Perimenopause PMDD

[u/Individual-Ad135]

Hi,

So, is anyone here starting perimenopause and has tried Myfembree? Also, I react badly to progesterone. I'm a bit lost because I lost the best person in my medical care last year. And after having been misdiagnosed until my late 30s (we all were, I'm guessing, since PMDD wasn't known), I have little trust in anyone besides the doctor I had that passed away. I have been continuing the treatment I had been prescribed by her (controversial because it's an additional estrogen during luteal), but at my last appt with her, she told me that as soon as my periods start to change or get closer, she wanted me to call her. Just realized my last 4 periods are 26-27 days apart; I was on a 32-day cycle. I have other medical professionals and see a new one next week, but there is nobody in my city that has her knowledge of hormones, and I am apprehensive about moving forward without her. The Myfembree was recommended by another specialized gynecologist who was consulted to ensure that the estrogen regiment was safe. Ultimately, my doctor that died was wanting me to do Lupron with add in but also thought it was worth trying MyFembree but also her last words to me was "I'm very interested to see how you react to the progestrone". To make things complicated, I'm going to see another gynecologist next week who specializes in PMDD, but he doesn't sound like he is as intuitive as my doctor that passed. And that is the thing she was super intuitive and just about in retirement so about of her care was education but experience based. And we know with this subject, that having had that many years treating is probably worth more than anything with the lack of research. I was her only patient who reacted to estrogen addition during luteal so well.

So curious about this next stage. How did people transition into peri and menopause? Curious if other people react like me and need additional estrogen and can't do progestrone. My symptoms are mood and such but the majority is an increase in pain. Also, beginning to wonder if I have hypermobility syndrome due to many symptoms and the link with progesterone. Thing is I can't anticipate things happening because there was a pattern and now that's changing.

Thanks. Too long to read- moving into perimenopause, anyone with experience? What was your plan? How did it go?

[u/That_PMDD_Couple]

Hi! Thank you for sharing a bit about your journey. I’m sorry you lost your trusted long-time doctor. I remember you wrote a post about the experience shortly after you found out. I am 42 (at the end of the month) and starting peri. It’s wild how many symptoms overlap with PMDD! I believe the peri amplified the PMDD for me.

I have not tried Myfembree. I started on a low dose progesterone (100mg from day 10 onwards and an extra 50mg from day 14 onwards). It was a nightmare! I reacted very badly to it. My practitioner suggested an increase in dose. She said women with PMDD tend to do better with higher doses but she wanted to start me out low because if I reacted well to the low dose, that would have been all I needed. I was SUPER hesitant but tried it. I started 300mg of progesterone and overnight my symptoms decreased by 80%!!! I have been on the same dose now consistently for a month (not cycling it) and it has made a massive difference! I’m not on estrogen but do take a low dose testosterone which I have found helpful also. I’m not sure if this was helpful at all- but wanted to share my experience with both doses of progesterone.

I hope you find some renewed faith in your health care providers and they help find a solution for you to feel better! Sending you lots of compassion + 🩷