Okay, I've been off the pill for a little over a year now and my PMS has just gotten worse as the months have gone by. About a week before my period I start getting really moody and emotional. I've tained myself to be aware of what is happening to my body and mind, so that week usually doesn't get in the way of my day to day activities.

It's the day before my period and the first day of my period that are killing me. I get these horrible headaches that don't go away w/Advil the day before. The day of, I get these unbearable cramps and an overall feeling of exhaustion. And that doesn't even cover the emotional instability of those two days.:mad:

I'm really not interested in getting back on the pill right now, but do you all know of any natural remedies that could help ease the symptoms of those bad two days or can you maybe suggest a better painkiller???:eek: Any suggestions would be helpful. TIA!!!

Take Aleve (naproxen sodium) to relieve the cramps. The Aleve will prevent the formation of prostaglandins which cause muscle spasms.

As for the moodiness I don't know what will help. Some people swear that Omega-3 fatty acids help so try ground flaxseeds or fish oil.

I've read that taking extra calcium daily (I forget the amount) helps prevent and relieve symtoms. You might want to try and research that for a natural route.

The calcium supplement definitely helps. I started taking it January 2006, when I had some calcium supplements from Costco sitting around.

When those ran out, I did more research and got a calcium and magnesium supplement online. The amount of information on calcium alone is mind-boggling, apparently there are several forms of it. The one I had from Costco, from oyster shell, is supposed to *not* be good for you as oyster shell sometimes contains small amounts of lead.

Anyhow I have been fairly religiously taking calcium for more than a year and a half, and my PMS has gotten much much better. I still get it sometimes, but it's not nearly as hellish as before.

Evening primrose oil is another thing that's supposed to work, but I haven't tried that so can't comment.

Honestly, the only thing that helped me with horrible PMS and period-related symptoms was being on BC. I've been on it for years now, and I honestly don't think I could deal without it. Despite being on the pill, one of the things I do is take Advil like religiously when I'm going to have my period. I always start my period on Monday, and I take my last pill on Thursday night. Starting on Friday night, I take 2 Advil (which work better than Aleve for me), like 3 times a day. My gyno was saying that if you can catch it before the hormone (I think it's a hormone) is released, sometimes that can either stop or decrease the severity of the cramps. That's all I can think of though, but I can totally relate to hellish periods. They suck!

WoW, you guys, the advice so far has been excellent! I'm running out to get some Aleve tomorrow b4 class & I plan on researching calcium on the internet.

Thanks so much:)

Calcium supplements that include vitamin d and magnesium help with the cramps. Try to take it regularily to prevent cramps and you can keep taking it during your period til the pain stops. Clary sage and geranium oils help with the pain and moods. I have a rollon of it from Escents but you can make your own with a carrier oil.
Other oils rec though I havent tried are lavender, neroli, rose used in a massage are helpful. Hot compresses, raspberry leaf tea are good too.

Two weeks before your period ideally or just overall avoid too much red meat, fried foods, salt, sugar, caffiene, pop drinks, chocolate and that should reduce the symptons. Primrose or flax seed oils are good for balancing the hormones.

Thanks again for all the advice, but where can I get these oils that you all are talking about???:)

Which oils? The essential oils? You can try www.gardenofwisdom.com
and I guess GNC for the primrose or flax seed oils or any health food store or drug store. The flax seed is cheaper and apparently works the same according to my doctor.

Which oils? The essential oils? You can try www.gardenofwisdom.com (http://www.gardenofwisdom.com)
and I guess GNC for the primrose or flax seed oils or any health food store or drug store. The flax seed is cheaper and apparently works the same according to my doctor.
Thanks for the reply & the link. That's everything I wanted to know:)

You can also get whole toasted flax seeds at Trader Joe's if you have them in your area and at Whole Foods and other Health Food type stores. I eat them by the handful but you can also use them in muffin and quick bread batter or sprinkled in hot or cold cereal or yogurt.

When I was diagnosed as mildly anemic and told to take an iron supplement it really helped with my PMS symptoms so much especially cramping but not everybody can tolerate Iron.

I suffer from dysmenoragghia (I know I'm probably spelling it wrong.) I have suffered from it since I first started getting my period as a teen. The cramps I feel are double what people without this condition feel. I used to have to leave school a lot when I was in junior/high school because I would get so sick. There were some days when I would black out, and I also threw up a lot. I would come home and curl up in a ball in my bed for hours, constantly moving around to try to get comfortable and finally getting so tired of trying that I would cry myself to sleep. My doctor ended up prescribing me birth control pills when I was in high school (against my mother's wishes) which finally stopped the pain. My mother was afraid that I would start having sex the minute I went on birth control pills, which was ridiculous but she was ridiculously strict when I was growing up. The doctor asked her if she would rather I suffered and got pregnant. She didn't know what to say, and the funny thing is that I didn't end up losing my virginity until I was 20 anyway.

With dysmenoragghia I also bleed double what people without it bleed. I need to use pads with wings or else I am bound to have an accident. I am not on birth control now. I stopped taking it before my wedding last May. It was my own personal choice because I always felt more jittery on the pills. I wanted to see if I still had the same pain. For the most part I have been fine, but lately the pain has been slowly getting worse and I've been getting migraines for the past year. I was told by the last doctor I had to use Excedrin Migraine, but it just isn't effective enough for me. I'm going for my annual gyno appointment in October with a new doctor and I'm going to ask to be put on a prescription migraine medication, as well as a low-dose birth control pill to stop the pain that is slowly increasing with every period as of late.

I always found when suffering from bad cramps that a heating pad helped to alleviate some of the pain. I realize that a heating pad is not always handy when the pain strikes, but if you are home when it does strike it is a good option. For a painkiller, Midol Extra Strength works the best for me nowadays.

I want to get on a low-dose birth control pill that will also help to keep my skin clear. My derm has me on antibiotics (Minocycline) currently but she is going to wean me off of them eventually. I was put on them to speed up the healing process while my skin adjusted to using the new topicals. She recommended that a birth control pill would be a good option when I go off of the Minocycline. I know that there is a low-dose one called Yasmin, among others.

If anyone understands your pain, it's me! I wouldn't wish the pain I felt growing up on my worst enemy. I'm glad that I don't suffer that much anymore, but now the migraines are what I suffer from, and honestly I don't know which pain is worse! The migraines also interfere with my life to the point where I have to be in a completely dark room. I am never without some sort of pain, it seems. :rolleyes:

You can also get whole toasted flax seeds at Trader Joe's if you have them in your area and at Whole Foods and other Health Food type stores. I eat them by the handful but you can also use them in muffin and quick bread batter or sprinkled in hot or cold cereal or yogurt.

When I was diagnosed as mildly anemic and told to take an iron supplement it really helped with my PMS symptoms so much especially cramping but not everybody can tolerate Iron.
I actually have a Trader Joe's 2 minutes from me! Thank you so much for the rec. I'll be picking some of these toasted flax seeds up ASAP:)

I suffer from dysmenoragghia (I know I'm probably spelling it wrong.) I have suffered from it since I first started getting my period as a teen. The cramps I feel are double what people without this condition feel. I used to have to leave school a lot when I was in junior/high school because I would get so sick. There were some days when I would black out, and I also threw up a lot. I would come home and curl up in a ball in my bed for hours, constantly moving around to try to get comfortable and finally getting so tired of trying that I would cry myself to sleep. My doctor ended up prescribing me birth control pills when I was in high school (against my mother's wishes) which finally stopped the pain. My mother was afraid that I would start having sex the minute I went on birth control pills, which was ridiculous but she was ridiculously strict when I was growing up. The doctor asked her if she would rather I suffered and got pregnant. She didn't know what to say, and the funny thing is that I didn't end up losing my virginity until I was 20 anyway.

With dysmenoragghia I also bleed double what people without it bleed. I need to use pads with wings or else I am bound to have an accident. I am not on birth control now. I stopped taking it before my wedding last May. It was my own personal choice because I always felt more jittery on the pills. I wanted to see if I still had the same pain. For the most part I have been fine, but lately the pain has been slowly getting worse and I've been getting migraines for the past year. I was told by the last doctor I had to use Excedrin Migraine, but it just isn't effective enough for me. I'm going for my annual gyno appointment in October with a new doctor and I'm going to ask to be put on a prescription migraine medication, as well as a low-dose birth control pill to stop the pain that is slowly increasing with every period as of late.

I always found when suffering from bad cramps that a heating pad helped to alleviate some of the pain. I realize that a heating pad is not always handy when the pain strikes, but if you are home when it does strike it is a good option. For a painkiller, Midol Extra Strength works the best for me nowadays.

I want to get on a low-dose birth control pill that will also help to keep my skin clear. My derm has me on antibiotics (Minocycline) currently but she is going to wean me off of them eventually. I was put on them to speed up the healing process while my skin adjusted to using the new topicals. She recommended that a birth control pill would be a good option when I go off of the Minocycline. I know that there is a low-dose one called Yasmin, among others.

If anyone understands your pain, it's me! I wouldn't wish the pain I felt growing up on my worst enemy. I'm glad that I don't suffer that much anymore, but now the migraines are what I suffer from, and honestly I don't know which pain is worse! The migraines also interefere with my life to the point where I have to be in a completely dark room. I am never without some sort of pain, it seems. :rolleyes:
Oh man you really had it bad!!! I have one very miserable day a month, but taking an over-the-counter pain reliever usually gets the job done okay. I can't imagine nausea & vomiting:(

I've been getting headaches a lot more regularly lately, but I think it has to do with working at B&BW's & being around all those scents. I come home from work with a headache guaranteed everytime!!!:mad: I'm not sure what to do about it cuz I need the job for extra cash, but I refuse to take 3 Advil just because I had to go to work two days a week. I certainly hope you are able to figure out a safe & healthy regimen to help you w/those migraines.

I suffer from dysmenoragghia (I know I'm probably spelling it wrong.) I have suffered from it since I first started getting my period as a teen. The cramps I feel are double what people without this condition feel. I used to have to leave school a lot when I was in junior/high school because I would get so sick. There were some days when I would black out, and I also threw up a lot. I would come home and curl up in a ball in my bed for hours, constantly moving around to try to get comfortable and finally getting so tired of trying that I would cry myself to sleep. My doctor ended up prescribing me birth control pills when I was in high school (against my mother's wishes) which finally stopped the pain. My mother was afraid that I would start having sex the minute I went on birth control pills, which was ridiculous but she was ridiculously strict when I was growing up. The doctor asked her if she would rather I suffered and got pregnant. She didn't know what to say, and the funny thing is that I didn't end up losing my virginity until I was 20 anyway.

With dysmenoragghia I also bleed double what people without it bleed. I need to use pads with wings or else I am bound to have an accident. I am not on birth control now. I stopped taking it before my wedding last May. It was my own personal choice because I always felt more jittery on the pills. I wanted to see if I still had the same pain. For the most part I have been fine, but lately the pain has been slowly getting worse and I've been getting migraines for the past year. I was told by the last doctor I had to use Excedrin Migraine, but it just isn't effective enough for me. I'm going for my annual gyno appointment in October with a new doctor and I'm going to ask to be put on a prescription migraine medication, as well as a low-dose birth control pill to stop the pain that is slowly increasing with every period as of late.

I always found when suffering from bad cramps that a heating pad helped to alleviate some of the pain. I realize that a heating pad is not always handy when the pain strikes, but if you are home when it does strike it is a good option. For a painkiller, Midol Extra Strength works the best for me nowadays.

I want to get on a low-dose birth control pill that will also help to keep my skin clear. My derm has me on antibiotics (Minocycline) currently but she is going to wean me off of them eventually. I was put on them to speed up the healing process while my skin adjusted to using the new topicals. She recommended that a birth control pill would be a good option when I go off of the Minocycline. I know that there is a low-dose one called Yasmin, among others.

If anyone understands your pain, it's me! I wouldn't wish the pain I felt growing up on my worst enemy. I'm glad that I don't suffer that much anymore, but now the migraines are what I suffer from, and honestly I don't know which pain is worse! The migraines also interefere with my life to the point where I have to be in a completely dark room. I am never without some sort of pain, it seems. :rolleyes:

Oh my goodness, I can relate. The cramps on my first two days of my cycle occasionally make me vomit and I have to miss school or work sometimes. The only thing that helps them is Tylenol codeine which I have hoarded from my wisdom teeth surgery (that pain was no where near the cramp pain) My mom said she use to faint also during her period from the cramps, so I think its somewhat genetic. BC has helped me also.

Miss Sephora, I was suggested to take a supplement of magnesium for my thyroid issues (by the way, an underactive thyroid makes periods more painful and longer, and the PMS worse... thank God that has never been a big issue for me). Anyway, the formulas I found in the market were of magnesium + zinc + calcium. I asked the doc and he said: "even better", I could not ask him exactly why (fast call on the phone to check if that supplement was ok and could buy it) and started taking it. NOT knowing or suspecting that the intake of calcium could have anything to do with my periods or how I felt before and after them, I found myself forgetting when I was going to get my period! I just had had no symptoms at all and the period was light, way shorter, almost unpainful. Thought I had lucked out that month. Kept on taking the supplement, and again, no PMS, short period, etc. Asked the doc and then he had the time to talk and said: those minerals are helping you and calcium is great for PMS symptoms. So.... considering it could not be that I was telling myself that "it will work" (I did not even know that calcium would help me, I was focusing on the magnesium and my thyroid) this extreme improvement in how I feel before and during my periods can not be my imagination but an objective fact.
Matter of fact, I've just gotten my period again, and again, it was almost like a surprise because yet again I had forgotten (I was used to not have to think exactly of when and just my symptoms would "tell" me). And no cramping so far (first day!). Last period lasted only 1 and a half day. I looooooooooove calcium supplements! My mood has also been really stable!

Man, Marisa, I wonder if that's not what I have now. Your symptoms sound awfully similar to mine. I'm gonna do some research on this now, and definitely talk to my gyno about it at my next appointment.