Life hacking PMS

Itwasntme.

I have a few questions:

1. How long does your PMS last?
2. What is it like?
3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?

I ask because mine usually lasts about two weeks. One and a half weeks before my period, followed by four days into my period and then before I can breath, I am ovulating! Now, my period lasts an entire week so that means I am bogged down by some hormone related craziness for more than half the month!!

This month for example (and this is why I started this thread), I have had terrible nausea for the last week in addition to being severely bloated. I also have sugar cravings, headaches and general I-don't-feel-100%ness.

Any tips? I am sick of this.

Rosy Posy

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I have a few questions:

1. How long does your PMS last?
2. What is it like?
3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?

I ask because mine usually lasts about two weeks. One and a half weeks before my period, followed by four days into my period and then before I can breath, I am ovulating! Now, my period lasts an entire week so that means I am bogged down by some hormone related craziness for more than half the month!!

This month for example (and this is why I started this thread), I have had terrible nausea for the last week in addition to being severely bloated. I also have sugar cravings, headaches and general I-don't-feel-100%ness.

Any tips? I am sick of this.

I find that high doses of Omega 36&9 help level off any hormonal stuff around my period. Udos oil or similar. I notice it in my skin mostly, although I do have a lower tolerance for bs. The symptoms you're describing sound severe though. I had similar when I had an iud, which disappeared when I had it taken out. You should probably go see your gp.

Itwasntme.

Rosy Posy wrote: »

I find that high doses of Omega 36&9 help level off any hormonal stuff around my period. Udos oil or similar. I notice it in my skin mostly, although I do have a lower tolerance for bs. The symptoms you're describing sound severe though. I had similar when I had an iud, which disappeared when I had it taken out. You should probably go see your gp.

I am not on the pill or anything so that's out. While my symptoms are annoying, I would feel silly going to a GP for something that I imagine loads of women go through. I sort of feel like I am being a wuss.

welkin

Just get preggers.

Itwasntme.

welkin wrote: »

Just get preggers.

Huh? Why?

EDIT: So I can have nine months off? How would that even be an off? Forgive me if I am slow, I've been up all night.

welkin

Itwasntme. wrote: »

Huh? Why?

EDIT: So I can have nine months off? How would that even be an off? Forgive me if I am slow, I've been up all night.

lol I'm only kiding

starling

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I am not on the pill or anything so that's out. While my symptoms are annoying, I would feel silly going to a GP for something that I imagine loads of women go through. I sort of feel like I am being a wuss.

It's not silly at all. Half the month is being ruined for you trying to deal with the hormones messing you around. That's not fair and it doesn't have to be that way.
Is your GP female? How do you get on with him/her? I'm sure if you explain just how much this is affecting you, your GP will be sympathetic and take you seriously.
Have you tried keeping a sort of diary, tracking your moods and symptoms, and noting what you eat or what exercise you do? It sounds like a pain but it can be surprisingly helpful. Sometimes you can see a pattern emerging, and sometimes you notice certain foods or other things that make your symptoms worse.
My pms is nowhere near as bad as yours sounds, thankfully, so I usually find that evening primrose oil, omega supplements and a vitamin b complex help a lot, but that's not to say they work for everyone.

Precious flower

1. How long does your PMS last?
About a week maybe a bit longer!

2. What is it like?
While it really depends. If I take Nurofen (Panodol doesn't work) in advance before the cramps really come on I can deal with it (because if the pain has go too far Nurofen takes a hell of a lot longer to nip it in the bud.)

I still feel generally crappy but I can get through it. If I don't take it in time, the pain can be quite bad, I remember a good few occasions when I came very close to passing out from the pain and vomiting (if I tried to eat something).

Thankfully for me it only lasts for about the first two days and then I just have to put up with the tiredness and crappiness after that. It's not the end of the world but for the first few days it definitely feels like it!

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
HOTWATER BOTTLE! It's my saving grace or if I'm not at home heat pads, they're great! And of course taking painkillers in advance of the cramps since I know they usually only last the first two days.

Lasts about 4 hours when off the pill, about 4 days when on the pill.

It's an uncontrollable urge to cry and cry until I can cry no more. And a very quick temper too.

I can't give you any hints to be honest, I just wait it out!

--Kaiser--

Two studies I found after a quick Google:

Link between increased bodyfat and menstrual cycle length

Link between Omega 3/6 ratio and PMS

Ilyana 2.0

1. How long does your PMS last?
7-10 days usually, until the period actually starts, and the PMS starts to disappear. The period usually lasts for a week while I'm on the pill, so I spend more than half the month either in anticipation of, or on, my period.

2. What is it like?
Not fantastic really. I get horrendous bloating, weepiness, cramps, headaches, moodiness, sore boobs, sometimes nausea, generally feeling crap. I also get very clumsy; I can't touch anything without dropping/breaking it

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
Not really; I just keep plenty of painkillers and chocolate to hand! If my mood is low or I'm getting irrationally weepy about something, I try to remind myself that it's just the hormones and I'm not cracking up altogether

Evening Primrose Oil helps with the mood spikes though, and the sore boobs.
After that, I just try not to handle sharp objects :pac:

Itwasntme.

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Two studies I found after a quick Google:

Link between increased bodyfat and menstrual cycle length

Link between Omega 3/6 ratio and PMS

These are really interesting, thanks. I am within the normal weight range for my height but it could be possible that my uneven body fat distribution could have something to do with this. I didn't get my period until I was 16 though and I was a chubby kid. It was very irregular even then, more so than it is now - I would sometimes go months without getting a period, which kind of contradicts what this article is saying about menstrual cycle disruption being observed in anorexics and athletes.

The second article is spot on though because I have a B12 deficiency. Hm, I am going to be a lot more vigilant about taking my supplements now.

Das Kitty

1. How long does your PMS last?
About a day

2. What is it like?
I only really notice after I've cried about something that normally wouldn't bother me. So not bad.

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
I used to have it worse when I was overweight and I came off the pill. (The pill masked a lot of it). I took starflower oil for a while and then lost weight and it evened out my mood (and made my periods pretty much pain free). I also went to a therapist prior to this so it was useful in learning how to deal with emotions.

I used to find that I'd get in a bad mood spiral, as in be in a bit of a huff, feel crappy about that and it would get worse. It's good to break the cycle and give yourself a bit of TLC.

I also found that actual period pains reduced a lot when I started using a menstrual cup.

LadyMayBelle

1. How long does your PMS last?
7-10 days it seems:(

2. What is it like?Horrible. Tearful, pains in my tummy, so bloated I look pregnant (no really, my mpther asked), craving chocolate and rubbish foods. Headaches and tiredness, and usually think of ways to break up with my boyfriend. It's awful I also get restless which drives me nuts; it's like an itch I cant scratch

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
Hot water bottle. co codamol and chocolate. Bed.

kat.mac

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I am not on the pill or anything so that's out. While my symptoms are annoying, I would feel silly going to a GP for something that I imagine loads of women go through. I sort of feel like I am being a wuss.

Jesus, don't think like that, go to your GP and have a chat about it - you do NOT have to go through all that every month!! Good god Lemon, there is no GP in the country who would think you were a wuss for trying to address those symptoms, they sound fairly severe

alleystar

Itwasntme. wrote: »

Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?

Red raspberry leaf tea or capsules (I swear by them, may be just a placebo effect though), hot water bottle, evening primrose oil, menstrual cup (as another poster said).

Other than the the usual advice, eat healthily the week before your period starts: stay away from dairy (I think dairy can actually be one of the worse triggers for cramps), processed/ high fat, sugar and salt laden food, soft drinks and obviously choose the decaffeinated alternative for coffee/tea. IMO the difference is huge in terms of reduced bloating and cramps, you won't crave sugary foods as much when on your period either.

Sometimes consuming iron rich foods can help too: Meat, Offal (Liver is excellent) and then to a lesser extent dark leafy greens (spinach, kale), nuts, beans, pulses. To finish plenty of water, fruit, veg, wholegrain food etc.

If nothing improves your current symptoms, best off going to the doctor about it.

Malari

1. How long does your PMS last?
I don't get PMS.

2. What is it like?
No more than a little "I've done too many sit-ups" tweak in my stomach once or twice to let me know my period is approaching. And sometimes a bit of IBS :rolleyes: Other than that I forget I am even having my period.

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
No, never do anything except take the pill. My symptoms have always been very mild apart from when I was initially getting my period as a teen. Apart from additional contraception the main reason I take the pill is to regulate my periods so I know when to expect them.

There's no way you should be suffering like the way you describe every month, OP! At least talk to your GP if you don't want to be on regular medication and see if there's some other kind of treatment that might suit you. You can't live like that!

homemadecider

+ 1 to the diet advice above, I definitely get worse symptoms when I've allowed myself to eat junk.

This is what I do and it helps...
- Try to eat clean, unprocessed food as much as possible.
- Plenty of tea. Might be a comfort thing.
- Lots of water.
- Hot water bottle really helps the physical cramps.
- Some sort of lovely movie where lovely people come to terms with things or overcome something. The more cliched the better! I have a good cry and feel much better.
- Always have neurofen plus or paracetemol to hand, I often need them for the first 2 nights to get to sleep or else the pain will keep me awake.

Honey-ec

God, this thread has made me incredibly thankful I don't suffer from PMS. I haven't had a hormonal period in about 15 years, thank you Pill.

Before I went on the Pill, I never got PMS but I did suffer from the most horrific period pains. I used to find a hot water bottle underneath me while I lay on my stomach was the only thing that eased them.

Itwasntme.

I think I need to change my diet. I intermittent fast but I am a very picky eater and I live on tea, bread, cheese, yoghurt and oranges. I no longer get the kind of severe period pains I did as a teenager but I still get them only now they are not the drawn out kind that last hours. These ones come in short spasms that are much more bearable.

I can't really get the pill because I get really really depressed on it so that's a definite no no. I think I will cut out dairy and sugar, make an effort to eat clean and see if it makes a difference. This month is out though. The nausea and headaches I had last week are gone but as usual, I am waiting, waiting for a period that never gets here on time.

kat.mac

It sounds like diet might be a good place to start alright - but I would still very strongly urge you to visit your GP. There could be a very simple way to address these issues without drastic changes to your lifestyle and you could also talk to her/him about your issues with the Pill, which again might be easily resolved. OP, there is such a notion that women simply have to put up with the hand they're dealt hormone-wise and that's just not the case. You can take steps to take control of your cycle - there is a huge number of options, and your GP is the best person to go through them with you.

--Kaiser--

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I think I need to change my diet. I intermittent fast but I am a very picky eater and I live on tea, bread, cheese, yoghurt and oranges. I no longer get the kind of severe period pains I did as a teenager but I still get them only now they are not the drawn out kind that last hours. These ones come in short spasms that are much more bearable.

I can't really get the pill because I get really really depressed on it so that's a definite no no. I think I will cut out dairy and sugar, make an effort to eat clean and see if it makes a difference. This month is out though. The nausea and headaches I had last week are gone but as usual, I am waiting, waiting for a period that never gets here on time.

Umm...if you cut out dairy won't you be restricting your diet (from an already ludicrously restricted diet) to tea, bread and oranges?

_Whimsical_

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Umm...if you cut out dairy won't you be restricting your diet (from an already ludicrously restricted diet) to tea, bread and oranges?

There are dairy free alternatives to cheese and yogurt but you have to be careful of soya. For some people it can help balance sex hormones and for others it can be a nightmare. A few years ago I cut out dairy and started drinking soya milk in tea and eating soya yogurts etc and it was delicious but I suddenly got spots and awful AWFUL PMS.I had terrible mood swings which is very unlike me, in the week before my period some food smells that I'd previously have liked would make me so nauseous I would gag,there were lots of weird symptoms. It also messed with my thyroid gland. I came across a forum online where people were saying that eating soya has caused them terrible hormonal problems. I decided to cut it out and giving up soya alleviated a lot of hormonal related problems for me including PMS and saw my thyroid blood tests return to normal. If anyone reading this thread is taking soya consider giving it up for at least a month just in case it is contributing to any hormonal problems you have.

Id also say try take vitamin D too. We are mostly all deficient in it in Ireland as we get so little sun. A deficiency can cause imbalance in endocrine hormones. A lot of endocrinologists are giving injections of it to deficient patients. It's not going to harm you so it's worth a try.

Abracadabra99

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I think I need to change my diet. I intermittent fast but I am a very picky eater and I live on tea, bread, cheese, yoghurt and oranges. I no longer get the kind of severe period pains I did as a teenager but I still get them only now they are not the drawn out kind that last hours. These ones come in short spasms that are much more bearable.

I can't really get the pill because I get really really depressed on it so that's a definite no no. I think I will cut out dairy and sugar, make an effort to eat clean and see if it makes a difference. This month is out though. The nausea and headaches I had last week are gone but as usual, I am waiting, waiting for a period that never gets here on time.

I sympathise with your situation. I am a very picky eater too but if you are eating light and healthy I wouldn't think it would cause you too many problems. Actually I find exercize great for period cramps and even moods swings..just walking & fresh air can help.
Avoid stress if possible & maybe go see a doc. It's not a silly problem at all, its very common as far as I know.

Itwasntme.

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Umm...if you cut out dairy won't you be restricting your diet (from an already ludicrously restricted diet) to tea, bread and oranges?

I made it sound worse than it is, when I said 'live' I meant, these are my staples. I occasionally eat other stuff too but it's not as often. Meat for example I eat about once a week and I try to get in vegetables when I can but this almost never happens.

Anyway, I need to eat healthier generally and not just for the PMS. I also feel better about going to see my GP about this. I just always thought it was the hand women were dealt as the poster above said and that I had to live with it.

kat.mac

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I also feel better about going to see my GP about this. I just always thought it was the hand women were dealt as the poster above said and that I had to live with it.

Brilliant. I hope things get way better for you!

herisson

1. How long does your PMS last?
Im currently on Depo Provera so i dont get them. Mine used to be insanely horrible. I am severely aneamic so when i got my periods they would be extremely heavy for a week and then turn to a normal period (which would be light in comparison to my ones) for 5 days and the last 2 days just spotting and its gone.

2. What is it like?
see above

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
Hot water bottle and a bucket full of pain killers.

starling

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

There are dairy free alternatives to cheese and yogurt but you have to be careful of soya. For some people it can help balance sex hormones and for others it can be a nightmare. A few years ago I cut out dairy and started drinking soya milk in tea and eating soya yogurts etc and it was delicious but I suddenly got spots and awful AWFUL PMS.I had terrible mood swings which is very unlike me, in the week before my period some food smells that I'd previously have liked would make me so nauseous I would gag,there were lots of weird symptoms. It also messed with my thyroid gland. I came across a forum online where people were saying that eating soya has caused them terrible hormonal problems. I decided to cut it out and giving up soya alleviated a lot of hormonal related problems for me including PMS and saw my thyroid blood tests return to normal. If anyone reading this thread is taking soya consider giving it up for at least a month just in case it is contributing to any hormonal problems you have.

That's true, soya doesn't agree with everyone. I always found soya milk in particular played havoc with my stomach, even though I do like a bit of smoked tofu occasionally. I prefer to use rice milk, much easier to digest.

IvyTheTerrible

I haven't had PMS in ages because of the pill and pregnancy. I do remember though that my symptoms would be much much less annoying if I avoided fizzy drinks, crisps and salty stuff in the week before I was due.

FairytaleGirl

1. How long does your PMS last?
A full week before my period starts, till maybe two days into it.


2. What is it like?
By boobs increase by two cup sizes, and get very sore. I get VERY irritable and moody - sometimes I get while down in the dumps too. I am SO clumsy, and for some reason I cant go for a number 2 lol
I cant eat enough food and I need naps during the day. Sure fire sign mine is on its way is me napping. I get cramps on and off and get super bloated too.

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
Evening primrose oil (1000mg) and a multi vitamin everyday has worked WONDERS for my emotional state and moods. Cannot recommend it enough. Usually a hot water bottle and painkillers for the cramps.

Itwasntme.

I had never heard of primrose oil before this thread. Dr. Google has been keeping secrets from me. I've been trying to cut out dairy from my diet in time for my next period but --Kaiser-- was right - there's not much left to eat so I don't think I will sustain this .

Chain_reaction

1. How long does your PMS last?
About two weeks/three weeks they either don't show or come all together and it appears I have an underling issue so I would suggest you get checked out, they made my life a misery and I don't think we should suffer in silence any more.

2. What is it like?
It can depend on what type of "menustration" I'm going to have, if its what I deem my actual period and not some interim bleeding it starts about two weeks before. Light cramping begins, I've the patience of a T-Rex and everything annoys me. Week before, boobs increase very very slightly in size, become tender and I'll become weepy/depressed and full of self hatred. Then the pain starts, I feel like a claw is trying to pull my lower insides out and I constantly have this feeling of pushing or that I should push or strain. Pain shoots down my legs, up my spine, around my bottom. I begin to get dopey and light headed from low blood pressure as the flow is heavy, this is made worse by pain killers which make me off my face but only dull the pain. I'm usually confined to bed apart from going to work which is always an utter joy! . It feels better when I sit so work can be done but when I try to socialise after I have to make my excuses and go home. To add insult to injury the above is also combined with stomach issues, such as a lot of gas . These last for about four days and then the bleeding stops about two/three days later. The other "menustrations" are grand, but they are more than likely interm bleeding as they last a lot longer and can come within a week or two of one another, very little pms and mild cramping but with varying blood flows.

It was only recently that I decided to get the above checked, I thought I was only being a wuss but the interm bleeding should have been a warning for me sometime ago but as my periods were irregular I just thought that they were settling down and just varied from arrival to arrival. If its making your life ****, get it checked out. Theres no point sitting on the bed rolling around with emotion or pain thinking "My life would be much more improved if I had just been born with a pair of balls".


3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
I've tried omegas for a few months, raspberry and rosehip tea, evening primrose oil, B vitamins, feminiax, nurofen, giving up smoking, panadol, ponstan, cannabis, solpandine, massage, becoming a vegetarian etc all which had little affect for me. The only thing that works is something hot like those wheat bean bags you put in the microwave and something that will knock me out for the night whilst I'm being spooned. Try eat good food too, sometimes I find it hard to eat from the pain killers but lots of greenery along side the lashings of cake can't do any harm. I plan to go on the pill soon which I'm a little bit apprehensive about but if it improves my life it can only be a good thing.

TL;DR:- Get it checked if its making life stupidly hard.

Precious flower

Bought the primrose evening oil with starflower oil capsules in boots today to give them a try since everyone was strongly recommending them here. Was looking them up last night and a lot of websites said there was no scientific prove that they actually do anything but sure we'll see! I'd taken evening primrose oil before but not as consistently as I should have been so I'll try and stick to it this time as I know it'll take a bit of time before I see an improvement. If it's keeps me away from taking nurofen all the better.

My PMS was bearable until after I had a baby and stopped breastfeeding. It's horrendous now, at least a week of insomnia, night sweats, exhaustion and short temper.
I'm on month two of evening primrose oil, agnus castus, Vitamin B complex and magnesium so I'm hopeful these will help.
I've heard anecdotally it gets worse with age anyway, especially post natally.

Itwasntme.

Deleted User wrote: »

My PMS was bearable until after I had a baby and stopped breastfeeding. It's horrendous now, at least a week of insomnia, night sweats, exhaustion and short temper.
I'm on month two of evening primrose oil, agnus castus, Vitamin B complex and magnesium so I'm hopeful these will help.
I've heard anecdotally it gets worse with age anyway, especially post natally.

:eek::eek: This scared the crap out of me.

Precious flower

Hey is anyone here taking the evening primrose oil and starflower oil combo capsules? Reason being it says on the pack take one or two capsules everyday and I was thinking of just taking one everyday as I'm worried they'd go fairly fast. Should I really be taking two everyday for the maximum benefit or is it okay just to take one? Thanks!:pac:

anndub

1. How long does your PMS last?
About a week.

2. What is it like?
I'm quick tempered, over sensitive, leaky eyes and completely unreasonable. Sometimes it's not so bad other times I'm almost psychotic. No idea why.

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
Sex change?

cheesefiend

1. How long does your PMS last?

Only four or five days

2. What is it like?

Thankfully I just get a little bit tired. The night before my period starts I usually get a bad headache and get a bit emotional. Then the cramps and tender breasts are just bad for the first two or three days of my period and after that it's fine. Usually get a headache when I ovulate aswell.

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?

For the mood I take a Berocca.

For the cramps I get a hot water bottle and just try and close my eyes and relax into it. I try to calm myself down if they're very bad and just relax. It's hard but when I manage it the pain goes away a good bit.

j@utis

1. How long does your PMS last?
It used to last for over a week, probably 10 days or so... I was getting very bloated, looked and felt a size bigger. Just after my period started my belly would become nice and flat and then in two weeks time the "bump" would be back. Three months ago I changed my diet by cutting out all grains, legumes and most of dairy, except of butter and double cream for my morning coffee (paleo diet). My diet used to be good before that too - I didn't eat any junk like fast food, sweets and never drank the soft drinks, but anyway while on this diet which is high fat diet my PMS was significantly reduced. The last time I supposed to be PMSing my belly remained nice and flat until the day my period started. I weight myself every morning and the scales were "frozen" at the same number, I thought it was broken. No a smallest weight gain when it used to be minimum + 1.0-1.5kg due to water retention that I "lost" after my period started. I'm so trilled that now I can wear my favorites clothes any day I want and there's no need to hide the PMS bump. :P Thank you butter

2. What is it like?
I still feel a little bit down and depressed few days before my period starts but it's nothing major.

3. Do you have any life hacking tricks to get through it?
I get occasional cramps that make me feel like sitting down and even lying down but what makes me feel better is actually moving around. so I do light exercise like walking, cycling or jogging or just simply clean the house.

p.s. I don't trust the Pill. I believe that our hormonal systems are too fragile to be messed around. Researches say it helps this and prevents that but hey, medicine is a business with the primarily objective to make money. If pharma would actually start curing people they would go out of business which is not a good thing for the business (with some exceptions of course). The only supplement I take is fish oil because good quality oily fish is crazy expensive...

WittyKitty1

I'm 22 and since I first got my period at 13 PMS has ruined my life!!!

I literally have 2 full weeks of crying,anger,bloated stomach,enlarged breasts,worried, spots,greasy hair,Night sweats and sleepless nights, sugar cravings like crazy (And i don't even like chocolate!!!!) and just plain exhaustion!

My doctor only recently put me on the yasmin pill and an anti depressant which, together did ease it but i felt sick from the antidepressant and I don't have depression so I didn't want to take them anymore so i'm currently coming off the antidepressant so my PMS is back full steam.

It literally ruins half of my month and sometimes i honestly feel like i could be going crazy but then I get my period and i'm instantly back to normal me!

I find it really hard to deal with but i found that excerise seems to be a huge benefit ..Sorry i'm not much help to you, just thought i'd share my experience because it's nice to know you're not the only one :P

I've not tried evening primrose oil but I'd really give anything a go to feel good! It causes a lot of problems in my relationship too and I don't think men understand fully.

My new thing is, i'm trying to do as much excerise in the two 'good weeks' as I can in the hope that it will help me in the 2 bad weeks. But my doctor thinks thats nonsense as his direct quote was " after the pill and an antidepressant, theres not a doctor on the planet that can help a woman with PMS".. but i think that's bollocks!

Itwasntme.

I've cut out dairy; cut down on the amount of fruit I eat and consequently reduced my sugar intake and any grains from my diet completely. I am now eating white meat, vegetables, root tubers, beans and eggs (beurke!) I still haven't got around to getting the evening primrose oil because I would like to see what effect a change in diet will have on my PMS this month before I can add supplements. Thanks again for all the advice.

larrymickdick

Hey all

The week before I get mine I get sobby, emotional and cry at andrex ads. My boobs swell and I'm totally wrecked, need to sleep a lot, crave chocolate, knock back solpadine like it's water and have to have hot water bottle when it's really bad. But that's not all the time. Sometimes they're not too bad and I find when I exercise it actually makes me feel better. Apparently eating bananas are supposed to be good too but some people don't like to as they're high in sugar (personally I don't care if it works I'll do anything).

I first got mine when I was 11 and I used to faint and pass out all the time from the pain when I was in school. I used to nearly always have to be brought home. One time my parents thought it was my appendix and turned out to just be my period. I have been smoking a long time and for around a year or so when I stopped the pain etc wasn't that bad - but smoking again now (silly me) I was on the pill as well for it since I was 16 - came off that last October - which did help (only microlite). So people find that being on pill makes them more regular too - I have always been very regular with mine thankfully. Think I was more psycho on the pill than off it tbh.

Pain still isn't as severe as when I was younger but still there. Try get some regular exercise - walking is good. Cut down on processed food and try not drink coffee/tea although some people crave it. The only thing that makes me feel better when emotional is the chocolate (or chocolate ice cream) and loads of sleep.

Very annoying sometimes - other times is a great excuse for doing nothing haha
hope you find something that works for you

Abracadabra99

WittyKitty1 wrote: »

But my doctor thinks thats nonsense as his direct quote was " after the pill and an antidepressant, theres not a doctor on the planet that can help a woman with PMS".. but i think that's bollocks!

What a wierd thing for a doctor to say I think I'd get a second opinion!

WittyKitty1

Abracadabra99 wrote: »

What a wierd thing for a doctor to say I think I'd get a second opinion!

He really is full of crap as far as women's issue go..

His first idea on how to 'fix' my problem was to send me to a psychiatrist.. I was totally shocked by this and actually got a little snappy with him for suggesting it when it's clearly just bad PMS .. I suggested the pill to him! And he told me that in all his time as a doctor he never got someone in with this... Never once a female came to him with PMS wanting something for relief?

Precious flower

Got the auld PMS today! God, feel pretty bad now, didn't take any nurofen because I though I might not need it - Big mistake! :P Feel like I'm going to faint/get sick or both with the stomach pain and headache I have! Got a water bottle glued to my stomach anyway and I've taken nurofen. So long as I can stay sitting and do nothing I should be fine! :P

Ilyana 2.0

Ladies, the Sona brand of supplements is selling double packs of 1000mg Evening Primrose Oil capsules for 10.50e, a pretty good price IMO. I swear by the stuff, so I just thought it might help some of ye

Apologies to the mods if this kind of post isn't allowed.

WittyKitty1

This page might be useful for some
http://www.womentowomen.com/pms/herbal-treatments-for-pms.aspx

Itwasntme.

It's seven days till my period (on a regular calendar that is) and I am normally a mess right around this time. But I am not. I think (I think!!:eek:) I had hormone related lows for a couple of days this past week but it wasn't anything serious.

Of course this might be entirely premature but I am crediting my relative lack of crazy to the change in diet. I have been really really good. Green stuff and protein now make up the bulk of my diet while dairy, grains and the thousands of oranges I used to eat have been fazed out.

I am excited to see if my period gets here on time and whether it brings with it the usual craziness when it does.

starling

WittyKitty1 wrote: »

This page might be useful for some
http://www.womentowomen.com/pms/herbal-treatments-for-pms.aspx

Just saw this post. A few years ago I was having severe pms and pain, my pcos was not being treated and I felt like sh1t with no energy etc. I started getting really into nutrition and seeing a herbalist who made herbal preparations for me with many of the ingredients mentioned there.
I don't want to sound like I'm proselytising but between the herbs and the dietary changes I made, it was the first time since puberty that I felt so good, I literally didn't know myself.
Obviously I can't know how much of it was the herbs and how much was diet because i started both at the same time. And it wouldn't suit everyone. The dietary changes were very strict - I gave up wheat, meat, dairy, caffeine, sugar and basically if it had more than five ingredients I didn't buy it, plus I had given up alcohol some years before - and the herbalist was expensive (but on the plus side, she was able to "tweak"the formula to suit my personal condition and to make adjustments going forward as needed).
I was desperate when I tried this, which is why i was so motivated and was willing to make such drastic changes. But I considered it well worth the trouble and expense because I was absolutely blown away by the results.
Herbal medicine is as effective as much "Western" medicine, it's not going to cure cancer but it can treat many other conditions very well. Just keep in mind that "natural" does not equal "harmless." The wrong herbal medicine can give you unpleasant side effects just as much as te right one can help you. For example I couldn't understand why ginseng made me feel so much worse when everyone was recommending it to me. Turns out ginseng raises your testosterone levels, which is the opposite of what you need when you have pcos.

WittyKitty1

I was in the health shop the other day and I told the lady of my PMS symptoms.. she advised the following:

Chromium Picolinate: For food cravings.

L-Theanine: For the mood side of PMS.. She said it calms you down and prevents your mind from running away from it's self.. her words were, 'helps to make you more mindful'.

And L-Tryptophan.. It naturally boosts your seratonin.. unfortunatly not avail in ROL anymore (I'm not sure why) but can buy online, up north or in UK over the counter.

I've started on the L-THEANINE and i have felt an instant calmness.. (took it this morning as I was seriously emotional today) and I am going to start the Chromium ones next week to prevent the food cravings..

Hope this was of some help

starling

^^^In 1989 a large number of people in the US became very sick from taking L-trytophan. It caused eosophilia-myalgia syndrome (which I've probably misspelled) an incurable neurological disorder. About 30 people died and at least 1,500 were left permanently sick.
The FDA banned L-tryptophan in response and many European countries did the same.
Later it was discovered the L-tryptophan had all come from one manufacturer in Japan and was contaminated due to their less than stellar processing. So eventually the FDA relaxed its restrictions on L-tryptophan.
It's possible that the L-tryptophan itself could have cause the outbreak of EMS because it raises histamine levels in the blood and that can lead to EMS. No-one knows for sure if it was the contamination or the L-tryptophan itself, there hasn't been enough research.

Anyway that's part of the reason why you can't buy it here.
Hth:)