Does anyone else crash AFTER their period during follicular/ovulation? Best time physically during luteal (worst mentally - PMDD)

[lunabuna91]

I’m struggling to find anyone in the same boat.

I am severe (extremely severe B/C on Whitney Dafoe’s scale).

I have tried lowering estrogen with supplements such as DIM & calcium d gluc which made me very unwell.

It’s frustrating, I’m “best” physically during luteal but bad mentally due to PMDD then I’m crashed after my period during follicular / ovulation.

I tried mini pill a couple of years ago and when I came off (I was crashed and trying to figure out if this was the cause) I missed 2 periods and went into full blown PMDD mode - hell.

Last month I tried a small dose of Cyclogest during follicular and it seemed to help a little. This month not at all. I’m gonna try taking it (off label - no Dr help so a bit scary) for a full 2 months and hopefully the steady levels will kick in by my next follicular/ovulation. Judging by this month though, I’m not feeling hopeful.

I hope I have posted this in the right place. Took a lot for me to type this. I hope it makes sense and sorry for the long message. I’m just so ill and I’ve had enough.

Wondering if anyone experiences the same or has any thoughts?

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Hepcat]

I absolutely feel worse during follicular/ovulation and my best during luteal.
For me, I believe this is due to (suspected) intracranial hypertension.
Testosterone levels rise during follicular/ovulation, which increases intracranial pressure. Estrogen also rises, which stimulates mast cells and, in turn, raises intracranial pressure due to inflammation. I pretty much have a *constant* squeezing pressure headache during this time along with increased symptoms.

During luteal, these hormones go down and progesterone rises. Progesterone is anti-inflammatory in that it stabilizes mast cells (and less inflammatory response = less pressure in head). I always feel better during this phase. Sometimes, I even have no headaches. There’s a clear link for me.

I haven’t figured out what helps yet, beyond having C1 in place (I have CCI and see an upper cervical chiropractor, with my neurosurgeon’s blessing). When it’s out, it’s absolutely awful. Even putting my head on a pillow is painful.

I tried Diamox, but was unable to tolerate it. It definitely helped, but it also gave me unworkable side effects within two days (bad tachycardia—possibly due to messed up electrolytes. At one point, the tachycardia was jolting me out of sleep. Woohoo.)
So it’s back to the drawing board on that.