I have never met anyone who actually enjoys having their period (with the exception of a few friends who have been late:chuckle: lol). PMT is awful and some women suffer worse with it than others. Do you get it bad? What do forum members (of the female variety) recommend to help make pmt easier?

I hate having my period with a passion! I have a lot of trouble with period pain and heavy blood flow. I have been checked by a Gynocologist who has put me on many different pills to try and ease the problem (Diane etc etc) but as yet I haven't found a pill that helps.

A day or two before I actually get my period I get the most intense sugar cravings! I just want sugar, sugar and more sugar. When I actually get my period I have to take naprogesic to ease the pain. I also get awful headaches someitmes. I find that popping a hot water bottle on my tummy helps to. Does anyone else notice their tummy swells up slightly during their period?

Oh boy. Here's where you find out what a horror I am for a couple of days a month. It's such a cliche but unfortunately for me (and those around me) it rings, rings, rings true! I wasn't that bad when I 'first became a woman' as my mamma so nicely put it but now it's not pretty :explode:

I take Evening Primrose oil capsules and they really help. I was suspicious at first - I'm pretty cynical about natural products - but I have noticed a difference. They have added benefits for skin and hair too.

Not much other than that - though I've started taking notice of when I feel more snappish than usual and give myself a stern talking to i.e. recognise that I'm feeling that way for a reason and to try not to be too sensitive about the little things.

Helps having a lovely supportive pardner who understands PMS is real and not some made-up wimmens bizness.

I hate having my period with a passion! I have a lot of trouble with period pain and heavy blood flow. I have been checked by a Gynocologist who has put me on many different pills to try and ease the problem (Diane etc etc) but as yet I haven't found a pill that helps.

A day or two before I actually get my period I get the most intense sugar cravings! I just want sugar, sugar and more sugar. When I actually get my period I have to take naprogesic to ease the pain. I also get awful headaches someitmes. I find that popping a hot water bottle on my tummy helps to. Does anyone else notice their tummy swells up slightly during their period?

PCC I swell up a bit. Hot water bottle definitely helps. I also try to drink heaps of water and eat simple foods that won't make me bloat more. I actually find most of the pain comes from my back, which is weird - that's where I feel the cramps the most.

Have also been on pill due to bad pain (since I was 14) and I find it helps a bit, but I still have really strong cramping. Gah!

I was thinking of starting this thread myself as I really hate myself when I'm PMT crazed. :flames:
My big worry is that it is getting increasingly worse. Has anyone else found this? I'm not sure if this is due to age, contraception (have the implant in my arm) or my spastic reproductive system. This year I had a double whammy cancer scare. I had a precancerous lesion scraped off my cervix & an ovary removed with a large benign tumour. Get your check ups girls.
The whole process used to be a breeze for me without pain, moods and all over in 3 days. Now I get 1 sane week, the other 3 I am a complete nightmare. It is really odd. I get bad pain as early as 2 weeks beforehand. I scoff chocolate. I yell at my kids which reminds me to down some St Johns Wort. I also take Evening Primrose, and a PMT mix. I have just started trying Aust. Bush Essences Woman blend too. Must admit that I do not really take these regularly though. I forget.
I want to talk to my gyno about it but fear he may just roll his eyes at me. I feel sorry for everyone who has to put up with me & I feel like a bad mother. Sorry for being such a sook but I just got mine today & feel like crap. I did just give myself a facial & that made me feel a bit better. My sympathetic boy just made me a killer Milo. :hugs:

Medusa, a big virtual bearhug for you :hugs:

If your gyno even might roll his eyes I think it's time to get a new one! Stupid jerk (possibly, depending on eye-rolling outcome)

Here's a lame attempt at making you smile:

Why are pirates pirates?
Because they arrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhh (said with pirate accent it's really quite funny. Kills the nephews)

:chuckle: Good one!

Medusa,
I would definitely make an appointment to talk to your gyno or even G.P. You have been through such a lot and I am certain they won't roll their eyes at you or think you are a sook. It is a very real problem and when it is affecting your life in the way that it is and you need to bring it to the attention of your medical profesionals. I am sure there are things they can do to help.

On occasions I have to have a tablet to stop me from bleeding as my period can go on for weeks. I am no expert but I think you really are having severe pmt and I really want you to think about going along to the Doctor to discuss it. Atleast he can put your mind at ease.

I think you are doing a fabulous job, I couldn't imagine having bad pmt and still be able to be Mummy and Wife as well. If it was me I would certainly not be coping as well as you are. You are obviously a great Mum and love your kiddies to pieces so why not do something for yourself and go to the doctor. Imagine how good it would be to at least be able allieviate some of the symptoms.

In the mean time we are all hear for you. Fel free to let out your stress with us!

Ok Agony Aunt's work is done here lol!

Thanx so much guys. You are making me a tad weepy - bloody hormones!
You know that new Special K ad where they say women always put themselves last? Well I so relate to that. Just yesterday I went to the Osteopath. A girlfriend pushed me & made the appointment for me. I have suffered back pain for years & found that my pelvis was twisted. Feels great today. I tend to have a high pain threshold & put that sort of thing off. I just learn to deal with the pain. Silly I know. :redcheeks:

Medusa,
You should put yourself first for a change. The way you talk about your babies makes me know instantly that you are a devoted Mama and do everything for your little ones. Mum's like you have what I think is the hardest job in the world! Your job never ends and that would be truely exausting even if it is the most rewarding thing in the world.

Just think that if you put yourself first here you will actually be doing your hubby and little ones a favour as they will have a much happier Mama/Wife who is a lot less stressed and in pain and therefore not as irritable and delbilitated by the awful pmt.

It's awful when you lose it and snap or yell but you just can't help it when you feel so crap. You need to get yourself better so you can be healthy and able to be there for those little ones!

Sending you lots of love, big hugs and kisses Medusa!

Wow Medusa sounds like you have a really horrible time with yours, i cant imagine how you manage with children and a husband.

I find that yes i do get a bit snappy and smart with my partner around that time of the month, but luckly no bloating and very rarely period pain...i think i should start marking down the dates and see if theres a pattern. Then he gets grumpy and tells me not to take it out on him but sometimes you snap and then realise its not their fault...but its too late.

I try to have along time, e.g take my dog for long walks or just chill out with a dvd and food galore.

Hi Medusa, I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time, I wish I had a magical cure for you, unfortunately I think its the gyno who might have that! Hope you are feeling a bit better after our love and support here on the forum.

I get really crabby around period time, I find myself snapping (usual at my hubby) and I don't even mean to. I often stand there thinking where the hell did that come from. Then I turn into an emotional wreck, and cry. The boy is a good support though, something I am really grateful for. I usually get a bloated stomach, which I hate so much, what makes it even worse is that I have mad cravings for salty food AND I HAVE TO HAVE IT.:flames:

I have bad periods in a way. I've been on the pill since i was 17 and it did help me to start with but then i got really bad migranes and they think it was from the pill so i am now on my 3rd brand of pill and it seems to be working (touch wood) i got migranes before i went on the pill but they seemed to increase. I now take a preventative so they are under control.

I used to get really bad cramping, headaches, bloated even vomiting and diarrreha (sorry can't spell) but now i'd say it was normal. Only medium cramping, like someone said more to the back, headaches and definately bloating, i feellike i'm going to bust some days.I take naprogesic which seems to help.

I don't usually get much PMT just to usually grumpyness etc but this last time i was exploding full of rage for everyone no matter what they did was just mean and really angry. Like i could hit someone i was that angry and that is not like me at all. But the next day of got my period and it was like all my PMT had gone, just dissapeared with relief. When i get my period i feel crap all week and just wanna stay inmy pj's and do nothing all day but watching tv and eating but i don't do this all the time. I find i just want to be alone when i get my period and just chill out.

I hate periods!!!!! They are cruel and unfair.

Hmmm interesting one. Medusa, I just got mine too... we are in sync but so far away and have never met!!

I don't think I suffer from PMT - but I live by myself so perhaps my word isn't the right one!!! There is no one at home for me to take it out on! The first day (yesterday) I get really nasty cramps, where I double over if possible. I take Voltaren and it is wonderful.

Other than the first day I'm usually pretty good - they last for 6 or so days though (despite being on the pill) which really annoys me.

Well girls, I just spent last night and today in tears and furious. HELLO PMT, IS THAT YOU?????? BUGGER OFF!

ah yes, Medusa, that's a story I can relate to! However, I don't get teary at all, just really, really, angry! And irrational! And bloated! And it never used to be like this! And I really, really hate it!

So for those of you who use national remedies, does anyone find anything that eases the emotional nastiness?

Thanks for all your support guys. It means a lot to me :hugs: I am feeling more normal today. The 2 day migrane let up around lunchtime which was a huge relief.

OK I will take it up with my gyno & see what happens. I am also going to try to remember to take my vitamins, see if it makes a difference.

Does anyone else feel really fat once a month? I always feel like I have gained 5 kilos for the week. Must be the bloating?

Does anyone else feel really fat once a month? I always feel like I have gained 5 kilos for the week. Must be the bloating?

Yes - it's dreadful. I feel like a lardball .....

went and bought some evening primrose oil capsules today (thankyou raspberryberet!). at least my skin will benefit if nothing else!

i'm so glad you're feeling better Medusa, for another month at least!

I break out terribly at least a week before my period is due. It's the bane of my existence!
I get a teeny bit bloated and find I can't fully suck in my stomach when I have my period. Generally it's not too painful but sometimes it's horrible and I can't even get out of bed. Because this happens only occasionally (say, every 3rd month) my boss must think I'm a terrible liar who can't keep track of when she's supposed to be chucking a sickie!

iCat good luck with the eve primrose oil! Let me know how it goes, will be interested to see if others find it helps them too.

Oh girls! Have just encountered this thread! Awful woes and quite serious and valid health concerns!

On the advice of my doc (female!) I take the pill continuously and only have four periods a year. It is payback time though when I do have them as they are a killer but knowing I wont have another for weeks is a great feeling. The have just released a pill with this intention in the US but it's exactly the same as the ones here, just packaged differently. Thankfully dont actually suffer from moods before (does that make me a freak?) and although I am not a chocolate lover (ok that makes me a freak!) I tend to crave it when I get my period only!

I smiled when I say the Special K ad, so clever and so true! Remember to take time out for yourselves girls,.and get those health checks. So glad to hear you are ok Medusa.

Evening Primrose Oil works wonders for me. I take it 1 week before I'm due and I find it helps with the mood swings. I don't usually get cranky or anything but I do get emotional - everything is magnified x 100!!
As for cramping I guess I'm just lucky in that department, I don't get them at all. I do, however, get lower back ache the 1st and 2nd day.

My sis gets wicked cramps, I was up there the other week at Chrissy and the poor girl was in tears (the day of Perth Cup!!) because she had bad cramping. There's nothing worse than being struck down by your period right before an important event!

I think the creator of Human's (whoever you believe that to be) gave us women a raw deal when he gave us periods. Obviously he was a Man!!

I reckon! Men don't suffer anywhere near as much as women! No periods, no childbirth...
It's probably better in some ways, men can be such children when they are sick. THAT is certainly not worth the pain!! :chuckle:

:chuckle: :chuckle: LOL

i just remembered something i used to take for atrocious period pains and cramps when i was a teenager. it's a product called 'cell salts', and they are tablets you can obtain from any natural health care store that sells a good range of vitamins tabs. they are meant to replace the special salts in your body which are depleted and can cause cramps to the abdomen. you cannot od on them, and i remember i used to take about 4-6 initially, and then a couple whenever i needed them. you chew them up so a good portion is quickly absorbed on your tongue. and they really worked.

haven't used them for years, thank god!

I am so glad I found this thread even though it is over 12 months old....

I was reading about Medusa's symptoms and thinking thats me!!! I have severe pmt mood swings and just seems to be getting worse and worse as I'm getting older. I feel angry, sad, depressed, all these emotions at once and I cannot control myself, I feel as though I have another personality which comes out 2 weeks before my period! I hate myself and feel so sorry for my little one, I don't seem to have any control and any little thing sets me off. I only seem to be normal for one week out of four!

I went to the health shop yesterday and I now have fish oil and Wild Yam/Chaste Tree so I am hoping by next month things my settle down. I might even give the evening primrose a go.

I feel your pain LouLou, I can be that bad too. I'm with ya sister! I get horrible moods (cranky and really really depressed, almost psychotically so - I start to think that everyone hates me and is against me?!) and bad pain. One of the worst things is that my blood pressure drops a lot, which makes even getting off the couch a huge effort. Of course I turn to sugar and caffeine just to keep going but that's not really the best either. I have the arm implant, which is supposed to prevent you from having periods but yeah, that didn't work for me. I can't be on the pill because I am just shocking at taking pills, I never remember no matter if I leave it by my toothbrush or next to my bed! I have tried and tried but am so unreliable.