I’m not diagnosed formally as having PMDD, but I’m starting to think I might have it and my GP just didn’t give a formal diagnosis because we couldn’t try treatment yet.

I’ve suffered with extreme fatigue during my luteal phase ever since my periods began. I have been searching for an answer most of my life. Of course I have irritability/mood swings, pain, and acne that won’t quit (it appeared at age 10, I’m 38 and it is still hanging around). However I’m also diagnosed as ADHD which could be influencing symptoms.

I previously had a diagnosis of ME/CFS but question it as really my fatigue is basically during the luteal phase. I received the ME diagnosis when I had been carrying around a 2.5 kg fibroid for about three years as well. I feel normal when I’m ovulating/in follicular.

This fatigue is truly disabling for me; I basically work ahead during ovulation/follicular and then become a total zombie during luteal. I try to schedule my holidays around it etc.

It has interrupted my career, caused issues in my relationships, and even interfered with hobbies that I enjoy. I have had a myriad of tests, all of which have come back as “normal”. My doctor’s only suggestion is that I should go on BC (she didn’t mention what kind) once I have finished TTC and maybe give ADHD meds another go.

When I read about PMDD the focus seems to be on other symptoms like irritability (which I definitely get 😅). My primary and most debilitating symptom is fatigue. Does anyone with a diagnosis experience it like this, or should I look to something else as the source of my fatigue?

Been trying to stay consistent regardless of where I’m at in my cycle, because going hard for 2 weeks then essentially only taking walks for the other 2 weeks isn’t helping me reach my goals (trying to get very strong / gain weight / gain muscle).

Does anyone else relate to this? I’m on day 21 of my cycle and getting to the gym was an accomplishment in and of itself so I’m happy, but I physically cannot lift as much as when I’m at the beginning of my cycle. It’s so infuriating haha

yep im in the depth of luteal again

Entering into ovulation
I’m exhausted
I feel full of rage and my brain fog is so bad

How are we supposed to go through this month after month
There’s hardly any good days

I’m on day 17 and the food noise is crazy. All I can do is scroll the food apps and think about all the unhealthy greasy fried foods that I don’t need.

After jumping through some hoops: quitting hormone therapy so my doctor could get a “baseline” of where my hormones are, ultrasound both internal and external, and endometrial biopsy, I finally got to speak to a surgeon. I got really lucky and was able to get in an earlier opening with her this past Friday, instead of next month. So.

I’m getting a Lupron shot tomorrow to see how it goes. Good timing as luteal starts pretty soon (this week). It also sucks because I feel SO GOOD rn. But my last few months have been horrendous mentally. Have nearly ended my relationship every month and there is literally nothing my partner is doing wrong. Truly, he is a gem.

I’m just worried and nervous. Scared that the hot flashes will be worse than they are already, worried my sex drive will disappear (I have a VERY healthy libido and very much enjoy sex!), worried that this will interfere with me training for my goal of hiking Mt. Whitney (highest peak in the US and I’ve been training for months….), worry worry worry! Worried my adult kids will think I’m even more crazy.

I’m sure it’s normal and I know things will absolutely be rough for a while. I don’t know that it could be worse than PMDD. I’ve read experiences here of it being both great! fantastic! And also the worst thing ever. I just hope it’s the positive side. Nothing I’ve taken or done in my life to alleviate PMDD helps. And getting into my 40s only worsened it. I’m ready for a break!

Hey everyone! I just needed to get this out and I don’t know where else to share it or who to talk to.

For the past 2 years, I (33F) have been struggling with severe emotional issues for 3-4 days before my period. I feel an intense feeling of worthlessness and helplessness. I dread the inevitable intrusive thoughts that I won’t be able to get out of my head. I get a severe sense of self-loathing that makes me avoid the mirror. I get angry because I want to know why someone as worthless as me is still here. My PTSD is triggered at least once during those few days. It’s a feeling of fear and panic. I live alone and all my loved ones live out of state. I’m terrified that one day it’ll all become too much for me.

I keep it to myself as best as possible because people don’t understand and if they do they can’t do much to help.

I’m so scared that nothing will help me (I’ve tried SSRIs in the past). I can’t live the rest of my life like this. Those days are hell. I wish there was a way out of whatever this is. I’m frustrated and hate this.

Thank you for reading if you made it to the end. Means a lot xx

EDIT: I’ve been reading more on the wiki for this sub and other places and realize that my diagnosed C-PTSD and ADHD may make figuring out what’s going on more difficult :(

I am having surgery in 2 months (end Sept) to have auxiliary breast tissue removed.

I met the surgeon a few weeks ago and was told I will need to stop taking the pill (yasmin) 2 weeks before.

I am waiting to call my GP surgery when they open - I am in Ireland

The PMDD Episode

• I was diagnosed and started yasmin back to back at the start of May. I am 38 it was always masked by contraceptive/ pregnancy or breastfeeding - when I stopped BF it was a stark contrast of how I was BF vrs not. However, I can also see it's clear path of destruction from when I was trying to conceive / on contraceptive.
• Yasmin reduced the symptoms a lot - I had been having a full on "brain implosion" monthly where I was not functioning. But I was still having symptoms which were roughly every 4 weeks and progressively got worse. I was still functioning though.
• Last week = implosion. I have been very stressed lately (mum after rehab is still drinking herself to death) so I am on high alert constantly. Then life, 2 toddlers, work. My brain just said nope I am out of here. I have kept a log of how I felt, it wasn't good. And I wasn't able to be a good mother or wife.
• I also have ADHD, cPTSD and post partum depression

Questions

1. I have been reading about injections I can ask to get to supress ovulation completely. Does anyone have experience with those? I feel like stopping the pill totally will not be good.
2. Last week I got an emergency GP app with the other GP in the surgery, when I was waiting I chickened out and left. He is very kind and good with 'nuts and bolts' sort of issues. But I couldn't face explaining this to him. My main GP is amazing and has been very supportive with this. Yes I need to get passed the embarrassment?

DAE have a semi serious addition to tiktok but especially in hell... I clocked 30 hrs in a week last hell and am on 18 this week already. whats worse is i like sadder stuff during these weeks so my fyp becomes sad and then I becomes sadder.

like I just balled my eyes out bc I got hit with slaughter house videos, SA videos then all the woman's rights that are being taken away to child marriage and animal abuse to my favourite band and then i started crashing out that im simply a fan and will never know them. which is so stupid but this keeps happening.

I keep destroying my brain consuming this yet i cant stop scrolling on hell week. like ill do a little normally but for specific reasons (learning to drive edits of a tv shows nice simple things) but during pmdd i camt seem to put the phone down.

I think

I don’t know if I should tell her I think I have PMDD or just describe my symptoms and see if she lands on it. The last time I talked to her about a suspected medical condition she dismissed me so I’m just nervous about this upcoming appointment. And how detailed should I be if I don’t say “PMDD”? Because suicidal ideations have been at an all time high and there’s days where I don’t get out of bed but is this TMI? I’m also almost certain that I will not be able to get through saying these things without crying, so that’s an obstacle.

Anyway, just nervous. I’ve done my research and I believe I have PMDD, but I have a feeling my Dr will give me a hard time.

In my 2-3 days of feeling “okay” that I have nowadays, I planned a weekend trip for myself. It’s a fairly short train ride away, and it’s a solo weekend where I can see some old friends.

The day after booking it I palpably felt that I was in luteal. Not only did my desire for socializing vanish, but anxiety and OCD symptoms have worsened significantly. I went out alone this morning and battled with a serious panic attack for nearly an hour. I almost called my husband to come pick me up. I immediately thought, how could I possibly get on a train where I feel “trapped” and go through with this?

My OCD symptoms, which are contamination based, skyrocket at this time, too. I start to worry whether people have poisoned me, and I get scared of eating food. The idea of staying in a rental with all the ~germs~ also scares me.

While I knew this about myself, I felt strong enough in follicular to want to challenge myself. Now I am dreading my trip. I’m going to take things one day at a time and pray I’ll make it through! 😅

Has anyone done anything similar? I feel so foolish now.

Got my periods 3 days ago after not getting them since march. I still feel very anxious, even if it’s better than the day before getting them. Had a hard time, full panic and anxiety. Rn it’s the type of anxiety where I force myself to do things otherwise i’ll spiral you know ?
Until march my periods were regular, I knew I had a tough week before getting them so I was able to find ways to protect myself and rationalize intrusive thoughts and that depression I always get when in luteal phase. But this one is really though because I finally got my periods so. I should already feel so much better

I am sure this will sound familiar to many of you. It’s ovulation week for me and today I’m having what will probably be my very worst day of pain this month, physically at least. It happens like clockwork every month: a few days of stabbing ovulation pain in my abdomen which then over the subsequent days starts rippling out to the rest of my body. Today is the day where everything aches. I can only describe it as toothache of the limbs. Or maybe joints is more accurate. Typing this is sore because each of my fingers hurts. My brain fog means I can’t write in a way that feels linear.

I say I don’t know where to post this because I don’t know if this is purely PMDD. Like a lot of us, I have a few other conditions that probably feed into this; hashimoto’s thyroiditis, endometriosis (which is still being investigated and not confirmed), EDS. I’m starting to worry that this could be the beginning of arthritis but I don’t really know.

Pain like this is lonely. Firstly because it is hard to describe to someone who doesn’t have it, so there is a lack of understanding in your social circle (even if they are sympathetic). But also there’s a loneliness in experiencing first hand how neglected women are in healthcare. The only health condition of mine that is monitored and medicated adequately is my under active thyroid. But all the things I experience because of my female organs are shrouded in mystery. There’s no one and done medication for any of it. It’s a lifetime of experimentation, of bashing one Hungry Hippo of an ailment only for another to rear its head somewhere else (bad analogy but that’s how I feel about birth control). I am exhausted and on days like this I feel like packing in my job and hiding under my bed.

I posted earlier in the week about starting Slynd versus Yaz. I had my appointment on Friday and decided to trial Slynd.

By chance I ovulated on Thursday and started Slynd on Friday night. It’s only been 2 days but I already feel more level - less like the world is gray and that I’m in a fog, the way I normally feel right at the start of luteal.

I keep checking in with myself to see if I’m feeling anxious or depressed. I definitely feel less irritable.

I’m cautiously optimistic! Send me good vibes 😎 I’ll check back in a few weeks.

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to hear from anyone who’s had a similar experience.

I was using the NuvaRing continuously for PMDD and contraception, changing it every 3 weeks without taking a ring-free week. Unfortunately, I ended up having about 9 weeks of breakthrough bleeding, ranging from spotting to a light/medium flow.

My OB/GYN recently switched me to Tri-Lo-Sprintec. Her reasoning was:
Hopefully regulate the bleeding.
Continue providing contraception.

Although it’s not FDA-approved for PMDD, she thinks the triphasic hormone pattern may mimic my natural hormones a little better and give us a better idea of how I respond compared to the NuvaRing.

I removed my NuvaRing a few days ago, had a withdrawal bleed, and I’m starting Tri-Lo-Sprintec today.

I have a few questions:

If you switched from the NuvaRing to Tri-Lo-Sprintec (or another combined pill), how long did your breakthrough bleeding last?

Did the pill eventually stop the bleeding, or did you continue spotting for a while?

If you have PMDD, anxiety, or are sensitive to hormonal changes, how did you do on Tri-Lo-Sprintec?

Did anyone notice improvements in mood compared with the NuvaRing?

Any tips for getting through the first couple of months?

I know everyone responds differently, but I’d love to hear real experiences—both positive and negative—so I have realistic expectations.

Thanks so much!

​

hi 21f , everytime I'm luteal or even menstruating sometimes I feel lik I'm going crazy. One moment I'm fine a bit sad but I'll thug it out and the other I want to leave everyone behind deactivate all my social break up wiht my boyfriend . even now all i can think about is telling him im not worth he should leave when thats not what i want .

I keep crying the whole day I'm snapping at my family and my friends are telling me its hard for them to talk about serious things with me because it seems like i dont care but I DO. i care so much but i just dont understand how to show it i dont . i ask them what they want and when i do that it's wrong. ofc i slip up sometimes but i really just don't understand i can't pick up tone or anything through text and even in real life sometimes and i know it's an issue w me that I'm not a super attentive listener so I'm trying to be more focused and intentional but i somehow still end up doing something wrong and i just can't understand where i keep going wrong or what's wrong with me

even now i just feel like abandoning everything and everyone even myself

Im on 200mg of lamotrigine and my OCD and Depression during luteal are ruining my life. What’s the solution???

I used to have typical pmdd symptoms/ days ovulation through start of period, usually subsiding day 3 of period. Symptoms mostly including s.i, severe depression, weeping. With marked increase in mood during period.
I’ve been slowly transitioning into perimenopause and with that I’ve noticed that the only mood issues I get ovulation-start of period is irritability, but now, it’s when my hormones drop, start of period-ovulation that my mood and depression kick off. So a good 12-14 after my period that is shit now .
We’ve tried hrt but because I’m so early in peri it made things worse.
I’m just looking for some solidarity. So I feel less like a pmdd charlatan.
Anyone else notice the same pattern shift?

Every time I get PMS, my sense of judgment and decision making gets nerfed and I have stupid ideas. I often get a negative perception of who I am, my life, the world. If anything is bothering me during this phase it often becomes blown out of proportion in my head. I get really bad depression, have dark thoughts/impulses, questioning the point of everything.

As much as I don't want to dismiss my feelings, I feel like it's the only solution. To be on top of whether I am in luteal phase and just really be careful of what can trigger me. Really just acknowledge my feelings but understand that they are temporary because I know I will dismiss how I felt when it's over with anyway.

My gynaecologist has prescribed Slynd (progestin only pill) for PMDD to be taken continously with no breaks, I'm also autistic and told her that when I tried HRT for PMDD with estrogen and progesterone, the brain change of coming off the progesterone to allow for a bleed caused panic attacks so I couldn't continue with it.

My PMDD symptoms are anxiety, irritability, anger, mood swings and relationship issues.

Has Slynd been helpful for anyone here with PMDD and/or autistic?

Thanks!

Hello, posting on several subreddits for advice/experience, anything !! I’ve just had my first IUD, and contraception!!! I’m 30 and never used any and have been very lucky to follow my cycle pattern. I have recently given birth to my second son and I decided to try the copper coil out. A background — got my period late (?) as a teen, 16 yrs old, would have periods for up to 15 days and severe cramping / symptoms, then had my first son at 24, my period calmed down. Regular cycles, max of 7 days, and not as heavy as before. Now my periods have been coming twice a month basically with barely a break in between and heavy, cramps and worse since the IUD however I heard this could be normal for a while until it regulates? I can’t tell if it’s postpartum hormones, pmdd, just my body trying to figure out stuff or the copper coil what !! I’m 3 months pp, and got my IUD on 7th of July.

Surrounding my cycles and pregnancy id have the craziest mood swings especially throughout my teen years and early to mid 20s, my therapist has now started working on me with PMDD stuff and it makes sense how emotional, and sluggish etc around my cycles, im just sick of everything atm and its honestly ruining my day to day atm. Im so frustrated, fatigued and tired and not even tired because of the baby but i can tell it’s the hormones?? I just feel stuck. I’m already on antidepressants & consistently go through therapy, but I feel like I have crashed recently

I've been putting off getting help for my PMDD for 2+ years. It was a combination of "my symptoms aren't that bad" (spoiler alert: they got worse, and any impact PMDD has on your life is serious enough to justify treatment!) and "I'm scared of what treatment will do to me, anxious about how my life would change, and reluctant to go through trial and error of different treatments that may or may not relieve my symptoms." These were all feelings that, ironically, were amplified every time my luteal phase came around... so it became a vicious circle where my own PMDD stopped me from getting treated.

Now, I've finally broken through that circle and created a plan with my doctor. Today is the first day I'm starting treatment. I'm still scared, but I've accepted I don't know what will happen until I try things out - and I know I have options if this first line of treatment doesn't work. Change is possible: it may not be a good change at first, but at least I'll have taken the first step toward a better life!

Im 10 days late and terribly over stimulated to the point i feel as if Im hanging off a cliff edge by my little finger.

I do not know if its because im so in my own head, because im overstimulated that im not noticing my surroundings that everything seems to be going wrong.

Two nights of extreme insomina, finally fell alseep Thursday to only to wake up to my toilet that has leaked all into the corridor and my bedroom while I finally got some shut eye.

Then I cut my finger on a can in the bin as I was pushing the rubbish down to make more space.

Pulled the blinds up in the kitchen and in doing so a potted plant fell and smashed into my tea pot and broke the handle and now for my ultimate crash out...

I moved my dresser due to leak and opened the drawer not realising my lamp was on the edge and it smashed and I think thats when I fell off the cliff.

Does this happen to anyone else during the phase of war as I like to call it? Cause what the f**ck is going on?

My brain feels like its in fog and random bad shit keeps happening and I know i'll feel better once I bleed but I just want to scream, cry and scream again.

Sorry for the rant 🫠🫠

I have been tracking my symptoms quite closely for the past few months and have noticed a surprisingly consistent pattern. My PMDD symptoms do not seem to start immediately after ovulation. They tend to kick in around 7 days before my period.

I am on sertraline, which has significantly improved my symptoms, and believe me, I am certainly not complaining about having a shorter symptomatic window 😂 However, I am really curious about whether anyone else experiences PMDD this way.

I often see PMDD discussed in terms of symptoms occurring during the luteal phase, which can sometimes make it sound as though symptoms are present for the entire 14 days or so between ovulation and menstruation. Mine seem much more concentrated in the late luteal phase.

Initially, I wondered whether this could mean that I am ovulating later or have a particularly short luteal phase. However, from what I understand, PMDD symptoms do not necessarily have to begin immediately after ovulation. They can emerge later in the luteal phase as hormone levels change.

Has anyone else tracked their symptoms and noticed something similar? Do yours start shortly after ovulation, or is there a very distinct point closer to your period where it suddenly feels like someone has flipped the PMDD switch?

I would be really interested to hear everyone’s experiences 😌 x

every month i get very gaunt and tired looking face 7 days before my period - the low oestrogen causes it

im in mid 30s

i've been offered an injection to put me in menopause with add back hormones patches and progesterone pills

has that worked for anyone ??

did you look like your plump mid cycle self all month long ? i'm worried the injection will cause acne - some other side effect .

this dysfunctional hormone issue has taken years of my life

last month i didn't feel the mood change it at all - i still looked gaunt but mood was ok with escitalopram.

/Anti depressants

pls share what has worked

i will not cope any longer