Periods and Rage.. a slow realisation

[Crosswind22]

Hello.
As I'm writing this, I'm on day two of my period and coming out of the fog I've been in for about two weeks.

I had my baby 21 months ago and when my cycle returned to normal I could say the hormones after birth/breastfeeding had settled and I can now see the pattern.

About under two weeks before my period arrives and just before it finishes I am irrational, angry, weepy, touchy, sleepy, craving, no patience, the sore boobs! I used to get emotional and crave chocolate the night before my period and can't remember ever knowing my period was on the way but the past year, its just crazy..

I have no patience for my LO and its the age for whinging and her attachment to me has heightened she is clingy which is a stage, I get it but I can't handle even being touched by her during this time.

My partner... I'm not saying that what I'm feeling isn't valid because it absolutely is, however, I deal with it so wrong. I get so angry, I break up and tell him I want him to leave and start planning a life on my own... He is great, understands my period is on the way and we all think its normal but this can't be normal.

As a women it can't be normal to only have two weeks a month where she can focus on work, home life and relationships/kids, be super organised and productive to have it all come crashing down the next two weeks. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and I'm afraid I'll be sent on my way with a pill and to see how it goes.. I want to avoid that and need to be geared up.

Anyone who suffers with PMT, can you help me with your experience? I understand its not one size fits all but I've been on the pill and can say it didn't help.. unless there is another brand.

Also, any suggestions on what natural remedies I can try alongside.

You have my every sympathy, you really do. I know EXACTLY what you mean - the last two weeks I've spent feeling so low and unlike myself its been awful. I'm moody, irritable, I read situations and people completely differently and I bottle everything up until it comes out in a rush of tears and emotional crap at DP. Who is an absolute angel. I hate it. I feel like someone else, and not a nice someone else. I'm stressed and sad, whereas I'm normally a really cheerful and bright person! I've just turned 40 and wondered if it's something to do with that. It might be worth having hormone levels checked?

Oh I'm on Rigevidon, which has actually been wonderful for me and minimal intrusion until the last few months!

You absolutely need to see your doctor as no, this level of hormone imbalance is not normal. I am not a GP but some of this also sounds like PND which possibly is impacted by hormones?

Do you get sleep - is the baby sleeping through or is it still very broken.

@GerbilsForever24 I did have alot of anxiety after birth where I done some therapy.. It helped some.

Baby is sleeping and I get good night-time sleep with the odd time she doesn't sleep easy but during this time I am exhausted and have a cat nap during the day

@OrlandointheWilderness This is me.. and DP is so good too but surely there is only so much he can take.. I feel like I've always said people can control what they say, there is no excuse but now that I'm in this position I'm like I actually can't control it unless I locked myself in a room for the week and spoke to nobody. I'm 31 now but know my Mam has rage around her cycle along with mental health so I'll bring this up with the docs..

I'm interested in this thread as I also have awful PMT. I am 46. This weekend has been bad. I yelled and screamed at my kids and I'm so ashamed. I get so FULL of rage and I know my period is due in the next few days. I feel so sad and anxious. All this happens about a week before my period so it's a full week of feeling awful. For the sake of my kids I have to do something. This morning I went to the GP and got an appointment for later today. I feel like I definitely need something now and this is so not normal.

PND can continue for years, with a variety of symptoms so I would definitely mention the post-birth anxiety and talking therapy as part of the discussion with your doctor.

Try primrose oil, not for moods but for the sore boobs. I started taking these pills and now don't get any pain monthly whereas I used to get huge pain. Good luck x

My DH is completely unsupportive and does not take PMT as an excuse for my behaviour. So we end up arguing a lot and it is so stressful, just makes everything worse.

I am exactly the same OP. I live for the 3 days around ovulation when I feel confident and horny! The rest of the time I’m either bleeding or angry. So great being a woman 🤷‍♀️

@DataColour Sorry to hear.. Have you been to the doctor? I can't speak from experience but I've research alot about peri-menopause as my mam and nanny had a really hard time and I wanted to be prepared.. I'm just hoping that I'm too young myself to be going through that.

I used to have all your symptoms and after 2 decades of horrendous pmt it finally stopped after I had DC. But I have a friend who is the opposite and it started for her after she had her baby.

I used to break up with my DH once a month too. I did start to learn that my feelings were not "real" and got better at talking myself down.

I found agnus castus helpful. It took a couple months to work and relieved the emotional symptoms quite a bit.

@FriedGold I feel like we should not be living for a few days in the month.. Have you been to the GP?

@Givemepickles I will give that a try, thank you! I would honestly try anything at this stage!

That is a realisation I'm only having now that actually, I'm not being fair.

Look into PMDD? In the US it is starting to be a recognized medical condition. Here is a link to a definition. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/menstruation/what-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd?psafe_param=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=11246708089&utm_content=111920231642&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_-DJ2IWchgMVdk__AR0ahgJ4EAAYAiAAEgK6TvD_BwE

Op hi- also day 2 of period but just the lady theee days I have been like an Antichrist!! I’m lucky, I only get like this a few times a year but my god the anxiety, and I’m so irrational and I can’t be happy over anything I achieve, I’m literally just looking to find another way to get happy. And I’m crying over everything then happy out then down again. Hate it! Dh is a bloody angel to deal with me at the mo😅

@pikkumyy77 I was wondering if my symptoms were as bad as PMDD and thought surely not but reading this.. its me! From the length of time to the symptoms, cravings! I still have them now.

Hopefully I'm taken seriously at the doctors here in the UK!

That's really interesting.

It mentions "people who menstruate" though, rather than "women"!

Oh who cares?

This sounds more like PMDD than 'simple' PMS.

How old are you? Did you struggle before having your baby? I only recognized d as I hit peri-meno age that I had probably suffered from PMDD or some form of reproductive cycle related depression/anxiety.

Oops, see others said it. Got distracted halfway through writing the post..

@ItsFuckingBoringFeedingEveryoneUntilYouDie I think so yes, I can definitely look back and see some months were worse than others but definitely more extreme since having a baby.

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and hoping I'm taken seriously! Thankfully I've been tracking my cycles for 6+ months because I get symptoms so early I suspect pregnancy as I had similar symptoms the month I found out.