Pms :-(

LegacyUser

I'm tired, kranky, weepy, moody and fed up with life.

Damn PMS!

Any tips for avoiding feeling like this next time round...........?

*Angel*

Well it's not as bad at all for me since I went on the pill.

But ya can't really blame being fed up with life on pms...

Nevyn

Have a look at your diet, try excerising and hot baths and chocolate and pamper yourself curl up in comfy clothes and watch daft movies, oh and chocolate.

Beruthiel

I've heard evening primrose oil works too

*Angel*

Thaedydal wrote:

hot baths and chocolate and pamper yourself curl up in comfy clothes and watch daft movies, oh and chocolate.

this sounds really good

CathyMoran

One of the best things that I found useful with PMS was actually knowing when I was suffering from it, then I could try and stop being upset, crying etc and would not feel as bad about the slight weight gain...it does not work totally, I am guaranteed tp cry at some stage but at least I know why!

Black Swan

Strenuous exercise and a diet of certain foods over time can help some, but everyone is different.

Did Thaedydal say chocolate? *Runs out door to buy some!*

Nightwish

I get very very sick (fainting, vomiting, agonising pain), not mention weight gain and feeling down. I am still looking for the cure! Usually I just do what Thaedydal suggested. I wear my bf's tshirts, tracksuit bottoms and curl up in bed and watch a dvd, and I also fulfill my cravings (which are very bad and usually vary every time!), sometimes its chocolate, sometimes its pizza, sometimes its Skittles. Also, try avoid anything with salt as it increases your bloating and makes you feel worse.

Nevyn

Rosehip tea, raspberryleaf tea/tablets and drinking lots of water can help the physical side of things but really the raving crying arrrrrgggghhhhhh there isn't really anything for that except maybe someone who loves you enough to get you chocolate, leave you alone when you need it and is brave enough to hug you.
Bloating is not fun it leads to the trama of "I have nothing to wear" and " they only make clothes for skinny bitches".
Oh and aren't spots great too on top of everything else.

CathyMoran

I have certain clothes that I only wear at that time of the month, I know that no matter what I wear I will feel fat so I just have to remember that it is just PMS. I must admit that chocolate is a life saver, I gave it up one year for lent and people were begging me to go back on it. For the pain I take painkillers but I just hope that the worst of it occurs at a weekend so that I can stay in bed for most of it.

dudara

It was crippling for me years ago, painful bloating, cramps, vomiting, pain in my lower back. I used to take ibuprofen and just go to sleep until it was past.

When I went on the pill, it alleviated the symptoms immeasurably. I still get bloated and stil feel slight twinges in my lower back. But compared to virtually being a cripple, it's nothing.

I've also heard of starflower oil being effective against PMS. But if it's extremely dehabilitating, you might want to go talk to your GP.

The Sweeper

I find evening primrose oil good. There's nothing to be done for the spots. I tend to resign myself to two days a month where I'll be good for not much (and I'm one of the lucky ones, with only two days) and retire to the couch with microwave popcorn and herbal tea. I do try to do something physical as soon as my energy levels start to rise again - I find it brings them up more quickly.

LegacyUser

Feeling much better today, the world is a much brighter place!

Thanks for all your replies, will definitely be putting some of these suggestions to the test!

:-)

Marksie

Taken from "food is medicine" by pierre jean cousin:

Increase your intake of fruit and vegetables rich in vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. Eat small frequent meals rich in carbohydrates and root vegetables. Aniseed, dill and sage have hormone-like properties_ drink as infusions; tarragon and mint are powerful anti-spasmidics and analgesics and are excellent as infusions for abdominal cramps. Barley contains a amino acid that may help relkive pms.

AVOID: fatty or salty foods, stimulants such as coffee, cola drinks and tea. reduce yur consumption of dairy products

Miss Fluff

I get such food cravings before a period I remind myself of Elvis just before he exploded on the toilet. That insatiable hunger is horrid!!:( I do find evening primrose oil really helpful though as it helps with fluid retention and MANIC :eek: moods/paranoia/weepiness. Star flower oil and borage are also pretty good but I think evening primrose is better. And try to avoid salt if you can although unfortunately I get a craving for crisps when I have PMS, oh and chocolate and ice cream and bread and and.....you get the picture :eek:

the bride

Hiya!

I had the exact same problem I got really depressed and was crying all the time, I felt really miserable, my Doctor told me to get Starflower tablets in the chemist, they're for girls who get depressed with pms!..I've been taking them for 2 months now and they're brilliant..

smash

PMS suffererer wrote:

I'm tired, kranky, weepy, moody and fed up with life.

Damn PMS!

Any tips for avoiding feeling like this next time round...........?

Sex change?

Nevyn

steve06, unhelpful and off-topic posting will get you banned from this forum.
Do take time to read the charter which contains the rules and abide by them.
Have a nice day.
Thaedydal

smash

Thaedydal wrote:

steve06, unhelpful and off-topic posting will get you banned from this forum.
Do take time to read the charter which contains the rules and abide by them.
Have a nice day.
Thaedydal

I'll try

LadyJ

Apparently green vegetables,especially lettuce and cabbage can really help if you eat a good bit of them. I can't remember why but there's something in them that helps,I read.

Otherwise I'd suggest you check out the pill. I used to get very emotional and pass out from pain every time I got my period and it would last over a week. Now I barely notice it and it's gone in three days!

b3t4

the bride wrote:

I had the exact same problem I got really depressed and was crying all the time, I felt really miserable, my Doctor told me to get Starflower tablets in the chemist, they're for girls who get depressed with pms!..I've been taking them for 2 months now and they're brilliant..

You might be my saviour. I have said to number of doctors that I can get quite depressed with pms and none of them have suggested these.

I was told by one doctor that in the USA they can prescribe anit-depressants for pms but in Ireland they can't, typical.

Thanks,
A.

Nevyn

That would not be a good idea at all, as it takes a while for anitdepressants to work into your system there would be no point in taking them for 2/4 days aweek.

While on one wants to be a wimp cos really lets face it 2/3 of the planets population is female and have to undergo this nearly every frickin month for at least 25 years over our lifes extreme physical symptoms may be an indicator that there is something else up and you should talk to your dr ladies and if you are concerned push for a gynie consult.

It can be hard to tell if what your experiencing is out of the norm cos what we go through each month can be s
till considered to a point taboo these days even if it is so that the lads or men can't then give us stick over it.

b3t4

Thaedydal wrote:

That would not be a good idea at all, as it takes a while for anitdepressants to work into your system there would be no point in taking them for 2/4 days aweek.

A woman would have to take them on a constant basis rather than just for when pms symtoms hit.

Sure, evening primrose oil can take up to 6months to take effect on your system and that has to be taken every day and not once a month.

I can get seriously depressed so I would love if they could prescribe them for me.

A.

Nevyn

Talk to you dr b3t4, such tablets are an aid to dealing with depression not a solution and they have a range of very unpleasant sideeffect I would suggest you read up on them.

JC 2K3

steve06 wrote:

Sex change?

http://www.aizuddindanian.com/voi/archives/2002/11/the_male_pms.html

Tends to be less regular in guys and therefore not as apparent, but guys hormones affect them just as much as girls.

b3t4

Thaedydal wrote:

Talk to you dr b3t4

I have spoken at length with a number of doctors with regard this.

I cope better now as I am aware that it is a part of pms.

I have also been on anti-depressant's in the past for a different set of circumstance so I am aware of what I'd be getting into.

The last doctor was the first one to tell me the laws in the USA. She would of liked to have prescribed me anti-d's but she is unable to do so for pms. My only options appear to be herbal so I'll give them a whirl.

A.

scorplett

Ladies, ladies, ladies.... when will we understand that suffering is NOT part of a 'womans lot'. This is conditioning put upon us that we all need to honestley address.
Extreme symptoms are NOT normal, sure there should be a certain degree of discomfort but nothing that should have you depressed or incapable of going out doors.
There are a whole list of reasons why your menstrual cycle can be out of sync. For example, one in five women have a chronic condition causing abnormal menstrual behaviour. Most of these need minor medical treatment to resolve, conditions ranging from endometriosis (which I have) to Polycystic ovaries to Pelvic Inflamatory Disease, to medical PMS, irratible bowel (BTW if you have the money and the mind for it, a colonic will do wonders for a whole host of menstrual problems)
If you believe that your menstrual cycles and symptoms (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP CALLING EVERYTHING PMS) are causing you un-nescessary trouble, that is if you need to take more than 6 over the counter pain-killers to survive your first 10 hours of mensturation, if you call sick into work because of your period or if you cannot do any of your normal daily routiene then you need to
1st : consider your diet,
2nd: Monitor and note your cycle, from dates of bleeding to days and a pain scale and any other symptoms noted.
3rd : seek assistance from a GP, maybe seek out a gynae friendly doctor such as those in the well-woman.
The main think is to be informed. Know your body and know what is right and normal and what is not.

the bride

No worries
I find them great, and they only cost about a tenner, I take two everyday, apparently they're great for balancing out hormones which is why ye get so depressed each month. I had tried anti depressants and they didn't work!!..So give them a go, all ye can do is try so they say!!!

Nightwish

I take an disgraceful amount of painkillers for the first few days, otherwise I cant function. I am aware that what I experience it at the more extreme end of the scale however, my doctor prescribed me painkillers which I took for two years but can no longer take them for a number of reasons (they're dangerous to be taking in the long term and also making me vomit). She said there is nothing that could be done, short of going on the pill, which I chose not to do.

Deer

Hi,

For the past three years I had been suffering crippling mood swings due to pms. I tried everything, star flower oil, oil of evening primrose etc. I'd genuinly feel quite homicidal, resentful, extremely depressed, panic and would have this horrible feeling in my chest. I had gone to my doctor about it and he prescribed some sedatives which were okay but not a long term solution. They just stopped the anxiety mostly.

Anyway last month I flipped - I shouted and roared at my family, dented the sink and three pots and broke the window of the front door by banging it shut. So I went to the doc and explained and he gave me anti - d's and told me I have this thing called Pre Menstral Dysorphi - trust me to get the wierd one - it's an extreme form of PMS. I'm due this today and I've just twigged - I survived the past week without one symptom other than a craving for crisps! It's brilliant! No mood swings at all.

Obviously this is not for "normal" pms but if anyone see's themself in what I'm saying I would seriously recommend they talk to their GP. I didn't want to go down the road of anti-d's and was quite upset about it at the time - but now - calmly and pms free - no regrets.

D

scorplett

Nightwish wrote:

She said there is nothing that could be done, short of going on the pill, which I chose not to do.

Is this doctor your GP... One of the most basic things any GP can do is to provide referral to a consultant. Without correct tests there is very little way to know what would be causing such problems. No one should have to be on painkillers for so long... I have been there and done that and have a collection of different types of perscription strength painkillers even to the point of being prescribed tricillics which in low doses are used for chronic pain.
The main thing is to find out what causes such abnormal menstrual behaviour. I remember being overjoyed at hearing that I had a chronic incurable disease that would probably only ever end in a hystorectamy and would be likley to increase my likleyhood of cancer etc.... To think that you would be happy to hear such news (weather you accept the prognosis or not) is a huge relief. It took a good few years of painkillers the pill and other hormonal meds, diets etc before I was diagnosed. To be able to name and put a label on your symptoms means that you can begin to find the right treatment for you.
There are wide ranging treatments within both traditional medicine and complementary medicine. But you cannont explore any treatments or therapies unless you know what the cause of the symptoms are.
My advice is to get a refferal... Try and the hardcopy letter yourself so that you can copy it and send it to more than one gynae clinic/hospital.
You deserve not to live in dread of a couple of days each month.

ThrownAway

When I get it I go out for a run or a cycle. When I come back I feel much better especially after a cold shower afterwards.

neoB

A nice walk and or swim does the trick for me. Or just staying in the bathtub in hot water. (i get the absolute worse cramps.. go to the ER type)Staying away from irritating people, chocolate(LOTS OF THIS), heating pad and god bless pamprin and tylonel pm !!!!

kizzyr

I tend to get PMS a day or two before my period. I am on the pill and I know that when I've taken my last one from that pack by the end of the next day I'm going to be feeling (and its mostly in my head) fat, unattractive, weepy, no one ever does anything nice for me and I'm so good the them etc etc etc. Its only in the last few years that I've started to experience PMS or maybe that is realise what it is and I'm desperate to find something to head it off at the pass. Exercise is a good option I know but when you're feeling lethargic and horrible its very hard to get your arse off the couch and out the door. I'm interested in what people have been saying about primrose oil and starflower. Do these actually work? and if so how long is it before you feel the effects? I don't really want to be waiting 6 months to feel better:( I heard someone say that Vitamin B also works on moods, has anyone else heard this?