I am 45. Looking back my PMS started to change dramatically maybe 3-4 years ago? I know it was definitely more than 3 years ago that I had to start planning my social life around my menstrual cycle and try not to plan anything much in the 2nd half of my cycle, or during my actual period, because I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy anything at all.
But, there had been definite warning signs as far back as 6 years ago, I think? I remember a summer holiday where I ruined the whole week with my totally irrational conviction that my lovely DH was plotting to divorce me. I broke down in tears several times and my poor DH was very confused (probably because I didn't tell him about my crazy suspicions). Then the minute my period started I felt perfectly fine again.
But it was exactly 2 years ago that one month my PMS didn't lift after my period finished. It just carried on and on, and brought new and horrible surges of anxiety/dread with it. It totally floored me and I was unable to cope, then pretty soon the insomnia started and that was when I made the first of many, many visits to see my GP.
I don't know if I am in early or late peri? Very early menopause runs strongly in my family. One close relative was only 28 when she went through menopause. Another was only 38. I don't know about my Mum because she had a surgical menopause at 43. But in the 2-3 years running up to her hysterectomy she suffered with inexplicable anxiety and depression, which magically disappeared after her operation and she went onto HRT.
Back in the Spring I started HRT. Just a 25mg patch with separate Utrogestan. It didn't do a thing to help. I increased the patch to 50mg, and things improved slightly. But after 4 months I was still getting far too many bad days/weeks so swapped to the BCP. My GP explained that as I was still relatively 'very young' HRT just wasn't nearly as potent enough to control my symptoms. The first brand I tried was Microgynon, the cheapest type (with the most androgenic progesterone, so most likely to cause spotting, greasy hair, acne etc) There was a definite overall improvement, but I had constant spotting every day and quite a few facial spots.
So a month ago I swapped to Gederal (Marvelon) and within days I felt so much better, it was untrue. Mood much more positive and stable. Skin really clear and smooth (I'm not joking, my skin feels like silk and hasn't looked this good since I was 17). No more brown spotting. It really has been a life saver.