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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have bad PMT moods how do you deal with it? It's ruining my life.

51 replies

shonapop · 30/12/2022 19:03

Any tips? It is ruining my life & relationships. I am 40 and the run up to my period starting it is hell for everyone, particularly Dh. I become paranoid, hysterical and irrational, not to mention spotty. Getting far worse as I age. It's really getting me down.

OP posts:
zeddybrek · 30/12/2022 22:29

This was me about 8 years ago.

Oil of evening primrose oil with starflower has changed my life. Sorry to sound so dramatic but the anger and rage was ruining my life and especially my marriage. Taking one tablet a day every day keeps me sane. You have to take for about 3 months to see a difference. It's the orange box from Boots. I have tried to come off it twice but each time I just reverted back. I can't recommend it enough.

youshouldnthaveasked · 31/12/2022 00:16

Flowerfairy101 · 30/12/2022 20:01

@youshouldnthaveasked oh goody! Fingers crossed then. How long did it take to work?
OP I'm not sure, should probably check with GP.

I think maybe 4 months? I was taking it to fix a low progesterone level which meant I could get pregnant but kept miscarrying. I got pregnant months after I started

Edinburghmusing · 31/12/2022 00:20

try and book a double appointment with a good female gp to discuss all the options

Notsandwiches · 31/12/2022 00:23

Agnus castus. Incredibly effective ime.

JamSandle · 31/12/2022 00:24

Antidepressants have been a gamechanger for me. Look into PMDD.

StrawberryFizz27 · 31/12/2022 00:25

@ShampooSocks

Do you mind me asking what exercise if any in particular and what about the diet.

My aim this year is to kick booze and totally overhaul my diet, I also feel horrible 2 weeks every month.

Period suck!

BabyOnBoard90 · 31/12/2022 00:27

Many divorces could have probably been avoided if we knew the answer to this question.

userh79 · 31/12/2022 00:35

Anyone tried agnus cactus and EPO? Is one superior?

Scroogette · 31/12/2022 00:36

I take HRT (same stuff as for menopause, but there's research to show that it helps PMDD symptoms). It's not a complete cure, but it means that I am only about half as irrational, rage-filled, anxious and depressed during my period as when I was not on HRT.
Have to get it prescribed by a private clinic in London thought, as it's not available as a treatment for PMDD on the NHS

Original poster
shonapop · 31/12/2022 18:42

youshouldnthaveasked · 30/12/2022 19:24

Yes, this worked wonders for me when I was trying to fix a hormone imbalance. Plus vitamin B6

Show quote history

Was it the 2000mg, tabs? Is it one per day? Can you recommend a brand?

OP posts:
SchoolQuestionnaire · 31/12/2022 19:06

2reefsin30knots · 30/12/2022 19:09

Went on the pill- Yasmin. I googled and there were quite a lot of reports of that brand improving mood for some. It has completely eliminated the rage and anxiety I was getting for 7-10 days before period. I also feel much more in control- things were starting to get unpredictable. I'm 43.

I didn't go to the doctor- went through an online pharmicist.

Same.

I was initially prescribed this by GP after Fluoxetine didn’t agree with me (I was exhausted to the point I couldn’t stay awake to eat and lost a lot of weight that at the time I didn’t need to lose). I was really against hormonal contraception after a couple of bad experiences with another pill and the mini pill but this was honestly life changing. It completely sorted my moods with the added side effect of improving my skin too.

The GP will no longer prescribe due to the cost so I now get it from Superdrug online. I have to pay but it’s delivered straight to my door with no annual pill check. I bought myself a blood pressure cuff so I can keep an eye on that myself but it’s been great.

LittleDisaster · 31/12/2022 19:17

I learned to manage mine by cutting out all refined sugar and never letting myself get hungry. I'm not going to say it was completely solved but it really did make a huge difference.

youshouldnthaveasked · 31/12/2022 21:15

shonapop · 31/12/2022 18:42

Was it the 2000mg, tabs? Is it one per day? Can you recommend a brand?

Show quote history

I use healthspan now it’s a one a day tablet. 50mg. Previously I’ve used one from Amazon which was effective. I’ll have a look through my Amazon history and let you know

youshouldnthaveasked · 31/12/2022 21:17

@shonapop It was called natures aid 100 mg

Piggleton · 31/12/2022 21:17

Am on sertraline for PMDD. Absolute game changer. Bit of a set back in terms of libido but the benefits outweigh the negatives

BigMandysBookClub · 31/12/2022 21:36

I was convinced I had this as well as early peri symptoms. Was suicidal and irritable before period. Terrible brain fog, as well as other symptoms. On low dose HRT and much better now. More of a softer landing with hormones. I'm 40.

ThreeLittleDots · 31/12/2022 21:36

Mini pill and HRT

Nell23 · 14/09/2023 21:59

@ShampooSocks what diet changes did u make?

Greedybilly · 14/09/2023 22:09

After years of being completely psycho for 2 weeks out of 4 I went on the pill (Cerelle) saved my life really. Good luck. Xx

Thepeopleversuswork · 14/09/2023 22:12

Mirena. Stopped my periods (and thus eliminated PMDD) overnight. One of the best decisions I've ever made.

mizu · 14/09/2023 22:17

I went all out. Total hysterectomy at 42. Diagnosed with PMDD after years of doctor appointments and getting nowhere fast.

Previous to that drastic measure ( best thing I ever did though!) I took Agnus cagnus magnesium, iron, cut out alcohol, tried to sleep more...... I also had extremely heavy periods though which added to it all.

Can't believe now I lasted so long with it all.

LookingForPurpose · 14/09/2023 22:23

I have been disgusted with a progesterone interface after starting hrt. Previous to hrt my periods were so irregular that I couldn't actually pinpoint anything. But now I'm in two weeks of oestrogen and then two weeks withdrawal in the patches it's become very very clear. I literally become a shadow of myself from day 15 , slowly starting then increasing to day 28. From day 24-28 I'm borderline suicidal but knowing it's the hormones and not me helps a lot.

Eloradannin2nd · 14/09/2023 22:28

I take well woman capsules (the ones with Tess Daley on the box) didn’t think they’d made much difference until I missed a week! Been on them 2 years now and my temper has all but disappeared.

BrutusMcDogface · 14/09/2023 22:29

I’m like this but I’m already on sertraline 😢

How does one go about a hysterectomy?! Ha. I’m so very grateful for the fact that it gave me my lovely children, but I don’t need my uterus anymore as it’s nothing but trouble!

Gadgetfreak · 14/09/2023 22:29

I took part in a trial for PMDD - I felt great whilst on it but the trial was stopped after our phase because it turns out the women on the control drug also felt better from the mood diaries we had to keep. It was concluded that actually just being listened to and being able to express our moods / anxieties was enough to make us all feel better! It was recommended for me either go on pill (Yasmin) or take an anti depressant. I tried the pill and felt exhausted so stopped. I don’t want an anti depressant so I just get on with it now and am counting down to menopause when my periods stop. My husband is well aware of my mood swings and understands for 1 week a month I am very intolerant of him and his habits! It is horrendous at times though, the irritability, intolerance and at times emotional lows I feel along with extreme tiredness. The best thing for me is exercise and keeping busy.