Help with premenstrual stress

[jo32143]

Hi all

I suffer terribly with depression, occasionally even suicide thoughts, during the week before I am due on. Is there anything I can buy over the counter that could help give me a boost with this. I am desperate to find something as this is destroying my life and my relationship because I get so negative during that one week and I feel the world is on top of me.

Please Help


JO

[AbbieCadabra]

sorry to hear this is affecting you so badly, i know exactly what you mean tho'. i could easily have a massive barny, without anyone else being involved...

i've found starflower capsules really help, i get the 30's from tesco & take 2 per day, every day. i think it has twice as much GLA than evening primrose, which i took ages ago but without much effect.

it doesn't banish the pmt completely, but definitely lessens it for me.

hope you find something suitable.

[beachbeth]

I have had terrible pms right since my very first period. You name the symptom and I suffer from it. I used to make more mistakes at work, can't drive properly and am very forgetful. I used to feel very negative and as though the whole world is out to get me and wondered what the point of everything is. I have also physically attacked my husband.

Im 43 and over the years tried every remedy going. Vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil did nothing and neither did anything else I tried. The doctors couldn't help. I then, about 10 years ago, came down with full blown depression and had to give up work all together. I was put on anti-depressants (the modern ones don't have side effects and aren't addictive) and I now do not suffer with pms!:T

I don't know if anti-depressants are the way to go for you but its worth discussing with your doctor. Make sure you really stress how badly you feel, as well as the suicidal thoughts.

Even though Im still forgetful, tired and feel as though my brain has turned to cotton wool it isn't anywhere near as bad as it was and I don't feel angry at everyone, upset or negative any more.

[blossomsuz]

Hi
I am sorry you feel so bad due to PMS. Are you on the pill by any chance?
I used to suffer awful mood swings at that time of the month when I was on the pill. I fought with my OH and all of my family and was an awful person to be around! I was angry one min and bawling my eyes out the next! Since coming off the pill I get a bit maudlin but nothing too major and my oh says that its like being with a completly different person!

[Ted_Hutchinson]

A high intake of calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of PMS. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15956003)

Go to your doctor and ask for a 25(OH)D test. If your doctor does not agree this is justified on the NHS ask for a referral to TDL Pathology Website - About The Doctors Laboratory (http://www.tdlpathology.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=84) where you can get one done for £40.
When you get the result ask for sufficient CHOLECALCIFEROL (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/4/694) to raise your status to over 100nmol/L

The Vitamin D requirement in health and disease (http://www.europeansunlight.eu/research/uvradvitd/Heaney%20(2005).pdf) fig 2 shows the level of 25(OH)D that enables optimum control over the absorption and excretion of calcium. When Vitamin D status is optimal dietary sources of calcium are used better than calcium supplements. (http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/5976) calcium: foodsources (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=45#foodsources)

If your GP doesn't know how much to use then Supplemental intake of 400 IU vitamin D/d has only a modest effect on blood concentrations of 25(OH)D, raising them by 7–12 nmol/L, (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/85/3/649)may help.

If your doctor doesn't know where to get Cholecalciferol at effective strength as a single supplement use this. (http://www.bio-tech-pharm.com/products/d35.html)

Taking an effective amount of vitamin D may also improve the depression. (http://www.nutritionj.com/content/3/1/8)

[nappentass]

I'm sorry you're suffering I remember what it can be like.

I suffered horrible moods and terrible cramps, I'm now approaching the menopause with confidence as I've managed to find what works for me, I'll try to be brief..
I can't take painkillers (and a lot of prescriptions either) because of intolerance to them, and never take the pill or hormones because they made my life even more hellish.

I eat as cleanly as I can bearing in mind eat food that recognisable from it's natural form - mainly meat, veg & fruit, dairy substitutes (due to intolerance) - I put weight on easily and found that more weight = more problems - less weight = less problems.
I take a range of supplements (including D3 thanks Ted) as a safety net and use some as specific treatment on the rare occasion I suffer cramps now.

I find that yoga helps me a lot both physically & mentally, I try to keep active too. I have done a lot of mental & emotional 'decluttering' over recent years I think triggered by doing yoga and I finally feel like I'm me and not some out of control monster.

Most important for me is to be as informed as I can and be responsible for my own health. My bible - Chris Northrup Wisdom of Menopause also Dr Phil, Martha Beck & Flylady among others for mental and physical decluttering!

I hope you find what works for you, the main thing is don't give up and keep trying until you find the conbinations that work for you, it may not be one single 'fix'

HTH
J

[jo32143]

Hi all

Many many thanks for all your replies, it's good to know I'm not the only one feeling this way. I already take anti depressants (Citalopram 40mg). I may well go ahead and try the starflower, as I have tried Vitamin B compound and Evening Primrose capsules with no joy.

Thanks again.

[Ted_Hutchinson]

I already take anti depressants (Citalopram 40mg). I found I was able to stop the citalopram after I raised my Vit d status to optimal. (http://www.nutritionj.com/content/3/1/8)