Menopause Discussion > Personal Experiences

Premenstrual episodes of feeling "unhinged/psychotic"

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Chelle:
Hi, I'm 48 and on oestrogel/utrogestan, and I've been having mild to moderate peri symptoms now for about 18 months. I'm writing to see if anyone else has experienced anything similar to what I'm going through at the moment, I've experienced low mood and anxiety before but what I'm going through in the past few months is frightening me.

My premenstrual symptoms have become extreme to say the least, almost to the point that I don't think I'm in my right mind. I have had regular thoughts of running away and cutting off my family and friends (have put serious thought into planning this but then realise its not what i truly want once my PMS phase is over), of handing in my notice at my job (I'm very happy with my job under normal circumstances), I have lashed out verbally, quite spectacularly, at people who have done nothing to deserve it, and after the premenstrual phase has finished and I look back I feel shame and embarrassment, and frightened that my behaviour has become so out of character.

Even when I'm not premenstrual it's affecting my confidence because I dare not join in office chats etc just in case I say something ridiculous and ive become quite paranoid that people are noticing, as a result ive become quite withdrawn. One example is writing this post - it's taken me a long time because I keep deleting it because I'm worried that in a few days I'll look back and think it was deranged/irrational.

Recently when I was waiting for the train to work I was having very dark (end of life) thoughts. I have a very good life, a good job, friends, family etc and I don't feel that I would act on such thoughts but it's frightening that I could feel this way at all. When I'm in those few days it's like I'm a different person and incapable of trying to rationalise or talk it through, only when I come past the premenstrual phase can I look back and reflect and then I feel such embarrassment that it's hard to deal with. I really feel like I'm cracking up.

My periods have been very regular all my life on a 28 day cycle with no PMS problems, except in the past few months they suddenly became irregular (more frequent and no set pattern), it's around this time that the extreme PMS symptoms started. I've spoken to my GP and they want me to have tests regarding the sudden change in bleeding before they give me a higher dose of HRT, I'm still waiting for the hospital appointment but I feel inclined to ring the GP in the morning because I'm frightened about where my thoughts are going and I'm finding it increasingly hard to manage

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Can you recommend anything at all? I take a prescribed medication called midodrine for an unrelated health issue, so I can't take things like st John's wort etc as it interferes with my medication

Any advice is gratefully received, whether it's help and tips how to manage it, or just to hear that anyone else can relate to this because I'm beginning to worry that this isnt normal

sheila99:
Does this coincide with the time you take utro?

CLKD:
Morning .  Many women suffer with extreme PMS - Dr Dalton did a lot of research so dropping into The National Association for Pre-menstrual Syndrome web-site might help.  I was advised to eat every 3 hours, 24/7 - all month long - to ease any sudden hunger dips caused by those dratted hormone upheavals.  It took me a while to get into the 24/7 habit but really did help me.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress.

St John's wort isn't recommended as it may interact with other medications .

Chelle:
Good morning, thank you for your replies.

In terms of it co-inciding with the utrogestan, perhaps although not for the full 14 days, it's usually 5 to 7 days just before my period, which tends to be at the back end of taking the utro

I will look at the site for PMS, thank you for the signpost, I've made an appointment with my GP this afternoon and I'm doing my best to make sure my lifestyle is good, I've stopped drinking wine (not that I drank excessively, but still), I exercise daily, the eating part is hard because I've lost my appetite with all this too, but I'm doing my best to eat little and often.

CLKD:
Little and often with plenty of protein and veg.. Plus the odd treat ;-). Let us know how you get on.

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