Pms And Ptsd (tmi Warning For Men)

[Fadeaway]

I have always been more symptomatic just before my period but it is becoming more extreme. The problem is that because my cycles are very irregular I don't always realise the symptoms are PMS. My average cycles range anywhere 30-45 days but I can go months without one or I could go less than 7 days in between. It has been that way for the last 20 or so years.

When I am PMS'ing I can't sleep at all if I didn't have trouble sleeping otherwise this would be the easiest predictor.

On top of being teary eyed and having heightened PTSD symptoms, couple of years ago I started noticing that I felt hollow inside just before starting my period it isn't consistent though. The only thing that is consistent is when I feel the hollow feeling I start within 3 days. I never have experienced it without starting my period. More recently though my thoughts become erratic and this last time I think there was a bit of psychosis involved. I have never experienced anything to the degree that I have the last week. I spent a good 3 days in a constant flashbacks and suicidal ideation. I couldn't even sleep to escape it.

I have seen countless dr.s about my PMS related emotional symptoms and irregular periods. I have had multiple vaginal ultrasounds and my hormones tested at least 50 times sine my early 20's. The only thing that ever showed up as abnormal was a small cyst when I was 21. I am in my late 30's now. Since I don't really get cramps and have fairly light periods the don't seem overly concerned with helping me.

I am a couple days in while the worst of it seems over I feel like I am now drowning in depression and I am questioning the sanity of my thoughts in a way I never have before. The only thing I can find online is sensitivity to a drop in progesterone. I have a fridge full of fertility drugs from past failed invetro fertilization attempts including injectable progesterone and came darn close to injecting myself but i was afraid of making things worse. I have never been so afraid of my own mind before. I am scared about next time.

Anyone ever experience anything like this and does anyone know of alternative remedies for balancing your hormones? I have given up on Dr.s finding anything and yes I just had my annual less than a month ago.

 

[Gs172003]

Perimenopause?

 

[Fadeaway]

Do you think? I figured since I am in my mid to late 30's I still had another 10 years to go. Worth researching.

 

[hodge]

I started going through menopause in my late 30s, so it can happen. I've heard that never having had children can make it come sooner, but not sure if that's true. One of my aunts, who also never had children, went through an early menopause, too.

 

[brae]

ugh im so so sorry u experience pms like this, its awful.
i can really relate ): i usually have a week or less after bleeding before extreme pms starts and lasts weeks , its the worst when my cycle is late ugh. i experience gender dysphoria so i just completely spiral w this shit all mixed together.. like you, all my tests come back with inconclusive results too, apart from early stage pcos/also hav hypothyroid. isnt it just so frustrating ughhggu. tbh if they have tested ur hormones then u would probably definitely know if u had early menopause.
iv read abt pmdd (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and connected with the symptoms, but apparently part of the criteria is that there musnt be a preexisting mental illness.
i hav considered getting one of those contraceptive arm implants or an iud, but the potential side effects of those stress me out too so idek. id be really interested if anyone knows about herbal combinations or anything that have helped them too

 

[corvidae]

monthly cycle here wreaks havoc with things, i'm finding, and not just PTSD but also with other health conditions. when i spoke to my (mostly) sympathetic GP about it, she suggested a sensitivity to hormone levels dropping quickly (although i thought she said estrogen? but maybe she did say progesterone...hmm.)

you're not alone in feeling this way @Fadeaway no, not at all. as far as using diet to help with hormone balance, soy-based foods (tofu, soy milk, seitan, etc) and sweet potatoes come to mind quickly. there are a couple of books i've read that have some good advice in terms of herb supplements (susun weed's books especially). of course, do be careful.

 

[Gs172003]

Do you think? I figured since I am in my mid to late 30's I still had another 10 years to go. Worth re...

My mom had her last period at 41. Her mom had her last child at 45. Everybody is different.

 

[Gs172003]

And perimenopause is the years leading up to menopause not early menopause just to be clear.

 

[Eagle3]

I tend to get really nuts around my period too. I've learned that when I start getting really emotionally unstable, highly suicidal, and completely unreasonable, it about to hit. However, my periods can be a little on the heavy side, with extreme cramping. The only thing that seems to help is taking Pregnenolone all the time (except for 7 days while actually on my period). It evens out the hormone levels, but you might want to check with an endocrinologist first. My testosterone levels tend to be a little high, and I also have hypothyroid, PCOS, etc, so I know what you're talking about.

 

[Kailani]

Hi, I have always had huge emotional fluctuations prior to my period. Sometimes it's every four months that it really hits or sometimes it's every month when I drink a lot of caffeine. That's just a connection I noted. If I take calcium supplements it seems to help along with limiting caffeine. It's horrible! I call it poltergeist menstrual syndrome! Haha. I really feel I could break people in half at that time when they tick me off. I try to stay out of public. Don't know if the PTSD makes it 10x worse or what. I also test on the high end of normal for testosterone levels. It would be interesting to get some real treatment for this extreme issue; I've seen it in other women too. It is awful and sometimes unsafe for the women or those around them!

 

[Fadeaway]

@corvidae I love Susan weed. I only subscribe to her youtube channel but wasn't aware she had books.
@Eagle3 I never thought about seeing an endocrinologist before.
Thanks everyone for the support.

 

[Deleted member 541]

They can test your hormone levels to see if you are in peri menopause.. mine were always regular, right on time, every 28 days. BUT! I only had 1 week a month where I felt semi sane. Seriously... the other 3 weeks a month, I was a f*cking crazy lunatic. Mood swings, crying, angry, anxiety, feeling like I could kill someone. Periods were from HELL. Heavy heavy bleeding, cramps so bad the I wanted to just curl up and die. Menopause was way worse.... I have NEVER been so happy in my life as I was the last day I had a cycle. I have thank god many times since the too.

I also think that having PTSD, and being a woman, I think it f*cks with out hormones too. Just a thought, I don't know if there is any evidence medically or not. But for me, I hated all 40 fracking yrs of that shit....