OK, please advise on evening primrose oil.

[flowerfairy]

Am taking above as have had terrible pms symtoms and i seem to be much calmer when taking it. Though am also ttc and have jsut read that you should only take up to ovulation, as can cause uterine contractions. Well i'm probably being a bit of hypercondriac, but stomach has felt like mild labour/contraction pain on and off for last few days. Did not seem to have much ewcm this month but bd around right time ish. Don't want to prevent implantation but don't want to become the pms ogre this month either. What to do? Please help.

[ScaryHairy]

How much EPO are you taking?

Zita West's "Vital DHA" contains EPO and I emailed them to ask this question because they recommend it to women who are ttc (and that you take it every day, not just in the follicular phase).

The dose in those capsules is 200mg per day, which they assure me is safe.

[flowerfairy]

Just checking the bottle now........

[flowerfairy]

Much more than that- 520mg (high strength) per capsule and i usually take the full dose of 2 capsules, becuase i've had such terrible pms.

That sounds far too much against your 200mg, doesn't it.

Oh help, i think this was the same as last month too.

[ScaryHairy]

Don't worry. I very much doubt that 200mg would be the highest safe dose possible.

Could you maybe halve the dose and see if it still helps the PMS? (not sure if that would be considered ok for ttc purposes, but it might be an idea)

Maybe some other more useful people will come along with some handy tips for dealing with PMS without EPO...

[flowerfairy]

Thanks scaryhairy, will reduce dose for rest of month and see what happens. Will just go and tell dh to be prepared for rocky 2 weeks ahead of screaming banshee of wife with extremely sore boobs.

[MKG]

I conceived ds2 and while taking 500mg of EPO and continued through my pregnancy. I believe it's when you get into the 1000-1500 mg that it becomes a little more worrysome.

[flowerfairy]

Thanks MKG will reduce intake to 1 tablet from now on.

[MKG]

Just saw this

and this

[RUMPEL]

have you thought about taking agnus castus instead? It is great - do a bit of research for alternatives.

[flowerfairy]

thanks MKG again, will look for some flax seed capsules as well. Dh thinks i have too many tablets, but i know i'm less frantic and my boobs are definitely not as sore for so long when i take EPO.

Rumpel- had a few agnus castor tablets(pg sister had left over from pre -pg) but have read on here that it should be only used for severe hormone imbalance. My periods are generally 30 day cycles and just lately could alomst set watch by them, it's just the physical symptoms i'm really suffering with-nausea, extreme breast pain, nasty taste in mouth, cramps don't usually start until week period due, whereas others are lasting 2 weeks or more without EPO. Whereas sister had cycle all over the place. So never continued with those, but would be interested in other peoples opinions on alternative remedies for pms. Even went to gp, who suggested prozac, EPO or chinese remedies.
Sorry very long post

[MKG]

I take EPO because I have eczema and am convinced it helps my skin, and also when i take it I don't get cramps.

Have you considered flax see oil instead of a supplement. You can put it on vegetables or mix in a drink.

[ScaryHairy]

Prozac? crikey.

I have heard that after ovulation flax seed oil is a good alternative to EPO.

I really love the EPO myself. The capsules I take have EPO and fish oil and my skin and nails have improved no end since I started taking them.

[RUMPEL]

I used to take agnus castus tincture (liquid form) I had very regular periods but had hellish PMS symptoms - it worked a treat for me. I stopped taking it when pg but will start it again when Lo is born - as apparently it can increase your milk production too. I prefer tinctures to tablets. I get mine from:

www.woodlandherbs.co.uk/