Bad PMS - should I reduce caffeine intake? Anyone done this with success?

[pipkin35]

Think I have diagnosed myself with quite bad PMS. A few months ago I started taking evening primrose, starflower, CLA and some seven seas 'mum' vitamins and things seemed to improve. Over the last couple of months though, I have been drinking lots more coffee than usual - and enjoying freshly ground, least 2 large cups - but again, about 2 weeks after my period, I seem to turn into the woman from hell. I'm really hoping it is PMS and not something else. Symptoms are more emotional - super irritable, bad tempered, teary, vaguely depressed - horrid to be around and I hate myself...
Any shared stories of PMS, and/or how to ease these symptoms please? Some people think cutting down/caffeine out helps things but I'm not sure?!
It's driving me mad.
Thanks

I gave up caffeine a few years ago.

I dont get headaches anymore, I sleep better and feel better in general.
PMS wise I no longer get tender breasts but I still get tense and tearful the day before my period is due. However this does seem a lot better than it was. Not a total cure then but you should give it a whirl and see what happens.(give it a few months at least)

I gave up caffeine, sugar and dairy (tough I know, it sucks!) but No PMT at all - hooray!! When I do binge, choc, sweets, etc I get PMT. Worth a try at detoxing, see how you go

What worked for me was high strength vitamin B6 tablets. Been on them for 15 years now, and not run amok with a breadknife once - and that's despite rearing two DCs through toddlerdom.
Caffeine makes absolutely no difference to me apart from giving me bloody awful migraines if I try to do without it, so I always make sure to keep myself topped up.

I have found that getting enough exercise is the best bet for me.

I've found that alcohol is the key with me - over Xmas have had more than usual, and this has made me much more irritable than usual (poor dh)! Sad but true...

Cutting out caffeine does help, but cutting out sugar, junk and high fat foods helps more, esp. the sugar.