PMT Its getting worse

Savvy_Sue

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Your GP may not have been any help 'years ago', but please try again. Ask if there is anyone at the surgery with a particular interest in women's problems, if you have any friends at the same surgery ask if they have any recommendations (either who to see or who to avoid!)

Also when I've blown up at the boys I've always tried to say sorry afterwards, and reassure them that I still love them, even though I don't feel well and over-reacted. It doesn't happen so much these days, mercifully!

judyjetson

I've suffered really badly with PMT and know eactly how you feel. I tried all sorts of remedies, but what worked for me was Femal. It's a herbal supplement.

It's not cheap, it's around £15 a box, which is a month's supply, but once you've taken it for a couple of months you can take half the amount so it lasts for two months. You can quite often get it 3 for 2 at Boots and it's been worth every penny for me.

I still get a little bit niggly occasionally, but no more so than at any other time of the month.

You might find this site helpful:
http://www.pms.org.uk/Home

red

There are various supplements that may be able to help, including St John's Wort and Evening Primrose Oil. The other thing that might help is to increase the amount of soya in your diet - if you can, switch to soya milk and maybe try to have a little tofu also. Good luck, and hope that things get better for you soon...

harryharp

Years ago there was an article about PMT in Prima magazine, which I found so useful I have kept the page. I promptly went out and bought all the supplements recommended, and I have to say they have really helped over the years.

This is the 'summary' bit from the article:

Low energy:
Rest and relax. Cut out sugar and eat 'slow burn' carbohydrates like wholefood pasta and cereals. Drink rosemary, ginger or lemon balm tea. Take a vitamin B complex.

Irritability:
Take vitamins B5 and B6. Drink cinnamon or camomile tea. Cut out sugar, caffeine and alcohol. If tense, try valerian or passionflower.

PMS symtoms- headache, tiredness, moods swings, backache:
Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement, which includes chromium and zinc, daily. Take 100mg vitamin B6 daily in the second half of your cycle, plus 500mg evening primrose oil morning and evening, 200mg magnesium and 300mg vitamin E daily. Restrict intake of salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol.

Food cravings:
Take multivitamins and minerals, plus extra chromium picolinate. Eat pasta and cereals, but avoid caffeine and rich, sugary foods. Eat little and often, drinking lots of water.

Tender breasts:
Take 500mg evening primrose oil morning and evening. Cut out sugar, caffeine and processed foods.

Ted_Hutchinson

Total pack-years and smoking during adolescence and young adulthood were also independently associated with a higher risk of PMS............smoking, especially in adolescence and young adulthood, may increase risk of moderate to severe PMS. These findings may provide an additional incentive for young women to avoid cigarette smoking.

If the PMT is getting worse it may be worth stopping smoking if you currently are a smoker.

The Lancet had an article on Premenstrual syndrome last April.
Under other treatments there are some suggestions that are interesting.
they point to Chronobiological basis of female-specific mood disorders. and this suggests that SADlight treatment may be useful and this is confirmed in another paper.
If it is a similar situation to SAD (the lousy summer is likely to mean earlier SADsymptoms this year) it would be worth trying effective strength D3 as that is known to improve feelings of well being particularly in SAD.

They go on to suggest B6
citing Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: systematic review, BMJ (Clin Res Ed) 318 (1999), pp. 1375–1381. I'll have a look at this later and report back what it says.

They also suggest calcium supplements could help. (if this is the case then Vitamin D3 should also help as you need adequate 88nmol/l D3 status to optimise calcium uptake and control)

as could Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry), which is claimed to have antiprolactin effects.
This paper also discusses many of these suggestions.

The use of evening primrose oil seems to be ineffective they cite Is evening primrose oil of value in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome? Control Clin Trials 17 (1996), pp. 60–68.,

They say several studies have assessed the therapeutic benefit of magnesium treatment some, but not all, found it effective. They say magnesium can be poorly tolerated but that is likely to be because magnesium oxide is mostly used and that is the least well absorbed. There are better forms

Perhaps my diet plan would also be helpful as they say studies of diets with high intake of complex carbohydrates benefit, due to enhanced transport of the serotonin precursor tryptophan into the brain.
I wondered why I felt better eating a low carb diet, maybe that is the reason. (It certainly isn't PMS reduction for me)

I missed out spironolactone
This is a diuretic supposed to help seems to be help bloating and breast pain in PMS, although they question the link between premenstrual symptoms and water retention.

harryharp

Ted_Hutchinson wrote: »

as could Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry), which is claimed to have antiprolactin effects.

Though it is said to also lower your libido (hence the name)- something to bear in mind.

Ted_Hutchinson

harryharp wrote: »

Though it is said to also lower your libido (hence the name)- something to bear in mind.

I only like to post information that I can back up with links to peer review scientific evidence. I can't find anything in pubmed suggesting that it affects libido and until I see that evidence I doubt it.

Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events. This abstract list possible adverse events but concludes the data available seem to indicate that VAC is a safe herbal medicine.

lawlorlane

Hi, I am suffering really bad right now - my next period is due on monday and I have been really bad for 2 days now. This morning was horrible as I reduced my nine yr old DS to tears, before we left
I was shouting and screaming about anything and everything and he burst out crying in the car just before going into school. I hate knowing that I have probably messed up his day but sending him in so upset. I am currently not talking to my OH due to other reasons and now I have spent the last half hour crying as I feel guilty and like I cant control myself. Doctor says I need to change my diet and gave me diet sheets two onths ago, all that without even asking me what my diet was like. I am not sleeping til 2 in the morning and I know this isnt helping my moods but I am struggling with that. I am not suicidal but I do wish I could walk away from my life. I feel like a failure and cant tell anyone close (family and friends) as im embarrased. I dont know what to do, any advice wold be great!
TIA

Agutka

I used to take evening primrose oil for the breast pain and magnesium for the mood. Both worked well. After the baby though my PMT turned me into a monster and it really scared me. A bit of googling and I found : Premenstrual dysphoric disorder on Wikipedia, which fitted me :eek: Antidepressants have taken it all away (I guess I have been given these for other reasons too though). Now when hubby drives me spare he jokes the doctor should up my dose, the cheeky so and so.

It was amazing how something so simple as hormonal changes (:rolleyes:) can have such an effect on us, and it's scary. But you will find a way that works for you - just browse the advice here and start helping yourself!

vegankris

I use Bach Rescue Remedy and find it helps.