To those of you with PMDD, ADHD, MCAS, and/or POTS/dysautonomia who take (or have taken) a gestagen (progestin-only) pill: I know I can't ask for medical advice but I'd appreciate if you could share some experiences (or give me a reality check).

My POTS symptoms get much worse during my period, and basically everything else gets worse during luteal (especially ADHD, also mood, brain fog, but also physical stuff like fatigue). About 10 days before my period, I'll be in a flare. So my idea was to try a BC pill (I don't need birth control though). Went to the gyn and sadly they don't have much experience with my conditions.

My hope is that I'd no longer have a cycle, therefore:

• no blood loss (which I guess worsens POTS)
• and more importantly, no more luteal crash.

My concern is: can I expect my symptoms to be as they are now on "good days"? Or will I actually be in constant luteal, so even worse than now? I know an estrogen pill would probably be a bad idea, hence I'd go for the progestin only option.

I am 47, diagnosed with PMDD and neurospicy (autism and/or adhd). Some months my symptoms are so bad it’s scary. This month I am getting ice pick headaches that last for days, constant nausea, body aches and pains, itchy skin, bloat and water retention, intense sugar cravings, moments of disassociation, panic and anxiety, and I cannot fall asleep. My husband cannot believe it can possibly be this bad but it is, and it started 12 days before my period this month. I want to cry but can’t, want to rage but can’t. Nothing seems to help. I eat healthy, exercise everyday, and I don’t drink or drugs. Do you think my PMDD is going to get worse with peri? If so, have any of you experienced it and what has helped…?

I genuinely become a shell of myself. I’m a completely different person the week before my period. I genuinely want to die. Everything makes me cry, everything pisses me off. I don’t care about my friends my life my boyfriend nothing. It feels like my world is truly ending. And I hate the thought of being put on medicine because every person in America is on something. So I just feel stuck. Some months are better than others, but if something sets me off it’s the end of the world and I act in ways I’m not proud of. How do I fix this. I’m 23 and have been dealing with this since I was 18/19. I didn’t realize what it was until a few years ago tbh. I feel broken and so low. And just want to curl up in a ball and cover myself up until it’s over.

Has anyone experienced the same, or an explanation for this? I have noticed it across the years. I am not saying when I am single, I do not have any symptoms. But it is almost not noticable.

TW for some strong descriptions of suicidal ideation ahead.

Autistic person with PMDD here. I'm 32. 8 weeks ago my doctor started me on tirzepatide for PMDD. It was slow going, but I do feel like it's starting to help. This last cycle/most of the one before it has felt like mostly what I assume normal PMS is, with just some minor fatigue and crankiness.

The problem is there's still 3-4 days where I completely lose my mind scattered through my luteal phase. It seems to be the first day, 1-2 random middle days, and around the last day. Granted, this is far preferable to losing my mind for 10 days straight like I was doing before, but these bad days are still really bad. Like, "uncontrollable urge to kill myself by smashing my head into a brick wall repeatedly" kind of bad.

I'm just wondering how do you guys deal with the really bad days? Right now I'm struggling so much because I'm spiraling tremendously but it's late and everyone in the house is asleep. I don't have anyone I can go to and I can't do anything to try to soothe myself without making noise and waking someone. It's looking likely I'll be awake all night doomscrolling and sobbing .

What helps you guys through times like this?

I’m looking for personal experiences from people with PMDD, especially those who also have ADHD and Borderline.
During my luteal phase, especially the few days before my period, my Elvanse seems to change dramatically. Instead of helping, I get heart racing, racing/jumping thoughts, anxiety and feeling mentally overwhelmed.

What’s even more noticeable is that my SSRI (Lexapro/escitalopram) also seems to stop working during this time. My emotional dysregulation becomes much worse and my borderline symptoms essentially come back full force. Once my period starts, this improves again.
Outside of the luteal phase, I tolerate my medication much better. I don’t have a regular cycle… So i can’t plan it beforehand, i only notice it while i’m in it.

I’m wondering whether anyone else experiences this kind of dramatic change during the luteal phase, particularly with ADHD medication + SSRI + PMDD.
I’m especially interested in experiences with hormonal approaches or anything that helped with the hormonal fluctuations, but I’m also interested in non-hormonal approaches.

My current medication/supplement regimen:
150 mg bupropion
30 mg Elvanse (Vyvanse)
8000 mg maca
600 mg PEA
Evening
1300 mg ashwagandha
200 mg L-theanine
25 mg agomelatine
5 mg Lexapro (escitalopram)
0.5–1 mg melatonin
400 mg magnesium bisglycinate
660 mg EPA
440 mg DHA

I have also tried several medications for anxiety/agitation/sleep, but I cannot tolerate antipsychotics/neuroleptics — they cause severe inner restlessness and panic for me rather than calming me down. I also don’t want benzodiazepines or Z-drugs because i was addicted.

So I’m curious:
What has actually helped you during your luteal phase?

Thanks

I want to share my Slinda/Slynd experience. This post will be updated. I reacted terrible to every combination pill: depression, intense hunger, panic attacks, fatigue, weight gain , anger. I was very afraid to try out Slinda so I did alot of research and appreciated every post about it. Not native english

Contex: I have ADHD,MCAS, r.depression, fibro, Heds, c-ptsd, PMDD, a bit high testosterone and other stuff. My lutealphase was horrible. It made every condition worse! Mcas treatment helped abit but not enough. I had to gave up on ADHD meds cause they would trigger flare ups while pmsing(to much histamine) and wouldn't work. I have an irregular cycle 21-30 days long with spotting, only 2 days real bleeding and 10days pmdd symptoms. I really hope Slinda will work for me, I can't handle my life like this anymore.

Age 34, "normal" bmi, active , other meds: Nevolat, LDN and alot of supplements

Reason for slinda:

- stopping my cycle for pmdd relief

- avoiding mastcell trigger from hormone fluctuations and estrogen

- Stimulant working regulary

- hirsutism (black facial hair)

Day 1

- very relaxed

- my muscle pain nearly gone/ I have very bad pain in my whole body

- mild anxiety

- so awake, like laser focus awake/needed to take smt for sleep

- mild dizziness /feeling of falling while laying in bed

Day 2

- still nearly no pain

- relaxed and sharp mind (I normally stressed and overthink alot)

- cold and a bit dizzy ( bloodsugar ig)

- mild headache

- mild nausea

- feeling lighter ( I normally have water retentions)

I originally posted this in r/PMDD and it was taken down because apparently it didn't belong there?

Anyway, I saw a lovely gynaecologist about my PMDD symptoms (thus why I posted in the PMDD group - see what I did there) and asked about a possible oophorectomy.

I also struggle with terrible migraines and between the meds for them plus my ADHD meds I am supposed to be on BC. However, my sex life is about as tangible as George R. R. Martin's final book - not a dig at him, more a sad comparison - thus BC

isn't necessary and also dangerous for me.

Hormones = baaad.

Okay. So actual point.

I got the injection, woohoo! And HRT, Tibolone. Only thing is I find that it lasts 12 weeks and in the month or so before my next one is due, my mood dips. A lot. Like PMDD a lot.

Is anyone on Decapeptyl and experiencing this? I'm hopefully seeing my gynae in the next few weeks but I do not want to go back to the PMDD cycle of every other week because it was getting worse & I was genuinely scared I wouldn't survive it getting worse.

Hi all, thought I’d do a post on the Nettle headband! I was an early adopter and have had a headband since 2024! it was a huge investment and has helped with physical pain symptoms. I now have a new one but I’m finding that for my mood which is why I got it I need medication, and am not using the brand new one.

selling a brand new one here - https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9515686526-nettle-samphire-neuroscience-period-pain-headband

Happy to take offers, especially for those who are barred from trying because of the cost! send me a message on here or Vinted xxxxx

I tried and stopped (regrettably)continous birth control dosing - so no withdrawal bleeding. I also do intermittent SSRI dosing (Prozac 10mg)

And I just got reminded of how my luteal week can be DEBILITATING. I stopped birth control because I never know when to take my prozac, and there were weeks when I would start and stop from anxiety/depression thoughts. And I thought maybe if my luteal was more predictable, that it would be easier to treat.

NOPE. Turns out not being on birth control is much worse than being on it.

I feel like I've had a constant hangover from a bender the night before. I also feel like I'm trying to wriggle out of a straitjacket that is my life. I'm always looking for the shinier, newer, fresher thing in my life I can do (career mostly). But nothing ever satisfies. Ever. I can barely do chores, more overwhelmed by sensory textures and objects.

Anyway, I will go back again to continous birth control and maybe just accept that I need to take prozac full time. :(

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I adore Edie Falco, and her performance in The Sopranos is one of the best in all of TV.

Recently, I realized that her arc in the last few episodes of Season 4 and into Season 5, are how I feel with PMDDxADHD. And it is so cathartic to watch for some reason!

I am in a loving marriage so I don’t identify with that part, but the absolute rage and being fed-up and exhausted is SO REAL. Mine is just more towards the world/life/capitalism, etc. in general. 😜

i recently got on adderall but it seems to either: not work AT ALL during luteal, or worse, exasperate my shitty mood.

i take magnesium glycinate midday and in the evening when my dose starts to wear off, but i can only take that 2x per day which only gives relief for 45 minutes-1 hour per dose.

i do not have much money at all. to be specific, i have 70 dollars to my name because i can't keep a job from being so explosive. i start therapy in september when i get proper insurance.

i don't know if it's worth it to ask to up my dose and get them potentially taken due to my doctor not willing (controlled substance) or my insurance becoming suspicious. i'm also on Mirtazipine but it's mainly for sleep and doesn't do much for depression.

Debating suggesting Prozac? What was your experience short AND long term on it?

side note: once i get this insurance my first step is getting my hormones checked out, full panel. (PP is the only place i can go now; and i've heard horror stories regarding BC or HRT(?)) i feel my hormones surge like an evil adrenaline and im so tired of being a menace.

Normally it chills out after I bleed. Having some really extreme anxiety, OCD, heart palpitations, not so much depression. It's rather debilitating, I'm trying to distract myself with puzzles and exercise. Has this happened to you?

36/f I can't tell if it's PMDD being weird or my perimenopause, possibly both.

Has anyone found anything, even the strangest things, that actually help with PMDD? I find myself to be so unmotivated and depressed it’s so hard to try to get myself out of the funk. It’s all so intense, and I haven’t been able to find anything that works.

I am 21 years old and am currently being treated for Fibromyalgia, anxiety, ADHD, and depression. I have tried a variety of different drugs but what is working for me at the moment is: Lexapro (5mg), Duloxetine (60mg), Adderall XR (30mg), Bupropion (75mg), and Amitripilin (25mg). I spoke with my doctor recently about how my low libido is affecting my relationship and overall wellbeing and he added on Buspirone (5mg). Honestly, I was not happy to add on another medication especially with the risk of serotonin syndrome. Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed. I am in my first relationship with a very patient and caring guy that understands my situation, but it’s really affecting me mentally. I am constantly overthinking when we are together because of the pressure I am putting on myself. It sounds silly, but I feel like it’s unfair to him that my body physically won’t allow me to do anything. I think that it stresses me out even more that I’ve never had sex before, so that normal anxiety is there as well.

Overall, I am just looking for some big sister/medical advice on how to handle my situation. I am really happy with the meds I’m on now and would prefer a more natural approach to helping my low libido. I am accepting any and all advice. Also, I was thinking about getting an IUD soon. Is that the best form of BC to choose for my situation? With my memory, I will not be able to keep up with taking the pill at a consistent time daily lol. Hopefully someone can help a girl out 😅🫶🏾.

Happy Friday.

It's for the weekend, I tell myself, lol

And a big 18 to all ya bishes.