To ask for PMT/PMS

[snaplockslags]

My symptoms range from
-mild paranoia
-depression
-raging fury
-emotional out bursts
-uterus, back and breast pain
-irritability
-major fatigue
-demanding sex! (whilst in the midst of an argument because Im so cranky)
-lack of focus/ nothing gets done in my life on the week leading up to it
-nausea
-Very hungry

So if any of you have had experience of this and had some success at getting rid of it I would be most grateful

Women who claim not to have any PMT symptoms need not apply

I am not sure if there is a link, but I found that when I was on a low carb, high protein diet for 8 months, my symptoms almost vanished.

Poor you. My symptoms have been a great deal worse since having children, although I suppose I am lucky in that I don't get any physical symptoms or pain; just hideous mood disturbance/anger/feeling of helplessness.

I have had some improvement from taking EPO, B-vits and magnesium but I expect you ave already thought of that. If it is very severe and having a profound effect on you and your family, GPs sometimes prescribe a mild dose of SSRIs to help. Have you seen your GP about it?

Hope you find something to help.

squeaky's post reminded me that I have also read that getting lots of calcium helps.

Oh thanks squeaky, I will try that

I become like a black cloud, I dont want to see anyone, in my younger years I would nearly lose my job end my relation ship when it got really bad
Now I keep my mouth shut and just have to have a very painful state of mind all week and not respond to any of my feelings- it's hellish.

Thanks water, I will try B vits too, what are ssri's?

I feel your pain I really do I suffer everything you just described and more.

Right now Yasmin contraceptives seems to have improved my symptoms but it has taken over a year and a worse before it gets better for my body to adjust to it and I still have bad months.

My GP was useless and only offered me contraceptives or anti depressants.

I would suggest lots of exercise, a healthy diet eating little and often and plenty of sleep.

Have you been checked for PCOS, fibroids etc? What are your iron levels like?

SSRIs = a type of anti-depressant. Apparently they can be prescribed for very severe symptoms, I think it's called PMDD (pre menstrual Dysphoric disorder). A friend of mine has it and can get quite aggressive and violent :(

Well worth trying diet and lifestyle changes first though of course, I think SSRIs would be a last resort.

I have found that Floresse (starflower oil, from Boots) really helps, as does agnus castus (again from Boots, they call it PMS Relief) plus magnesium has helped.

Have you tried talking to your GP about it? Getting your hormone levels checked would be a good first step. When I was younger, I was on a progesterone heavy pill for a very short while - I had to come off it as I was in a total rage and also suffered a day a month of extreme paranoia. It was hideous!

Another poster has said above that their GP was useless, only suggesting the pill or anti-depressants. Well, if it stops you alienating your friends, losing your job and murdering your dh then I see absolutely nothing wrong in it!! I know pumping your body with chemicals is not ideal but on balance, I would totally go for it for sheer quality of life for you and those you love.

Good luck. I hope you find something that works for you.

Hi.

I take EPO, Vit B & Magnesium tablets. I suffer quite badly - how my poor DH hasn't walked out I'll never know!

I also have changed a few things in my diet and so far seems to be helping.

Thank you, I have just bought some fresh healthy food and some b vitamins, Im just about to go for a bike ride I hope this will help.
Thank you all

I tried evening primrose, ht5cp, st johns wort, vitamin b and all sorts. The only thing that worked was going on the pill (Yasmin)
I completely understand. My pmt was making me so unhappy and I didn't like myself.

Progesterone only pill is the worst thing if you suffer as progesterone is hat causes pmt.

Thanks, I have tried Yasmin, it made me very depressed.

Well pixie, imo many gp's dish out the anti depressants far too frequently.

I've seen close family members lives ruined by addictive anti depressants, they can have horrible side effects even worse than pms and imo are not a solution for something that usually only effects you for 50% of the time at most. I think they should only be a last resort if all other avenues have been exhausted. The pill is a better option but can very often make symtoms worse before they get better or just worse full stop.

There are plenty of things we can do ourselves, lifestyles and diet changes that can help a lot more. Good steps to take could be seeing a nutritionist, testing for allergies etc, cognitive behaviour therapy, but of course these are all not cheap options, far easier to pack someone off with a bag of pills.