Severe PMT, feel like leaving home every month. Any advice?

[livingstondaisy]

This is my first ever post so hope you girls can give me some advice. I am going to see my GP as my PMT is getting worse. I have always suffered with it but since my baby was born 18 months ago it has become unbearable.

I feel so low, angry and irrational. My hubby is fab and gives me lots of support but it is unfair in my family having to deal with someone who is crazy 2 weeks a month. When I have it it scares me as I feel that I could happily walk out and not go bk, I just long to be alone til my period comes.

I have tried st John's wort but no change.

Can anyone give me any pointers before I see the go, I would prefer to go with some idea of what treatment etc I want so I don't get palmed off.

Thanks

[FrameyMcFrame]

Eve primrose had helped my physical effects such as gloating and acne but not the emotional ones.
I'm also taking magnesium supplements abd eating more frequently. I'm worse if hungry and tired.
I get this v badly too and have ruined a lot of relationships/professional and personal with my irrational behaviour.
I'm nice for half the time. That's the only reason I know I'm not going mad
You're not alone.

[FrameyMcFrame]

Bloating not gloating.

The gloating's still there

[cocolepew]

Ask for a hormone check.

Using the 'womans health' vitamins can help, especialy ones with magnesium, zinc and chronium.

[cocolepew]

My friend was given a low dose anti depressant for hers.

[livingstondaisy]

Thanks, meant to say I have tried evening primrose with no benefit and have tried 12 types of contraceptive pills but none agreed with me either, they made me feel terrible and I was misdiagnosed with post natal depression when it was actually caused by the pill. I have polycystic ovaries so I do have odd hormones but I am scared about how irrational I can be. I am not nice to be around and it upsets me to think this is how my kids see me. Thanks for your replies. I will try those other tablets you suggest. Any idea how long they take to work?

[AndMiffyWentToSleep]

What about an IUS? (like the coil but with low dose of hormones in)
It can stop periods too.

[livingstondaisy]

Thanks, I will ask abt that. To be honest I am scared of anything with hormones after what I went through with the pill but will ask the gp about it. I know something has to change

[mcmooncup]

I feel for you OP.
I make such mad crazy judgements when I have PMT......it's like an alien overtakes my body for 2 days (worst days) a month. And I am unable to control it.

My doctor said the only thing proven to work is an ad, but also that if you look at the actual stats on this, they are open to interpretation.

I think that diet also does help. Marginally.
And no drinking for sure helps, along with sleep.

I absolutely hate it though. The day I actually get my period I am so relieved that I am not going to be the girl from the exorcist anymore

[PersuedByPenguins]

Does anybody else get PMT symtoms around ovulation time as well?

[PersuedByPenguins]

*symptoms

[mercibucket]

Ask for thyroid and iron blood tests. My pmt got worse and worse over the years. Eventually I was diagnosed hypothyroid and since starting the meds, my pmt has pretty much gone. If your thyroid is currently ok, ask for what the number was and get it re-tested yearly. It can creep up on you.

[PersuedByPenguins]

Its like natural contraception as I get really narky with DH and sex is the last thing I want, not so good when TTC! As you say Lark Its not as pronounced as actual PMT though

[addictedtolatte]

I have to take a low dose antidepressant it makes me like Mary Poppins without it am like cruella devil

[SlightlyJaded]

Agnus Castus. Changed my life

I have tried everything. EVERYTHING

It takes a month or two to work, but it really made a difference

Good luck - PMT can be really dark for some people

[Flojobunny]

I have tried various anti depressants but none have worked.
I am now looking in to having a hysterectomy because I am really that fed up with it all.

[FishfingersAreOK]

I have a couple of friends who are on AD for just 2 weeks a month - so take the week before PMT starts to even them out and then stop just after period starts. Seems to work for them.

I find Evening Primrose and Magnesium OK brand of vitamins seem to even my mood out pretty well over the month (though am also on pill - am on Cilest after lots of trial and error - am on it to control periods/hormones rather than as my choice of contraceptive). I still do have 1-2 days of Exorcist. I have diarised (as is so regular due to pill) so it does kind of help knowing why I am such a nutbar.

Hate it though. Am getting a blood test soon as I have the thyroid "marker" - ie am potentially liable to get underactive thyroid so my GP has me test each year so keep an eye on it.

[SlightlyJaded]

Please please try Agnus CAstus before resorting to Ads. I am very generally unimpressed by herbal remedies/homeopathy etc which I consider a bit woo feeble

But it works for me and I a spent years feeling like the devil for 5 days a month. Alternating between utter despair and murderous rage.

[SlightlyJaded]

www.pmswarrior.com/agnus-castus-does-it-work-for-pms/

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-83110/Is-natural-cure-PMS.html

'evidence' - look even the Daily Fail agrees with me

[Flojobunny]

Fish I'm guessing you aren't in the UK then? As its not recommend here. The side effects to the ADs are pretty nasty (believe me I've had them!) so to go through that then the withdrawals seems a bonkers idea.

[Flojobunny]

I'm going to try the agnus cactus thingy, where can I find it? Tesco, boots? Or do I have to go more specialist?

[NotMostPeople]

I started to get pmt a couple of years ago, I have an underactive thyroid so already on the correct dose and don't want to take the pill as I'm a high risk for getting breast cancer. It started to get worse and worse DH who is very laid back was very understanding but it was getting worse and worse. Almost a year ago DH said that it was becoming problematic and he thought I should go to the GP. I get on we'll with my GP and he said that he felt that taking AD's was using a hammer to crack a nut and said he'd refer me to an specialist as we have private medical insurance.

About this time I started BIWI's Bootcamp here on MN, which if you don't know is a low carb diet. I started a few days before my period was due but by the next one I had the amazing experience of starting my period without knowing it was coming. This hadn't happened for a long time because I'd be so depressed, irritable and tearful, I thought it might be a one off but I stayed one the diet and no PMT. then in the school summer holidays I fell off the low carb wagon and sure enough the pMT was back.

I happened to see my GP and told him all of this and he thought it might not be all carbs causing the pmt so asked me about my diet and I told him that I was eating a lot of chocolate. He was fairly sure this was the cause so for the next few months I made sure I didn't eat chocolate for a week before my period was due and I had no pmt. I'm back on the low carb diet and have continued to be pmt free.

It really has made a huge difference, so it's worth a try.