Does anybody here have PMDD?

[PMDDhell]

It's ruining my life big time. I literally have a nervous breakdown for 1.5 weeks every month and another mini one during ovulation.

Have you found any type of contraception that helps? I've been apprehensive about trying any as I'm clearly v sensitive to hormone changes and don't want to make it any worse 😔

If I had the coil and it happened to make things worse would I be able to have it removed fairly quickly

Not necessarily, but then just pull it out yourself!

You can however order the mini pill online any time completely free from sh24.org.uk/

Easier to stop this if it doesn't agree with you. Desogesterol stopped my cycles within months (after some annoying constant bleeding all settled). No anxiety, no periods, no headaches, no sore boobs.

I then also started HRT to help me sleep better.

Well that's a bit harsh no?

Just before you posted I acknowledged that its not fair on my DH and DC. I'm well aware I'm a shit person for half the month but thanks for the reminder.

I don't think it's harsh, I'm sorry if you feel that way but try a day in your families shoes.

Acknowledging on here is not the same as taking actual action in your life and your child and husband won't care about any acknowledgement if you don't take action.

I will say that PMDD does not make you a shit person though, your hormones are playing havoc and it's impossible to deal with. What might make you a shit person is not attempting to deal with it, you're clearly at least starting on that path so give yourself a bit of room to breathe.

I'll stay out of this from here. I am sorry if I upset you, it was not my intention.

Did you miss the updates where I said I had an appointment this Tuesday and would be going onto contraception/medication?

Big truth... I suggest you reflect on whether you said "in sickness and health" in your wedding vows. Plenty of illnesses cause misery to families, and pmmd is certainly is no different to these, just under funded and mis understood. GPs have always cited crap like 'female delicacy' so these conditions are not diagnosed. Hence sites like these allow people to compare options to try and hrlp themselves. Thank fully my husband recognises this struggle and would never suggest I am putting my family through anything. We are a unit and our problems are shared not ones used as a source of blame.
Good luck to everyone in trying to find a way forward... Yoga and no alcohol have really helped me... And I stopped both lots of anti depressants I was prescribed as I would rather feel vaguely human for 2 weeks a month. I genuinely feel when things get really bad again it will be a private gynae approach I will take... Not because I have a lot but because I might finally get proper treatment.

Good luck with your GP. Research and be prepared to tell them the worse parts of the month for you... And stand up for yourself... Hope they are understanding x

Desogestrol is cerezette fyi. Good luck in your appointment

I have PMDD/severe PMS, and found a private clinic in London where the doctors do research on extreme PMS.

Unfortunately, the treatment that works for me is HRT (if you take HRT when you are not menopausal then HRT ups your estrogen which helps avoid the monthly extreme mood dip in the lead up to your period). It's been fantastic for me in getting rid of extreme monthly mood swings.

However, there's currently a national HRT shortage, which is really freaking me out as I don't want to go back to being severely depressed, anxious and angry in the run-up to my period.

A PP mentioned the Yasmin contraceptive pill. That worked brilliantly for me for about a decade, until I had to go off it due to the combined pill being found to be a stroke risk for people with migraines. I was then put on the progesterone only pill which made me extremely depressed (this is not surprising, as the research by the doctors at the clinic I go to suggests that those of us with PMDD are more sensitive to the progesterone spike which happens just before menstruation).

I then went off the pill entirely, and noticed the association between my cycle and my extreme mood swings. I was fobbed off by my GP when I mentioned PMDD, and he was trying to push antidepressants on me. That's when I decided to go private and get treated by specialists in the issue.

I had my apt today, I've been put on the combined pill to trial for three months. I'll be starting it tomorrow, fingers crossed it makes a difference and I don't have any issues 🤞

The pill is called Rigevidon, Is that similar to Yasmin?

I limped along for years then started taking cerelle which was life changing ! Hope you find something that works for you.x

I've just been looking online at other women's experiences with Rigevidon and apparently it's not suitable for women who smoke, are overweight, have migraines or a history of blood clots.

I fall into three of those categories. I'm a bit 😐

Which combined pill have you been put on?

women who smoke, are overweight, have migraines or a history of blood clots

These are generally contraindications for the combined pill too. The mini pill may be safer for you?

Ah you gave it's name. Google SH:24 if you're in the UK. They triage you remotely and only prescribe a safe pill, it's free and they come in the post. Run by contraceptive experts.

It's NHS funded:-

sh24.org.uk/contraception/order

It was the coil for me today, no periods and no PMDD anymore!!

Rigevidon isn't similar to Yasmin - it's a generic form of Microgynon. Both are much cheaper than Yasmin, which GPs can be reluctant to prescribe because of its cost, even though it is proven to be more effective for some conditions (PCOS in my case).

Everyone responds differently, so hopefully this will work for you, but don't be afraid to ask for an alternative if it doesn't.

I have exactly the same symptoms as OP, though both types of contraceptive pill made mine far worse.

helloclue.com/articles/sex/does-birth-control-help-with-pms-or-pmdd-or-make-it-worse

(Rigevidon is in the group with brand names inc. 'Portia' - it contains levonorgestrel, rather than the drospirenone in Yasmin and Yaz).

I strongly suspect I have as I have been a hormonal mess from the get go
Now I’m peri I’m getting some short cycles (20 days) and some long cycles (38 days) and starting to get PMT during ovulation as well. I am horrible and I am nasty to my husband. Men piss me off so much I don’t want to be around them. Then the next minute I’m fantasising about shagging loads of different men. Ffs!

Question about the pill-does it cause weight gain? I’m currently slim (BMI 22.5) and I use exercise to help my mood. I do not under any circumstances want to put on weight or start craving junk food.

I tried ADs and I got fat. Ditto beta blockers.

Hi, I think I have a PMDD- I'm dreading every month- it feels like if a switch to a different person.
Sometimes it takes 10 days before period, sometimes less.
However this week is the worst in y life.

I came home from Tuesday afternoon and immediately felt like someone threw a thick black blanket over my head.
The whole house felt empty and unwelcoming ( which normally isn't), I had been irritated by everyone, had a massive mood swings- from sadness, loneliness, deep despair to anger episodes, feeling absolutely exhausted, crying. This night I had the worst nightmare in my life and I woke up absolutely terrified and in shock.
Today I still feel tired, out of myself, irritated and currently hiding in the bathroom ( husband is sleeping after night shift, kids downstairs) I cannot do it. I just cannot do it anymore. I have a non hormonal coil, I tried to call to my go but she's away till Monday.

I feel like a stranger in my own body, I do realise that somewhere deep there is me, but right now there's someone else. It's hard to explain.

My hubby is aware of the mood change before the period comes but Isn't aware have severe it actually is.

There's no family or friends around and I feel so out of myself like never before.

I have it. Zoloft helps.

Me. It's fucking horrendous.

Now I take 10mg of escitalopram and it works wonders.
I took citalopram for a year or so and it stopped working.
Now I'm taking this until Ive reached, and surpassed the menopause.

@PMDDhell hi how are you doing? Did you start any treatment in the end?

Any update OP?
I need to research all options I don’t know where to start!

I'd love an update as well. Currently pregnant with my first baby and have read PMDD gets worse after children.

Has anyone had any joy with supplements?

@Jj397 great post :)