Horrific pmt

[Alittlebitcold]

Help! A personal post but I’ve hit 40 and during my thirties I really started to suffer with pmt. this past week I’ve felt awful, angry one minute and guilty/sad the next. I track my cycles, today I was a compulsive eater and felt low and tired all day.

I’ve tried high carb regular snacks. Oestrogen patches which helped but I was meant to take progesterone with them and then that just brought symptoms back. I eat loads of vegetables take every supplement under the sun b vits, evening primrose.

Has anyone found anything that helps?

The fact you're suffering increased PMS is because your body is becoming more intolerant to your progesterone. This often happens as you enter the peri menopause.

You need to find a progesterone which you can tolerate. Many women find they can tolerate Utrogestan the best. Your GP will find it under 'Micronised Progesterone' in their drug book.

Or you can try high dosage oestrogen which will basically shut down your cycle. You will still need to add in Utrogestan but your much higher oestrogen levels should really cushion you from its effects.

I am progesterone intolerant.

Hideous PMS since forever. Currently affects me 10 days a month - it used to be half the month. I went to the Studd clinic and am taking bio-identical hormones. I feel better overall except for the 10 days before my period (I take utrogestan 1st-7th of the month, then three days afterwards I have a "period". I also use Oestrogen gel and some testosterone.

The Studd clinic website is fantastic - I feel they really understand PMS and realise that when GPs dish out antidepressants to women they are ignoring the hormonal reasons for many women's low mood.

Last time I was there I was advised to try the Mirena coil since it releases constant low levels of progesterone. In fact it was like non-stop PMS for me. I have reverted to the 7 days of Utrogestan taken vaginally (which personally makes no difference to me than oral - it's still causes serious depression and anxiety).

I seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place because I cannot stop the Utrogestan without increasing risk of uterine cancer (?)

For what it's worth I eat well, hardly drink, exercise regularly, and have tried every supplement known to man over the years.

Anyone else been in this situation?

Gynaecologist suggested I should not rule out hysterectomy but at 43 I am very reluctant to do this.