Postnatal use of pill to reduce PMS symptoms

[sneakypetesgrandmaisace]

Hi. I've done some research on this but looking for any real life experiences.

Since pregnancy 9 months ago, my PMS symptoms have been awful. This sounds very dramatic but they are beginning to ruin my life and I am scared that my relationship will suffer / end as a result.

For 2 weeks of the month (starting just over a week before my period is due) I am a different person. I have no energy, no appetite and therefore no desire to cook for me and my family. I don't want to leave the house. I get so frustrated and angry about minor things that it comes out in either tears or violence (never aimed at anyone but things like slamming objects. Last week I cried for 5 days straight for 5+ hours a day, to the point that my nose was raw from all the blowing. On one day I got myself so worked out about something not working that I nearly cut myself to calm down (I have done this in the past and had help for it).

There's more but that's probably enough to give a picture.

After some research I am seriously considering going on the combined pill in the hope that calms things down. But I'm a bit scared that it can be known to have the opposite effect and make things worse.

Either way I can go on like this so I'm going to call the doctor today or tomorrow.

Just wondered if anyone had experience of this and what worked or didn't work for them?

Thank you.

Check PMDD antidepressants is usually the first choice

I have bad pms since having children. Also had PND after DC1. The 2 conditions are linked I believe. As you have a baby under 1 it might be worth considering if it could be PND but worsening in a cycle with your hormones?

I took ADs for a year for the PND and fully recovered but noticed when DC2 around 3 that I was getting dreadful anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness in the 7-10 days around my period. Exercise and b vitamins helped a bit but not enough. GP wanted me to try ADs but I didn’t get on with them and requested the contraceptive pill instead. I take one called Eloine. For me it has been very effective and I hope I’m able to stay on it for a long time.

Thank you both for replying. I'm quite worried about taking ADs. I spoke to a doctor today and got a prescription for the combined pill so will see how that goes first. I'm not sure which one it is yet.

@Thebestcat how soon after taking the pill did you notice an improvement?

Hi OP

My PMS was so bad too. Your description of how you feel really resonated with me.

About 5 years ago I started taking oil of evening primrose with starflower every day. It's an orange box from Boots. I take one every single day and up it to 2 a week before my period. Having felt like a different human just before my period I now feel more balanced and experience less extreme emotions. It took a few months before I noticed a difference. And I have tried coming off it to see if it was the pills and I regretted it as I went back to how I was before.

Sorry not really about the pill but if PMS is an issue I really can't recommend this enough as it worked for me so well and it's worth a try.

Thank you @zeddybrek I will definitely look into this

I noticed the difference straight away. Or at least from when my next pms time would have been! It helped with my general mood and the way my body felt. I wasn’t so jangly and on edge. It hasn’t helped hugely with the sleep but I am coping with that. I really hope it’s helpful for you too. Good luck with everything.

Thank you @Thebestcat

I picked up the prescription today and they've given me Rigevidon. It's got some awful reviews but I'm going to ignore them for now and give it a try. Also looking at the evening primrose with starflower.

Thanks all for your advice.