What do you do for PMT? I'm struggling. Need something reliable.

[Justgivemeasoddingname]

Hi, I'm 42. Dh had the snip 4 yrs ago and when he was finally confirmed infertile I had my implant out. So for about 3 yrs I've been completely off any hormone/contraception.
Prior to this, I spent 13 years either ttc-ing, mc-ing (x5) having a baby (3) or bf-ing (for 1 year each time) so i dont think in all those years my body was ever doing it's own thing. My point is that since having the implant out it's finally settling down....or not...or whatever, but it's just not being controlled by any artificial hormone.

Think I may be in early stages of peri menopause but unsure.

For the last year I've noticed how much I'm struggling with PMT. For a week prior to my period I am really horrible, on the verge of tears, sleep badly, eat everything and just want to sleep for 14 hours a day. I've had to apologise to dh tonight I was so snappy. So awful. If I were him I'd be glad I was 700 miles away from home!!

I looked for things to take and found Agnus Castus seemed to be the best suggestion I could find but ideally would like some good old fashioned reliable advice from the lovely mumsnetters....please.

Oh pleeeeeaassseeeee

Um, Jack Daniels and coke used to do the trick for me...

Hope you get some good answers

I don’t have any advice sorry but I’d also love to know!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry now!!!

Hi @justgivemeasoddingname I was just coming on to post the same question.

I'm in a similar situation to you, 41yrs old, years on hormonal birth control, none forth last couple of years whilst trying to get pregnant. I now have a lovely 10 month old DS, after a MMC and have developed the most horrific PMT. My periods came back when DS was six months on the dot although he is still breast feeding every two hours night and day.

I'm sure mine is worse due to being so completely exhausted with such a wakeful boy but I'll be watching for some suggestions with interest. I'm guessing I need to make sure any supplements are BF friendly too as DS is showing no signs of reducing his feeds....

Sorry to hijack your thread, sending solidarity but no useful advice

And yes.... I used to self medicate with Dairy Milk and red wine but DS is now dairy free and so I am too... I'm not sure he'd appreciate the red wine either

Oh me too! I hate it. About 4 days a month I am horrible to my DP

Well it seems we may not have any answers but we have formed our own support group

Alas, it seems there is no magic cure.
Ever hopeful...

I cut right back on dairy produce and it cured my pmt like magic.

Great suggestion, won't work for me as I don't eat any already

Ok, pms ruled my life for 20 years so I reallly get you.
I e used some brilliant supplements from Lamberts, I started on Premtesse, but since getting towards menopause I’ve moved on to Fem 45+ . Both are life changing.
I can control it by having a totally clean diet, but that is hard.
Pm me if you have questions on the future as I really get it , my hormones have ruled my life.

No crap (I.e msg laden doritos or coloured artificial drinks in my case), regular meals with a mid morning snack and an afternoon snack, snacks like oat cakes, crackers, nuts and fruit (carbs is key for me). Not too much alcohol, exercise and time away from others (a bath?) to distress.
Around 15 years ago I had awful pmt, the book "no more pms" by maryon Stewart really helped. Its probably very dated now but some of it was helpful!

I started taking the mini pill cerazette & stopped my periods so no pmt thank god.

It has to be taken same time every day or you get bleeding & it loses the contraceptive effect.

It's not suitable for everyone though.

Try 3000mg of evening primrose oil every day for a fortnight then reduce to 2000mg. I've felt calmer since being on it. Also check out the reviews on Amazon, seems to work well for many.

Would love to know the answer to this...

Starflower and evening primrose oil together seem to make me less rage-filled before my period.

I’ve started talking St John’s Wort today, so I’ll let you know if it helps in 6-8 weeks! (Apparently that’s how long it takes to be effective).

Religiously taking evening primrose oil every day helps. Self care -time out, exercise etc is also a must.

Also, I have realised that sometimes rage is entirely justified and PMT is a way of pointing out I don’t need to put up with shit the rest of the month.

I have to take Sertraline for severe PMS. Nothing, and I mean nothing else worked for me

Agnus castus is good, if you take it regularly. But, I would strongly recommend getting a full hormone profile done, I actually often get private tests through Medi Checks ( my GP wouldn’t do hormone tests ) and long story but I discovered I had hypothyroidism, with very low hormones right across the board, plus almost certainly endometriosis but obviously I’m still waiting a million years for the NHS diagnosis ( it’s in my family, symptoms are clear ). If you have a hormone imbalance anywhere, it affects your entire endocrine system. I also found removing dairy improved a lot of things.

Had a full hysterectomy! Had had enough, over 20 years of trying everything and I mean everything. Bad periods too. I was 42 though with children.

Agnus castus worked a big for a while but I really do think you would have to cut out sugar (which I could never quite do), alcohol and anything else that is yummy

Feel for you, it is so debilitating.

Prozac. Low dose. Two weeks a month. It's changed my life.

I have tried fluoxetine but it gave me horrendous anxiety on top of PMT.
Then I tried sertraline. 50mg every day.....seems to help quite a bit but I've put a lot of weight on.
I'm trying without anything right now but find immediately after ovulating, I just feel really really low and then my OMG Ramos I until I come on then the day I come on and the day after, I feel unwell. Achey, almost flu like and foggy headed.

to everyone. PMT sucks, it really does...