PMT is ruining my life!

[fatsatsuma]

I get so stressed and wound up in the week before my period. I must be unbearable to live with, and I dread going to work as I fear I might burst into tears at any moment . I'm only 37 so not that old and hopefully not pre-menopausal.

I have mentioned it to the GP and will have some blood tests in a few weeks.

Can anyone recommend anything else I can do to cope with those days every month? I know some people use evening primrose oil - anyone got any experience of using it?

Hi there - I just posted about the mirena coil which has been recommended to me. I have no desire for any more children, so depending on your own situation, this might be something to consider.
I am sorry to hear about your PMT and know exactly how bad it feels. A friend once suggested Magnesium OK for this, it didn't work for me but she swears it helps her. You can get it in Boots. xxx

I know how you feel Satsuma, I'm completely crazy for 2 weeks of every month prior to my period. I feel so hateful, tearful and morose. I've tried Evening Primrose Oil, Starflower Oil and Agnus Castus. The first two did absolutely nothing, but I felt a little better with the Agnus Castus, although I no longer take it, not sure why.

I have seen my GP so many times about my PMS and wish there was a cure or something I could take that would work, but the never have any useful remedies.

Hope you find something that helps, if you do, please let me know.
x

Thanks for these kind replies, and sorry to hear that you are both suffering too

Sounds like different things might work for different people. I think I will give evening primrose a try. These remedies are always so expensive aren't they?

I have to confess I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of a coil, so I don't think that one's for me. But I hope it helps, kitchensinkdrama, if you decide to go for it.

The mirena coil saved my marriage........I had irregular periods and horrendous PMT last about 2 weeks.

I had my first Mirena 10 years ago and am about to have my third one fitted (they last for 5 years). I am 45 and haven't had a period for 10 years . My moods went from stormy sea to millpond.

It doesn't work for everyone but for me it probably saved my life!

i second agnus cactus it works for me. i dont know about PMT ruining my life it was just ruining everyone elses life i can nag for england when i get one of PMT moments on it a good job my partner has selective deafness

Thank you so much for starting this thread Fatsatsuma. Having been a gibbering wreck at work several times lately in the past few months, I am beginning to think that there is a pattern (as well as work being shite!). I have what I think is pre-period pain tonight and have been in bits for most of the week - linked methinks?

I can't offer any ideas but would be v interested to hear what you try and how you get on.

What's this angus thing a few of you have mentioned? Or the magnesium thing?

Hi, the Magnesium OK is a mix of things which are meant to help with the mood swings (I think zinc as well as magnesium).

Its not cheap but at the moment, Holland and Barratt have some sort of BOGOF or similar offer on so you might want to get a couple of packets and give it a try for a consistant couple of months?

Perhaps thats where I went wrong with it, my friend for whom it worked well says I should have given it a bit longer.

I would just like to say that this morning I read The Times article on 1o years of Mumsnet and the Times Online forum on Mumsnetters being spiteful, unsupportive bullies -- perhaps this thread proves otherwise. x

The Mirena can work miracles for some but for others it can make it much worse. I had to have mine taken out as I only had 5 days each month that were clear from pms, it was making me very depressed. I'm not saying don't have it, just to make sure that your dr will take it out if you don't get on with it.

I went to the dr recently about the same thing and she has put me on 1000mg of calcium and 500mg magnesium a day to see if improves.

i've heard vit b12 is good for this. def give it a month or to trial of anything.

sorry for you, pmt is awful

I found taking fish oils really helped, a supplement for woman might help too.

Thanks everyone who has replied today - and massive sympathies to fellow sufferers.

I've been told that you need to take evening primrose oil for several months to really see a benefit (could that be a cunning marketing ploy I wonder??) - so maybe you're right kitchensink.

Thanks Kitchensink.

Thanks for starting this thread fatsatsuma - I'm REALLY struggling at the moment with pmt but wasn't brave enough to start my own thread. Since I have reduced and now stopped breastfeeding it seems to have got worse, does anyone know if this is related?

I already had the normal coil fitted before I knew about the mirena so can't have that and my gp recommended the progesterone pill again as although I had pmt before I was pregnant it eased slightly when on the pill.

I have heard about evening primrose and starflower oil but have heard it can give some people depression and I'm a bit scared of trying it as that is one of my pmt symptoms. I have also read about the agnus castus which is supposed to help but I couldn't start that again as I was still breastfeeding.

Have just bought the boots monthly cycle supplement which has epo, magnesium and b6 in it all of which are supposed to help pmt although my gp said this is often based on anectodotal evidence and clinical trials do not support it. I shall let you know how I get on!

One thing my gp did say was that you should give it three months to see if anything makes a difference, which seems like aeons away but I need to try something, otherwise my marriage will suffer I have also sarted a diary of how I feel in the hope that I can see how things are changing.

Hi ladies, PMT has completely ruined my adult life particuarly my thirties, apparantly it does get worse as you get older something to do with heading towards menopause!! My doctor is brilliant she actually runs a PMT clinic at the local hospital and to be honest i have been a guinea pig so i will give you a list of things i have tried and maybe it will be of some help.

Here goes deep breath
Evening Primrose Oil 1000mg daily
Omega fish oils 1000mg daily
These i take without fail.
I have tried prozac which was fantastic but after 2 years made my gums bleed and i had a constant sore throat so had to come off.
Then she put me on hrt gel which i rub into my skin around the time of ovulation up till my period and that also works but im abit slack at doing it.
Finally she tried a hrt patch which was also brilliant but because im not menopausal it made my periods stop, due to it thickening the lining of the womb.
I have not tried the mirena coil and must admit i am reluctant because i do not fancy a foreign object in me, just makes me feel wobbly.
So there you go the hrt gel is good and plenty of sleep, good food, exercise and the vitamins have really helped. Plus having a VERY understanding husband helps.

I read that relexlogy is good - it reblances hormones and is very relaxing. worth a go - even if it doesnt work would be a good pamering treatment

I know the mirena doesn't work for everyone but I don't understand why so many are squeamish about it. 10 years and happy with mine, don't know it's there!

Radstar - sorry you are struggling too . Hope the Boots supplement helps - let us know.

Thanks marmon for all your tips. Your GP sounds fab . It's good to hear there are such clinics out there. You get the impression that PMT is one of those things that GPs can't really help with.

Pampering would definitely help, smithy100!

2old4thislark - I really don't like the idea of having a 'foreign body' implanted inside me, as marmon said. I know they do work for lots of people, I'm just not ready for it myself.

Another sufferer here.
Much worse since Mirena coil about 1 year ago. Just trying to get GP appt this week.
No advice to offer - sorry!

I'm a bit late to this talk but I felt exactly as all of you did. For one week a month I was short tempered and impatient. I had thoughts of leaving my family and was very unhappy. I saw a GP but she said it was all in my head and gave me a leaflet about cognative therapy - I apparently just had to think happy thoughts. 18 months later the thoughts were getting worse and eventually I was suicidal. When I nearly threw myself infront of a train, I realised it was time to get help.
The next GP I saw was fantastic and took me seriously from the moment I started to talk. She said I had PMDD (pre menstrual disphoric disorder) and that I wasn't mad. She offered me prozac and I snapped her hand off. I was worried about taking it but more worried about this extreme PMT ruining my relationships with the family or my life.
I now take one fluoxetine capsule every day and feel like me again. The first month I felt worse but by month 2, I didn't even notice it was week 3.
This stuff has saved my life and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I understand the hoards of possible side effects but I haven't had any of them and will take this miracle cure until I do.
I really hope this helps - go to your GP and make sure they listen - don't let these feelings take any more of your life.