I have a somewhat complex medical history in that I was sexually abused as a child and had a lot of psychosomatic ("body remembering") pain as a result. After years (and years) of therapy I have dealt with the trauma in the main and can no longer put the crippling mood swings I have around my period purely down to flashbacks etc.
In fact I was first referred to a hospital for possible PMDD around ten years ago but failed to follow up due to having a chaotic life at that time. I was also investigated for endometriosis (none found) and prescribed dihydracodeine to take each month for severe period pain.
I have had a lovely break from the symptoms for the best part of 5 years due to lactational amenerrhoea feeding DCs. But now I have the symptoms back with a vengeance and think it's PMDD which I have read can worsen as menopause approaches.
I have:
Pain in joints especially knuckles
Extreme anger / rage / irritability (as if under huge stress) in week before period
Much increased anxiety and insomnia before period
A feeling of being totally shattered like after a migraine once period arrives and the other symptoms go
I have Googled and feel totally overwhelmed by the hundreds of different suggestions for treatment, ranging from herbal remedies (one thread on here says: Star Flower Oil + Angus Cactus + Vit B6 + St Johns Wort whilst other places are recommending calcium + magnesium) / nutrition (increase dairy, increase carbohydrate, red fruits, cut out caffeine, alcohol) to anti-depressants (I already take Sertraline for my PTSD) to hormone injections and surgery.
I guess I only open myself up to more info by posting here, and please don't let my feeling overwhelmed put you off - but if there is anyone medical and qualified in treating severe PMS / PMDD or experienced sufferer of PMDD who has found a cure or reliable relief reading this, please please would you suggest the path I should take? I called the PMS ORG helpline today and they said there are no helpful Gynae contacts where I live, they were suggesting I pay to join their organisation to get information but - much as I respect that it's very hard for a charity to fundraise - I don't really want to do that when all I might get is more information that just conflicts with or adds to the confusing info about treatment on the web.
Please help, I am so afraid of the extent of my anger, rage, irritability during the run-up to my period sad and exhausted by this monthly cycle.