Bad PMS...Any Suggestions?

wanabfirm · 01-20-2006, 01:38 PM

Once a month, I have "horrible" PMS, and find it difficult to workout. I flow like a stuck pig, have major cramps and cravings for forbidden food. Some months aren't too bad, but others are a pure nightmare. I am 38 yrs. old, have 2 children, and have had my tubes tied. I have been struggling with this ever since puberty, and I was wondering if anyone else has this problem and if so, what do you do about it? Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Once my period is over, I have difficulty getting back on track. I HATE the fact that my fitness routine AND the rest of my life has to be put on hold for at least 4 days out of every month!

Watch Me! · 01-20-2006, 01:42 PM

Have you looked into options that halt your period?
I don't know how this would go with tied tubes (bc I don't fully understand what it does), but there is a bc pill that has you have your period only 4x/year, I think it's called Seasonall?
Another option, and I know many don't like this and again I don't know how it relates with tied tubes, but Depo-Provera also stops your period -but there are bone loss concerns with that one (but you can monitor that).
I'm on Depo and I love it. I can't imagine going back to having a period.

MsFit · 01-20-2006, 01:45 PM

While we are on the subject, anyone here find that PMS gets worse in the mid 30s? I'm about to go Cajun on my neighbors, I'm yelling at my cat for meowing, I just threw my cordless mouse across the room for not working... Perfect time to go train, get all this frustration out!

wanabfirm · 01-20-2006, 02:00 PM

Well, I have tried Depo in the past and I actually bled non-stop for a year...that is why I got my tubes tied. I have read on other threads that over time, hard-core body building and cardio training can actually cause your periods to stop all together. I have been at it for a couple of years, but not hard-core. Maybe I need to bump it up a notch or two???

Watch Me! · 01-20-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsFit

I'm yelling at my cat for meowing

Oh man, I do that sometimes.

It's like - poor kitty, he's just meowing. Maybe I have reverse PMS (PMS all the time), lol.

darkangel · 01-20-2006, 02:58 PM

I started having premenopausal symptoms in my mid 30s. PMS was two weeks of hell prior to a week of cramps. I was incredibly horny, I couldn't sleep, I was waking up an hour or two after going to bed with nightsweats.

I got back on a low dose birth control pill and plan to stay put for a while. Now, my cycles are predictable, flow is light and PMS is much, much better.

Amris · 01-20-2006, 03:19 PM

Have you tried progesterone?

Also, I have used this thyroid regulator in the past (I am reminded now to get more!!) with great success! Thyroid aids in hormone balance.

wanabfirm · 01-20-2006, 04:38 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try the Thyroid Synergy and see if it helps. I would hate to have to go back on birth control. They have caused me to gain weight in the past. Can't wait for menopause...

mom2adiva · 01-20-2006, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsFit

While we are on the subject, anyone here find that PMS gets worse in the mid 30s? I'm about to go Cajun on my neighbors, I'm yelling at my cat for meowing, I just threw my cordless mouse across the room for not working... Perfect time to go train, get all this frustration out!

Ya know, THANK YOU for posting this. I swear I don't even feel like I know who I am 3-5days before AF hits. I get whiny, crabby, nobody can do anything right. I feel like I need to take a vacation once a month. Mine has been worse since I had my daughter

hethr37 · 01-20-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanabfirm

Once a month, I have "horrible" PMS, and find it difficult to workout. I flow like a stuck pig, have major cramps and cravings for forbidden food. <snip> I have been struggling with this ever since puberty, and I was wondering if anyone else has this problem and if so, what do you do about it?

This is me as well, cramps and all, since puberty, on the bad days add nausea, diarrhea, and pain so bad I curl up on the bathroom floor and experience waves of extremely painful incapacitating cramps. I swallow about 6 naproxen (OTC as Alleve) on the average period days, more for bad episodes.

I have just started taking vitamin E in the form of wheat germ oil, and it may just be that I am approaching menapause, but I feel that the vit. E. MIGHT shorten the duration of cramps, or it might be my imagination. There is enough of a change that I am going to experiment further with it. But I haven't had those extra bad periods since taking vit. E in this form, I have only had the 6 blue pills a day periods. I try to take 20 mg a day for the 10 days before my period, but I am horrible about remembering to take supplements.

For articles on vitamin E and cramps please see:
http://tinyurl.com/cmqgv