PMS after childbirth

[Cl]

It may be exacerbated by exhaustion but has anyone found they have worse PMS (and worse periods) after kids? And has anything worked to ease it? Seems ages since I had proper regular periods (years of being pregnant, bfeeding, miscarrying etc) but I recall people suggesting primrose oil, B6 and exercise. I do quite a lot of exercise and it always lifts my mood, but the efect doesn't last that long! I always take my black moods out on dh and it's getting to the point where I contemplate divorce for about 5 days a month ( as well as the odd other time....!)Don't think tere's anything you can do about painful/heavy periods apart from taking teh nurofen, but all suggestions on lifting mood swings would be most welcome...(by the entire family I should think)

I've had terrible PMS for the last 2 months and have shouted at DH, the kids, everyone who dared to come near me, then I just want to hide and cry. However part of this could have been because the dates coincided with school holidays which I am not good at anyway. I have also heard that Evening Primrose is very good. Personally, I find that several bars of chocolate have a very calming effect

Message withdrawn

sobernow - why would you want to take the kids as well?

Mine are definitley worse in terms of how bad tempered I am but painwise, they're much easier. Probably because they were sooooo painful before. Have tried starflower oil, going back on the pill - all to some effect but, the trouble is, when you feel ok, you forget to take them so can't really judge.

Are you on the Pill? If so, you can take it continuously so you don't have any periods at all, and no PMS. I do this and have done for years (I haven't had more than three periods a year for yonks). Can't say I miss them...

Message withdrawn

I used to take it for as long as I felt like it. I'm sure the only reason for the break is so that women have a bleed to make them feel as though they are having a period. I could be horribly wrong of course.

No, that's quite correct. The 'break' was designed so when the Pillwas a new invention women would think it was more natural. Also I've heard that the Catholic inventor of the Pill hoped the Pope would approve of it if it appeared like the natural cycle (thought that may not be true). Medically it is absolutely fine to take continuously. This is very well researched. It doesn't increase any risks (though the risks of the Pill pretty much equal out with the benefits, and the benefits could well be greater - eg prevents ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer). There is even a theoretical possibility that it may extend fertility. It doesn't suit everyone but I think the no periods thing is brilliant. I'm not a medical person but have worked for women's magazines and interviewed all the top people about this subject so feel pretty confident about it.

My pms has definatly got worse since I had dd It usualy gets really bad 10 days before my period is due where I feel acutley anxious and jittery and worry about minor things.I usually get obsessed about buying something not too expensive but im not happy until ive bought it Ive thought about asking my gp for beta blockers but I dont know If he'll take me seriously. Then 5 days before I feel very deepressed as if the whole world is against me I also get clumsy walking into things and dropping things and feel very tired. It might also be due to recently changing jobs and not having a holiday since january along with having to cope with a three year old who still wakes up three times a night.I dont want to take the pill as it makes me really tearful and low. Ive just started taking high dose evening primrose oil. so I'll see how things go.Ive got ten days off now and Im not going to do a thing.

Trudles, have you tried a specialist multivitamin like Premence (from Boots etc)? They can help smooth hormonal fluctuations. Also, go and see your GP. They may be able to help. Keep completely off coffee & tea as they make jitteryness/obsessive thoughts much worse. A calcium supplement can also be good and calming and also good for regulating hormones. Best of all, they can't do any harm, only good.

Yes, trudles, aloha has made a good suggestion. I'm sure I remember my father telling me that pms may have something to do with certain vitamin/co-enzyme deficiencies caused by the extra hormones floating around. He's in turkey at the moment, i will ask him when he gets back.

There was a study in the British Medical journal suggesting that a herbal remedy 'agnus castus' might be helpful for some of the symptoms of PMS.

I tried agnus castus for 4-5 months to no effect, but now I'm back on the pill (no mega effect for pms but better periods) perhaps it's worth trying in combination as I think someone further down suggested. Also saw an article in the Times yesterday mentioning a pollen based drug they use in Sweden that's supposed to be good. Sadly have lost the details so don't know exact name or whether it's available here.