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Original poster

Raging PMT I feel utterly crap :( what will help?

77 replies

HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 14:36

I’ve literally just gone and bought evening primrose capsules as my friend said they helped her but short of taking all 60 at once Confused I need a fast fix.

My boobs are swollen and they HURT SO MUCH.

I am irritable and bloated and bloated and irritable. I hate everyone that moves. Or talks.

I am knackered and sleepy.

My diet is good, I exercise a bit, walk a lot. Why oh why oh why do I feel so rubbish from days 23-27?????

I’m 43. Does it just get worse?

I lost my temper with DH yday and in fairness He’d Done nothing wrong.

My mum was foul with PMT all during her 40s and by god I don’t want to turn into her.

What can i do? Quick fix and long term???

Please help!!

OP posts:
Rewilderness · 09/12/2019 14:54

I so wish I could recommend something that helps. In my case the menopause was a blessed relief as along with my periods, the debilitating PMT stopped. The only thing that helped was very early nights, eating regularly and trying not to give in to cravings for crap (easier said than done). I tried starflower oil, evening primrose, magnesium, Vit B, vitamins, progesterone tablets from GP. Nothing made any difference. I think bad PMT is overlooked and people just don’t realise how utterly vile it can be. I used to feel like I was going down with flu, felt freezing cold, ravenous, foggy headed, achy , depressed, angry, had the runs, complete exhaustion, headaches, weakness. Have you seen a specialist? I wonder if someone who specialises in this aspect of gynaecology could offer anything?

Original poster
HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 15:16

Thanks rewilderness but sorry to hear you suffered too.

I recognise so many of the things on your list. I feel total rage for about 3 days at a time, I’m SO tired, I ache, I feel actually ill like you say as if I’m going down with flu. My boobs are so painful I can’t do my usual sanity-saving exercise class.

Maybe I will pop to GP. I have a lovely GP. I think she might understand. I realise too that the number of days I feel dire get longer all the time. I used to just be irritable etc for about 2 days. Sometimes nowadays I have over a week of it. My period isn’t due until Friday and my boobs have been like painful rocks since Saturday morning.

Thanks so much for advice

OP posts:
Rewilderness · 09/12/2019 15:32

I think it’s well worth seeing your GP as there might be new treatments that weren’t around when I was suffering. I did find that during the perimenopause years my PMT got worse. I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time with it. It’s physically and mentally debilitating. I really hope your GP can help.

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Women's health
Original poster
HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 17:08

Thanks so
Much. I hadn’t considered it might be anything a GP could help with but I’m
SO fed up now I don’t think it could hurt to ask

OP posts:
Rewilderness · 09/12/2019 17:19

You owe it to yourself to see if there is anything that might help or if there’s a specialist you could see who could help if the GP can’t. I really feel for you. Unless you’ve got/had really severe PMT I don’t think it’s possible to imagine just how utterly vile it is. It’s SO much more than feeling a bit ratty or down or having a bit of boob/stomach discomfort.

usethedata · 09/12/2019 17:37

I have been prescribed SSRIs as they have been shown to help pmt. It changed my life. And my relationships. From nearly leaving my family for a few days once a month, to my husband no longer being able to tell where I am in my cycle.

willowmelangell · 09/12/2019 17:42

Ah the painful boobs! You have my sympathy.

Sadly I have no fixes for you. I distinctly remember my late mum saying to me decades ago, I "...would sail through menopause because she did." Meant nothing to me then, but by golly she was right. When you think of your own DM at that age, what do you remember? Forewarned and all that.
See your GP. My pmt emotion was more tears, the glass is half empty, I'm going to hand my notice in, what is the point? etc etc All the other days of the month, happy, silver lining and positive. For the life of me I can't remember what I was prescribed. But there is something for you from your GP.

Original poster
HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 17:44

Oh wow usethedata I hadn’t thought of SSRIs. I took them 20 years ago for depression.

I worry now that they might take away my ‘edge’ as I have to be creative for my job. I have a vague memory of feeling quite flat when I took them but maybe that was my depression. I’m certainly not depressed. Low but the irritation/anger each month is causing problems for my family

OP posts:
Original poster
HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 17:44

Not depressed NOW is what I meant!!!

OP posts:
MaidofKent78 · 09/12/2019 17:48

I hear you. I've tried supplements, progesterone-only pill and SSRIs, none of which have helped. My marriage has been damaged and at times the relationship I have with my son. My work suffers, I can't sleep and I lose motivation to do anything. And the sore boobs!!!

My GP has been useless. So we have just got to suck it up. My husband now knows where I am in my cycle and to give me a wide berth for tbose days. I have to plan my work as much as I can to get loads done in my productive weeks and let it slide a bit in the week when I struggle.

I'm only 41 so have potentially got years of this.....

user1471449295 · 09/12/2019 17:57

I also suffer horrifically with pmt (right now) and I just cried reading this. I seem to suffer pmt 1-2 weeks before period these days and I swear my life is just rage/despair/sadness/sore boobs, then period pain, (endometriosis so can have particularly bad flare ups as well) and then just 3-4 max days feeling ‘normal’. I can’t take it.
I’ve made some strange life choices during pmt too. It’s like I can’t even function normally

Original poster
HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 18:08

Exactly user that’s hoe I sometimes feel. It can be 10 days of PMT per month, 3-4 days of period anD/or period pains and then if I’m lucky 2 weeks of normality. Then it all starts again. That’s half the time!!!

Honestly right now my boobs are rigid and even fast walking hurts them 😔

The rage/exhaustion is more of a problem though

OP posts:
user1471449295 · 09/12/2019 18:13

It’s a really miserable existence Sad

Original poster
HepburnKNotA · 09/12/2019 18:49

I know Sad
I think maybe it might be relevant info for the GP that my mum suffered so badly in her 40s (it just got worse and worse)
I don’t want to inflict my hormones on my family the way she did on us!!!

OP posts:
Rewilderness · 09/12/2019 19:05

Hepburn definitely worth telling the GP about how your mum was with it and that hers got steadily worse in her 40s.

ravensoaponarope · 09/12/2019 19:10

for now, eating small amount of carbs every two hours
Mine wrecked my life every month until I had my womb and ovaries removed. Changed my life Hugs to all suffering, I deeply empathise.

WishThisWasGin · 09/12/2019 19:11

I wish I could go back and hug my mum! I She went through the menopause in her early 40s and was dealing with empty nest syndrome, all 3 of us left home, she'd been mostly a Sahm, occasionally working pt. I wasnt as sympathetic as I could have been, I just didnt get it!

I had a bit of PMT previously but it wasnt debilitating. I hit 42 and BAM!

Now I understand my mum as Im a hormonal wreck! I feel like I have flu and can hardly function, Im peri-menopausal, and I have a young family as I was an older Mum. (37 for my first then twins at 40)

Yesterday I burst into tears over a soppy song I dont even like! DH ordered me downstairs after I started screeching like a banshee because the kids wouldnt brush their teeth! I felt like the world was ending.

Then today Im bloody knackered and struggling in work.

TheNestedIf · 09/12/2019 19:17

My experience is much the same as Rewilderness' and I can totally identify with the RAGE.

I didn't want to take anti-depressants long-term as I wasn't actually depressed. I saw a very sympathetic GP who kindly prescribed a repeat prescription for diazepam just for the couple of days where the PMT was worst. Doctors are often reluctant to do this because of its addictive nature but some will and it absolutely does help.

Can't help with the boobs, though. I'll be watching this thread with interest as I have the same problem for different reasons. If I could employ a couple of lackeys to carry them round for me, I would. Ow.

SoleBizzz · 09/12/2019 19:19

BIOGLAN MULITIVIT GUMMIES FOR WOMEN

Amazing!

naichick · 09/12/2019 19:22

I’m not peri menopause but I have dreadful pmt, I take agnus castus which really helps me, especially with the painful boobs urghh, I feel for you it’s awful!

naichick · 09/12/2019 19:24

Also I believe if you take SSRI for pmt you only take them at specific times at a lower dose so its not the same as when you take them for depression, I can’t remember the dosage exactly but the gp did offer me this but encouraged me to take agnus castus first!

RandomMess · 09/12/2019 19:32

I take magnesium, Vit B6 and taurine as well as evening primrose and it's generally improved.

Currently on day 7 of agonising boobs but not raged yet...

I'm late 40s so perhaps this is crescendo before it fucks off?? Not had sore boobs in about 6 months 😭

TrickyKid · 09/12/2019 19:35

fluoxetine was a life saver for me.

aggitatedstate · 09/12/2019 19:59

God this is me too. I take Vit B, Evening Primrose Oil, Magnesium and now I've added St Johns Wort to the mix.

I get such RAGE it's disturbing.

eurochick · 09/12/2019 20:33

I find Well Woman Plus helpful. It has to be Plus so you get the second oils tablet as well as the vitamins. I notice the difference when I don't take it. It's not a short term fix though but could help for next month.