PMT

[loonychick]

Does anyone get the most God awful PMT every month? BC it really wasn't a problem but since my two (4yrs and 1yr) I'm hell every month .. the worse thing is that it's only to my husband. I know it's coming, I know it's awful and I'll rage but nothing stops it. I get so angry, grumpy and just don't care. A few days later I'm normal. Worst of all it's totally ruining our otherwise happy marriage. I'm thinking of seeing the GP about it but I'm worried she'll laugh .. Help!

loony - I get really bad PMT. I've had it for years but it is getting worse. See my post on the thread about 'changes in menstrual cycles'.

PMT can be caused by a drop in your levels of progesterone before your period (I think?). There are a lot of things that are supposed to work: regular exercise, avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, eat a wholefood, fibre-rich diet, evening primrose or starflower oil, agnus castus, etc., etc.. I haven't tried all of these yet. I end up so tired, I haven't got the energy, vicious circle (cycle!). My latest theory is that mine is getting worse due to a problem with candida overgrowth causing hormonal balance, as my cycle has shortened as well, and I am trying to do something about this.

I know roughly when my period is due so each month I tell myself to be aware during the days before my period that I may be irritable but it doesn't work because I lose my temper so quickly at that time that it is impossible to stop myself. I seem to have no self-awareness or control at all - totally irrational and irate. It has contributed to me losing me relationships in the past and is a strain on my friends and family.

It is awful and now I can talk to my husband about it without throwing something at him ! I feel so sorry for him. He knows to try and avoid me but it often gets to breaking point and something has to be said which ends up in a huge row. I
wonder if going on the pill might help. I currently use no contraception as we are not highly fertile (both my pregnancies took ages to happen) and we wouldn't mind a third but I wonder if I just need a bit of hormone regulation for a few months. I don't feel a third child would be a great idea with the awful monthly rows we keep having. I would rather a peaceful marriage and I'm sure he would too!!
I have tried evening Primrose in the past but not with any consistency to he honest so maybe I should make more effort to take them and they might work. I still think I'll go the GP though

I've read that you have to take supplements like evening primrose oil for a minium of three months in a row to see any real benefit and, yes, I haven't done this yet so I don't know if it will help me. I think it is a good idea to go and see the GP. I have been re. my shortening menstrual cycle but have no directly addressed the PMT issue yet. I've thought about going on some kind of contraceptive pill but it's not what I want to do as I would prefer to try and sort it out by some natural means rather than extra hormones. I've got other problems like depression and lethargy, etc.. Not sure what is at the root of it all.

It is good that your DH realises that it is PMT but I think it's true that people around you can only tolerate so many PMT rages before they start to lose all sympathy! Let me know if you find a cure/solution?

By the way, I definitely compulsively and irrationally pick fights with whomever is around when I have PMT.

ive had pmt for nearly a yr as ive got the implanon and my son is now 13 months so ive had it in for about 12 months but have been bleeding all this time, had hormone tablets to control this but made my mood swings worse, but im having it taken out on friday so looking forward to it! Im like a right bitch though, i have urges of wanting to hurt people who cant control there shopping trolleys in sainsburys

Did anyone see the BBC's truth about food episode which looked at how diet affects PMT? Apparently scientists have observed a significant reduction in symptoms of PMS if sufferers are placed on high doses of calcium and Vitamin D supplements.
Website here Worth a try?

Thank you .. that is really interesting. I will definitely do a bit more research. That or I'll find a large rock to hide under every month.