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[cheekygal]

After 14 weeks with no period, and no major meno symptoms, I had a period 10 days ago, and since then have been feeling as bad as I was last summer, the anxiety and low moods have been really bad and got worse as period ended on Friday, I would say today has been one of the worst, feelings of dread, doom, and that horrible black cloud.  Does anyone else feel this way during or after a bleed?   am not on HRT, I have considered it, but decided against it, I have tried various AD's over the years but unfortunately they are not for me.  Also, dizziness and pressure in head are other symptoms I have had in the past week. 

CG x

[cheekygal]

Thanks for your reply Sparkle, don't have any boob problems, the spacey feeling, black cloud and anxiety are the worst, to the point I feel I could 'go mad' at any moment.  I don't want to speak to anyone either, that's not a good feeling.  Will let you know if I do get another period soon.  I had 2 close together in September, but didn't feel this bad.  I also got Vit D levels tested in December, results were normal.

CG x

[Briony]

I posted on something similar yesterday - http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,26722.0.html

Feeling exactly the same way as you. Bit less anxious today, but a horrible pain in my calf/foot which I am sure if linked to hormones. 

Hope you feel better soon x

[jedigirl]

I always feel terrible after my period. I think for me it's the fluctuation of hormones, especially the drop in progesterone. Always takes me a good week at least to feel reasonable though anxiety often remains. xx

[cheekygal]

Thanks ladies, that fear of 'going mad' at any moment is so scary, it's like wanting to run away from yourself, if that makes sense.  It does help a little knowing it's most probably hormonal, but when we feel so low and anxious it's hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have a few bottles of rescue remedy at hand, which I do feel can help at times.

Wishing you all well

CG x

[Essexragdoll]

Hi Cheekygal I was the same as you. In November I had a period after nothing for 10 weeks. It was a really bad, heavy and painful one. Once it finished I started feeling really anxious and my heart was beating so fast each morning I felt like it would jump out of my chest. Then the foggy head feeling appeared out of nowhere, I felt like I had cotton wool in my head, it was constantly there for weeks and then started to lift a little each evening only to be there again in the morning. I know how worrying that feeling is and  totally  understand how you can think you are going mad. I have been taking Maca Root for over 3 weeks and my head has totally cleared although I'm not sure wether it's that or my hormones have now settled a bit. I felt so terrible last week I crawled to my GP and insisted on HRT. I have yet to take it as need to wait and see if I have another period. Have you thought about HRT, a lot of ladies on here swear by it and the way I see it the benefits certainly outweigh the risks

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hello CheekyGal

Yes, I recognise what you describe.

Early last December I had a very light period, but my PMS just didn't seem to lift as it normally does. Usually I get a couple of good weeks after my period before it all goes wrong again. But this time the PMS stayed and it was really bad. I completely identify with your feelings of dread, and fear that you're going mad with it. I just wanted to escape from myself too. I would see a nice, happy looking woman in the street and would fantasise about being able to escape to inside her head instead, and be someone entirely new and different 

I strongly suspect I didn't actually ovulate in December (none of the usual physical symptoms of ovulation). I felt abnormally cold much of the time and had several episodes of insomnia. I suffered like this over Xmas and New Year. Then it got REALLY bad for about 4 days. I felt totally emotionally numb, incapable of feeling ANYTHING. I felt like a statue. t was really frightening.

Then my period started and it all just went away within a few hours. It was like waking up from a nightmare. I then had 2 'good' weeks, but for the last 10 days I have been fighting off the anxiety and the really low moods, and the fear etc.

I can't face going through anything like this again, so I am waiting for an HRT prescription from my consultant. She offered it to me last November but  turned it down. Wish I hadn't. Might have saved myself from such a horrible experience over Xmas.

[Briony]

Interesting what you say about feeling worse in a month when you've not ovulated. Hadn't crossed my mind til now, but I don't think I ovulated this month - and my symptoms have been much more pronounced. Had a v light period and no tummy pain mid cycle - instead, have had weird cold flushes, anxiety and leg pains (plus spots - the joy).
I just hate the 'what next?!!' nature of all this. It's hideous, isn't it? I also find it so hard to hide when I'm at work. I try to give the impression that I am confident and in control, but beneath the surface, I feel anything but! 

[Hurdity]

In the months when you don't ovulate - your oestrogen levels are not high enough - and this is likely to be the cause of continuing pms symptoms - such as low mood etc. Pms has at least two components - the effects of progesterone and its rise and fall, and depletion of oestrogen levels - all of which happen in the second part of the cycle.

As far as I understand, if you have a period - even if it's light - it means that ovulation has taken place. However there are other sorts of bleeding that aren't actually a proper period - although if the bleeding occurs around the expected time of a period - then it's likely that's what it is.

When pms seems to go on and on - oestrogen levels never attain the levels they did previously at mid cycle - with the associated feeling of well-being

The whole hormone cycle is explained very well here (think I've linked you to this before - I'm always directing women to it!): http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php

Hurdity x

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi Briony

It's not something which occurred to me until Hurdity mentioned it a few weeks ago. I naturally assumed that because I had a 'period' albeit very, very light then my oestrogen levels should be the same as when I had more 'normal' periods.

But, if my oestrogen was lower than normal, that would explain the increase in PMS symptoms in December.

After my 'period' finished (it was more heavy spotting, and brownish, not new blood at all) I felt VEY down and anxious for a couple of days. Most unusual for me. Then my mood picked up very slightly, but felt very flat and low, whereas normally I feel energised and full of well being. When I 'should' have ovulated I felt VERY low and odd (usually feel on top of the word at this time). Then it was a gradual slid into worse and worse anxiety, very low mood etc. Ending up with that awful zero emotional sensation. Never felt anything like it before.

I just didn't have a clue what was going on???

In contrast this month, it's even MORE weird. Have just come out of 2 'good' weeks as normal. Then my mood really, really dipped for several days and random anxiety. Then since Day 21 I have felt GREAT. Really upbeat and cheerful and my usual self. Slightly achey boobs and a slight headache, but basically on-top-of-the world right now. This is exactly how I normally feel around ovulation!

But this is precisely when I 'should' be feeling dreadful with PMS as period isn't due until Saturday??? I just do not understand what is going on, I really don't     

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hurdity, that is such a useful article. It's a shame more GPs don't read it.

Right now though, I simply don't know what on Earth is going on with me. Period not due until weekend, but currently experiencing all the lovely oestrogen-filled emotions of well being I would normally enjoy at ovulation. I've been like this since Tuesday.

I really think I'm some sort of hormonal basket-case