PMDD - can it be diagnosed?

[AEP123]

Is it worth it? What happens next?

I’ve noticed the last 12 months or so, that the week before my period I am unbearably irritated, I get really angry at DH and snappy and frustrated with the kids.

My anxiety goes into complete overdrive and I am constantly on edge and having almost constant panic attacks.

I just feel like I’ve been put in a fast car with no brakes. I hate it.

I’m fairly certain it’s PMDD and I’ve debated going to the GP for diagnosis. But what difference is it going to make? It doesn’t look like it’s curable. Just another shitty thing to live with.

I was diagnosed via my GP a few years ago. I was prescribed antidepressants that I took for fourteen days out of my cycle. It did really help me for about a year but then due to others reasons I went on the mini pill which stopped my periods so I stopped taking the antidepressants as the PMDD went.

Thanks for this. Do you remember what anti depressant they gave you? I’ve always been out off anti depressant meds due to them advancing not to stop and start them, that you need to ‘wean’ yourself off. Im not good with tablets tbh.

I think it might have been Citalopram? I already take mirtrazipine daily for anxiety/sleep/appetite so I’m not averse to medications as long as they help me! But I understand this is not the same for everyone.

The other options would be probably be contraception like the pill or coil etc which could stop periods therefore stop the PMDD. I think it’s worth chatting to your GP about it just to see what they say and then decide 💐

So, I havnt been offically diagnosed, but I did go to my GP in may as I suspected PMDD, they agreed I had many of the symptons and prescribed me sertraline. It has helped immensely with the rage and fatigue.

I used to be able to tell when I was due LM because of how unreasonable and irritable I would get. It popped up on my phone earlier that I'm due on in 3 days and I was like ahh, that's why I've been getting a little grumpy. But this little grumpy is nothing compared to how I used to feel

Please do speak to your GP! Just because you're a woman and this is a hormone-related problem, doesn't mean you just need to accept feeling this shit! I had honestly not felt this shit since I had PND, and then there's the rage. OMG, the rage!!! Yesterday my kids were eating an apple and my husband was having pasta with sauce for his lunch. I just felt red hot anger bubbling up under my skin and had to leave the room (so yeah, misophonia is another symptom).

I was officially diagnosed two months ago. The GP was lovely (I requested the one who specialises in women's reproductive health). She talked me through all the options (ADs, contraceptives/ coils, chemical menopause, hysterectomy). None of them are perfect, so in that sense there is no guaranteed cure, but they might take the edge off. You can try different things until you hit on something that works for you. In the meantime, take vitamin B complex, evening primrose oil and magnesium. All OTC from Boots or similar. And speak to your family and employer. Mind have good resources for this. All the best of luck!

You absolutely do not need to live with this. I was on anti-depressants for ‘PMT’ for almost 20 years. Two years ago I was diagnosed with PMDD but as I have migraines, the GP said we were limited in our options of treatments.

Two months ago, I paid to see a gynaecologist privately. It was worth every penny. He said “Has no-one ever said you can just stop your cycle?”. Err no. He put me on provera and oestrogel and I feel like a totally different person. I don’t have a cycle at all - it’s joyous! Of course there’s no certainty a treatment will work for everyone but just wanted to share a glimmer of hope that there are things that can be tried.

If men went through this…..

It’s so wonderful not having a cycle! I’m like this is what it must be like to be a man, basically. I went on the mini pill in late 2020 and I’ve not had a period since (except once after the Covid vaccine). It’s amazing not having to buy or worry about sanpro, deal with monthly suicidal thoughts, horrendous cramps, bloody underwear and bedclothes, etc.

I had it diagnosed when I had a mental health break down last year by a psychiatrist

They said to try birth control and I've been on rigevidon and it helps the one time I stopped it was completely overwhelming so have stuck with that along my antidepressants.