PMT - Peri- menopause

[DoIjusthavetoputupwithit]

Shamelessly posting for traffic but does anyone know how to cope with the black cloud, extreme anxiety which descends before & during periods when peri-menopausal?

It's getting worse and I feel absolutely horrific for up to a week each month. I am anxious beyond belief, have irrational thoughts & cant cope with anything.

Afterwards (rest of month) I don't have a care in the world.

Obviously I know PMT is a thing for women of all ages but this is different to anything I've had before.
It's been going on for about 2 years now.

Anyone have any explanations/ solutions?

AIBU to think I'm just going to have to put up with it until the menopause comes.

Don’t have any advice - but I think I’m suffering from the same thing. But I’m only mid 40s so thought it was too early!

I've been having the same OP.

Can't really suggest a great deal. I track my cycles now which does help because I can predict it generally now and make allowances for it. Don't take on too much round that time etc. I've also been taking St John's Wart around that week.

I went to the go and got a low dose of Fluoxetine. The difference is huge. You don't have to just put up with it.

Gp, even.

Thank you just for replying!
I'm on holiday atm so for the past few days have just moped around and slept. I can't cope with it when I'm at work though. This is horrible and happens every month.
A friend has low dose Prozac for similar (same as fluoxetine???) but I'm too scared to take it in case it actually makes me worse. I can just keep my head and am worried it will tip me over the edge...(I've been reading side effects on-line)...

WOW I am totally here for this. 45 and the PMT is getting so bad I had to go to hospital last month. I'm not sure why my GP isn't listening (except that she's not fantastic, but the best I've found around here) but I'm going to keep on her. Thanks.

I start taking Vitamin B6 tablets from half way through my cycle (so just after I've ovulated) which help with that awful feeling of gloom and anxiety. I use the Boots 10mg, and the week running up to my period I double the dose to two a day. I also take zinc tablets during the second half of the month. I would certainly recommend Vit B6. I've also read that Inositol (Vitamin B8) helps with anxiety, but am yet to try it.

I could have written this. In my head I'm still 30 something but I'm actually 45 so it's only just started to dawn on me that it's age related and I'm not just a moody cow. Feel slightly better in fact to know that I'm not going mad and maybe need to cut myself some slack.

I was wary of the Fluoxetine too. I also read the side effects and thought "wtf". When I actually took it I felt a wee bit spacey for a couple of days then nothing. No dramatic side effects at all. It's made a huge difference and I'd really recommend at least giving it a try. You can always stop if it doesn't agree with you.

I had bloods taken on Monday to check my hormones (and everything else) so I have made the first step.
Dr. Was sympathetic but wants to do tests before anything else which is sensible.
I'm in a state of fear atm and spent last night tossing and turning feeling frightened about everything... DC, house, job. Like the world is going to end. I think it's called catastrophizing.
In a few days I'll be as happy as ever. Not a care in the world.
It's horrible.

all of those medications have horrible side effects, but it's a pros/cons thing. I'd rather take 5 years off my life than live like this, very honestly. I can't get anything done when I'm in the grip, and that is about the mildest thing I can say. If I went into detail it would be a bit too outing/embarrassing but no, actually, 10 years. Seriously. I can't handle it.

@DoIjusthavetoputupwithit exercise does help, it REALLY helps. It may be the last thing in the world you want to do, but I promise you, you will feel better, and the fact that you know you've done something good for yourself can put you at ease hopefully, too.

Flying
Thank you! I'm actually scared of the DR prescribing it when I go back!
I'm now thinking I could just nibble a bit of the tablet and see... I told you I was crazy at the moment

You could be me and my dr also not listening. I never had PMT in my life until 2 years ago and I was only 38. My mum had an early menopause too.
I am asking for HRT honestly I would love a hysterectomy because I have had 20 years of cripplingly painful periods as well.
I would then take HRT and just feel the same all the time instead of the horrendous ups and downs.

tear I'd rather take 5 years off my life than live like this, very honestly.

I feel like this. The Dr takes about HRT but went on to warn against re. Heart attacks, blood clots etc...
I stopped myself from saying it out loud but I can't cope.

I feel like you're all handholding me now. Thank you.

I'm 45 but mine is slightly different - my anxiety is horrendous after my period up to ovulation, then I feel normal again.

Mentally I feel my best when I'm due on.

Have no idea what this means irt my hormone levels.

tear
When I'm at work I am forced to ride it out and get moving and get in with it.
It is painful to do and makes me feel horrific. I'm not exaggerating when I say I spend the whole week thinking about getting in bed and going to sleep.
You're right though and I'm thinking about having a shower and getting up now at least...

Middle
Scroll down to 'An overview*
This tells you about hormones. The dips/surges in different hormones cause all this.
During Peri-menopause the body doesn't produce the same amount of estrogen. Hence even worse symptoms... apparently. I did listen to what the DR told me at least...

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/helloclue.com/amp/articles/cycle-a-z/the-menstrual-cycle-more-than-just-the-period

@DoIjusthavetoputupwithit I've been a fitness trainer working with menopausal/post-menopausal women for over a decade- it's always worked. The problem is, like you've said, you do have to FORCE yourself. I've been in spin classes where I went in thinking I was going to throw the f'ing bike across the room, but 30 minutes later I was glad I dragged myself there.

Also, as someone who has taken various anti-depressants for the past 30 years- DO NOT JUST HAVE A NIBBLE, this is not how they work- they often take at least a month, and you need to talk to your GP about dosages and whatnot, otherwise, you could end up more anxious than not. Sometimes the first thing you are prescribed does the trick, sometimes it take a bit of tweaking, but without working with your GP you won't know your options and how and if you need to decrease/increase dosage safely. For instance, if I were to take Fluoxetine (prozac) I'd have a REALLY bad reaction to it- as I did when I was 16 and it was prescribed to me- I came off it in 3 days. Citalopram, worked for 10 years but then it didn't. I think something like Lexapro (escitalopram) may work better for me, so I called the doctor this morning to discuss it. Obviously I have to wait to have the discussion as this is the NHS, but the wheels are in motion.

I totally know how urgent this feels to you right now, but just reaching out was a good idea, and just take the steps you need to take. I hope you feel better!

I got this at 45 - some days I'd have to pull over in a supermarket car park on the way to work to have a panic attack.

GP put me on a low dose of Fluoxetine and on Femoston 1/10 HRT. No side effects, felt the benefit after about a fortnight, and almost back to normal after three months. Spent eight months on Fluoxetine, then asked to come off it as I felt fine, GP suggested gradually lowering the dose to every other day, then every two etc. Now I'm just on HRT and feel like my old self.

I was terrified of taking Prozac, for no reason really, other than I thought I would get massively addicted (I didn't). It saved my life and saved me my job.

This is me too and I'm 45! I've noticed it creep up on me over the past few months. I take the mini pill which had been working wonders as no PMT at all.

I already take anti depressants and have been on them that long that I don't think I'd be able to swap to another type (apparently v bad withdrawal symptoms, and I can do without that!)

I've got an appt next month with the Dr and I'm going to ask for HRT.

Anyone know if Dr's 'easily' prescribe or tend to push back based on age?

Also concerned about the shortages reported in the press and whether there are any that are going to be around for the long term???

In my experience, it is 100% dependent on the doctor. Some will PUSH drugs on you, some you have to beg for them, some will actually listen to you and your concerns and work on a long term plan, which is obviously best.

I checked the symptoms of perimenopause - there are over sixty, not all ones you'd think either! Ticked off the ones I had, and went to see my GP for a chat. She offered to put me on a low dose of HRT, and said that there was a school of thought - that she followed - that used HRT as a "pre-emptive strike" - her words. My symptoms were pretty bad so she also referred me to a menopause specialist who has been great.

There are no risks of blood clots if you take transdermal HRT (patches/gel) and even a very low risk on tablets (which are less popular these days)

I would suggest you read up on HRT so that you can make an informed decision on whether to take it. There are a lot of benefits from taking it (aside from reducing symptoms) protection against osteoporosis being one.

This was me. The blood tests won't tell the GP anything useful about your hormones as they change so much in peri. GP can prescribe HRT on symptoms alone. HRT is usually recommended before anti-depressants.

My GP also suggested Agnus Castus as a hormonal help - I took it for a while and it seemed to help . But honestly it was the HRT that did it.