PMT *poss sens*

Yes, this is me. I totally understand where you are coming from, and it's totally rubbish.

Usually only one very very bad day a month. A few times I've come close to saying something that would make me lose my job, which obviously isn't ideal. I struggle through the day trying to not cry or open my mouth and tell my colleagues what I think of them, just keep my head down whilst eating lots of chocolate.

When I get home I shout at the dog, then I cry and cuddle her and apologise for shouting. Luckily she's not overly sensitive and doesn't seem to care. MF gets home, I'm horrible to him then go to bed without making any dinner. He goes in a huff because of the no dinner thing and makes himself some toast. He comes to bed, I moan about him coming to bed late then cry because of 'everything'. And repeat the next month.

I'm so glad when my period does arrive, it's actually like a pressure valve being released and I feel like a normal (ish!) person again.

My work colleague uses a hormone cream to help with the symptoms of menopause, perhaps there is something similar for peri-menopause?

I'm following this in the hope someone has advice!

I'm horrible. Moody, grumpy, prone to burst into tears at the least thing and argumentative. I'll argue that black is white but if you agree with me I'll tell you all the reasons you're wrong!!

i'm also perimenopausal meaning my periods are very hit and miss. Sometimes they come after three weeks, sometimes not for five. I'm told I could have ten years of this!!

also, contrary to common belief, my PMT has got worse with age, not better.

I used to have really down days coming up to my period - he would find me in the corner of the room crying, I wouldn't want to do anything and just felt bleh. After a few days I would wake up and feel normal and happy again.

I had my implant took out about a year ago and moved on to the patch and now I don't get a single down day. Even OH commented that I hadn't cried over nothing for a long time! However I do still get chocolate cravings (he thinks I've made that up just for an excuse to eat chocolate).

It's good to know that I'm not the only one, at least! I don't use any hormonal (or indeed any other) contraception, so that can't be a factor. When I saw the doctor she did also mention the possibility of antidepressants, but obviously I was very reluctant to go down that route. I think it may just be something I have to live with *sigh*

I'm probably my the most unobservant female ever because I wouldn't have a clue if I suffered from PMT - I'm cranky & horrible all month round!

I'm probably my the most unobservant female ever because I wouldn't have a clue if I suffered from PMT - I'm cranky & horrible all month round!

If a Dr throws antidepressants at you for peri-menopause or PMT run very fast the opposite way. That is treating a symptom rather than the underlying cause. I have been in peri-menopause for the last couple of years and I agree with others - PMT doesn't get better during this time it gets worst. With bells on. Also if you are going through peri-menopause then agnus castus may not be for you. There are stronger products such as red clover which help with the lack of estrogen.

I've been doing a lot of reading about the whole hormone thing since being officially diagnosed two years ago. Obviously I'm not a medical expert but according to what I've read the issues seem to stem from our bodies being inconsistent in the hormones it produces. My Dr says that once I have fully gone through the menopause and my periods stop then everything will balance out - but at the moment I feel like a car running low on gas. Sometimes I stall and can't seem the going and then will feel like normal again. It's the inconsistency that is the worst bit.

Although I though I was fairly young when I started with Peri-menopause (I was 40) it isn't that uncommon to start seeing fluctuations in hormones around that age. If you read what Professor John Studd has to say about it, it makes sense. The crashing fatigue was the worst bit for me.

I am on HRT at the mo - a bio-identical low dose estrogen patch and progesterone pills. It is the progesterone bit which I am struggling with as I have always been progesterone intolerant - I struggled with the pill for years before giving up about ten years ago. My Dr says there is no bio-identical progesterone for use in the UK. There is evidence that the progesterone creams don't absorb properly into the body so I'm reluctant to go against his advice and buy them from the internet so at the minute I am on progesterone pills which give me awful PMT. Dr John Lee has also written several books about why synthetic hormones don't work and that it's natural progesterone we need not estrogen. But the NHS doesn't offer much of what either of these experts suggest.

I looked into having going to a private bio-identical hormone specialist (Dr Marion Gluck's office is just round the corner from my office). But the consultation fee was £285 and then an initial blood work up was £450. Plus private prescription charges and quarterly check up fees.

Until I can afford that I am battling through with the hrt stuff and the most terrible PMT I've ever had. So if you see someone on the tube raging at people for pushing their papers in her face and not letting her off the damn train that's me. Avoid at all costs!!

Sorry OP = doesn't really answer your original query but agnus castus might work for you if you don't suffer from indigestion.

Sorry ID just realised you were OP and therefore can't take AC!! Doh! ?

Lolz, that's okay That was all interesting to read, I totally agree about antidepressants. I am 39, so also on the young side to start with perimenopause, but hey ho. I have also been told that it'll all get better after menopause - but that's probably a long way off. Much like my hip will be much better after I have it replaced, but it has to get much worse before they'll consider it!

Hi,

I used to be absolutely evil when I was on the pill, to the point where my OH would just throw chocolate at me and then run away lol!
I finally found a sympathetic doctor and she went through all the various forms of contraception and what they could do mood swing wise.
Eventually settled on the Mirena, and I'm a totally different women
No mood swings, carb or chocolate cravings and no awful self loathing.

Not sure if this helps you as I don't know anything about perimenopause but I would avoid the doctor that suggested anti-depressants as that seems to be what a lot of doctors throw people as an easy fix rather than digging deeper for a proper solution.
(speaking from previous experience)

I hope you find something soon, and in the meantime *big hugs*

x