just ignore it as I know it’s stressful for him Coupled with having to much wine I ended up having a go at his brother as well it’s just a very stressful situation but I shouldn’t react like this to it. Think my period is finally starting as got tummy ache so hopefully will be a bit more rational in the next few days Will try Angus catus where do I get it from?

[Emerald13]

I feel you, I was in a such dark place 2 years ago, almost suicidal with very severe symptoms due to the lack of estrogen. It was the first time in my life I couldn’t recognize myself. I am 43 and on hrt, it helps but it takes time our body to adjust.

[Hairydogmummy]

@Alfiemoon1 I ordered it from Amazon. It does take a while to start working though. I had the drops.
@Emerald13 what tests did you have to get hrt? I had fsh but on the day they took it it was normal!

[Emerald13]

Hi! I had not tests, my diagnosis was based only on my symptoms. My gyn said that blood tests are not reliable during peri.

[ComeOnGordon]

I’ve had good results from Black Cohosh. Take it once a day. It’s definitely helped the mood swings. You need to check with a doctor before you take it - think it’s not safe in people with increased risk of breast cancer