Still having periods but losing my mind, could this be the Menopause?

[Mindfullness]

I have a history of mental health difficulties. However, since turning 40 5 years my mental health has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Despite being on very strong anti depressants I still suffer with crippling anxiety, which is definitely related to my cycle. I feel all over the place, always in my head and general feeling of not being well. I've had all of the blood tests and trialled to contraceptive pills that have made the situation a lot worse. What else can I do? Could hrt help with the anxiety and palpitations. Thanks X

Do you get pre-menstrual tension throughout your life?

Did you feel better/happier when you were pregnant?

Did you suffer from PND?

Hi AM, yes always had Pmt. Definitely felt better when pregnant and also have had PND!

I am 45 this year I went on the anti depressants but this just kept things at bay, so I am g okAs you said they don’t seem to have made a difference with your anxiety so I went cold turkey a few years ago, I then stopped alcohol and smoking, due to weight gain, the pill always I gained weight and hard to lose it, I was advised running and walking and physical activity which I did Do a few years ago, but stopped that too.. i am the same as you heavy bleeding for three days hot flashed very aggressive uptight and screaming at the family, unless that is just my mental health issue!! This has reduced a bit over the last month recently.

OP - it may very well be. I spent about three years wandering around in a frightened, worried, fog completely exhausted. Quite by chance I clicked on a thread HERE ( I am so grateful to this site) about Perimenopause and a light went on. I read as much as possible and got the courage to challenge my doctor. In fact I ended up changing doctors.
I now take a very low does of HRT and it has changed my life. The ALL CONSUMING fear, anxiety, and worry are gone. The fatigue is no longer crushing. I am still aging but gosh, my quality of life now is wonderful compared to how it was.
From what I have read endocrine (hormonal) depression should not be treated with psychiatric meds. It is unsuitable and does not work.
If I were you I would book an appointment immediately for your OBGYN. Then READ as much as you can. (NICE guidelines, Menopause Matters, here do a search for Peri menopause etc). Armed with vocabulary and a little knowledge fight for yourself.
You do not have to feel this way. Good luck. I would love to know how it goes for you - keep us posted?

Those answers suggest you might have a (natural) intolerance to progesterone. Which is why the Pill will make you feel a lot worse!

Dr John Studd has done a lot of research in this area. You San go and see him, but it's in London and you're looking at £1,000 or so for the first consultation, tests and meds.

Have a read of his website. He's got loads of information on there.

By the way, I'm the same! I ended up having a Mirena coil for unrelated symptoms (awful flooding periods) and I expected to feel terrible because of the progesterone, but I actually feel really good. It's the smallest dose you can get, apparently, sand I haven't had any bad effects. But on the Pill, I was psychotic!

I'm also getting good effects from Agnis Castus. It's a herb, and you have to take loads to get the effect, but it's amazing at calming down PMT.

Sorry, forgot to link to his website:

www.studd.co.uk

Thanks so much for all of your advice, it's been really helping reading your own personal experiences. I had a phone call with my gp as I have been on every anti depressant going and still these problems persist. She felt that I did have PMDD, that is exacerbated by the perimenopause. I am going in for a review and following lots of research and an article I read the menodoctor, I think I am going to ask for Oestrogen gel. It seems to be the way forward. Thanks again for such helpful and support messages X

Sorry for typos!

Oh and the link you gave Anuvva was so helpful and spot on terms of the symptoms I'm having! Thank you :)

My vote is peri-menopause. When mine started, I suddenly had crippling anxiety which I had never had before. Then came the insane periods, night sweats, not flushes, ad nauseam. HRT saved my life! Back to my normal self within days. It was truly miraculous.

*hot flushes!

@Mindfullness YAY! Really glad I could help. ☺️ Good luck with the Dr and the oestrogen. Dr Studd says women who suffer PMT can be hurled into depression during perimenopause, so that would fit with your symptoms, wouldn't it?

Aqua - so glad to hear how much hrt has helped you.
Annuva - definitely and so interesting ad I seem to fit the criteria. The depression has responded to ad's but the anxiety continues. I practically had a break down a year ago :(

Mindfulness, I think I'm in the same boat as you. Like you, I have always had mental health issues - anxiety and depression, wicked pmt, pnd and now my anxiety has gone through the roof (nearly 46). I have just had a blood test at GP surgery and it said that I was not post-menopausal and came back as 15 (I'm assuming this is FSH, I really don't know). I know I'm not post menopausal - still getting periods, albeit slightly more erratic and now the GP is going to dismiss my claims that I am in the thick of peri-menopause - low libido, insomnia, anxiety, catastrophic thinking. Not sure where I go from here. I expect there are more definitive tests that could be done. I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown.

Hi Marigold, poor you :( The blood tests aren't accurate as they fluctuate from month to month through Perimenopause. If you Google "The Menopause Doctor", her website is brilliant. Like you, I'm suffering despite having been under Pyschiatry this year and prescribed strong anti depressants. I am going to ask for Estrogen gel I think. I'm going next week so will let you know how I get on. I was scared of the breast cancer link but feel so bad I'm willing to try anything. It's really horrible being a woman :(

Yes, please let me know Mind, I would be interested to know if it makes a difference.

Feeling quite defeated and sent home with another contraceptive pill. I did ask for the gel but she wanted me to try this first.
I am going to try it for 2 months but do feel deflated slightly.