To be fed up of feeling like a paranoid, raging bitch for a week every fucking month..

[OhGodNotAnotherUserName]

Every month, for a week (sometime more like 10 days) before I'm due on I am bad tempered, moody, paranoid, short tempered, can't sleep - generally a complete bitch.

I've tried eating healthily and my doctor has prescribed sertraline - both of which have helped but not eliminated it.

I'm just so fed up of PMT, I find it really makes life so fucking hard. When it's over, I can't even relate to how I felt when I was in the midst of it all.

Do you just ride through it or has anyone discovered something that helps?

[Spandexpants007]

Do you take evening promote oil and Angus cactus

[Spandexpants007]

Primrose

[queenofthemountains]

Mirena coil, made me sane again.

[Pricklefish]

Hi, I've had to manage severe pmt for years. Best help I found was 'Magnesium OK' supplements, violent exercise and cleaning.
Was on Sertraline for six months and felt much worse.

[BabyTheCaveLion]

I came off the pill - has worked wonders for me.

[HumphreyCobblers]

I have tried anti depressants but they didn't really work. If I low carb and do a lot of exercise then the effects are seriously minimised, but I cannot low carb right now as I have gall bladder issues and the high fat is out

sorry not to be more help. I have tried eve primrose and agnus whatsit. I hate it all, especially the way in which i get really paranoid and start to believe that everyone hates me.

One minor thing that really annoys me is that I can't moderate my eating in the week before my period. Why IS this?! It buggers up my weight loss targets.

[Fluzzieinajacuzzi]

sympathy
I found eating an "alkaline diet" helped. Google it, it's basically lots of greenery. Hopefully other people will have other suggestions.

[Fluzzieinajacuzzi]

Lots of greenery and low carb.

[Ratbagcatbag]

What spandex said. It made a huge difference to me. Dh recognised the changes too. (Although as I wasn't threatening to put him under the patio it might have been obvious)

[Aspergallus]

Low carb

High dose vit b6

Guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists:
www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gt48managementpremensturalsyndrome.pdf

[Misswrite89]

Having a baby helped me. Now I don't get any pre menstrual symptoms at all and my periods are much more comfortable!

[Bert2e]

I tried all sorts but what has worked for me has been high dose calcium (1200mg) and vitamin D. Cheap and easy too. Have a Google and read up on it.

[Derbyday]

I've found women's multi vitamins quite useful (containing evening primrose oil and starflower).

[SimonLeBonOnAndOn]

I thought it was just me that got paranoid, took me a while to link it to my PMT.
I convince myself that I have no friends, everyone hates me etc; scary isn't it?

I don't have a answer I'm afraid.

[bananafish81]

I made sure I didn't have periods. Couldn't be arsed having a monthly bleed and feeling grotty. So used to just run on my packs of pills without a break for about three months or so at a time (GP said absolutely fine to do this - some said have a bleed every 3 months, others said didn't need to have one at all)

My friend with the depo shot hasn't had a period in years

TTC now and I can't believe women do this every single month. If we ever become parents and decide we need contraception, I'd probably opt for a Mirena if I'm not allowed back on the pill). Unlikely as unless we strike it lucky with our next IVF cycle and have a fridge full of embryos for a sibling, I can't imagine we'll ever stop 'trying'. The idea that I'll have to have periods every month for the long term horrifies me. Mine aren't heavy or painful and my PMT isn't that bad, so can't imagine how ladies like you cope. It's just so tiresome - no way I'd be having periods now if I didn't have to be off birth control

[Scooterloo]

I am the same. I take 3 of these a day.

otherwise I'm not human

I feel your pain.

[Happyat40]

Mirena coil all the way .

It will see me all the way through the menopause now and it's just the kindest thing Iv done for myself for years .

[HumphreyCobblers]

I have thought about a coil but a) I have a massive phobia of internals and there is no way I could tolerate this except for under a GA and b) you can't tell if it is going to make things better or you will just bleed/be miserable for six months until they take it out again

I wish I could just have one put in normally, it would be worth trying then

[specialsubject]

go on the pill - you may need to try several different ones. Or change the one you are using?

[bananafish81]

You can run on packets of pills so you don't have to have a break week. If you back to back the packets you don't have to have a bleed

[booklooker]

Can I applaud you for acknowledging this is an issue for you and most probably those around you. I really hope I am not being patronising.

There do seem some posters on here who assume the rest of the world should adjust according to their body chemistry.

The fact that you are aware of the issue probably means you are not nearly as 'bad' as you think you are.

I hope the info here proves useful

[AntiHop]

Very useful info here, thanks. Mine has got so much worse since having a baby.

[HumphreyCobblers]

I have always (possibly stupidly!) avoided hormonal contraception due to fears about making it worse and the fact that anecdotally it makes you fatter! I know that they have disproved that it makes you fat, but lots of women say it does....I wonder if they have not considered the fact that it makes you hungrier?

[pointythings]

Supplements with magnesium and selenium have really helped me.

[bananafish81]

I always got on fine on the pill, with the exception of microgynon which made me very moody (the nurse at the women's clinic said it was sometimes referred to as 'the crazy bitch pill'!)

I have been on various other pills over the years and never noticed any change in weight or appetite. Just absolutely scheduled periods, and most of the time I avoided them altogether by just running a packet on. Never had a period at an inconvenient time.