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Original poster

PMDD - what solved it for you?

35 replies

TurtleMoon · 01/08/2024 15:23

Period due this weekend. I am sitting on the sofa crying because I feel so fucking useless and depressed. I am on day 9 of uncontrollable mood swings where I get extremely angry over things that wouldn't even register normally. This stupid condition is fucking up 1/30 to half my life at the moment. I have made an appointment to see the GP but it's not for another month as I need to see a particular doctor. I have tried increasing my dose of sertraline, I take primrose oil, magnesium, vitamin B and vitamin C, I've cut out gluten. Hormonal contraception has always made me angry so I don't think it would help. If you have/ had PMDD, what helped for you? Please note I am not talking here about regular PMS, this is in a different league altogether. I can't function

OP posts:
GreenPoppy · 02/08/2024 06:29

henlake7 · 01/08/2024 16:07

Sorry that you are going through the mill with it, Im afraid my solution isnt going to be much use to you right now....
menopause!😆

I didnt even know PMDD existed until I hit perimenopause and turned into a different person! I actually thought that a binge eating disorder, depression and feeling bipolar was my personality for most of my adult life!🙄

Exactly this for me too. So many years struggling with different psychological symptoms, then come menopause, 90% alleviated. It makes me quite angry to think of it.

OP, I hope you find something to help.

WhereAreWeNow · 02/08/2024 06:34

Mirena coil for me too.

Nyancat · 02/08/2024 06:39

Mini pill for me, think it's similar to the mirena, it's progesterone only anyway

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Original poster
TurtleMoon · 30/08/2024 18:44

Hi everyone. Just an update to say I had a very positive chat with a GP at my surgery who specialises in women's health. I felt really heard and now I have a proper diagnosis of PMDD. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for me, as I don't do well on hormonal contraception. We've agreed that I will get back in touch when I've reduced my sertraline dose enough to be able to switch to fluoxetine. After that, the next thing would be a Mirena coil, but I'm not mad keen on that given I had a very severe reaction to the implant, and it's the same dose of progesterone. If all else fails, I could be given injections to stop me ovulating, essentially a chemically induced menopause. All of these options have serious downsides but at least I have a diagnosis and am trying things to remedy my symptoms. Meanwhile I'm in the throes of another really bad bout of PMDD, which saw my 5yo making me a card because I was lying on the bed crying for no reason, and which made me thump the dinner table and shout at my 3yo to STOP roaring. It really fucking sucks 😞

OP posts:
abbs1 · 30/08/2024 21:57

TurtleMoon · 30/08/2024 18:44

Hi everyone. Just an update to say I had a very positive chat with a GP at my surgery who specialises in women's health. I felt really heard and now I have a proper diagnosis of PMDD. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for me, as I don't do well on hormonal contraception. We've agreed that I will get back in touch when I've reduced my sertraline dose enough to be able to switch to fluoxetine. After that, the next thing would be a Mirena coil, but I'm not mad keen on that given I had a very severe reaction to the implant, and it's the same dose of progesterone. If all else fails, I could be given injections to stop me ovulating, essentially a chemically induced menopause. All of these options have serious downsides but at least I have a diagnosis and am trying things to remedy my symptoms. Meanwhile I'm in the throes of another really bad bout of PMDD, which saw my 5yo making me a card because I was lying on the bed crying for no reason, and which made me thump the dinner table and shout at my 3yo to STOP roaring. It really fucking sucks 😞

Oh hun sounds like you're really going through it.
I've been offered the coil too and said no. I also got given sertraline and said no to that as all it does is mask the issue.
I'm finding a really good women's multivitamin, probiotic, and working out once my little ones are in bed has been a complete lifeline. I've been doing 4-5 home YouTube workouts and it's giving me my sanity back. I feel like it's completely stabilised my mood and my husband has noticed I'm more calm. I still have really bad days but definitely not as many and not for as long.
Hang in there. PMDD is awful and soo many just don't understand what we're going through so please be kind to yourself.

PurBal · 30/08/2024 22:09

HRT since I was 26. Absolutely refused SSRIs prescribed by GP, paid for private gynaecologist who specialised in PMDD who agreed they can mask symptoms rather than treat the cause (although they are an agreed form of treatment). PMDD is debilitating, I nearly died on a number of occasions, once by laying down on a main road in front of moving traffic. Totally out of body experience. HRT was genuinely a life saver. Whatever works for you.

ProvincialLady2024 · 30/08/2024 22:13

Yasmin to stop periods and an anti depressant.

PouthSark · 30/08/2024 22:21

The mini pill, which stopped my periods completely so I don't have the extreme mood cycle/feeling suicidal every month before my period came.

Touty · 30/08/2024 22:57

I was given the progesterone only pill which made it worse.

Touty · 30/08/2024 22:59

Circlesinthesand · 01/08/2024 20:02

Hitting menopause, well not quite there but it ramped up in early perimenopause for me which was early to mid 40's then tailed off late 40's. Now early 50's I still have some sort of menstrual cycle, barely bleed but the pain is bad, however the PMDD has gone thankfully. I cannot tolerate HRT just as I couldn't tolerate hormonal contraception, the progesterone makes it 10 x worse for me (and caused severe bloating).
I got absolutely no help from GP's, just told me there's nothing they could do. Honestly if I wasn't a parent I'm not sure I would still be here. I hope you can get taken seriously OP. There is definitely more awareness now.

I also used to suffer on progesterone but I finally found a micronised progesterone which suits me, I insert it vaginally.

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