New to PMS??

St. John's Wort helps some. My doctor suggested that I start taking it about a week before my period starts to help with my extreme PMS. I usually stop taking it 2-3 days after my period starts. It really does help if I remember to take it consistently, which is my problem.

I feel for you. My PMS got so much worse after DD was born. I can tell when the PMS starts because I have trouble concentrating, get irritated extremely fast, have back pain, bloating and I'm revenously hungry. I know as soon as I catch myself snapping at DH and DD what's going on and it's always confirmed when I look at the calendar. I think I need to set up a reminder on my phone to let me know when I need to start taking my St. John's Wort so I can try to catch it before it starts because it really helps me.

*ETA: I also appologize several times to my DH for my behavior while I am PMSing. He's so great. He never even complains. I wish I could just not behave that way but I just can't stop it.

I have noticed that I am PMSing BAD in the last few months! I have NEVER PMSd in my life... heck, the only way I could even tell my period was here was that I would go to use the restroom and discover that I needed a tampon.

Now, I'm crazy pissy, headachy, bloated, cramps, tired... It's like I have the friggen flu! NOT cool!

I haven't tried anything for it yet... so I'm going to be checking out your answers. :)

Try GLA. It is a fatty acid found in vegetable oils and Evening of Primrose. It can help balance hormones.

If it is really bad and you can't get it under control speak to your doctor. Some anti-depressants can cure PMS.

Ha, I almost asked this question just the other day. I have not had PMS ever until this year (I am 31). Now every month I have 2-3 days of extreme grumpiness (snapping at everyone, get set off by anything), anxiety, feeling like I just need to go cry in the bathroom (and I am not a crier, usually), crappy food cravings, and generally just wanting to shut myself up in my room in my jammies and avoid the world. Then after 3 days, my boobs start to hurt and I will realize, 'OH, so it is PMS, I guess it is not that everyone else in the world is an annoying jerk, it is that I am a PMSing hag!" LOL. I felt really dumb this last time around because I thought, "Gee, you would think after 15+ years of periods I would catch on by now and just realize it is PMS" but then I realized during my teen years, I never had PMS, I got pregnant at 21 and had 3 children in 10 years, so I have mainly been pregnant, breastfeeding and on on various hormone birth controls since then. My periods have never ever been regular during that time- anywhere from no periods for 6 months (when first on Mirena) to periods every 2 weeks (again, Mirena) etc. Finally got off Mirena a few years ago, husband had a vasectomy, and my periods finally evened out this year, when, alas, the PMS started, with a vengeance!
Any tips from other posters on how to survive this PMS also appreciated! I am always so relieved to start my period after so many days of being a cranky beast!

Sorry to say that for me it did get worse as I got older. So did the bloating/weight gain. Wish I had some advice...chocolate was my go- to along with a diuretic water pill and a couple paris of pants in a size larger.

You know, I've noticed this too. Mainly it's just being much more tired than normal and general grumpiness. Like Mallory said, since I normally eat really healthy, I let myself eat some more comfort food during those times.

I used to get mild PMS when I was younger, but it all went away when I started taking birth control pills. Recently my husband got a vasectomy so I could stop taking all those hormones. I was so happy to stop, but since getting off the pill my PMS is bad - it was so bad for a while I wondered if I had PMDD. I think my body is still trying to sort things out. My periods aren't evenly spaced, are sometimes long and sometimes short, and the PMS is worse sometimes than others.

What I have found helpful for the moodiness is L-tryptophan complete. I buy the Lidtke brand. I did some research on it a while back and I wish I had bookmarked the site I found that explains it all, but I didn't. You can take my word for it or research it yourself, but the Lidtke formula has all the right combinations of the right stuff with the l-tryptophan, that makes it the most effective. I found it at a nutrition center/health store, but if you can't find it locally you can order it online, too. Good luck!