Monthly terrors

LegacyUser

Ill keep it brief! For the past year I´ve been suffering with terrible mood swings brought on by PMT, normally I´m a sunny happy person, but for five days of the month I turn into the bitch from hell... It´sreally starting to get me down, I´m irrational, I have massive mood swings and I´m am touchy over minor things... I put my boyfriend through hell, wel not hell but I take the head off him for nothing, snap at him, bitch at him and so forth, it´s not fair, and I spend the following week apologising until I´m blue in the face, to be honest I think this nearly pisses him off more. .. I feel like every month I´m pushing him further and further away, and would hate this to tear us apart.. I tried various different type of pill, which turned me into an emotiona basket case, so I´m at a bit of a loss, does anybody out there know of anything at all thatl would help, I´ll try anything and everything as this is really starting to get me down..

Faith

Interestingly, studies have shown that during bad PMS, levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain are the same as they are in people with serious depression. So you can be sure it's not really your fault, per se. I guess you could keep trying different types of pills until you find one that suits you. Perhaps you could try the Implant?

Otherwise, you could try some herbal or natural treatments for depression and see if they help. Also go to your doctor and discuss it with him/her.

LegacyUser

Hi, Thanks for replying.. The pill or any that I've tried, and I've tried a few, just doesn't agree with me, I have symptoms with each one, it's head wrecking.. I think maybe natural remedies are the way forward but I'm not sure which ones as different sources give different information, I know at this stage it's probably a case of trial and error, I'm just wondering has anyone else been here and what worked for them. I don't feel like I'm depressed and even at that time it's more a complete and utter lack of control rather than a depression.

LegacyUser

I know how you feel, I used to get seriously depressed for around five days each month too. Not angry, just incredibly down. I was paranoid, constantly crying... the only way I can describe it really is that I just felt totally wild and crazy, and so terribly sad. I had insomnia, hot flushes, the works.

I don't know if you're tried any natural remedies? I took evening primrose oil and it helped for a while but not enough, and the same with vitamin B6. Then last Febrauary I read a book called "Natural Solutions to PMS: How to get rid of your premenstrual symptoms forever" by Dr. Marilyn Glenville. It's available on amazon. She goes through all the different symptoms and forms of PMS, and recommends dietary changes and natural remedies to help. I started taking a cocktail of different things straght away, I know the list looks excessive but it has changed my life completely. I am a different person and it's absolutely worth it. Once a day I take:

Evening Primrose Oil
Vitamin B6
Magnesium
Omega 3,6,9
Agnus Castus
Black Cohosh
1 Multivitamin

I wouldn't recommend that you start taking all of these things because they're to suit my particular symptoms and you also need to make sure you're taking the right amounts of everything, but you should definitiely read the book, I found it so helpful. Also, Agnes Castus shouldn't be taken with the pill and I'm not sure but it's possible that Black Cohosh interferes with it too. So if you do decide to start taking things you should talk to your doctor first. Hope that helps!

LegacyUser

Unregistered wrote: »

Hi, Thanks for replying.. The pill or any that I've tried, and I've tried a few, just doesn't agree with me, I have symptoms with each one, it's head wrecking..

Have you stuck with the same pill for a considerable length of time? It takes the body a while to get used to suddenly have all these hormones floating around...adverse reactions are quite normal for the first few months. Ultimately though it may regulate your cycle and reduce your PMT/PMS symptoms.

Nyree

Pills aren't always the answer you know. I know you have to take the pill to stop yourself getting pregnant but maybe you should just take a break from the pill for a while and use another form of contraceptive. The pill itself can cause a plethora of symptoms and problems in some people and has side effects in everyone even if unnoticed.

The other thing is, how long have you been noticing these mood swings ? Perhaps your life got very stressful around the time it started ? Maybe you need to take a step back and take stock of your life, change your job, lose some bad friends, go on a holiday - whatever. This could be your body's way of saying "Help !" Our bodies do best on routine, change things and it can have an effect. It's unlikely you would suddenly develop bad PMT if you never really suffered from it before. I could be wrong, but I bet you there's something else going on there.

LegacyUser

The other thing is, how long have you been noticing these mood swings ? Perhaps your life got very stressful around the time it started ? Maybe you need to take a step back and take stock of your life, change your job, lose some bad friends, go on a holiday - whatever. This could be your body's way of saying "Help !" Our bodies do best on routine, change things and it can have an effect. It's unlikely you would suddenly develop bad PMT if you never really suffered from it before. I could be wrong, but I bet you there's something else going on there.[/QUOTE]

Hi.. re the above, my life is really good at the moment, the last two years have been great for me, I love my job, I've met the man of my dreams and I'm all round in a good place.. I've suffered from mild PMT randomly over the years, I'd get a bit weepy and a little irritable, but for the past year it's been hell, horrible, not even the weepy stuff which I still get but can handle that.. I'm used to it, it's the complete lack of self control when it comes to my emotions, the bitter tirades I fling left right and centre, the fog that seems to settle over me for those few days, the making a big fat mountain out of the tiniest of molehills, I'm completely and utterly irrational and it not me. Followed by the inevitable guilt at the fact that I've treated everyone close to me like scum for the past few days. It's not normal and you're right it's bizzare that it's only a relatively recent development.
I've been to the doctor, been perscribed the pill, and have tried a few but eventually was taken off it because I had a suspected blood clot, which turned out to be nothing but makes me weary of trying it again, it didn't really work anyway. I think natural remedies are probably worth a go and will definately get the book that Unreg85 mentioned, thanks for that! Would be great to sort this once and for all as it's starting to take over my life between the dreading that time of month and then apologising for it afterwards! God half my month is gone this way....

Nyree

Well I don't really know anything about PMT because I've never had it. Hopefully it will pass. I do sometimes get hot flushes in bed just before my period, I suddenly feel all the blood rushing to my face - is that normal ?

Madame Razz

Perhaps you should consider a more localised form of contraception like Nuvaring or a more long lasting option like the Mirena??

They may be easier for you to take and have less hormone in them as they are not administered orally, yet they are just as effective as the oral contraceptive.

cufroige

Unreg85 wrote: »

I know how you feel

I read a book called "Natural Solutions to PMS: How to get rid of your premenstrual symptoms forever" by Dr. Marilyn Glenville.

I was just about to sympathize with you OP.. I've just come through period from hell..The last week has been an emotional ****wreck. Then I saw Unreg85's post & I am going to get that book asap!

This last period had me so lethargic every single thing I did seemed like such a struggle! I can handle the weepiness, the cramps and maybe even the very uncomfortable lower back stiffness; but the emotional instability & the awful awful AWFUL lethargy I NEVER want to see again, I feel like I've just come back from some war camp somewhere

I went to health store they recomended eve prim supplements & a Bcomplex..

Thanks for the thread, coz I never thought of posting for that issue & now I maybe will find something that helps like unreg85 did..

Carrigart Exile

Evening Primrose Oil capsules used to be recommended as a herbal help to take the edge off.

LegacyUser

I never had PMT until I turned 30, now it's hellish. I definitely think it's an age thing.
I used to be on the Pill but stopped that when I was 26.
Synthetic hormones aren't the answer to all women's problems, despite what many doctors think. They'll prescribe it willy nilly and not explain the side effects of the drug itself.

Anyway, I have found that as well as Vitamin B complex, cutting out salt and caffeine helps. Eating small regular meals for the week before my period and just taking it easy is also good. I don't beat myself up over not getting to the gym or going to the pub, I just go to bed early and try not to get stressed over things.

Once you're aware that you are getting angry or stressed, you can mentally tell yourself to breathe deeply and calm down.

trixy

Hi

Myself and all my friends take Kalms, you can get them in any chemist and they are herbal. They really work but the problem is you have to be aware of when it actually starts.

The kalms don't make you happy they just stop you from being snappy and taking the edge of everything

Give them a go

Sam Vimes

maybe look at the implant. Lasts 3 years, you don't have to remember to take it every day and you don't get periods. It might not be suitable for you if the pill doesn't agree with you but a doctor could tell you more

MsFifers

What is your diet like? I find if I'm eating a lot of refined, sugary and processed foods, my symptoms are horrendous.

The answer I found was so simple I feel stupid recommending it - porridge.:D A nice big bowl of porridge every morning 2 weeks before I'm due has helped not only with PMT, but with horrible periods also. I also need to eat tons of fruit and veg.

Also - exercise. Just a walk can make an amazing difference.

Its not as simple as popping a few pills. But I swear - the difference for me was unbelieveable.

cufroige

MsFifers wrote: »

What is your diet like? I find if I'm eating a lot of refined, sugary and processed foods, my symptoms are horrendous.

The answer I found was so simple I feel stupid recommending it - porridge.:D A nice big bowl of porridge every morning 2 weeks before I'm due has helped not only with PMT, but with horrible periods also. I also need to eat tons of fruit and veg.

Also - exercise. Just a walk can make an amazing difference.

Its not as simple as popping a few pills. But I swear - the difference for me was unbelieveable.

This is very true, Nobody should expect anything more than awful period while on bad diet..in general, bad diet / refined foods make everyday feel like a period for me!

Saying that though I eat porridge every morning, have a good diet, lots of veg & I walk every day..Still I had to drag myself through the last period.. So I obviously need an extra kick..Rest of the month I'm high on life!:D

LegacyUser

Hi everyone, thanks so much for all your feedback, much appreciated and helpful, I've a very healthy diet don't have a sweet tooth and generally watch what I eat, I excercise regularly so it's nothing to do with that unfortunately!! I'll get going with some of the posted suggestions and hopefully that will improve things... Thanks again

LegacyUser

Get some vitamin B6 its great i was exactally the same but take these daily on the advise of my doc & am so much better!