PMS help!

[evedawn]

I'm 36. For the past few months the two week before my period I am a nightmare. I wake up so stressed that I have a physical ache in my chest, other times I feel like bursting into tears. The breast tenderness etc I can handle it;s the emotional anguish thats the pits. I am angry, paranoid, sad ...all together! The effort it takes not to lash out at my loved ones takes all of my willpower. I am NOT on the pill (and don't really want to start taking it). Why has it suddently gotten worse, i never used to have a problem with this. It is a nightmare! (PS I've had endometriosis for years but not the PMS to this extent)

[sara3]

sorry, but as you get older your hormones change. see your gp if it's as bad as you say.

[evedawn]

thanks sara - i#'ve been putting off going to the Dr as keep hoping "next month" will be better but it's getting worse. really don't want to go on the pill, (no need as my hub has had a vasectomy) but evening primrose etc have no effect.

[ethandron]

at your age eve it's the start of peri menopause, bad pms is a well recognised symptom unfortunately.
however, recognising how you feel is the first step to trying to learn to cope with it. go and have a chat with your doctor, join a forum about it, talk to other women about it. you may not be able to get rid of it but sharing your feelings and getting tips from other ladies going through the same thing really does help.
evening primrose had no effect on me either. good luck :)

[evedawn]

Thanks ethandron. I did think perimenopause but thought I must be too "young" (my mum only went through menopause at 54). I wonder if the doc might suggest a blood test to look at this? (PS in the past (for other reasons not PMS) i don't find my GP to be very empathetic)

[karenmac60]

Perimenopause doesn't usually start till your mid 40s and you're likely to be of a similar age as your mother when she went through it. Although it's not unheard of at your age, it's less likely and if your mum was older then you are likely to be too.

[evedawn]

Ok karenmac - besides the perimenopause what else do you think could be making it so much worse, (I will go to the dr too but value all AB opinions). For years I was on the MIrena coil,(had it removed about 8 months back) but now take no hormonal contraceptive. Could this just be my "natural" state and the mirena "hid it" for years?

[ethandron]

it's usual to start having some symptoms as you hit 40 but it's not unheard of in your mid to late thirties. trouble is most ladies aren't really aware of perimenopause and it's only in retrospect that they realise they were having symptoms, dreadful pms being a very common sympton to start with. it doesn't necessarily follow that you'll be the same as your mum either, it definitely didn't for my sister and i.
a blood test probably wouldn't show anything up yet, hormonal fluctuations being what they are but defo have a chat with your doctor (or a different one in the practice?), they may have invented some wonder cure - ha, we wish!! :)

[maggie21]

the coil doesn't input chemicals into your body just kills sperm enterting in to your womb so i doubt it surpressed your hormonal balance

i get terrible breast pain only in on breast though. i take B12 and B6
have a look at this link some good advice here.

http://familydoctor.o...ve/menstrual/141.html

[evedawn]

thanks all of you (maggie the coil was a mirena coil which contains synthetic progesterone and lasts for about five years)
I love AB cos there's always someone "out there" who has got advice.

[ladyalex]

Try vitamin B6 and have a look at the homeopathy range in Boots. They have a leaflet that describes symptoms and , from memory 3 have suggested remedies for it.
Choose the remedy that fits best with your symptoms.
Also, make sure you don't get hungry at that time. Don't eat more, but spread your food out more evenly throughout the day.
Hope you feel a bit better soon. It's miserable.

[masma]

Get yourself some high dose Evening Primrose oil - it worked a treat for me and is doing the same for my daughter who is the same age as you x

[coccinelle]

I had the same as you 12 years ago, I was 37. I went to see a gynaecologist and she prescribed progesterone for 14 days a month. I'm still taking it but down to 10 days a month and will be until my periods stop. Don't suffer it's not worth it.

[evedawn]

thanks all of you ....