P.M.T etc.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:13:38 GMT

Awww you are welcome heather, anytime

Re: P.M.T etc.

Mac Feather — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:32:10 GMT

Well i can safely say im actually feeling human today, what a change since wednesday.

Thanks everyone for alll your advice.

And a big thanks to sandra for the blether, much appreciated!

Re: P.M.T etc.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:44:41 GMT

no l meant Lou sorry am half asleep here!. By the way heather you are hereby forthwith christened Fuitloop at whichever part of your name you want.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Fiona Leathers — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:34:13 GMT

Don't think that'll help when they're trying to have a baby!!!

Re: P.M.T etc.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:29:19 GMT

Just get hub to have a vasectomy

Re: P.M.T etc.

Lou Hayward — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:59:00 GMT

A word of warning for anybody thinking of using the method for birth control though - you do need to know exactly what you're doing! You need to get a few months of temperatures charted before you can establish what your own cycle is doing. And bear in mind that your man's wriggly buggers can be quite resilient and hang around in your nooks and crannies waiting to pounce on your unsuspecting ovum as soon as one of your ovaries pops it out! You need to be fully aware of which days are safe and which are no-go areas.

I would recommend my bible, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. It might sound cranky but there is sound scientific sense behind it all and, as I say, I can personally vouch for its effectiveness. Taking your waking temperature is a bit of a faff at first, but it becomes a habit after a while. You need to be taking it religiously and recording everything faithfully, and interpreting the fluctuations correctly. Of course, if you're trying to get preggers then you can be a bit more flexible (wahey!)

Re: P.M.T etc.

Mac Feather — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:22:51 GMT

Thanks Lou, thats really interesting, i may well P.M you for further info.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:35:58 GMT

Wow lou, thats amazing, i am gonna try that, even though I am not starting a family... as i already have mine, but it is interesting all the same

Re: P.M.T etc.

Lou Hayward — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:32:45 GMT

Hello Heather

I hope you don't mind if I respond to your comment about wanting to start a family. Have you tried charting your morning temperature? I've been doing this for years but for the opposite reason - to prevent the whole kiddie thing! I'm in a stable relationship but not on the pill and neither of us is into latex - if you know what I mean and we are not in a position to start a family.

If you take your basal temperature every morning at the same time with a proper ovulation thermometer (mercury - you can still get them at chemists if you ask) and record the result, you really can chart exactly what your hormones are doing. For instance, your temperature will rise the day after you have ovulated, and will plummet on the day your period is due. You may scoff, but I've been doing it for long enough to know that it's a reliable system. If you stick at it for a few months, you get to know which day of your cycle (not necessarily day 14) you tend to ovulate (ie get your man into bed!!) by charting the thermal shift that happens THE DAY AFTER you ovulate. If you try the "come hither" approach on the day that your temperature rises you have left it too late for that month - progesterone has already taken over and it's too late for your precious ovum.

You must try to take your temperature (orally - you don't need to be putting it anywhere gruesome!) at the same time every morning and it is essential that you keep a mercury thermometer under your tongue for 5 minutes before you do ANYTHING at all - no getting up to go to the loo first or giving that gorgeous man a hug. You can use a digital thermometer if you wish for quicker results, but I trust my mercury thermometer as it's been 100% reliable for me.

It's a fascinating exercise as you get to know your own cycle very intimately indeed. For instance, I'm pretty sure I'm pre-menopausal now. I know that I only ovulate occasionally, and, even though my cycles are less regular now, I know that as soon as my temperature drops (due to the level of the heat-producing hormone progesterone falling sharply so that your womb lining is shed as there is no fertilised egg to implant in it) I will start my period that day. It's so reliable it's almost scary. I know which days of my cycle I'm dodgy fertility-wise and so we abstain from, ahem, intimate relations on those days. The system has never let me down.

You are more than welcome to PM me for more info.

Arlo - please excuse us girlies

Re: P.M.T etc.

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:42:58 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

l am resident weirdo but you can use the resident fruitloop title if you wish... hereby forthwith permission is granted as noone has claimed the fruitloop title.

[/quote]

hehe I wonder what I am then?

Re: P.M.T etc.

Mac Feather — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:40:28 GMT

Caro, can i be heather mac fruitloop?

Doc said the endometriosis word followed by the statement ' being on the pill or getting pregnant will sort that'............................................................................................

Re: P.M.T etc.

Katy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:58:53 GMT

Even though I am on the pill I get absolutely awful mood swings and period pain. The pain is usually just for the 1sr day of my period. But it is awful.

I use mefanamic acid, it works wonders as paracetamol or feminax never used to touch it.

It does also sound like you may have endometriosis if the pain is that bad, so might be worth asking your doc for some advice,

Hope you get sorted soon x

Re: P.M.T etc.

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:08:23 GMT

lol you all are class a fruityloops!

but i love ya! ;)

Re: P.M.T etc.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:14:15 GMT

Heather Fruitloop Mac

Re: P.M.T etc.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:13:56 GMT

l am resident weirdo but you can use the resident fruitloop title if you wish... hereby forthwith permission is granted as noone has claimed the fruitloop title.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:05:06 GMT

Heather you are not a fruitloop thats for sure........I have a fruitloop detector and you are definitely not registering on the scale

Hope you had a good laugh after our phonechat yesterday.Keep your chin up

Re: P.M.T etc.

Mac Feather — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:01:39 GMT

I actually feel not such a freak now that i know other people out there feel the same/have felt the same.

im aware of how ignorant this sounds but at times ive genuinely thought i was the only one who feels like shooting themselves, and just knowing that im not a total fruitloop helps!

Re: P.M.T etc.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:30:19 GMT

I have used the accupressure point in my ear lobes that helps pain wise quite a lot but not sure re mood swings as l haven't tried it for that but probably would do.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Delightful — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:50:57 GMT

To who ever said exercise helped I think you might have something there, ive always suffered with terrible PMT even to when the staff at work brought me a little plastic card that said PMT keep away etc etc and they used to get it out once a month before I even knew I was being a miserable bitch! Anyway it may be because im getting old now but in the past four/five years I have started walking to work, I walk to and from everyday and Im sure Im not such a moaner anymore. For full confirmation of this you would need to contact my colleagues!

Re: P.M.T etc.

Louise B — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:44:22 GMT

I am following this thread with interest as I get very mardy and depressed with my period and have yet to find that 'one cure' that keeps me on a even keel. Keep posting guys.

Actually, is 'guys' the right term given the nature of this thread

Re: P.M.T etc.

Sal the 1st — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:40:51 GMT

I have used red clover or agnus castus in the past - it helps even out the mood swings so I am told, and it did seem to have that effect with me (I slightly favour agnus castus over red clover , check on both of these as to safety re pregnancy). Cutting out excess sugar for the 2 days before you are due can greatly help with period pains. Acupuncture and acupressure can also help with discomfort - but again check on these regards pregnancy as there are some points that def should not be used if you are pregnant. Hypnosis is a good with no side effects as far as I am aware.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Mac Feather — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:09:16 GMT

I dont know about the st johns wort and pregnancy, i really need to look that up.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Faye Sewell — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:37:32 GMT

when my gets bad I take Tramadol and Diazepam as prescribed by my gp!. It works really well although I do sometimes see pink elephants!!. May sound a bit ott but my period makes my back really bad!.

Can you take st johns if you are trying to get pregnant??

Re: P.M.T etc.

Mac Feather — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:13:11 GMT

Thanks everyone. I think I do need to address the diet aspect as I can be quite guilty of eating all sorts of rubbish in the run up to my period.

Im sure I could benefit from relaxation too.

If I wasnt trying to start a family I wouldnt hesitate to go back on the pill- the way i felt last night I was seriously asking myself whether I can carry on with this much longer.

Re: P.M.T etc.

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:19:15 GMT

I used to have a hell of a time the Dr was no use ever, then a different one put me on the pill Cileste and boy what a difference. So for me l would say try the pill.