What can I do to help my PMT

[sundew]

Hi I've finally decided I need to do something about my PMT - I spend at least 1 week in every 4 a demented monster who shouts at everything in sight. My eldest dd has started picking up on it and spends the following week in an equally bad mood which affects the whole family.

I am feeling really down at the moment - I'm not clinically depressed (my dh suffers from depression so I know I'm not that bad) but I am finding it hard to deal with general day to day things. I spoke to my Gp about it and have an appointment for some counselling (it took me 2 months to send in the form!) but that doesn't start until April.

I need to start doing something positive and if I can stop feeling so awful every month I'm convinced it will make everything else that bit easier.

Any suggestions gratefully received

I used to be the biggest bitch from hell for that one week every month until I read about taking Evening Primrose Oil regularly.
I now take 500mgs daily and 1000mgs during that week.
Trust me, it works.

I was just the same... I knew I was over reacting about something quite trivial but just couldn't stop myself...

I had the coil fitted... haven't had a period since... pmt sorted!

Try eating a small carbohydrate-ey snack every couple of hours - like a cream cracker. I didn't think it would make any difference but it does help a lot - something to do with hormones and blood sugar.

You could also try Vitamin B6 or Bcomplex - you need a decent brand like Solgar for it to work and give it a couple of weeks.

If you do a search on mn there have been others asking the same question, and there are a number of answers you could try.

thanks all - rumMum I've already got a coil but the plain one. I might have a chat with my GP to see about changing. But I'll give the Evening Primrose Oil a work - how long does it take to work (as PMT due very soon!)

Vitamin b and magnesium worked for me.

I don't believe it worked that well the first month, but keep taking it and you should be ok next time.

I've recently started taking Agnus Castus and can't decide whether it's really working or whether I am just being nicer cos I think it's working (if you get my drift). There is a definite improvement in my temper each month tho'

Evening primrose oil made me worse.

Will be watching this thread with interest.

Had the marena coil (sp) fitted, my PMT is more or less gone (after about 3 months having it fitted), I used sometimes just wake up in a foul mood and would stay that way for a week.
Now no periods although some months I seem to get a surge of hormones and become a teary for a day or two but not that awful irritability and almost anger I used to get that was very hard to break off from.

I had the Mirena coil inserted.

Made me more hormonal, not less.

What's wrong with me?!!!

I second the evening primrose oil. Did nothing for my horrendous period pain (recently diagnosed with severe endometriosis so was unlikely to) but completely got rid of the teariness I used to get a couple of days before.

It will take a month to work and you need a reasonable daily dose, at least 1000mg a day.

Exercise, even (especially) if it is the last thing you feel like doing. A vigorous walk works a trick, ime.
Really hard to motivate yourself to do it if you just feel like lying on a sofa and groaning, but I find it really helps.