Worsening PMT - Please help!

[countrylass]

Don't know if anybody can advise on this, but would be interested to hear if anyone has any ideas about bad PMT? I've always suffered with it a bit, but over the past few months it has become pretty bad. Physically I feel a lot worse than I used to - my boobs hurt so much that I can't do the exercise that I normally do, I'm utterly exhausted and stomach/back is agony for a couple of days. I also feel worse emotionally - I know that millions of women do as well - but I seriously turn into a pretty difficult person to live with; in fact, it sounds crazy, but I struggle to hold a normal conversation with dp (we normally get on like a house on fire)and he's noticed a change. I also feel a bit 'spaced' out, like I'm not really here...?

I haven't been on the pill for about 18 months (we use condoms) so know it's not anything to do with contraceptives. I'm pretty healthy - I work out every day, don't smoke, eat well, etc, so don't feel that my lifestyle is compounding it. I also take Vitamin B complex.

Would appreciate any experience/ideas about this - I did mention it to the doctor a while back, but she was pretty vague and mumbled something about hormone imbalances which she said were difficult to treat?!

Thanks

There are loads of threads on here regarding PMT. Click on 'search for messages' at the top of the page and type in PMT.

I have been told high strength evening primrose, Agnus Castus, vitamin b6 and 12 and failing that probably AD's.

You say you work out most days - I thought exercise was supposed to help with PMT? Maybe see your GP.

Don't know how old you are, but have you read the alarming menopause thread?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/9/447176?stamp=080102121814

I can't really offer any advice for you, because I have suffered with similar problems for years and nothing has helped (other than eventual pregnancy, but the old symptoms are coming back now ).

Just out of interest, do you only get this just before your period? Because I used to get the symptoms up to 2 weeks beforehand and they lasted all the way through. I'm just curious whether you or anyone else has experienced this. You have my huge sympathies and I'll be watching this thread. xx

Hi

Thanks for your replies. Yeah, I work out nearly every day, which actually helps a bit. Funnily enough, my periods have become alot shorter as well (about 2 days max!) although I was wondering whether this was to do with the exercise? I've worked out reguarly for years, but not every day until the last few months. Hopefully its that, and not perimenopause (I'm in early 30s!) but who knows. I think the most annoying thing is that doctors don't really seem to take it seriously, and in my experience, are extremely vague about what to do. I'm not keen to take ads - took them years ago for postnatal depression and had a very bad reaction; they also kind of 'dulled' my personality iykwim!
Twinklemegan - it starts about a week before I'm due on and stops about a day after I've started, when I also, strangely enough, have a higher sex drive - can't bear dp to go near me when its at its worst!