Serious PMS/wild hormone issues

[Froel1982]

Hopefully someone has some experience. Since having my 2 kids and hitting my mid 30s I have started experiencing awful symptoms around Ovulation and period.

I have always had irregular cycles (38-75 days long ish), but never experienced emotional problems until recently.

Ovulation symptoms
Noticeably hot (husband calls me a radiator)
Ovulation pain
Headaches
Bloating
Tearful
A bit paranoid (mostly around my parenting and relationship)

Period symptoms
Intrusive thoughts
Anger (like a dark cloud coming over me)
Paranoid
Back pain
Sleeping issues
Hot/night sweats

I could go on but the above gives you an idea of what I'm up against. The rest of the month is fine. Once Ovulation happens or my period starts it's like the sun comes out and the black cloud lifts.

I've been on hormonal contraception all through my teens/20s and really don't want to go on it again if I can find a way of managing this more naturally.

Any help/tips/advice would be welcome.

For some reason I can never sleep when I have anxiety, then I get anxiety when I can’t sleep.. can’t win lol

its reassuring to read so many similar posts, though also depressing. I’m in the no sleep / night sweat / night terrors / depression phase at the moment. Also combined with a stressful few days at work, have to keep reminding myself that it will pass! What is the multi vit brand @Billydessert ? I’d like to try it 🙏

@HerbalTeal lTeal the multivitamin is Wellwoman, the one for vegans. It only has a small amount of the evening primrose and borage oil in so I'm going to try adding a bit more with a separate supplement next.

Sorry you're experiencing those symptoms. Have you found anything that helps?

I was shocked to learn that pms can last for weeks and have such a range of symptoms. I didn't join the dots with mine because I mostly get physical symptoms and again I've only ever been told that pms is psychological. I don't remember ever being taught about it but I wish I'd known earlier!

Same here, spiralling PMS into my late 30s early 40s that was taking over half the month. Tracking it in an app helped me recognise it but it was still misery. Going on a low dose combined contraceptive pill has worked a miracle. I’m also taking steps to reduce stress, but that takes time and before the pill I was too far gone to even begin. Sorting the hormones has made me feel like myself again.

@tinymeteor thanks for sharing your experience. It's so reassuring to hear that the pill has helped you!
It's so difficult to take even small steps when you feel terrible isn't it?

Which pill are you on, if you don't mind sharing? How did you decide which one to go for?

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/vitabiotics-wellwoman-vegan-extra-dietary-support-tablets-60048971

This is the multivitamin I've been taking

I started with the one I’d been on in my 20s and it’s suited me fine. These days you take 3 packs without a break and then have 4-5 pill free days. So I have a week every 3 months when I feel low and get a withdrawal headache, but it’s a price worth paying for my sanity the rest of the time.

I've been reading about taking the pill back to back. Didn't realise it's become the norm, it sounds wonderful tbh 🤣

I am one week out from my period and can feel those awful feelings reappearing. I'm very short tempered, anxious, and have sore boobs, spots, and am so irritable and snappy with my kids and husband. I'm finding offence and annoyance at every turn. But I can see it coming now. So my In laws are having the kids for the day and I've planned a day of exercise, reading, and I'm going to pop out and get some.decent decaff coffee, and herbal teas to reduce my caffeine, and then I might have a nap. I've been taking: zinc, magnesium glycine, but vitamin complex, vit d and a probiotic that someone on here recommended, so hopefully that all works to take the edge off of the symptoms .

Vitamin B6 100mg per day, made a huge difference.

I’ve suffered with PMDD for years, which has had a huge impact on my life. Like you I also have lots of physical symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats and bloating. I am basically incapacitated for half the month, unable to concentrate and in a total fog during the luteal phase. It’s awful and so under-recognised.

I tried all the various treatments and supplements and was eventually given HRT which helped a bit, but not enough. I was referred to a specialist and prescribed zoladex (chemical menopause) which are monthly injections. I was told it could take up to three injections to start feeling the full benefits, but at only 6 weeks into treatment I’m already feeling so much better. Assuming it’s not just a fluke and I continue on this upward trajectory, I’ll be going onto the waiting list for an oophorectomy.

I had my child at 22 so I was younger than you but since having DC my periods became like yours. Prior my periods were very uneventful. Childbirth and breastfeeding messed up with my hormones and made me wonder if I had PMDD, I also had painful physical symptoms that I didn't have as a teenager until I had my DC at 22. When my period returned as I was breastfeeding, when it returned I had horrendous PMS and PMDD like symptoms which continue to now in my mid thirties. I have found my symptoms to be better some months, Vitex helped my physical symptoms and exercise through out the cycle helps a lot as does trying to eat healthfully.

Yep I'm right there with you! I have been taking Angus castus supplements which I do feel has helped.

I asked my GP for help. I have two young children under 4. We are done DH had snip. I can't have coil fitted as I have a prolapse after difficult birth with DS1 and lots of scar tissue. I can't take progesterone only pill has it causes me to have quite bad depression and can't take combine pill as I have migraines...I asked the gp what my options were as I also have what you have said plus very heavy painful periods. To be honest I just want my period gone now. He said a hysterectomy! Which I felt was extreme! Very very annoying there really should be more support in women's health

I can’t take the combined pill either because of stroke risk, and progesterone only pills reduced me to a crying wreck 24 hours a day. I’m not sure if you’re aware but there’s a new progesterone only pill now which has been found to improve PMDD in some women. It’s called Slynd. It’s the same progestogen that’s in Yaz (drospirenone) which is the combined pill recommended for PMDD. It’s what I’m taking as the progesterone element of my HRT while on zoladex. I was nervous about starting it as I even responded badly to bio-identical progesterone, but I haven’t had any side effects.

I’m 37 and have been like this for the last year (had my last child 7 years ago and BF for 2 years, so well past it being postpartum adjustments). Every other menstrual cycle is also around 21 days and very very short bleed (2 days) as opposed to 28 days and 4/5 day bleed.

Assumed it was early start of perimenopause and GP seemed inclined to think this could be possible. Need to go back for more tests, but interested to know- have these symptoms turned out to be peri for anyone?

Just popping on to give an update as hopefully it could be helpful. I had yet more blood tests in April and was diagnosed with severe PMS/PMDD. First step in treatment is taking the combined pill continuously, so no periods (whoop!) in order to avoid any fluctuations that cause the symptoms. I'm 3 months in and it's made a difference. Not had any night sweats, brain fog is much less, body aches are getting less and with the last packet I didn't get any of the flu symptoms. My mental health also seems to turning a corner and feeling much calmer with a lot less intrusive thoughts, it's like the volume has been turned right down on them.
I'm still getting fatigued but hoping that will ease up too, in the next few months. It's lovely not having periods and not having fluctuating hormones.
I have however gained half a stone and having to change my eating habits as the pill has affected my digestion. I'm hoping this is also temporary as my body adjusts and will even put. But to be honest, I don't mind having to watch what I eat a bit more closely, if it means I can be symptom free.
Hope everyone is getting on ok. Please keep sharing as this is such an important but under talked about condition.

That's great news @Billydessert, so pleased for you. Which combined pill are you taking?

@VictorianBigot thank you! I'm taking Laveste. It's a low dose one so seeing how it goes and could try a stronger one if I need it, if the other symptoms don't fully iron out. Fingers crossed they do!
The GP has said to give it 6 months on this and go from there.

Hi ladies, I hope you are all doing OK, and are managing OK. I'm now looking seriously at diet advice to manage my PMDD after a month of debilitating anxiety and paranoia. Does anyone have any good tips for food and exercise that help to manage the symptoms while losing weight? I do need to lose weight, and I know it will help, but also don't want to follow a plan that will cause my hormones to go wild either. Help!

Hi @Froel1982 lovely to hear from you!
Diet wise I have found that cutting out as much caffeine, alcohol and simple carbs as possible has helped a lot.
I'm vegan and end up eating a lot of fibre. There's some evidence suggesting that filling up on fibre is a good way to maintain a healthy weight as high fibre foods tend to be very filling but also very low in calories. I've certainly found this to be the case.
Going hungry is an absolute no-no for me as my blood sugars drop and so does my mood.

How are you doing otherwise?

I've recently changed over to the Yasmin pill and have noticed an improvement.
I'm also waiting for an appointment to talk about trying SSRIs. I'm hoping it will help with the crippling fatigue which is my worst symptom.

This is me today. Due on yesterday and I feel absolutely awful, I can't even parent, I'm in the toilet trying not to cry, unsuccessfully. I don't see the point in the world, I don't want to be married, I just want to run away. I'm in pain, my head is pounding and men are just crap. Just very very sad. But I'm not always like this! Maybe a couple of days a month...it's horrendous

I'm having my first 'period' since coming off Zoladex in late June. I felt absolutely awful a few days into the month but didn't know why, felt ok for a few days then wham, full blown PMDD symptoms back, crushing fatigue, joint pain, nausea, mood alternating between rage and tears and despair.. A light period of sorts arrived around on the 16th, and then 2 days later I felt fine again. However, I'm still bleeding 13 days on, and still having cramps. I was supposed to be having a follow up appointment at the hospital around about now but nobody's contacted me.

Foodwise I don't find anything helps. My digestive system has been so bad that I'm having to avoid vegetables and fibre at the moment. The healthier I eat, the more problems I have. I also don't find exercise helpful, in fact whatever hormones it releases seems to make the rage worse.

Experiencing the PMDD again for the first time in months has made me consider whether I should go back to Zoladex, but it was just trading one set of problems for another. The side effects were awful and I felt like a useless lump with no motivation for anything the whole time, and then of course there's the risks of bone density loss and cardiovascular problems.

I've basically run out of options now. It's shit.

Actually, exercise-wise, I joined a Tai Chi and Qigong class back in July. I really, really like the Qigong set we do so I've been practising that at home almost nightly. I find it helps to release tension in my body and also eases the joint pain for a short time. But most of all I find it mentally calming because each move requires so much focus, and once you start introducing the breathing elements into it you can't really focus on anything else. I'd recommend it if there's a class in your area.

@Painauraison I'm so sorry you're going through this, it really is horrible 💐

@VictorianBigot I'm sorry things are bad for you again and I hope you get your follow up appointment soon.

I've not heard of Zoladex, would you mind sharing a bit about it?

I had a period of time when I first went on the pill where my digestion was all over the place and nothing seemed to help. I'm always very lifestyle focused when it comes to feeling well in general and so it was a hard lesson that sometimes you can be doing all the 'right' things and still have a bad outcome.
It's definitely made me more open to medication and just taking the diagnosis more seriously in general.