Period help!

[CGH93]

since I had my second child, 5 years ago, I’ve noticed a dramatic change within myself when it’s my period.

for a few years it kind of stayed under the radar as I was on a strong dose of anti depressants.

I came off them fully last July.

I find the week before my period horrendous, my moods horrific. I want to eat anything and everything. Just generally really rubbish!!!

Then the week of, I get very tired. Very emotional. A migraine that won’t shift. Angry. Anything and everything bugs then hell out of me!!!!
(typical pms symptoms I know but I feel like it’s to the very extreme.)

then I have similar experiences during ovulation.

my husband jokes I only have 1 good week a month, but it’s so true!!

has anyone else struggled so much more since children?!

Yeah I have also, I have had to up my medication (citalopram) to 40mg to see if that helps any. I’m angry at every one and everything, I can be completely fine then someone will say something that isn’t even drastic and I’m in the worst mood ever. I hate it I feel like I’m going insane! They diagnosed me with PMDD and said bar the antidepressants, therapy and maybe getting the coil or some form of contraception there’s not much else they can do.

I feel like I almost just need that diagnosis just so it’s in writing that I’m not insane haha!!

im not going to go back on anti depressants, I don’t want the coil and therapy I’m not sure which way I’d go with that as the NHS have let me down in the past with it.

thank you for letting me know your story 😍

Sorry you're experiencing such extreme symptoms. It's hard to manage.

I get terrible mood swings too. And it feels like the gap between feeling ok, between cycles is getting shorter. Some months better than others. I'm not on any contraception and don't take any meds for low mood. I get awful rage within me, short tempered, low mood, grumpy, anxiety, more weepy etc. Noticed it more after I had my second child 4 years ago.

I get hormonal migraines too. Sometimes just a headache I can't shift, other times it sends me to bed. Trying to see if less booze /more H2O hydration helps. A paracetamol and an ibuprofen is a better combo for me than two paracetamols. Sometimes that doesn't work and I take something stronger.

Things that help me... a good diet... protein - chicken/ fish/ eggs/ tofu/ nuts/ seeds/ cheese, carbs and fibre - wholegrain bread/ wholemeal pasta/ veg/ fruit. Esp in the lead up to my period when I'm feeling more hungry! I find eating a 'big' breakfast in the morning really hard, but it helps. Let me know if you want any ideas.

Exercise helps loads as well. I do exercise at home, in my living room. Even if it's 15/ 20 mins. It doesn't seem like much but it sorts me right out! And loads of water, herbal teas for hydration. Less caffeine!

I'm the most anxious I've been for a long, long time. It's so weird, it just came on a few weeks ago. It's completely taken me by surprise. Can't work out what's changed aside from the half term holidays have been and gone. I get so overstimulated by my kids (two young boys), they really wreck my nervous system. Just exploring some ways to overcome the anxiety without medication.

Sending solidarity!

Do you take vitamin b complex?