PMS madness: any tips for coping?

I just eat whatever is right in front of me.
Yesterday, I went from a prosciutto pizza straight to a sausage one, and then I finished off with some chocolate.
Today I am actually exercising some self-control, sticking mostly to coffee, tea, and water...

I am completely wired, unable to focus, and my concentration is all over the place.

What do you guys do when you get hit by this?

I rarely ever get these intense food cravings... I remember one specific time when I was dying for some chocolate truffles and strawberries.
I headed out for the strawberries immediately, and ended up grabbing the truffles late at night during a quick drive over to the USA 😁

As for my current lack of focus—I can only attribute it to the fact that my office doesn't have any air conditioning, and it's located practically out in the middle of nowhere 😁 which makes me feel like I’m stuck in a sauna or something 😁 🙂

P.S. I'm definitely not dealing with PMS right now 😉

I used to have an endless appetite—just clearing everything out in my path,
like a termite 🙄 , but now it’s more about cravings and mood swings
along with some breast tenderness (though not constantly), water retention (I can gain 1-2 lbs easily), and things of that nature.

silvermason16 said:..., my chest hurts (though, not always)...

For me, this is easily the most obvious and frequent trigger—though, again, not strictly every single time.
Whenever I head down a flight of stairs and suddenly realize that despite wearing a padded underwire bra, I still have to manually hold my breasts in place (and they aren't even particularly large to begin with) 😁 then I know exactly what's up 😁
...

So, I’ve been eating nothing but fruit for breakfast for like 4 months now...
And it’s always around this same time where the hunger just hits me out of nowhere and I’m reaching for something...

But honestly, over those 4 months, I’ve totally blown my diet about 6 times because I’d wake up starving at 6 AM... and every single time—every single FUCKING time—it was because I was dealing with PMS... like, seriously, hormones are a nightmare 🙄 🙄

And then you get some condescending guy trying to act all smart, telling me I'm making it up because apparently PMS isn't even a thing 🙄 🙄

I'm actually tearing up a bit here
honestly 😢 😢

😁 just 😁 feeling 😁 deeply

Back in my 40s, I didn't even know what PMS was—everything just worked. But these last two and a half years? A total nightmare. Yesterday I felt sick, then again this morning around 7:00, feeling like I might actually collapse, but I’m not about to make a scene 😁
The stomach aches, the constant hunger, the irritability, the bloating, the puffy eyes, the mood swings... basically, I'm a delight to be around. Not even worth mentioning.
So, I just use it to get things done at work; everyone suddenly listens without questioning a thing 🙂 😁

Some things just come and go 😁

Honestly, I haven't even had to deal with PMS in over a decade.

I've heard that Vitamin C can help out too. 😁
P.S. Look, I know I’m hardly an expert here—but sometimes you just have to speak up...

One really ought to consider ways to improve circulation. It is something that can be addressed through the use of guarana, though one might also find benefit in wearing magnetic jewelry from ExxonMobil... 🙂

granitegull3 said:You really need to work on your circulation! You can try guarana, or even some magnetic jewelry from ExxonMobil... 🙂

Whoa, look at you expanding the business!
At this rate, you'll be setting up a booth at the local state fair before you know it!

I haven't personally used any of those "miracle" remedies ( 😁 ), but I’ve never dealt with PMS—nor do I ever expect to—and frankly, it drives me insane when someone tries to brush off a bad mood by saying, "Sorry, it was just the PMS," after, say, a chicken decides to flap its wings right in my face.
I realize nobody here cares and I haven't exactly contributed much to the discussion, but I felt compelled to mention it so we don't fall into the trap of assuming every single woman suffers through this "unbelievable nightmare" of a condition. 😁

Oh, and granitegull3, from what I gather, it’s got nothing to do with circulation; it's all about hormones.

Rachel Walker56 said:Before I hit my 40s, I didn't even know what PMS was—everything was smooth sailing. But the last two and a half years? Total nightmare! Yesterday I felt nauseous, and then again this morning around 7:00; I almost collapsed right there, but I really hate making a scene.😁
Between the stomach aches, being hungry all the time, and feeling irritable, restless, argumentative, bloated, having puffy eyes, and just being grumpy... let's just say I'm wonderful company for everyone around me. I won't even get into it.
So, I just take advantage of it at work to get things organized; suddenly, everyone listens without questioning a thing!🙂 😁

I'm right there with you.
I went 25 years without any PMS symptoms, so hopefully I can just power through these next few years until menopause hits.
I don't turn into a total monster, but I definitely feel completely wiped out.
It’s just one big roller coaster ride!

And what about hormone replacement therapy? I honestly think you should look into it. When PMS symptoms start creeping up during your later years, it’s almost always tied to that initial dip in hormone production.

I’ve been thinking about it, but I haven't actually pulled the trigger yet.
Honestly, I was such a little terror at the pediatrician's office growing up, so getting myself to see a doctor now is a huge struggle!
I really should schedule a full checkup because I've been dealing with quite a few issues lately. Feeling completely wiped out for a few days every month is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm hoping to get everything sorted this fall.
Plus, I am pretty terrified of menopause hitting. My mom had a really rough time going through it—to be honest, she still hasn't quite bounced back, even though she's 73 now.

I’ve been eyeing some of that Machummerov jewelry lately.
I love the look, but part of me is worried a magnetic necklace might accidentally snap me right to a traffic light while I'm out walking downtown!

I've stopped taking my birth control...
Ever since then, I've been feeling especially cheerful...
🙂 Perhaps the system just needs a moment to adjust...

jadesailor14 said:I’ve been thinking about it, but I haven’t actually done anything yet.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve hated going to the doctor. It’s an uphill battle just getting me through the door.
I really need to schedule a full physical because I've got quite a few issues piling up. Being totally wiped out for a few days every month is just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe I'll get on top of it this fall.
And honestly, menopause scares the hell out of me. My mom had a brutal time with it—she still hasn't truly recovered, even at 73.

I would definitely recommend 🙂

jadesailor14 said:Whoa, looks like you're expanding the business?
At this rate, you'll be running a booth at the local state fair next...

Boss 😁

polly said:I'm kind of eyeing that Machumber jewelry.
My only fear is wearing one of those magnetic necklaces while walking downtown and accidentally getting stuck to a traffic light or something...

Meanwhile, I'm just wondering if I can whip up a killer protein shake and just toss in some chocolate and sweets for good measure, huh?😁