Peri menopause or PMDD. Dr wants me to choose which?

[xmaspomanon]

I've spoken to GP a few times about PMDD. Basically they want me to choose whether it's Peri Menopause or PMDD, then choose the course of action.

On one hand that's great, no battle but on the other hand I'm not a trained medic so not sure I want to self diagnose.

So many of the symptoms overlap and I definitely think PMDD. So I'd also like to ask if anyone has found anything that works for PMDD? I'm desperate.

That's so unfair however it's what we are dealing with ...
My doc said mine was PMDD put me on seteraline, it worked however the side effects were not good. I have since gone on hrt and off the meds now and all is as well as can be. Pmdd and rage are a very real peri symptoms ...
Depending on your age and symptoms hrt maybe worth a try? I started suffering bad late 40s, now 53 and still peri.

I'm 45 now and just have no cause what to do for the best

Why don't your try one route for a while sertraline give it a year, if it doesn't work then try HRt. Depending on your thoughts on HRT that is.
Maybe see another doc would be another option.
Good luck

I'd also give HRT a go... I had bad PMS for years and they only ever offered me SSRIs which didn't really help, and also seemed to override the part of the month when I felt ok - just felt bleurgh the whole time. HRT at least addresses the problem directly which is hormone imbalance. I also suspect that women with a history of PMS tend to be more affected by peri-menopause symptoms.

I would also say that diet and stress massively effected my PMS and getting to grips with these was more helpful than SSRIs.

If PMDD would it be anti-depressants prescribed? Personally I would prefer to try HRT for a period of months and see if this has a beneficial impact and if not try adding in or just doing the ADs but I would rather see if the HRT worked first. I'm almost 45, HRT was super beneficial for me in terms of mood, anxiety and motivation - but I was also experiencing brain fog and other symptoms too so I was fairly confident it was peri.

I did try SSRI's for three months which was basically an antidepressant. It irked me to take as I knew I wasn't depressed. But I realise different meds can be used differently. So I have it a go but I didn't see any difference and the rage stayed. And I can live with everything but I can't live with the unexpected rage, and the guild and shame of screaming at my kids.

Yes the reason I went to docs was because I felt so bad for shouting at my son the rage is so real and uncontrollable.
What don't you try HRT then, it works I would say once you get the right one that works for you a bit of trial and error that it works 80% improvement for me, and I can feel it coming now, it doesn't take over ...

I am of the firm opinion that PMS, PMDD, postnatal depression, and perimenopausal rage/anxiety/depression are all part of the same thing and you can't really separate them out neatly.
I found that my postnatal depression was followed by more cyclical PMS which got worse and worse throughout my 30s. I think by the time I hit 40 it was PMDD and lasted for more and more time each month. My periods also got heavier and heavier.
I went on HRT at 45 and it's been a massive help. Mirena coil in particular has been a god send.
So, if I were you, I'd give HRT a go.

I would try HRT.

In hindsight it's clear I have always had PMDD and 2 of my DDs the blessing of peri and getting older is that the symptoms are going.

I'm going to ring tomorrow and start HRT. I can't wait and am feeling really hopeful now. Thanks everyone.

Just came across this thread, and wondered if you went on HRT?

I feel like I have PMDD symptoms, but am also 45 and wondering if it's Perimenopause.

Either way, Im scared of going on ADs or HRT, so keep putting off going to the GP.

Ill possibly do my own thread, but just thought id ask her too x

I did start HRT. Dr seemed keen for it when I was expecting a battle.

So far so good. By breasts feel tender and heavy but that's the only noticeable difference.

I'm only trialling it. If I don't like it I can stop anytime and you should remember that. I came to think whether it is PMDD and or peri it doesn't really matter. If it's a lack of hormones then maybe try replacing them.

I had PMDD and when I was diagnosed 13 years ago the GP put me on antidepressants which did little for me (and why would it? It's hormonal I wasn't depressed!). The NHS sadly did little to help and I was becoming suicidal in the week up to my period starting.
I found a private gynae who specialises in Meno and PMDD and bioidentical hormones and he liaised with my GP and I had a hysterectomy and bilateral oopherectomy (ovaries and my womb out) and went into surgical meno immediately so had oestrogel and once I had recovered from the hyst. I started oestrogen and testosterone implants. I still have them to this day once a year and never think about HRT)
I would start on HRT if I were you. Every woman needs it for their bones. Oestrogel is amazing

Have a look at some of the research on the john stood site. Its all linked - women that tend to get postnatal depression, get pmdd, bad menopause symptoms and so on. Hes was a huge advocate of hrt and even recommended for postnatal women suffering because of the hormone drop. Some women are way more hormonally sensitive than others. I expect some day we'll see further research..

HRT can def help and its a pretty low risk thing to try.
I didnt even know I had PMDD until I started menopause! I just thought everything was my personality....turned out it wasnt at all.🙄

My pms is getting worse and my gynae said that was a known symptom of peri.
I would not want to take antidepressants for various reasons.

My pmdd is being treated with estrogen patches, duloxetine as I also have chronic pain and I also have a mirena coil. The her and duloxetine combo has honestly changed my life

Mn

@Gwenhwyfar yes it got worse at first but HRT has helped. I'm ridiculously sensitive to progesterone so only take it every 12 weeks.