PMT help please for mood swings

[Honey1975]

I've the most horrible day. I lost the plot over something very trivial in the grand scheme of things and ended up having a massive row with a DH. The children were upset, I was upset, DH was upset.
I have since apologised to everyone and am feeling very down about what happened. Tonight my period has started and I just know that my erratic behaviour is down to that. The week leading up to it I am a nightmare and I know it but I just cannot help it.

Has anyone else had this happen and if so what the heck can I do to change it? I can't carry on like this as I will end up divorced with 2 very sad dc's. I feel such a complete lowlife this evening. My family mean the world to me. I am just awful.😥

I don't have any advice as I suffer badly with pmt myself. The doctor prescribed Prozac 20mg but if anything my pmt is actually worse now with floods of tears likely the day before and feelings of total despondency. You have all my sympathy! It feels like an alien takeover the days leading up to the period!

Thanks springheeled sorry you suffer too. Did the doctor say to take the prozac all the time or just in that dreaded week?
I already take fluoxetine (prozac), I have for a long time as suffer from mild depression.
I am seriously considering trying Agnus Castus but not sure if I need to ask my GP first or just start taking it.
Does anyone know? I am desperate to change as this is is damaging me and my family.

Honey, I'm so sorry. I used to find my PMS really distressing. I'm on estrogen only pill - have been for 4 months now and have really noticed the difference. I don't feel like Jekyll and Hyde every month - it's a big relief.

Fluoxetine didn't really help me at all.

Look up PMS not PMT.

That's interesting about the fluoexetine thank you. I'm not sure it's doing much for my mild depression in general so a few months ago I tried to wean myself off it but ended up a mess again.
It's definitely not doing anything for the PMS though.
I take other meds for an autoimmune condition so would rather just take herbal stuff for the PMS if possible as don't really want to take any more prescription drugs.

It's called PMDD . I have it and ot can be crippling. The mumber one prescription is fluoxetine although I've known of people who have been prescribed setraline. I sont take either and manage it as best as I can with exercise

Thank you revolution. After what happened last month I realised it's becoming a problem and as it's affecting my whole family I need to do something about it.

I already take fluoxetine but it clearly isn't working!!

I'm going to get Agnus Castus this lunchtime from Holland & Barrett as I've heard this can help.

Revolution could you tell me what exercise you do and do you do it all month or more in that dreaded week?! I am feeling quite desperate about this now😢

I used to do regular exercise, high impact around my period when I needed the endorphin highs and low GI to balance sugar. (2 small children since and I've lapsed somewhat).

I used to find starflower oil helped a bit too.

The oestrogen has been a revelation though. Without the hormonal imbalances I can manage my depression much better and no longer beat myself up for feeling like a wretched human being at least 2 weeks out of 4 (which made me feel worse about myself).

Keep and mood and food diary - there's loads of apps for this, and speak to your dr. There's no quick fix, but you can feel better. You just need to see what works for you.

I do strength training and lots of running! It helps but sometime you have a bad month ( like this one!) I have 2 panic attacks!!

Marmalade, when you say the oestrogen do you mean you take this in a medication form or is it the pill?

I take it as the pill. I'd been off hormonal contraception for 10 years and am only on it to control my pmt. I'm on the oestrogen only pill.

I found fluoxetine helped with anxiety and panic attacks more than my mood. But I'm pretty good at recognising them and managing them without medication now.

I also make sure I take vit D. I had low levels last year and that made me feel, depressed, REALLY tired and lethargic too.

Thank you Marmalade you have actually given me hope that maybe something might help me.

I have also been off the pill for 10 years & my dh has had a vasectomy. I take other medication for an autoimmune condition and so I didn't want to take any more meds than I had to so he agreed to this so that I wouldn't have to take the pill.

Now I'm thinking perhaps I need it just to control my dreadful PMS.
It's getting me down so much. The way I behave towards my family during that week is unacceptable and I hate myself for it.

I don't feel the fluoxetine does anything for my low mood although when I tried to stop it I was even worse!

I feel like such messed up awful person.

Marmalade does that pill give any side effects? Not sure I can cope with anything else!!

I've been on Agnus Cactus for about 3 months now for the same thing. This is after trying the contraceptive pill which didn't help. I wanted to avoid anti depressants which dr suggested due to previous experience.

Anyway the Agnus Cactus works well for me. I wouldn't say I'm perfect now but generally feel much more in control than I did previously. Worth a try I'd say.

Borntofly please can you tell me where you bought this and what dose you take?

As far as I can tell, the pill can be different for everyone - I bled for the first 6 weeks which was annoying - but I don't have a break between packs so it will balance itself out.

I have been as you describe with my own family and well being. I don't think there's enough awareness of the effects of women's cycles and hormones. It's really easy for people to dismiss it flippantly as "that time of the month" or you just put up with it because you don't know any better.

borntofly has some good experience too, so you have a few things to try - and all hope is not lost!

The way I see it, those of us with sever PMT / PMDD we have a hormone induced mental condition.

Revolution, I hadn't thought of it like that before but I think you're right.

Marmalade I totally agree that people aren't aware of what a problem it can be. I feel like a have a double life as no-one at work would know how awful I am to my family in that week. I just can't seem to help it though.

I was prescribed citalopram and my symptoms disappeared. It changed my life.

Is that an ad Super?

I'm the same OP and it's getting worse with the menoupause, I'm 51 and have very irregular periods, but when I do have one, the PMS goes in for about two weeks!

Last week I felt as if I had gone mad, severe anxiety and absolute exhaustion. I'm off to the dr on Thursday but not sure what she will recommend. I used to take Citrolopram, and it def helped, but I don't want to go back on it full time.
Super do you take the Citrolopram everyday or just when you have PMT?

Honey, yes Citrolopram is an AD. I took it for two years and it is great for anxiety too, but I'm fine between the PMT episodes.

Thanks Woods I wonder if I need to change the AD I take then as the fluoxetine is doing nothing for the pms.
I just hate the thought of taking even more meds which is why I thought I'd give the agnus a go.
The next week I'll likely have it will be on our family holiday with ALL my extended family, great!!!😫

Oh you poor thing. you'll have to make special plans to escape if you need some time alone.
My dd is getting married in two weeks so I'm just so glad I had it all last week.

I'm quite worried about it as we're sharing a cottage.
Shall I go to the docs about this or just start taking the agnus castus and see how if that helps.

I'm guessing that diet plays a part too and mine needs improving! Trouble is during that week I crave crap food & sweets and feel so miserable that I allow myself to eat it to give me some comfort.

I need to make a plan I think to eat better and do some exercise. Could doing these things help do you think enough to not have to take meds?