Half of the month is a write off

[Isithormones]

I think I may be struggling with my hormones since having DC. Currently on the copper coil if that's relevant.

I have been going through waves of high anxiety for about a year now, but it comes and goes and am perfectly fine at other times.

I've started to keep track and it seems I'm my normal self for a couple of weeks once my period starts, and then the next two weeks (post ovulation/ pre period) my mental health goes downhill again.

This week for example it has included obsessive googling of some of my anxieties, avoiding leaving the house so I'm not exposed to them, feeling depressed and like I have no purpose some days, I also get overemotional or very easily irritated and angry.

I swear just last week I was so normal and happy!

I've had blood test for thyroid function etc and all normal. Where do I go from there?

I can't waste 50% of my life feeling like this 😥

How old are you? Any chance you're perimenopausal? HRT has massively helped regulate my moods.

I can totally relate to this. I'm 47 and feel like this 3 weeks in every 4. It's like living a half life in a strangers body. The emotions are ridiculous and I just want to feel 'normal'. For me I think it is perimenopause so am looking into HRT x

Perimenopause? I'm taking evening primrose oil and a menopause vitamin to help.

I’ve been feeling really similar, a general unhappiness, low level post partum depression has settled in to a cycle of anxiety at certain times of the month, days when I have no motivation to do anything, feeling like I’m living under water. Very emotional and snappy.

I’ve started taking some supplements which seem to be helping a lot. I’m taking evening primrose oil and Health&Her premenstrual multi nutrient (cheapest buying option was Amazon). It’s got B6, magnesium and Ashwarganda. I did some research and found that there are a number of studies suggesting that Ashwarganda works at reducing anxiety. I’ve been taking them for a couple of months and am definitely feeling more on an even keel.

I’ve also tried to pin down unnecessary triggers and get rid of them. Turning off Facebook and mumsnet notifications has been a very good thing!

I’ve also booked a GP appointment to discuss perimenopause (don’t think I’ll get anywhere as periods are regular) etc.

Thank you all. I'm 38 and have actually been dreading the menopause if I'm already feeling like this now... cycle still perfectly regular and i had never suffered any PMT symptoms pre children at all.

@Approaching are you me? I relate so much to your description of how it feels - no motivation, underwater, emotional and snappy. (As well as a half life in a stranger's body @ToddlerMumma )

I also get the random triggers like a thread title on Mumsnet!

I thought maybe it was just general anxiety but some weeks nothing will bother me, I'll see the same thing a week later and I'll be nearing a panic attack, so it must be linked to my cycle somehow.

Primrose oil sounds like a good place to start I'm excited to try something!

How old are you if you don't mind me asking @Approaching ?

PMDD? DFriend has been diagnosed with this after feeling like this for two weeks a month for years. She’s massively improved with medication

It sounds like you have PMDD ☹️ I have the Mirena coil and I'm on the pill and they're the only things that have helped. I'm also on antidepressants which I was recommended to take for the two weeks of the month I felt shit but I need them all the time for other reasons 🙃

38!

As a tip/warning, I joined a PMDD group on Facebook, as it feels like more than just PMS, but quickly left it again as there were a lot of very extreme cases and I didn’t feel that would help me.

Antidepressants are on my list of what I want to discuss with GP. On some days that feels like overkill, on others it feels necessary.

I’ve also started tracking how I feel - just in a basic period app. That’s given me a small sense of control, even though it’s not actually. More than it helps me recognise “oh, that’s what this feeling is” and get out of it more quickly.

Thank you for the tip @Approaching interesting we are the same age! I am going to be a bit more diligent about tracking and then see the GP.

I am in the last couple of days before my period starts and I was constantly on edge yesterday and burst into tears for no reason a couple of times. It felt like I couldn't cope with life at all despite having a chilled day.

The usual insomnia has also kicked in the last few nights. As well as head tingling and a skin crawling/itching sensation. I thought this was random and unrelated but I read something about excess histamine in the second part of the cycle related to hormones, so perhaps it is also linked.

Anyway, it is really miserable! Bring on my period!

@yogasaurus do you know what medication your friend went on for PMDD? I do seem to tick a lot of those PMDD boxes, I'm curious to know what my GP would suggest for it. I'd love to find something that works.