Follow to "I'd Rather Be Pregnant than Have PMS"

Updated on April 04, 2013
E.S. asks from Hackettstown, NJ
7 answers

I strongly believe I have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). I have all the symptoms that begin 7-10 days prior to my period and function solely on emotion. It's embarrassing to be this way and 7-10 days a month is a long stretch to not feel optimal.

Of course I read that reducing caffeine intake helps, which is difficult for this 3 cup-a-day gal.

I'm wondering if anyone has successfully reduced their caffeine intake and if it indeed made a premenstrual difference?

Should probably do the same for the wine :-)

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C.V.

answers from Columbia on

E,

I was getting terrible premenstrual migraines. I cut caffeine completely out and they stopped. I haven't had another.

I've been able to drink the equivalent of 1 cup of coffee per day and not have migraines (tea, coffee, cola, whatever). I could even have two cups every so often (just not every day...maybe once a week).

Caffeine basically erodes away the progesterone levels in your body over time. Progesterone levels naturally drop throughout the month, but caffeine causes them to drop even more, causing an imbalance in your estrogen/progesterone ratios. This causes improper fluid retention at a cellular level, which can cause headaches, body aches, joint pain, cramps, back pain....all the PMS stuff.

Cutting caffeine really does help to balance out your hormones. I totally suggest it.

Like I said when I cut caffeine entirely: If it means no more migraines, I'll never touch coffee again. Luckily, with some time and effort, I've figured out that I can still have a little bit. :-)

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I am a coffee drinker and drink a lot of it and it does not make it better or worse.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

The only thing that helped me was anti depressants.

I am so glad to have them.. they have saved the life of my husband a million times.

What it does is calm me down so that it allows me to get control of myself.
I also sleep better..

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L.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

True since eventually you won't be pregnant but it will be a long while before you no longer have periods and then after that you have hot flashes and new kind of crankiness. Hope you find something to alieve it soon.

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Try the supplement GLA. If that doesn't work there are anti-depressants that will help a great deal. There is help out there and no need for 1/3 of your life to be off the wall

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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

Start drinking some decaf.

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E.R.

answers from New York on

Before I was pregnant, I would have major cramping and mild mood changes. After my first pregnancy, no more cramps, but MAJOR mood swings. My husband knows before I do when PMS starts. I tried vitamin supplements as a therapy and it really worked! I don't actually still take all the vitamins I used to, but my diet and exercise have also improved to balance it out. The most important is vitamin B complex. The thing to realize though, is that many multivitamins don't have a therapeutic dose of the vitamins, only a small fraction of what an imbalanced body needs. For example I take 100mg of vitamin B. Many vitamins, like B, will not do harm when taken in high doses. You can't OD on it; the body just excretes it. So I suggest looking into it. Good luck!

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