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Original poster

Tell me about your mood before your period arrives

128 replies

PaddleBoardingMomma · 02/03/2022 17:23

I'm mid 30s and thought the pms weep/irritated cycle were something I left behind in my teens but bloody hell, seems to be ramping up again as I get older!

I snap at everyone, I feel miserable and bloated, and what's with the bizarre dreams/nightmares? The of course AF arrives and I'm hit with horrid cramps for a day or two then it's like a light switch has been flipped and I'm back to normal.

What about you lot, what's it like for you? Any advice for taking the edge off that doesn't involve meds?

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 02/03/2022 20:31

Horrible to be around. My DD has just started periods and our PMT is matching up. Bad combo

Fairislefandango · 02/03/2022 20:39

Anxious, jittery, clumsy, slightly irritable. The day before or for two days before it arrives I am too hot at night,have itchy skin and get insomnia (this has only happened in the last few years - I'm 50 and probably in peri).

NeverChange · 02/03/2022 20:40

Check out PMDD, a more severe version of PMS.

I have just about every gynaecological condition going and my hormones fluctuate significantly as a result.

My PMS got so extremely in my 20s that it was frightening. Everything upset me, I was raging, and about 5 days just before my period, I would turn into someone I really didn't like and seemed like an alien to me. Everything would feel horrible, I hated everyone thought everyone hated me, it was one big pity party. It wasn't quite suicidal but it was a nothingness like everything was bad. I was horrible to be around and used to dump my boyfriend at the time every single month. I also couldn't park and brain didn't function at the same speed. It was so bad everyone know I was on my period, friends, family etc. could all tell. It was like a switch flicked and it damaged so many relationships. I'm not proud of it & how long it took me to get proper help with it.

Tried several things over the years and most didn't work but to say 3 things changed my life is an understatement.

The right contraceptive pill, B6 & starflower oil taken ever single day not just in the run up to it. I still get symptoms but they are just the old teary session and irritability.

Sharing because I know how awful it can be and in case what worked for me works for others.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 02/03/2022 20:45

Tired, sore joints, irritable and general low mood - not necessarily upset but I cry easily and don't have much motivation for anything.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 02/03/2022 20:48

Recently I have the added bonus of never knowing when its coming. Could it be PMT? How long will it last? Who knows! I was really antsy today and realised I was sweating at my desk.

I console myself with a. no one died b. its now over for another month.

I also have allowed myself to eat whatever I want when I have PMT and first couple of days of my period. I think more calories are needed when you are due on.

Wowcherarestalkingme · 02/03/2022 20:49

Forgot about the night sweats and insomnia. Which is not ideal as I lie there pissed off I can’t sleep and then run through in extreme detail all the things that have annoyed me that day. Doesn’t help you fall asleep

Flexitarian · 02/03/2022 20:49

Starving. Knackered. Night sweats. Lucid dreams. And everyone can just fuck off please.

lljkk · 02/03/2022 20:55

In recent yrs, my insomnia gets a lot worse -- absolutely nothing else premenstrual happens.

I had regular bad (emotional basketcase) PMS about 40 years ago.

NumberTheory · 02/03/2022 21:03

Until recently (in my 50s) my mood was exactly the same before, during and after. I had a couple of years in my 30s of having one or two days that knocked me out physically, but they didn’t affect my mood.

But as I became peri-menopausal I found I got more irritable (or, as PP said - other people became much more annoying!) for a few days. Once I realised what was happening I adjusted, was a bit kinder to myself when it happened and managed to mitigate most of the impact.

Cactuslove · 02/03/2022 21:11

A couple of days before I feel the lowest you could feel. Like I wouldn't trust myself to walk across a bridge (I might be exqggerating but honestly it's awful). I can only see through it when I realise 'oh I'm due my period'. Those few days are scary.its only since my second baby that I've felt that. Weird as I'm fine the rest of the time.

GayParis · 02/03/2022 21:13

In my 30s and I swing between being angry at stupid things and getting really tearful and clingy with my husband.

He can always tell when my period is looming as I'm always asking for cuddles and asking if he still loves me Grin

Draineddraineddrained · 02/03/2022 21:17

I spent my teens and twenties not believing in PMS and thinking it was just an excuse some women used to be shitty.

I'm so sorry.

Had my first child at 32 and once the periods came back (at about 6mths pp despite breastfeeding) I was HORRIFIC the week before. So so so miserable, despairing, FURIOUS. Had second child a year ago, periods again came back at about 6 mths pp despite bf, and it's even worse. I'vr just come out the other side of another week of being a tetchy mean bitch to my whole family and am now bleeding, guilty and trying to get an appt with the GP to discuss some sort of continuous contraception to stop my periods for good. I can't live like this, it's totally unreasonable. Am fucking TERRIFIED of the menopause if it's worse than PMS.

Carbiesdreamhouse · 02/03/2022 21:17

Incredibly angry with the mental load, DH doing bugger all and then I get snappy with DC. I hate the latter, but I once saw someone say that it wasnt PMS distorting feelings, those days are when we see actual clarity and I think it may be like that for me. I see the imbalance at home for what it is without the haze of the rest of the month.

However I do hate snapping at DC and have wondered about taking starflower oil but I'm breastfeeding so not sure I can.

Whenigrowupiwanttobea · 02/03/2022 21:19

Tearful, agitated and snappy!

NarrowboatDi · 02/03/2022 21:19

Stabby and hungry 😂

thismeansnothing · 02/03/2022 21:19

Rage. Absolute pure rage at the slightest of things. And the hunger. Absolutely ravenous and nothing satisfies so I eat about 50000000kcals in 2 days. It seems to have got worse since having kids and I feel aweful that they have to put up with me like that for a couple of days before hand

Calvinlookingforhobbes · 02/03/2022 21:27

I used to feel furious, hungry and full of anger for 3-4 days before. I spoke to my Dr last year and now take low dose anti depressant each day. It has been life chancing. I highly recommend it

SpikeySmooth · 02/03/2022 21:31

I'm on the POP now, so no periods, but before I was just bloody tired and bloody irritable.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 02/03/2022 21:47

@Draineddraineddrained

I spent my teens and twenties not believing in PMS and thinking it was just an excuse some women used to be shitty.

I'm so sorry.

Had my first child at 32 and once the periods came back (at about 6mths pp despite breastfeeding) I was HORRIFIC the week before. So so so miserable, despairing, FURIOUS. Had second child a year ago, periods again came back at about 6 mths pp despite bf, and it's even worse. I'vr just come out the other side of another week of being a tetchy mean bitch to my whole family and am now bleeding, guilty and trying to get an appt with the GP to discuss some sort of continuous contraception to stop my periods for good. I can't live like this, it's totally unreasonable. Am fucking TERRIFIED of the menopause if it's worse than PMS.

My boss actually said she was scared of me today after I mentioned my PMT 😂 It made me wonder if I was that bad, I mean I feel awful but try not to express it at work which is hard as I would have to avoid everyone, then I thought - what is she like then? 😂😂😂
LittleWins · 02/03/2022 21:49

@Chely

Just bloody hungry
Same! I just can’t stop eating the few days before. Feel withdrawn and occasionally I’ll have a day or two with loads of energy almost like I’m being productive to have down time when AF arrives.
KittyBurrito · 02/03/2022 21:52

Depressed, anxious and tired. Feel overwhelmed easily

jelly79 · 02/03/2022 21:59

Short tempered and so so tearful! And hungry!

beingsunny · 02/03/2022 22:01

I stopped taking the pill more than a year ago, every month it's getting worse, tired, anxiety and anxiety xterms low mood.

Last month, in my quest to keep taking care of myself I went to yoga need though I didn't want to, I silently cried through almost the whole class, then at the end during savasanna I cried harder, couldn't hold it in, my teacher then came and placed her hands on my shoulders at which point the quiet tears became great heaving sobs, there was nothing I could do to contain it. I was horrified.

Draineddraineddrained · 02/03/2022 22:24

Oh @beingsunny - have an un-Mumsnetty hug. I feel your pain!

crackofdoom · 04/03/2022 10:28

Suffering massively with bad PMT today. Fatigue, can't string a sentence together, brain fog, physically shaky and achey....just want to crawl back into bed. Looks like it's a bad one this month.

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