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[Sophie79]

Hello,

I wonder if you ladies might be able to help. Back in July I started getting very full of rage, same thing happened in August both weeks before my period. This has got worse and developed into very up and down days, some days are so low I just cry all day and rage days, I cannot bare being around people, noise and especially  my husband.

I also have days of foggy head, unable to think straight or concentrate and moments of anxious panic. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when this happens.

I think I could be perimenopausal, I am 41 and my mum started hers in her late 30s. I spoke to my doctor who suggested try cycling my pill - (I have the combined pill) to help but it hasn't made any difference. He then talked alot about antidepressants, which I don't want.

I made an appointment with a specialist at a private hospital, cost alot, only to be told she thought it was PMS!!

Anyway I have decided to try the mirena coil as a friend of mine had it and she said it stabilised her moods. I am just quite nervous about it and what if it makes things worse etc etc.

The doctors just don't seem very helpful at all. Thanks in advance for reading!!

[CLKD]

Hi!  I would rage in the days prior to a bleed.

We do have a good search facility.  MayB put 'Mirena coil' into the box to see what pops up.

Some find it useful to keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress. 

What speciality was the person you paid to see, gynaecologists don't know much more than GPs very often 

HRT is good to protect heart and bones.  As is regular brisk walking and cycling.  We have threads on most things here 

[Kathleen]

Hello Sophie79 and welcome to the forum.

Your story will be familiar to many ladies here.

In some ways your specialist doctor was right in that what you are experiencing is a change in hormone levels but unlike PMs these changes are much more intense and long lasting.

At your young age HRT is recommended and I am sure more knowledgeable ladies will be along soon to advise you about your options and to offer help and support.

Wishing you well.

K.

[sheila99]

A mirena may not be the answer. If you're peri (and your symptoms would indicate you are) you're deficient in oestrogen so you need the oestrogen that hrt adds. The mirena gives you progesterone which is necessary only to keep your womb lining from building up. Having a mirena without oestrogen may not help with your symptoms. As it is designed as a contraceptive it gives you more progesterone than you need for hrt. For those you have difficulty with hrt it is usually the progesterone that is the problem. If you came off the pill you would find out what your periods are doing, if they're irregular, longer or shorter it might be easier to convince your gp it's peri. You can ask for a referral to a menopause clinic if your gp is unhelpful, you need to see a meno specialist not a gynecologist. I had most of your symptoms, if I was my OH I'd have run for the hills.

[Sophie79]

Thank you for your replies. tbh that has worried me that a) if the merina isn't right I will be stuck with it for a while and b) will the doctor give me the oestrogen I need.

Shockingly the specialist I saw was a Menopause specialist!!

I had also thought about coming off the pill and seeing what I was like but given that they say it can mask symptoms I'm terrified of being any worse than I am!

It feels like it has taken over my life and I am no longer in control and affect relationships and work etc...

[NicolaJ]

Hi, you sound just like me. I had years of this, from roughly 42 - present, now 49. I thought I was going mad too. After battling on I finally decided quality of life won over any risks and started sequential hrt (Femeston) I could now cry with delight as I feel so much better. I’ve had a few bumps along the way, increased anxiety and this lasted a few weeks but this is now settling. I know new regimes can take up to 6 months. This year for the first time in so many I am so looking forward to Christmas and am much much happier. Good luck and keep in touch with the forum xx

[Sophie79]

Oh my goodness how awful to have felt like that for so long! It totally makes you feel like you are going mad!

Really glad that you have found an answer and are feeling much better.

Do you mind me asking, how did you get your hrt, (the male doctor at my surgery is reluctant and the female doctor has told me I can't possibly be going through the perimenopause /menopause as I am having no hot flashes!) was your doctor OK with it and do you use contraception along side it?

[CLKD]

Change your surgery?

[NicolaJ]

I’m also quite alarmed at your GP’s response. I did my research on here and went armed with the info. I said I wanted HRT tablets and also Femeston as if previously tried Elleste Duet a few years ago but couldn’t get away with the progesterone type in that one. I didn’t have any challenge and it was a male GP. I would just tell them you have hot flushes/sweats if this is what they want to hear! They sound like they lack a lot of knowledge. Stand your ground and direct them to this site if required. If they’re still not playing ball I agree with CLKD and change practice. Your quality of life is suffering here and you need support not rejection. I also work in a GP practice and this is not the experience of the ladies who attend there either. I do use barrier contraception in addition to this. Good luck xx