I hate PMS.

I am PMSing badly right now and it's really annoying. I know that it will lift in a few days, a week at most, but before TTOM I get cranky and depressed. Plus, I'm retaining a little bit of water, although I've been sticking to my diet closely, some days a bit too well, so I haven't gained any weight. I've probably lost some although it won't show up on the scale until next week (and that will be a problem too, because if it's too much of a change, then I'll have to come up out of the diet fairly quickly, and I prefer slow change.) I'm still irritable, though, and my mood overall is worse than usual.

Since I don't suffer from these symptoms during the rest of the month, I don't know what to do to get rid of it. Knowing that it will pass soon helps a little, but not enough. I tried antidepressants when younger and four different ones - three SSRIs and an MAOI - had no effect, except that one made me extremely drowsy all the time, which helped by making me sleep so much that I didn't have time to think about anything else - it was a lot like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer. Dong quai and black cohosh are better than nothing but I need more than just a mild dulling of symptoms.

Right now I'm justdrinking as much water as I possibly can without having to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes, to reduce bloating, taking my herbs, staying with my diet, and reminding myself that this is temporary. But I'm about 20 years away from menopause and 20 years of 3 mildly content weeks and 1 angry-at-the-world-and-myself week is not my idea of a good time.

Would exercising more help? And what else can I do?

go for a walk, to dedress. You know im in your shoes.. this is ME to a T as well. Im JUST on the week before, right now and im starting to feel a bit low too! i take a multivit, a evening primrose extra supplement, Aqua ban herbel, drink lots of water and eat a low carb (not extreme, 1 slice of bread instead of 2 etc) diet for the week and high on protein. That seems to work and get me in a better mood. Lisen to calm music, have a dance. Draw...

I have a book, called Inspirtation (dyslexic dont hurt me) which i write in each time i feel good, i do a good workout, get a complement etc. During the days im depressed i leaf through it and browse how good i can feel. It realy helps, and most of the time i wanna go on the running machine even if im mid TOTM!!

hope something in this helps you ouit. Your not alone someone on the other side of the world is in ur shoes right now lol. Me!

To add to the list: went home sick from work after having 3 dizzy spells in the space of two hours. I felt fine on Wednesday. Blah.

I'll try low-carb/high-protein; can't really hurt, I guess, and I could use some more protein. And the inspiration book would be a good idea - I think I'll start one today! Plenty of mostly-unused notebooks lying around here.

Honey, I'm soo with you on this one. I've been sweating like a maniac on fire for 4 days, and even taking into consideration the scorching heat, that's like disgusting. Plus, I get painful breasts, and they stick out like I've some sort of porno-breast lift..... I tend to debloat approx 1 kg three days after my period starts....

disgusting.

My hubby says I'm pretty agressive in all things during pms,  but there is nothing really I can do about it.

sigh.

Evening Primrose helps. I've suffered from PMS for over 20 years and then I had a few years of PMDD which I am so glad my hormones adjusted back to regular PMS. It is funny, even though I have my period every month, I still get blindsided a week before I start my period and begin to hate the world. I did it yesterday and realized DUH! I am going to start in a few days. Anyhoo, you can get the Primrose supplement at most drugstores and I found that is also helps with the lovely cramps and bloating when Aunt Flow does finally come to visit.

Oh girl, I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU TODAY!!! I too get SO CRANKY and straight up mean! I even hate to be w/myself! LOL! I have found that exercise is A MUST for me as well as VITEX (you can purchase it from a health food/vitamin store) it realld does help regulate the hormones. +B vits help a lot too!

I find thata I get really depressed and negitive too. Like nothing I do or have is good enough. I have this negative talk going through my head all the time "you'll never be thin enough"... "you should just give up on diet & exercise!"... I hate it!!! I only have this attitude (usually) right before TTOM. :(

I am so sorry that you have the PMS too... my visitor should be here by tuesday. ick... I hate her! ;)

Try and have a fun weekeend! ((((HUGS)))

Girrrl, do I know how I feel. What I hate is feeling tired and really fat and bloated! I hate seeing myself in the morning because I look really awful and get really pissed off very quickly. And whats worse is thats the time when I want to eat even more, not the good stuff, but chocolate, ice cream, salty chips, rice and beans  and loads and loads of fried chicken! I'm glad I read everyone's thread, I thought i was the only one that got really sad and depressed during that time. But as sad as I get, I try to motivate myself to go the gym or go jogging. I say to myself " either you can just sit there eat ice cream or you can look really great NEXT WEEK and feel really proud about doing something good for body". So basically i avoid SALT like the plague... even a small amount causes major water retention. Well, good luck and dont worry, it'll soon be over :-)

its my week before and my exericse has been lacking soo badly. Lol Im not alone, which is great. I cant motivate myself to run today -.- ohhhhhhhh and i have two exercise sessions to do and i have got to 1100 mins of exercise this month,, dunno if i will manage it now!!!

Anyone got any remidies to feel better and go exercise, on this most dreaded of weeks? (Pre TOTM week)

I Guess i've always had pms. but this week is sooo depressing. everything seems to be going wrong and i read the ingredients on the penut jar and started crying. thats how bad i am. i wish i had money to buy any of those remedies. maybe if i go for a walk...