Very bad PMT/pre menstrual symptoms

[rileybelle]

I was wondering if anyone can help.

I am 43 and for the past 6 months - 1 year I have been experiencing very bad pre menstrual symptoms. I have been tracking my cycle which is still very regular. Around 5 days prior to my period my mood swings, I become angry, tearful and despondent. I start picking fights with people.

The main physical symptomsa are tiredness, sugar craving and awful bloating. I end up looking around 5 months pregnant. I also have a change in bowel habit, alternating between constipation and diarrhoea. I have started taking a period support herbal supplement around a week before my period to try to curb some of these symptoms. I have never experienced symptoms like this in my 20s and 30s.

Could this be the start of perimenopause? Has anyone else had experience and managed to manage/alleviate their symptoms in some way? I would be very grateful for any experiences x

It sounds similar to PMDD but as you have just started these symptoms, it’s probably peri. Hormonal changes do horrible things, more so as we get older. It’s a good idea to keep a diary and join a perimenopause group for support and to know you’re not the only one going through this. Taking supplements may help, Ashwaganda, agnus castus, and weirdly, antihistamines in the days leading up to period help with physical symptoms.

Im 44. I started with hot sweats at night few months back. This is not a "wonder cure all" but I've been drinking Cacao (ceremonial) for the past 2 months. I went down a bit of a rabbit hole with it. I came across it as some one was offering it as a 'heart opener' at a sound bath.

In reality its actually very good as a mood balancer, hormone balancer, full of anidetoxants, full of estrogen, very goof for PMS/menopause ect

I've stopped drinking coffee ( its not been as bad as i thought) I have a cup of this in the morning and one at night. I have seen a difference, my anxiety is maybe a 2/3 when it pops up instead of a raging 9/10. I've not been anywhere near as tearful, and i dont feel as unhinged as i cant be 😁

Not a single hot night sweat since

Might be anecdotal but its worth checking out.

Thank you both so much. I've been taking bettervits PMS supplements but to be honest they don't seem to be doing much. They do contain B vitamins, ashwaghanda etc but just wondering if they aren't high strength enough. Will try cacao and also some agnus castus to see if that helps.

I get the ceremonial one, i think its not been processed and still retains everything. I have it with hot oat milk. Your not supposed to boil it. I get it off amazon. I use use raw coconut sugar to sweeten it. I can see why they call it a heart opener as its like a hug in a glass 😀

I’m so grateful for the tip, I’ve never heard of ceremonial cacao but very curious now!