Hi everyone. I’m so hoping for some advice and opinions on this please. I just don’t know what to do / every option seems to have its downsides!
For the last 7 months I’ve kept a diary. Every month (usually about 2 days before my period but on 2 occasions it’s been 6 days before) I suffer from the most debilitating fatigue, brain fog, awful headaches, lethargy, anxiety and irritability. The first time it happened I didn’t know what was and I was pretty terrified and it’s relentless and extreme. It goes on for 10/11 days each time so I feel like I’ve only got just over a week a month really of feeling myself 😞
After an initial consultation with the doctor where we had a brief discussion around treatment options, I have a more in depth appointment booked for next week to hopefully find something to try.
The doctor was very kind and helpful - she think it’s PMS that has got more severe over time. My treatment options are limited in that I suffer from migraines with aura, so for example I can’t take the combined pill. This would have been an obvious place to start in terms of trying to even out my hormones but it’s not possible.
She did mention the progesterone only pill - however said it can cause low mood in some which for me is not good.. I have also seen the link to this pill and breast cancer and as my grandmother had it in her 30’s, I’m so wary of doing anything really to increase my risk.
The doctor suggested sertraline. She sent me a link with info and I have managed to find a study that seems to support the use of SSRI’s as an effective treatment for severe PMS. My problem is that she caught on one of these awful days so I was quite upset and anxious. But when these times of the month pass, I’m back to normal, more energy and infinitely more positive outlook on life. Taking sertraline every day indefinitely just doesn’t seem to feel like the right option for me given this fact. I worry that the doctor was perhaps focussing more on the anxiety side of things rather than the hormonal?
On my list of questions to ask is whether it’s possible to only take it for say 2 weeks of every month - info out there on this seems limited.
I would love to find a magic supplement to take - I’ve heard good things about magnesium and b vitamins. Every magnesium supplement I’ve tried over the past few months gives me awful digestive issues. I just don’t know whether I need more help than that.. and I don’t think I can take months and months of trial and error trying all sorts. I’m on my period now and I find I’m dreading the next cycle already! It's so hard with young children to look after.
I would like to ask advice from anyone who has any experience of anything like this. What treatment have you tried, pros and cons for each etc. What would you do in my shoes?
In case it’s worth mentioning, I am 37 and my mum was finished with the menopause by 45.