Awful periods and PMT

[Overrun]

I have posted on here before about my painful and heavy periods. Have seen gp since, but they still want me to try the coil which I am not keen on.
My most pressing problem is PMT, take last month. I had my period which as usual lasted for nearly two weeks, and then after a few days I felt really depressed and angry and out of control, I thought well it can't be pmt, as I have only just had my period. Maybe I am having a nervous breakdown
Then my period turns up on Saturday, so my cycle was 20 days, far too short when my periods are so awful.
It ruining my life, I know I need to go back to the gp and talk this through, but would love to hear from people who are going through similar so I don't feel like I am the only one.

you're not the only one

my period is prob due on tomorrow and this morning I woke up and threw up because the cramps were so bad - it was like being in the final stage of labour. I thought dh was going to have to take me to the hospital but it was ds's first day at school today so I managed to find an old packet of Buscopan (anti spasmodic for cramps) and took the max dose and luckily about 40mins later I started to feel human!

I am seeing a private gynae on Friday - I got so fed up with the GP. I've been so often over the last 2 years with this problem - last time I went (I get migraines with my periods aswell and they gave me some migraine medication which didn't work) she said to me 'are you sure they are not just bad headaches' and 'is the period pain really that bad' as if I was making the whole bloody thing up.

It is f'ing, sodding miserable and I really feel for you. If you don't have problems with contraception, the coil can really help with problem bleeding. Next time you go, tell them you want solutions to your problem!!

Anorak had a thread on this a while back - aimed at older Mners who might be teetering on the perimenopausal. Not sure if either of you are early 40s but a lot of us on that thread had shorter cycles and miserable heavy periods too.
I posted about a procedure I had done at the same time as a supposed polypectomy a month or so ago...(supposed because the polyp was nowhere to be found during the op!).
It's called endometrial ablation and trims back the lining of the womb to make it less thick and therefore like to generate heavy periods.
It seems to have worked for me touch wood. I don't get migraines FIS (sympathies) but my periods were so heavy and painful they were driving me half mad some days of the month.
It's a day procedure done under a GA. It's not suitable for someone definitely planning more children - but no coil, no ongoing meds and no hysterectomy.

Thanks Foxinsocks, it really helps to know that other women have the same problems, of course I know that they do, but none of my rl have quite the same problems.
What you go through sounds dreadful, I often feel nauseous before and during but not usually sick. I think the my cramps are not quite as bad as you describe, Nurofen tends to help, but its the related sciatica that sends me round the bend. All down my left side.
I just think it is not fair on the children that I turn into psycho mummy for a good part of every month. I have three young v active boys, and I really just don't feel like I can cope with them when I have pmt.
Then when my period comes although I feel awful physically, I am like a different woman. Not invincible , but I cope, you know?

Have you tried various brands of the pill? I am on microygnon and have been, save the ttc periods, for four years now.It is just fantastic for me, and my heavy periods and sickness stopped after the first cycle, its good especially as I used to get Migraines during periods. My doctor also consented to me 'tri-cycling' which is also fantastic, it means I will only have four periods per year.

Marina, can't talk for long as have to go out now but you asked my age, I am 34. So hopefully not premenapausal. Have always had problems but worse since periods came back after twins.
also have migraines, not every month, but could still be hormonal.
I really must sort this out.
Thanks for replying, will check this thread when I get back

yes I have exactly the same - a week or so before my period I am incredibly nauseous etc. - sore boobs (I also get a rash) - just, for me, like being in the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy!

It's not fair on anyone - it's not fair on you and like you say, on the family either. I feel that for 2 weeks out of every month, I'm like a bloody invalid I can do so little. It's also meant I've been unable to return to full time work because I cannot work for so many days out of each month.

I really do sympathise with you. I think if they did a DIY hysterectomy kit, I'd have done it and got the T shirt already!

overrun, it's really worth doing a symptom diary. You can either get one here on the PMS site or get one on the \link{http://www.migraine.org.uk/migraine association} site.

It really is worth filling in when you are bleeding, when you get the migraines, when you feel sick etc. - it's not only useful for the doctors (so rather than saying, I bled for around 2 weeks you can show them exactly how long!) but also for you in case there are triggers for your migraines that you may not have thought of.

migraine association

overrun
try agnus castus its homepathic, and boots do it, taken over 3 cycles it can have a marked affect on pmt and the actual period.

i am not one for the piill and have found the above good.

Thanks every one, I will go on the site you suggest FIS, and also ready to try herbal remedy even though I usually steer away from herbal (bit of a cynic) but I am really at the stage where I will try anything.
The diary idea does sound good, I just hope that I can do it when I have pms. I can't really explain how bad it is. I really feel brittle, I end up screaming and shouting and feel totally out of control. I haven't been violent but have thrown things (this is all out of character), the next minute I am sitting on the floor crying my eyes out. I get tearful easily, and feel so lacking in energy and motivation its unbelievable. Just find it hard to get out of bed in the morning, but then soon as period comes despite the pain/ blood loss I am as new
At the risk of tmi it does nothing for our sex life, as I am either bleeding or too miserable. Bet that is not a common problem either.
I will look at the sites and go back to my doctor, shall I let you know how it goes? I would be interested in how your private appt goes FIS

thanks overrun - I'll let you know (am seeing main PMS and hormonal problem type specialist)

you can get prescribed a low dose of antidepressants for PMS (the theory being that women become more susceptible to suffering from it with a lower level of serotonin - I think!) and apparently, this can be very successful. Don't be frightened of going to the GP and describing how you feel. I haven't gone down this route because I wanted to see the gynae first because I felt the GP was fobbing me off without really considering all the other stuff (like the migraines, the period pain etc.).

I know that feeling you describe - it's the irrational nature of it - the sort of 'feel like you're going to burst into tears at any minute' sort of feeling like you're going to explode.

It's very frightening but don't forget, this is a treatable condition but you have to find a good, sympathetic doctor who's willing to try different things and see what works best.

Thanks FIS, I am going into hospital tomorrow for an op, so will have to sort things out when I am out. Am worried about the op and having my period, migth get mucky Not the best timing

Hi overrun, you're definitely not alone. I too have horrid periods. They were much better in the years I was on the pill but I just don't want to keep taking it. I now have great mood, sex drive and skin for about 1 week every 3. My periods are heavy, i get headaches, tiredness like a steam train has hit me and very bad spots plus horrible wound up anger. When it goes I feel like a new woman and I want the feeling to last......

I've been using evening primrose oil and I'm still attending a herbalist. If my next change of herbs doesn't do anything major then I'm going to try homeopathy. There must be a way.

Interesting to read about agnus castus, its one herb my herbalist hasn't used and I'm now going to ask why!

Best of luck tomorrow x.

Thanks fg, will sort all this out, after my op

hope the op went well!

I have very very heavy periods since third child and PMT. They used to be so painfull I would regularly faint, but fortunately having three children ahs sorted that out. I have an underactive thyroid and PMT and heavy periods are one of it's symptoms - so it may be worth GP checking for thyroid.

I saw GP today to review thyroid medication and talked about how debilatating the heavy periods are and have come away with a prescription for Tranexamic Acid, which apparently reduces flow and also combats pain (if you have it). Could be worth asking about.

Overrun

Hope your op went well also.

Would ask whether you have to date seen a gynae about your awful periods?.

I can think offhand of two possible causes for your problems - endometriosis and fibroids.

If you're not happy to try the coil then don't. In my experience many GPs are ignorant when it comes to dealing with such problems therefore I would stick to your guns and ask for a referral to a gynae.

Be careful if you want to try herbal remedies; again (like the coil that's been offered) these do not totally address the root of the problem i.e why is this happening in the first place.

Glassofwine, interesting about the thyroid. I had spells of feeling very lightheaded and very cold and my herbalist said I should have my thyroid checked. I might just do that.

And me too Overrun, hope you are back home from the hospital and are lying peacefully in a clean and tidy room with nothing but the sound of sleeping children to break the silence . (Hope to talk soon on one thread or another, I see you've been following Kelly too). Take care x.

Sorry not to have read whole thread but I have found Magnesium OK to be bordering on miraculous. Am regular for the first time in my life (within first month of taking it) and have virtualy no PMS anymore.
Really - can't recommend it enough (I don't work for the company or anything, honest!)

Do you take it alone or as part of a supplement? I ask because I was taking a high quality multivitamin with no real change but I wonder whether alone would be different.....

It's a supplement with other vits in it in itself, if you see what I mean. Magnesium Ok is the brand name. I would make sure you're not going over the RDA if you take a multi as well, or ditch the multi, personally.

Well, the operation got cancelled, so I am just carrying on as normal. Intend to get a gp appt tomorrow.
Will bear in mind all the advice and be insistent on investigation and keep my resolve about the coil.
I may well try some of the herbal remedies recommended, but as Atila said, I won't to rule out those possible causes first.
I have had investigations for both of those things in the past but prior to having children, presumbably they can develop at any time.

Thanks Axo.

Overrun, that rubbish. All the planning for being out of action for the time it takes and then cancelled. Shame for you.

I feel the medical profession (well NHS) kind of brush off these symptoms as lighweight without realising that for some they are major problems. And I always feel that Madonna or the Queen wouldn't suffer.....

My feeling is to try everything complementary I can and then go private. I'm sure there is a different thing that works for each of us, we just have to find it. Lets keep sharing!!!

When is your op now?