I never used to have trouble with pms but the last six months or so have been awful! I have terrible cramps for two days before and the first two day of AF. I'm bloated (10 pounds of water weight that I lose within a few days of starting) for a week ahead of time and my moods are horrible! I'm weepy and irritable for at least a week before. I have zero motivation to do anything and my memory is terrible. I think soy and calcium are supposed to help but I was hoping someone here has some experience. TIA for any advice or tips

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 08:49 pm:

I know if you limit your salt/sodium intake, that will help with the water weight. Exercise is supposed to help with all of the symptoms, both physical and emotional, my GYN used to advise that ALL of the time when I complained about my horrible PMS.

Caffeine will make the irritability worse supposedly. I'd start with the exercise and diet (sodium) things and work from there. I'm sorry you are going through this. I truly do understand how you feel. I had the worst PMS when I still had periods, and I was miserable and made everyone around me miserable.

{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}

By Tink on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 08:56 pm:

Dang! That means the energy drinks I've been using to get my butt out of my computer chair and the popcorn I've been craving are REALLY not helping! And the exercise thing? Ummm...did I mention my lack of motivation? lol Exercise is the first thing to go when all I want to do is sit around and complain!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 09:21 pm:

Have you talked with your gyn about this? It seems pretty extreme. My gyn recommends exercise as well, and *while* I'm working out during that time I feel great but then I take a major nosedive afterwards. I personally feel better if I don't exercise, but that's just what I've discovered about myself.
I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions other than checking with your doctor about why your pms is so bad lately. Hang in there!

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 09:29 pm:

Sarafem (I think that's the name) is prescribed for intense cases of PMS, it's similar to Prozac I believe. You know how I get around my period, especially with cravings, so I haven't really got any advice, other than we can be cranky together as usual.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 10:15 pm:

Natural remedy my mother swears by "Evening of Primrose Oil". I'm allergic so I can't take, however the doctor suggested a combo of vitiman B and E. I tried it for a while and it was effective - you have to take everyday same with the Primrose and it takes awhile to see results. Check with your doctor before trying either there has been some research lately that vit E is not necessarily safe as once thought.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 07:44 am:

Sarafem IS prozac - it's the same thing.

Tink, I understand the lack of motivation thing - I was there too. You really do have to force yourself.

Have you been thoroughly checked out for *female* problems? I had endometriosis and fibroids so bad and one ovary that wasn't functioning, that was a major contributing factor to mine, I think.

By Missmudd on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 10:29 am:

I think that sarafem is paxil, not sure, I had some pms probs after #4 and was given a sample for it. Didnt take it because me and antidepressants dont get along (libido).

Vitamin B is supposed to help, tension tamer tea actually helps too. I think celestial tea makes it and it is in most grocery stores so you dont have to go to a health food store to find it.

There is also progesterone cream that you can get over the counter. The brand I have is Pro-gest Body Cream, their website is www.emerita.com. You rub a small amount of it on the inside of your arm. This helped me too. You may want to shop around, I seem to remember that this was kinda expensive ($25 or so) so another brand may be less costly. I guess at the end of your cycle your progesterone plummets which gives you a bad case of the crankies. I was willing to do anything, I was tired of being crazy, and it did help. Thankfully the horrid pms thing was only for about 6 months or so and then I was my usual self.

By Lorebunde on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 10:34 am:

Yes, sarafem is prozac, I was prescribed this last year. Just took for 7 days before period and it helped a lot. I also tried the healthy diet, no alcohol and it helps. I am now on another antidepressant for other reasons and it has helped a LOT Good luck, I've been there and its horrible.

By Debbie on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 11:16 am:

I am was having the same problem. I talked with my ob/gyn at my check-up a few months ago. She told me to really try and cut back on processed foods the week before my period. She also said to eat a little more protein and veggies/fruit. I did this the last few months and it has really helped! She also suggested exercise, but I already do that.

Good luck. I hope you find something that helps. PMS is just terrible.

By Dana on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 02:41 pm:

TINK and others...I was on sarafem and it did work. But I didn't like being on it. I did find the answer for me! Besides the obvious of healthy eating and exercise (and yes, you MUST do both of these every day for it to work), I found taking the Omega3 capsules to be incredible.

I was researching prozack and found out about the use of omega 3 for this problem. If you are taking prozack you are NOT suppose to take omega's.

Last year Jan, I began to keep a daily menu plan that followed proper calorie intake and balanced eating. I ate THREE times a day plus snacks. I would go to my workout each day for 45 min. I took omega 3 capsules 3 times a day as directed. My moods changed almost immediately. The going from a size 10 to too fat for size 12 the 2 wks prior to period stopped (actually I lost 1 lb each week). That incredible flick of the switch on my mood swings stopped. I was normal every day of the month! My periods were once again something that came and went without much notice. I slept well. And I had more than one bowel movement each day. I would suffer great IBS/constipation each month before the omega. The pain of the bowels swelling were GONE! I can't say enough good stuff about it.

I did stop once pregnant just in case, but I am again taking them and I already notice the difference in my digestive system. BTW, the dr okayed me to take it while pregnant, I just chose not too because I had heard that some contain mercury.

When you buy your omega3's pay for the good stuff. You don't want to burp up the taste of fish during the day.

By Tink on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 03:16 pm:

Thanks for all the advice, everybody. I'd prefer not to go on prescription meds for it if possible, although I will if I don't find another way to control this. Unfortunately, I've tried prozac and it is not for me. I have talked to my gyn and she wants me to try a diet and exercise approach first. I haven't been the best about those but I'll try to jump back on that band wagon again. I think I've heard before about Evening Primrose oil, Vitamin B and omega 3. I think I'll look into these. Dana, a lot of the things you mention sound similar to me , including the IBS issues. Thank you, all of you!

By Kim on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 06:24 pm:

Have you ever considered taking natural progesterone? I used to take it and my GYN had the capsules made up the day the rx was ordered. It has to be natural or it will not work. It helped slightly, maybe would more in your case? My PMS was extreme. I thank God every month that I don't have to deal with it anymore!!!

By Tink on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 08:28 pm:

I picked up the omega 3 capsules today so I'll start them tonight and see how they help. I'm in the midst of pmsing right now so I am hoping to see some results really soon. Thank you, Dana.

By Missmudd on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 09:49 pm:

bump

By Hlgmom on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 09:54 pm:

Thanks for the bump, Kristen! Some good ideas!

By Katherine on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 08:29 pm:

I take Evening Primrose Oil not only for pms but also for a general sense of well being. It really works@

By Conni on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 11:41 am:

Well I Am SOLD I Am going to the health food store today for Omega3 AND Evening Primrose Oil... Can I use both to really ensure good moods? rofl

By Tink on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 01:02 pm:

I started Omega3's after hearing such good things from Dana. My mood has been better and I've been feeling better BUT I spent a fortune on the capsules and still have a fishy taste in my mouth. YUCK! I've been taking three capsules at night so that I sleep through most of it.

I'm thinking about starting the Evening Primrose Oil just to cover my bases. Does anyone take both or know if they interact at all? I don't take any other medication so I'm not worried about other interactions.

By Dana on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 11:17 pm:

Tink, I purchase mine at Sam's club. They have two types there. The more expensive capsules are made so they disolve in your intestines rather than your tummy. that way you don't have the fish flavor. Plus, I never take 3 at one time. I take one with each meal. Hope it works well enough for you to stay with them and remain feeling good.

By Tink on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 12:18 am:

Dana, is there any way to tell if these will dissolve in my stomach vs. intestines? I was only taking one with my meals and I was still tasting fish so I thought I'd do it at night (I used to take my prenatals then so I wouldn't get sick) and just take all three at once. It seems to be working but I had just started them when AF came so I don't know how they'll work during my normally stressful time beforehand. I'll let you know in a few weeks.

By Dana on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 07:41 am:

I'll have to find the original bottle. My mom and I split them and she has that bottle. I think it says somewhere on the bottle "no fishy after taste" Do you have a Sam's club?

By Annie2 on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 11:10 pm:

I started taking Evening Primrose Oil capsules today for pms. I have a 45 day supply. I also take a multi-vitamin and calcium.

Since this post I have been checking out the GNC weekly and just decided to do it. Hopefully I find some relief.

By Tink on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 12:23 am:

I didn't stick with the Omega3's since I was getting such an upset stomach from them. I keep hearing good things so I'm going to look for a brand that says no fishy aftertaste. I'm also planning on picking up the Evening Primrose Oil. Annie, let us know how it works. Unfortunately, I didn't stick with the fish oil long enough to see if it really helped.

By Mac84 on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 06:22 am:

I am wondering how the people who started taking evening primrose oil think it works for pms. I just started it a few days ago and am sceptical. Thanks, Mac

By Juli4 on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 01:47 pm:

I took evening primrose oil to soften my cervix while I was pregnant and also put capsules in vaginally the last week of pregnacy. That is the only thing that I know they are good for. I can't really tell if it helped although labor was super fast