Awful PMT symptoms, can I take/do anything?

[olivesonapizza]

The week before my period every month is awful. I have insomnia, get really emotional and anxious, and have headaches including at least one migraine with sickness and vomiting. As soon as my period arrives I'm back to normal.

It's worse since having DC but I don't know if that would have happened anyway due to getting older. I'm only 34 though so potentially still years of this ahead.

Anyone else have this and is there anything I can do about it? It's miserable.

See a doctor but I take starflower oil (or borage oil - same thing)

Same. Not the migraines and vomiting, I'm sorry you're experiencing this so severely. But my mental health absolutely nosedives, OCD/intrusive/disturbing thoughts etc. I posted in Mental Health about it but didn't get any replies (well, I got one but it was deleted before I saw what I said. I assume it was nasty).

So I am here to piggyback on your replies. Google PMDD. I don't know. It's miserable.

@polarnopirate I've just googled PMDD and that's exactly what it is! I didn't realise it had a name. I've been tracking my symptoms for a while and it's very clearly linked to my periods, the rest of the month I'm fine so there must be something hormonal going on. Sorry you're going through it too, have you found any coping strategies?

@ladybird303 I'll look into star flower oil, thank you. I wasnt sure if this was something the GP could help with but perhaps I should give that a try. Ideally I'd prefer to avoid hormonal contraception though if that is a possible treatment.

I just came on here to explore extreme PMS (although my problem is more just before my period and then all the way through it.) It is a relief to have found you! I’m sorry you’re going through it, it is awful.

I’ve always been very emotional around that time of the month, arguments, irrational thoughts, self-sabotaging behaviour etc.

When I am stressed generally it’s much worse. Our lives during covid obviously are very stressful, I’ve noticed over the last 6 or 7 cycles it’s a massive problem. Also I’m 43 so maybe perimenopausal too.

Recently I’ve been having suicidal thoughts when it’s my period.

I never responded well to hormones - I couldn’t get on with any Pill. I don’t know if I should talk to my GP or if they would fob me off. They tend to offer me antidepressants no matter what reason I visit them. 3 weeks a month I’m pretty level headed and fine. I exercise a lot, eat well etc. I’m not depressed.

I’d be very interested in what works for others. I googled the issue and it doesn’t seem like conventional medicine has much to offer women full stop. I might try seeing a herbalist.

3 weeks a month I’m pretty level headed and fine. I exercise a lot, eat well etc. I’m not depressed.

This is exactly it. I'm like Jekyll and Hyde

From doing a bit more research over the past few days it seems the main treatment is either to level the hormones (e.g. with the pill) or treat the symptoms. This makes sense for the migraines I guess.

It’s almost like having a blackout. I look back on a particularly bad few days last week and just don’t recognise or understand some of the things I said and did.

I get suicidal and so tired I struggle to get through the day. I'm always massively tearful and agitated. I know what the problem is and I know it's chemical and it will pass, but that really doesn't help in the moment. My boobs get sore, my cramping starts a good 3 days before my period starts and I feel bloated and fat and revolting, but still want to eat everything I see - and then feel crappy about that too.

One week out of a month to feel like this is way too much of my life.

And I'm in the middle of it now.

I honestly don't know how I'm still employed as I am not particularly productive and on one incredibly embarrassing occasion, totally lost it at my boss, yelled at her and then sobbed like a complete dick. Total loss of control.

I'm 42. I've always been badly affected by my hormones, but it is getting worse with every passing year.

I am not currently in a relationship, but it has caused problems. Not because I'm aggressive or pick fights, but it's just the negativity and depression that isn't fun to be around. More to the point, I know it's boring and annoying, so try to hide it, which makes me want to withdraw.

At least my DC know to give hugs and let me have time outs when it's that time again... they are understanding and I always make it up to them if I've been crabby.

It sucks bum.

@maudspellbody sorry to hear that. My week least week was similar, down to telling my mother I wished I was dead and I didn’t see the point in myself except to raise my dd and to the being weird and crying at my boss.

Have you tried things to see if it helps? (I’m guessing nothing really helps?)

This thread is interesting, I didn't realise others experienced the same as me. I also feel completely hopeless during my period week, almost to the point of suicidal, so I empathise with those who find the same

Has anybody tried just sort of hibernating during that week and waiting it out? My periods are like clockwork so it wouldn't be too hard to plan my life like this. Not ideal obviously but a possible way around it.

There is some kind of treatment regime that involves taking an anti-depressant during the troublesome week. Don't know much more as have only read about it but probably worth discussing with your GP.

If you can afford acupuncture it totally worked for me. £50 a go. Balances your hormones. Can lighten, regulate, and shorten periods too. I now don’t have bloating or anxiety either.

Just joining in to say me too. No solutions though.
I've been taking Vitamin D, Iron, Evening Primrose Oil, and Magnesium. I'm not sure any of it helps.
I've always had terrible periods and PMS but it feels like it's getting so much worse as I get older (now 44). I've been researching perimenopause and it sounds like it's just going to get worse and worse .
I'm considering the pill or Mirena but I've heard both can make symptoms worse so I'm a bit reticent.
A few posters have mentioned having suicidal thoughts. Please don't suffer in silence. Talk to your GP. Look up PMDD. And take care of yourselves