pmt/ serve mood swings and migraines

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jhj123rjaj
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:59 am
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by jhj123rjaj on Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:53 am

pmt/ serve mood swings and migraines

For the past 6/7 mnths my period symptoms have been getting worse. I am 37 years old
I am very angry, anxious and have a low dark mood , uncontrolled crying about a week before my period.
I also have an increase in migraines. probably have a migraine for the most of the week before I am due my period. during period I am completely drained and exhausted.
I have been to see my gp, who at first thought depression. but as I feel ok rest of month I disagreed with this.
I have been given zomaltripian for migraines. and propranolol to take for a few days before my period, to help reduce ,tense anxious feelings.
yesterday I took the propranolol, and felt a bit drugged up on them. so don't know if they will be suitable.
but I need help, as I cant go on like this.
I have been taking vitamin b6, for 3 weeks to see if this helps, but I don't think it has.
can anyone help me as I am desperate.

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Mr Peter Greenhouse
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Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:51 pm
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by Mr Peter Greenhouse on Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:33 pm

Re: pmt/ serve mood swings and migraines

You’re absolutely right not to have taken your GP’s treatment, as you’re NOT depressed – you’ve got the classic presentation of perimenopause, which typically affects women in their mid-to-late thirties or early forties, and carries on until periods cease with the menopause.
Perimenopause (for a full description see: http://www.drannieevans.com/The-Perimenopause.html) is a “whole body” condition, caused by fluctuating oestrogen levels and characterised by a wide range of cyclical symptoms which affect both mental function:-
premenstrual anger/depression/sadness/tearfulness/insomnia/forgetfulness/clumsiness/discoordination/inability to multitask etc
and also cause physical symptoms such as:-
premenstrual breast tenderness/joint pains/muscle aches/night sweats & flushes/cyclical sciatica/heavier periods with more bleeding days & shorter inter-bleed interval and cyclically-triggered migraine.
This type of premenstrual migraine http://www.migrainetrust.org/factsheet- ... aine-10883 first occurs most commonly around age 42, and can be treated by suppression or control of the menstrual cycle. Probably the most effective treatment for perimenopause and cyclical migraine is use of the hormone coil (Mirena) – which itself reduces PMS in some 70% of women – in addition to stabilising the hormone levels with continuous transdermal oestrogen given as a gel or patch.
Note that the so-called natural progestrerone creams offered over-the-counter by health shops have no pharmacological action, because progesterone is no use in perimenopause treatment and the drug is not absorbed.

Although many psychiatrists & GPs recommend using antidepressant drugs of the SSRI group (eg Citalopram), these do not treat the cause of the problem and may have unacceptable side effects such as anorgasmia (70%!).

The best way to sort this out is to start keeping a daily record of your mood & migraine symptoms - scored 0-10 for severity, and plot them against each day of your menstrual cycle – then go to your nearest Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health, at a main sexual health or contraception clinic, as these are the specialists with the most experience of treating the perimenopause.
Mr Peter Greenhouse
Consultant in Sexual Health

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... nhouse.php

jhj123rjaj
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:59 am
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by jhj123rjaj on Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:03 pm

Re: pmt/ serve mood swings and migraines

thank you for the reply. I will defiantly follow your advice, and chart my migraines. I knew it was something different to depression..but had never thought of a perimenopause, in fact I had never heard of it !!
so I will be looking in to it. many thanks for your reply! :)

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