Changing Hormones

Hormonal kook having a good chuckle here . And it's no laughing matter when you're smack dab in the middle of a hormone crisis is it?

I'm no expert on dealing with this unfair affliction, but I'm pretty well accomplished in feeling sorry for myself. I've done hormone shifts on certain specific occasions(like pregnancy) and the usual monthly upheaval. I now get to enjoy the peri-menopausal ordeal, leading up to the big one. The fun never ends.

I'll be very interested in hearing what works for others, as I'm willing to try almost anything.

Here's what has helped me. I take a magnesium(sp?) supplement daily, which I swear helps. I also take a B vitamin supplement, but not as regular as I should. I take a good multi vitamin daily.

Watching your cycle and adjusting your diet will help. If you know your trouble times cut back on salt, sugar, refined carbs, coffee. Increase your water, furits and vegies and whole grains.

Exercise *does* make a difference, though I suspect you do alot of tearing around with all those kids. Time out for yourself might be helpful to recharge your energies.

You've got alot going on right now with your upcoming move...it may be hard to focus on this stuff until after you're settled again.

Anyway....I guess I should practise my own advice(especially with that coffee) instead of whining every month .

I have had this happen, too, but for me it seems that with every child the PMS gets worse. Last summer found me crying in the middle of the library because the librarian didn't have time to process my kids' summer reading program stuff and we were going to have to come back another day It's not that bad every month, but you are definitely not alone.

I like a supplement called L-Theanine. It's derived from the plant green tea is made from, but, of course, no caffeine. It seems to help calm and even things out. Very safe since people in Asian countries drink a lot of this stuff with no ill effects. Also, a good thing to take for emotional well being and a whole bunch of other things is fish oil capsules containing Omega fatty acids--particularly Omega 3.

I will be interested to see what anyone else has to suggest, too.

Lauralyn

I have used this myself and it does help with PMS. I too [talked on other thread] have had problems with migraines and raging hormones.

First I would say get a good check up from your DR. That way you can rule out anything BUT also it gives them a starting point of where you are now. This is to help them in the future too. [have you had any changes,,stuff like that.]

I agree, exercise...I know ,,,when you feel like crap you would just like to hide but it is suppose to help cramps and that out of your skin tension.

I try to take it all in stride and realize ,,,this too shall pass!!

I'm pretty sure I'm perimenopausal; my formerly you-could-set-the-clock-by-them periods have started getting erratic, and I'm having weird mood swings that cannot be otherwise accounted for. I second the magnesium suggestion. I'm also taking vitex, a traditional herb for regulating hormones, and it seems to help.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Lauralyn, it isn't the that the PMS gets worse with every child, it's more that the more kids you have the less likely you are to be able to stand the noise and hassle when you're PMS'y anyway!!! I never used to have any problems with PMS at all until after my second child, and the main symptoms are the irritability. My only solution is to keep away from the kids as much as possible!

for cramps though my SIL says that the EPO has helped quite a lot, and she notices when she forgets to take it.

it seems to me that PMS magnifies whatever you're prone to anyway, since I'm definitely the irritable, bad-tempered type, and that's what goes out of control for a few days. I don't get the weepy side, but then I've never been a weepy kind of person. Not so sure about the physical side-effects.

Roll on early menopause I reckon!

Kerri.

too many kids? Ok, I don't really think I have too many, but you make a good point. I get weepy and irritable. In fact, sometimes I cry because I feel so bad that I'm being so cranky to everyone It's really not that bad at our house most months--just every once in a while I have an extra bad month.

No early menopause for me just yet because I want to have one more baby, but then it can come as early as possible. I'll admit that I could live without the PMS, the bleeding, the cramping and the need for birth control.

Lauralyn

I'm not sure if i'm pregnant or its just hormonal changes. My breast are big and i'm irritated all the time.

Gosh. At least you guys have PMS to blame. I'm like this all the time. I remember the first major breakdown over nothing came when I arrived at work to find new paper bins (the kind you hang on the wall to put files in) had been installed...for the full time employees. I was a major employee who worked a minimum of 40 hrs but I was technically "part time". If I had gone out and bought one, I could have put it up but when I was told I wasn't going to be supplied one because I wasn't full time, I broke out in tears. Not sniffling, I was BAWLING. Over a PAPER BIN...one I would probably never use. I cried for at least 20mins, uncontrollably.

This happens at least once a week now. And, I cry in between too. I cry at TV shows, Hallmark commercials, movies, any time I get frustrated, when I get happy...I went to see the Dalai Lama and I cried uncontrollably for an entire 2hr seminar. I should have been grinning ear to ear, but apparently when my happiness reaches critical mass, it collapses on itself and I cry instead.

I'm 26. This started when I was 23. My Dr. and I had hoped birth control hormones would even me out - no change at all. Still a weeper.