Hi Machair, hope you are well.
Yes, the symptoms of my oestrogen highs (mid cycle) are very like those of PMS.
Before mid stage peri my symptoms of ovulation were always the same. Screaming migraine (at peak oestrogen levels), slight blood smear, pains in one or other ovary, copious cervical mucus for 2/3 days, front of breast tenderness, bloating.
Mid stage peri, same as above but if there was no blood smear and no viable follicle, the cervical mucus would continue rather than stop after a few days, breasts would swell and start to become very painful, bloating and weight gain would occur. This could go on for weeks. In Oct/Nov/Dec last year it continued through 2 anovulatory bleeds. Dec 15th oestrogen suddenly dived, all symptoms stopped, I had a major hot flush where I looked like a lollipop for about an hour and a half and then a period started 2 days later.
That was the last period I had so 179 days today. I had disastrous migraines throughout Christmas, Jan and Feb then hot flushes started and night sweats returned. They quickly built in frequency and intensity to flushes every 15-20 mins throughout the day and about 5/6 at night. Bit of a shock to the system!
Since then I've had 2 oestrogen highs where there was sudden cessation of flushes and sweats, serious bloating, nagging or continuous migraine, continuous copious cervical mucus, slight breast swelling and tenderness. I would also say I've put weight on, jeans are really tight (I am not someone who normally puts on weight). I have a high at the moment but am at least getting some sleep at night. I also just feel hot all of the time but no obvious flushes or sweats.
I think my body is desperately trying to continue a menstruation cycle because these two flares are sufficiently spaced apart to mimic a cycle. I understand this can continue for about 2 years or so after meno. These symptoms are exactly what I experienced with PMS before peri. I have always been very lucky not to experience mood swings with my hormone changes but I understand that high levels of oestrogen can affect your moods as they increase stress.
We are all so different, some of us experience all of this whilst others don't or are unaware as their bodies just don't react so much to the changes.