PMT Its getting worse

Ephemera

My GP was about as unsympathetic as they get - and it was a female GP.

Told me it was my age. I'm 37. Good job she was on the end of the phone or I might have done something I might have one day regretted...

I had severe depressive symptoms, so much so I was in floods of tears, stopped at the side of the road in my works van, and having a panic attack for no reason. And my GP, as far as she was concerned, thought I was not a serious case.

So I did a little research. What worked for me?

1. Cutting down on caffeine. NOTE that if you're a heavy user, cutting down on caffeine could give you withdrawal symptoms. I personally get flu-like symptoms - headache, sore throat, tiredness...every time I try to go cold turkey. So if I'm coming off caffeine I just have one caffeinated drink and alternate with decaff. And then go to one caffeinated, two decaff after a few days...

2. Getting active. Now, the last thing you might feel like when you've got PMT is to go for a run, I found keeping a diary and trying to get more active a few days before symptoms are expected and continuing the activity through seemed to help too. Getting more active in general does seem to help, and it increases your fitness levels!

3. Get your 5 a day or better.

This worked for me personally, it is not a recommendation or anything, just what worked for me!

All the best,

Eph xx

bulchy

Ephemera wrote: »

My GP was about as unsympathetic as they get - and it was a female GP.

Told me it was my age. I'm 37. Good job she was on the end of the phone or I might have done something I might have one day regretted...

I had severe depressive symptoms, so much so I was in floods of tears, stopped at the side of the road in my works van, and having a panic attack for no reason. And my GP, as far as she was concerned, thought I was not a serious case.

So I did a little research. What worked for me?

1. Cutting down on caffeine. NOTE that if you're a heavy user, cutting down on caffeine could give you withdrawal symptoms. I personally get flu-like symptoms - headache, sore throat, tiredness...every time I try to go cold turkey. So if I'm coming off caffeine I just have one caffeinated drink and alternate with decaff. And then go to one caffeinated, two decaff after a few days...

2. Getting active. Now, the last thing you might feel like when you've got PMT is to go for a run, I found keeping a diary and trying to get more active a few days before symptoms are expected and continuing the activity through seemed to help too. Getting more active in general does seem to help, and it increases your fitness levels!

3. Get your 5 a day or better.

This worked for me personally, it is not a recommendation or anything, just what worked for me!

All the best,

Eph xx

This is great advice, works for me also, I also find my periods arent as bad when I cut back on the caffeine and get more excersise.
Sue

beachbeth

I can really sympathise and know exactly how you feel because I have always had horrendous pms right from my first period when I was 14 - I am now 44. Telling you its your age is pointless! I tried all remedies including Evening Primrose and B6 and nothing made any difference. Eating six small starchy meals a day can help a bit but nothing I tried worked completely. I now manage my periods by doing two things: taking the pill (this means I can be in charge of when my periods are so that I don't start Christmas day or in the middle of a holiday).

However, the one thing that has virtually taken my pms away (I now just feel a bit irritated rather than the hot rage that I used to) is anti-depressants. I have been suffering from depression for the past 14 years and have been taking these and one lovely side effect is that they put a stop to my pms! I believe they can be prescribed for pms as well as depression.

No one on here can give you accurate advice because we aren't doctors and we don't know your medical history. I would urge you to go to see your doctor (see a 2nd or even a 3rd until you find someone sympathetic) and tell them how its ruining your life. Ask if anti depressants are appropriate or maybe they have other suitable treatments. You can't carry on like this and you need something doing now!!!

beachbeth

I agree with Epherema in that exercise can really help ease it. I know you really don't feel like exercising when you are in the throes of pms but it really does the trick. I once attacked my husband (not with a sharp instrument or anything!:D ) and then stormed out of the house. I walked briskly for about 10 minutes - I was absolutely seething! By the time I got home I had walked a lot of my rage off and was a lot calmer.