Girl Talk - PMS: Do you get like this?

[cru5h]

Normally I'm not the most affectionate person in the world. I don't talk a whole lot unless I have something to say or someone is talking to me. Richy's the same way, but we're comfortable like that.

But right before I'm set to see Aunt Flo I get ultra-clingy. I feel like I haven't seen Richy in ages or something. At the time it seems totally logical to me, but we have the same "fight" (I don't know if I'd call it a fight) every month around the same time. So it seems like it's actually me. It's so psychotic of me I think. Just wondered if anyone else had weird PMS moments. I'm on the pill, and have a thyroid disorder so my moods are pretty screwy and there isn't a whole lot I can do about it since I need both meds. I'm working on him being extra-sweet to me around that time, and he knows when "that time" is.

[feb-bride]

I get what I call "psychotic PMS" right before that time. I am not ultra-clingy; in fact, I am so mean that I scare people. I control my attitude at work because I have to, but at home - watch out. I will scream at you for wearing wrinkled underwear.

[Marge129]

I usually get mean like Feb the week before Aunt Flo's arrival. Then I'm ultra clingy for the remainder of her visit.

Now... being pregnant, I'm ULTRA ULTRA clingy. And it sucks because I'm home alone most of the time. Poor Jerry walks in the door and I'm suction cupped to his side.

[Lizbet]

I get a depressive stint every time I have my ".". DH has to be extra reassuring to me for everything for about 4 days. I also become overly anxious about things. Nothing in particular, I just feel like things aren't right and am nervous. Luckily, I am on BC that lets me go w/o AF for 2-3 months at a time. So, at least it's not every month.

I'm also on additional meds for depression, which play a part in my hormonal cycle.

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

If there's something that's unresolved, it makes sense that the heightened hormone levels would make it bubble to the surface. Sometimes even if it's a disagreement that can't really be "solved" it can at least be aleviated somewhat if you can discuss the emotions surrounding it in depth so you at least understand what the other person is feeling about that situation. Like, obviously he KNOWS this is something that you're upset or sad or angry about. But does he know I'm angry because I feel ____ and it's bringing up unresolved feelings I have about ___ in my past and I just wish he would understand ___ and what I need from him is ___.

I used to have a LOT of big emotional swings before I learned how to open up about my feelings. When you can get your emotions out when you're "hormonally in balance," it helps you stay more in check when you're not feeling as balanced because there isn't anything built up, ready to explode.

[cru5h]

Oh I always get out whatever my problem is. But during my PMS times I feel that our normal everyday interactions aren't enough. They're enough for every single day of the month, but on that particular day or days it seems like he's been ignoring me or isn't in tune with my feelings or something. But there's nothing that bothers me that I haven't brought up with him. He just needs to be overly affectionate to me during that time - that's the resolution. I can't change my hormones or talk myself out of it. Because when it's happening I even tell him, "I'm getting that feeling where..." He needs to change how he responds to it.

ETA: I actually do think PMS is a form of psychosis for a lot of women. If you've never had a mental meltdown it might be hard for you to imagine this as a valid statement.

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Oh, absolutely. I know it's a severe emotional disorder for many women.

[bebe]

I have never had the severe emotional/psychotic PMS symptoms myself, but I do believe/agree that it exists! My older sister used to get sooooo emotional - crying jags for days around that time. It was horrible. My PMS generally consists of severe (I mean SEVERE) bloating and I have hard core pregnancy-like cravings for filet mignon, like I have to have it NOW. I am interested to see what will be happening now that I am off the pill. I know my co-worker gets extra sensitive around her cycle. I have noticed that she complains about her boyfrind a lot during that time, and it's generally just normal stuff that she is being extra sensitive about.

[feb-bride]

I didn't use to have the "psychotic" PMS. I used to just get really crampy. The "psychotic" phase didn't begin for me until around age 30. Now, I rarely get cramps, and I actually wish that I was back to cramps being the only PMS symptom. I never used to get mood swings before.

[Complicated Woman]

It's not so much when I get my period, but about a week prior I start to feel really sad and I cry a lot. Tom has started keeping track just so that he can accomodate my ultra-sensitive moods. I also find myself being moved by the darndest things -- i.e. Lifetime Original movies, which I usually hate. I'll sit in front of the tv going, "He's too young to be a dad!" I'm usually *kind* of sensitive -- it's a scary thing when that's heightened.

[ljeagle]

I'm glad I am not the only one. When I was growing up friends would always complain and bi*** during PMS. Me I had no problems no cramps no mood swings. About a year ago this changed!!! I am a pure B**** during my PMS. I don't agree with any one I don't feel like doing any thing. All I want to do is cry. Kenny is knowing to take long hauls when he knows it's coming...

[Marge129]

Can I just say that I'm NOT looking forward to periods again? I'm enjoying this 9 month break. I get such bad cramps... sometimes I'm doubled over in pain crying from them. Maybe I'll get lucky and being pregnant will have changed me and the cramps will go away. Or maybe the BC I go on will help ease them. I can't go back on my normal BC cause it has estrogen.

[sparklesweetie]

I am lucky in that I don't really get cramps too often. And even if I do, I just take some Ibp and they go away. However, I'd say in the last two years, I do get moody and ultra-sensitive. It's so annoying....the bad part is, Chris can tell when it's coming before I can. I keep track of mine on the calender, but he just seems to keep a mental calendar or something. My eating habits will change too....sometimes, not always, the week before I can NOT get full. I will eat everything in sight, but not gain any weight. Wish I did that all the time. And then the next week I won't want hardly anything at all. I seriously want to go back to high school, before I went on BC, when it was all normal. (I had no real reason to be on it when I got it-was nowhere even near being sexually active.) But noooo, I had to go and mess with it...

[deputysgurl]

I have to say that I am very lucky. I only cramp but for like 1 hour. I don't get that moody. Matt just knows what my limits are during that time of the month so he doesnt' push it and I don't get moody at all.

[Heather]

MTGH - sometimes I read what you write and just giggle, lol.

I think PMS is exactly that - PMS due to hormonal imbalances during your pre-menstral cycle and during. I don't get bad cramps any longer but I do get bloated and sometimes cranky... I do crave certain foods now and then, normally something weird like spinach dip.

[Kim&Bob2004]

Me. I cramp for the day before and the first day of. Every few months the cramps seem to be a bit worse, which is a new thing for me within the last year or two. I can get moody, ask Bob! LOL He knows if I get cranky it's that time of the month....... then we both get cranky cause we don't have sex during Aunt Flow's visit....... (TMI!!!!!!!!!!!!) It's a cycle! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maroki13]

I'm on BC so I don't get PMS or periods anymore. I have to say, I don't them! I used to get REALLY bad cramps and mood swings, but now I don't have any of that. I can't really remember what it used to be like, since I've been on this BC for 3+ years.

[555Ann555]

I messed with my cycle so much over the years that I've had to spend the last year getting to know it all over again! I went on the pill at 15 then onto the injections about 20 and didn't have my period at all for years! Got to say I didn't miss it but I did go through a breakdown then really bad depression from 19-24(ish) and I don't think messing with my hormones so much helped that!

Anyway, now I have an IUD and have had a miserable time with my PMS! I feel like I'm going through puberty all over again! I get very agitated the week before, I get irritated by the tiniest things and though I normally have quite a lot of patience & quite a high tolerance for peoples quirks I just get completely wound up by nothing! I find myself *so* pissed off at the simplest things... The funny thing to me is that the main focus of my frustration seems to be aimed at something different every month, one month it'll be my weight, next it'll be my job, then it'll be my house... and of course Moreno gets his turn too!

I also tend to get a touch obssesive around that time too, like I'll start tidying up but suddenly I decide every single surface needs to be scubbed with bleach and it's not like I'm even tidy normally!

But I guess the good news is that I've allowed myself the time to get to know my cycle and I'm begining to understand that when I get the urge to tear off someone's head then scub up the mess with bleach that my period is probably due!

[cru5h]

Ann I do the cleaning thing too. I get psychotic about it, as though I keep a really clean place when I don't.

[Complicated Woman]

Originally Posted by 555Ann555

But I guess the good news is that I've allowed myself the time to get to know my cycle and I'm begining to understand that when I get the urge to tear off someone's head then scub up the mess with bleach that my period is probably due!

Ann, that is great! I love you women.

[SuzyBride]

I get clingy too sometimes. I just tell Josh, look I'm about to start and you are going to have to realize I am going to be needy. Once he understands that we are usually OK!! LOL He tries to pamper me a bit and is more affectionate cause he knows I will get all emotional and whiney if he doesn't!

[PlanetClaire]

Back ache. Horrible back ache. yuck. And I was getting horrendous cramps during the period. And crying jags. Oh the tears!

But I've started taking the Depo Provera shot ; although I'm reading/seeing/hearing mixed things about it, my family doctor/GP offered it up as an option for me and she knows my history etc...

[555Ann555]

Originally Posted by PlanetClaire

But I've started taking the Depo Provera shot ; although I'm reading/seeing/hearing mixed things about it, my family doctor/GP offered it up as an option for me and she knows my history etc...

That's what I was on for years. I found it fine, totally loved not having my period too! I put on a lot of weight when I was on it but I was also overeating & not taking any excercise so I think it was probably laziness rather than hormones that did it! I only went off it coz I was coming off my anti-depressants, stearoids and painkillers at the same time & figured I'd just clean myself up entirely! Seemed like a good idea at the time

I'm too scared to get my IUD taken out now coz it hurt so much getting it put in It's due out next year though... Anyone had one removed? Did it hurt more than the insertion?