Issues with 4 phases of the female reproductive cycle

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For years I cannot make sense that my menstrual cycle affects me until my mid 20s...
Which was barely 3 years ago.

Tracking when my period comes is one thing but...
How about the fluctuating hormones?

I don't usually have physical symptoms.
Instead, I have cognitive and emotional symptoms. I had enough with people saying 'its normal'.
I don't care. It's getting on the way of my progress growing.

While I don't regret it my years long haitus, puberty and it's hormonal effects already stole my earlier teenage years.

I'm only putting up with my late teen years and early adult years in blind and trying my dammest to ignore it all because "it's normal for a woman to feel XYZ".

So after few years here's what I've gathered:

-The worst of my symptoms is after ovulation which is pre-menstrual or the luteal phase.

It's one thing that I'm feeling low for weeks, full blown depression with all the negativity is another.
It can last up to 3 weeks before I start gaining my bearings if I hadn't menstruate yet.

Then there's this stupid sensitivity -- I cannot take certain meds without being affected significantly for week long.
How significant? How about from average at best, to near regression? Without burnout or stress even.

-Then during period, it's a 50/50 chance I'd either end up becoming better immediately, or start having physical anxiety like symptoms.
The better state only lasts for either few hours, up to a week. It was then the only time when my body can actually self regulate itself.

-After period, there is still a chance to feel a bit better.
However, it's either that, or hyperactivity, prone to heartburns, daytime sleepiness or restlessness. It only lasts for few days. A week at most.
Impulsive or indecisive.

-Then during ovulation, I may end up falling asleep every high noon. Didn't matter how much I ate, what I ate, how much sleep I had the night before...

The worst part of this is the deceptive feel good surge of energy that seem like better communication at first, THEN suddenly I became this arrogant b*tch who is apparently belittling everyone.
Incessant chatterbox without a filter.

Also insomnia, worse at shifting gears, some restlessness, also more cravings... That's about a week long.
Masturbating away the sexual frustration doesn't work. I'd rather have no libido.

-THEN the aftermath of the above, while dealing with pre-menstrual symptoms above.


My cycle isn't exactly regular.
It fluctuates between 29 days long to 43 days long. Period lasts for 3-5 days.

Sure days adds up every few months, but while those days adds up in months, all the sudden it'll lost those extra days for months before coming back again.
It's the days of ovulation after period and the length of my post ovulation that changes a lot.

I don't know what or which factors does this.
I hadn't able to try everything yet in this particular area. What does it all mean?

I'm active, but high stress as usual.
Also, never had psych meds, never had hormonal meds... I may consider it if I'm not able to figure this out within 2 years -- which is at age 30.
I've cut plenty of sugar already...

And if I need to go to the OB...
What am I supposed to ask or say?

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Just one small tip:

Women having constant periods is a relatively modern thing. Until the 1950s, most women were married and constantly pregnant.

So doctors dealing with periods are often still clueless because there just hasn't been enough research or data on the vast range of symptoms women have due to constant periods.

That's why we get dismissed so often with 'just have a baby' or other stupid advice like that.

Just to bear in mind if you struggle to find a good Ob/gyn.

I went to a herbalist for a bit and drank a tea that regulated my cycle and BBT (basal body temperature).

I try to use the cycle when I can --- I am more "up" and social when I ovulate (in retrospect found me a husband that way) and I seek to have grace during the "down" time. My ASD BFF also noticed this for herself so we have that mutual understanding to support each other. This too shall pass.

There is a study that indicates that professional dancers are better or worse in their turns corresponding to their cycles. Some dancers have their dominant turn reverse (e.g. better clockwise becomes better counter-clockwise in a part of their cycle). My work impact is mood; I don't have to navigate a reverse spin. Hmm, maybe in other ways, here's an optimistic perspective: that my work or ideas when hormonally "down" complement (in a good way) my work or ideas when I am hormonally "up".

Back in the day I went to a GYN with my cyclic findings and they referred me to a therapist. A friend of mine was treated for PMDD, but I prefer to manage these things myself when I can (or even when I can't ).

Good observations!!

That is not "normal" Edna, and I'm sorry it's so rough for you.

If you go to an OB take a copy of what you wrote here. It's extremely thorough and would be helpful.

In my opinion you might want to see an OB but also an endocrinologist (hormone doctor), although the OB might refer you there anyway. I don't think you should wait two years if it's causing you so much distress.

I wonder if it might fall under the category of PMDD like Sharon said.

My daughter had similar psych reactions although she didn't chart things as well as you do. She was prescribed Magnesium and Calcium supplements which really helped with the psych part and mood swings, although she's already on SSRI and ADHD meds. I had PMDD too but it was so long ago I can't remember how or even if it was treated. I had really long cycles like 40 days and it lasted about 8 days.

I had horrendous ups and downs too, the week leading up to the period was frightening- full of anger and hysterical tears, the actual week of the period being heavy and extremely painful, then a week getting over that period. Then one week of feeling okay. Then round I went again.

This is not helpful or workable for women, doctors really need to help us.

The only thing that saved me was the Mirena coil, god bless that thing. I've had them for 15 years now.

Lastly, the worst of all is this and possibly in every medical situation I may be into;

The reasoning that the reason why I couldn't cope with said ups and downs is because I'm not an NT.

The whole stupid overshadowing diagnosis.
One main reason why I'm ruling everything physical out first before going psych.

NT, ND -- there's still distress.
A distress I know which is specifically ND related and which isn't.

A lot that isn't ND related started since I entered puberty and not improving -- it interacts with the AS components and it is not the AS itself.

It's not one of those good days and bad days like how with autism's inconsistencies in productivity.
This one is predictable enough -- and some can see patterns long enough.

There's still possible family history -- that my NT relatives are supposedly able to cope with or without medical intervention.
I'm aware there is, I would ask them to elaborate if they do.

And I know how to untangle the effects of blind parenting and my own experience as an autistic in society; the psych sides that came from childhood -- from 'this'.

Even if the psych issues are the cause of metabolic issues...

How much does it matter if I'm autistic?

Does it matter more than my family history? (Dad's side of the problem has metabolic issues)
Does it matter more than that I'm having a harder time and not feeling myself since puberty?

The autism part is not-complaining, not telling, and not having words for years.
But not being able to take a break even from the most peaceful of places isn't.

Does it matter more than not being able to work well because of it and just blame every other problem I have towards being autistic?
Because it can eventually come true; in a form of burnout and regression.

How much do people can comprehend that this is like potentially removing a major stressor in life?

I know which of my many thorns on my side hurts more and which is actually manageable.
I only really wanna know which can be removed or hurt less.

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I think as usual, autism is just an added burden for us.

I know loads of NT women who have horrendous periods. So if we have horrendous periods too, it's even harder for us to cope with the emotions and pain.

Before my periods, I couldn't express how I felt, then when the period came it was like I got my voice back. So frustrating to be so upset and be unable to express it.

Edna

What happened with your chronic sinusitis? I used to have that for many years, the doctor prescribed steroids or an operation. I didn't like the sound of that so I went to a complementary therapist. She said I was intolerant to dairy products. I thought that was nonsense but I gave up eating and drinking dairy products and immediately started to get better i.e. I could breathe and wasn't coughing up and blowing my nose with gunk 24/7. It took years to get back to good-ish health but giving up dairy (and gluten) was the key to it.