Are you sick and tired of your monthly period problems?
Do you deal with moodswings, headaches, cramps, bloating, weight gain and more?
Has this just become something you deal with, popping a few Midols and pushing through?
If your answer is yes, I’m not surprised but I am concerned.
You see, PMS has become a catchphrase for this unfortunate monthly occurrence that women just expect to have, as if it’s a given part of being a woman.
I want to share a story with you that my husband recently shared with me to illustrate my point:
When it got to be Vic’s turn, he had nothing to say. His friends encouraged him to share, but his response was simply: “My wife doesn’t get PMS.”My husband Vic was at dinner last week with a group of his guy friends. The topic of conversation somehow led to how they deal with their wives’ or girlfriends’ “time of the month.” Each guy went around the table sharing their story about his experience of her PMS. Each of them felt confused and in the dark: “We get into unnecessary arguments. It’s like she’s a different person at that time of the month! I feel like no matter what I do, I can’t make her happy.”
Jaws dropped. They couldn’t believe that was possible.
Of course, Vic encouraged his friends to get WomanCode read it and share it with their partners so they could “have what we’re having” so to speak.
That’s my man! 😉
Now, all silliness aside, there is something wrong with this picture! The fact that PMS has become the norm is not something to take lightly.
There is no reason why you should be suffering from monthly bloating, cramping, or moodswings.
There is no reason why you should feel like a different person half the month and have that affect the quality of your relationships.
The fact is that you are a busy woman and you just don’t have time to be held down, slowed down, or inconvenienced each month. Am I right?
If you’re ready to banish your PMS symptoms and resolve your period problems so that you can feel your best all month long, click here to learn how in my special audio class, Banish PMS Forever!
Part of the problem of the PMS epidemic is that most women just keep quiet and deal with it, aside from a bit of complaining and commiseration with their girlfriends or sisters.
But I know that you’re here because you’re different – You don’t just want to accept the suffering, you want to take a proactive approach to feeling better. You want to be at a dinner party celebrating with your girlfriends rather than complaining or worse yet, staying home because of your symptoms!
And if you’re here, you probably already know a lot about your body and about what you “should” be doing. So rather than start with all the hormone-balancing tips and diet factors that you can focus on, let’s get to the real motivating factor that will help you make the change. Shall we?
This means we’re going to get clear on what this problem is actually doing to your life, outside of just the annoying physical symptoms.
So get started by answering this question in the comment box below:
How is your PMS or other period problems interfering with your life?
Aside from your physical health, what other areas of your life are affected?
I will be reading every response, so go ahead and take a minute to talk to me.
By sharing your story, you’re not only beginning the process of improving your period health and overall happiness, you’re breaking the cultural norm that tells us we should just suck it up and deal with the suffering.
I don’t know about you, but I never liked to follow the norm anyway!
Speak up and let’s take back our time of the month!
Standing with you and your ovaries,
Alisa
Need more Hormone Help?
If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.
I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.
Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!
My biggest issue is with pre and post mentstrual headaches (migranes , perhaps?) Like clockwork, 2 days before my period, and often after the bleeding has ended. killer!! Other than than, no bloating, no cramps, my periods come like clockwork (and i’m not on the pill). I have 5 kids (pregnant 7x) and I’m 42 (which I think is older than your target age group but still thought I’d write anyway :). Thanks!!
Wow ladies! Thank you all so much for your open, honest and beautiful responses. We are so excited to support all of you in your journey to a PMS free life!!
We wanted to let you know that our team, (yes Alisa included!) are all reading through your posts and will be replying shortly.
Sending you all much love and support!
-Shannon
The Flo Living Team
Hello, I suffer from the headaches too. It sometimes feels like throbbing in the front of my head or an icepick in the side. This comes maybe 2 days before my period hits. I also feel my mind is on overdrive like I have a million things that all need to get done, like NOW! We havent even begun to talk about emotional…thats a whole nother story in its own. Sometimes I get really angry and it scares me……this isnt me, please help.
Hi Tammy,
I am so sorry that you are dealing with this! But there is SO much that you can start to do right now to improve and soon eliminate these symptoms! My book WomanCode will give you some understanding of why you are experiencing this, and also it will give you many things do to in order to start shifting your health. This is a great place to start. But do reach out to us if you would like more help!
Alisa
Just before I get my period I get a headache or migrane. For years I have taken painkillers to help give me some relief from it, but the use of painkillers has messed up my stomach really badly. I feel so stuck and desperately want to change this. How can I balance out my hormones so I don’t have to suffer from them every month?
I have purchased your book Woman code and I’m hoping this will help guide me in the right direction. If you have any other advice I would really love to learn more about how to help myself get better hormonally. I am so grateful for all the wisdom and information you have shared. Namaste.
All while growing up I never had bad periods and was on birth control off and on in my early twenties. I went off birth control three years ago and I am in my late twenties and I have had horrible problems and periods ever since. Especially the week before my period I am so moody and irritable and want to kill everyone and everything that makes me mad!! I am normally such a laid back person and it is really affecting my family. Also during my period I have such bad cramps and feel so sick I want to take off work and I get cystic acne around my chin and gain at least five lbs and can’t stop eating. Needless to say I need help! I read your book and will start using the code.
My usual complaints are bloating, gases, acid like pain under the diafragm, serious mood issues and tiredness. I am a person very well familiar with food issues and I take good care in eating healthy food. I still happen to crave for sweets, cakes, bread, but I rarely eat any meat, I drink 2.5 littes water daily, take supplements. My PMS issue however torments me mainly with those mood swings and tiredness as well as lack of any desire for social contacts. Otherwise I don’t use pills, I rarely take medicines, and my period is regular and normal -3-4 days and after day 2 I don’t even notice.
It seems to me that we women can deal with it if we ourselves take care to stop hurrying, because a great deal of it is with psychological and emotional ground and we don’t allow ourselves to slow down and admit we need a break. It is clear that society will not stop or tolerate our need. It is us. And that is why it is difficult – because it takes time, change in habits and responsible attitude to our health. All three are not stimulated by society and corporate world where most of us are part of. We need more womanity and more me-first attitude. Which means we need to stop paying attention to guilt, approval, opinions, judging, victimization and drama. Then PMS will not exist. So the question is, how can we achieve this and support ourselves in this?
Aneta –
You are bringing up a WONDERFUL point. I agree that the issue is very much rooted in our society’s attitude. How can we start to shift the dynamic? It’s starts one woman at a time, and we’re here to help get that change in action!
Stay tuned on more next week on this topic and a new class Alisa will be teaching to help really shift this dynamic from the root cause.
in support,
Jessica
FLO Health Team
headache a week prior to period and sometimes during. it’s as if there’s a crank in my spine that someone’s tightening, it eventually pulls on my shoulder, then neck and gives me a headache. when i was younger, i tried all sorts of drugs including imitrex shots, nothing helped… and sometimes the headaches would last for days. since i became a bodyworker in 1998, and received all sorts of muscle and fascial manipulations, the headaches are much shorter in duration and less in severity. i hate taking drugs, but sometimes white willow bark will help or pain reliever with Acetaminophen, Aspirin. & Caffeine. Amazingly, once the pain in the neck gets manifested, no amount of bodywork or acupuncture can relieve it, it’s like it needs to just go through it’s course.
i have a few clients who will describe the same shortening feeling in their overall fascia and a resulting headache. i’ve often wondered if the hormone mix at that time has something to do with the overall tension pattern in the fasica
I have always suffered with PMS, since I hit puberty, but was always basically told you’re a woman deal with it, but over the last year or so it has got worse, my periods were that heavy I had to have a hysterectomy at which I told my consultant to take everything out he didn’t and I still have my ovaries and cervix and so I still have the symptoms at times I’m so aggressive I hate myself because that isn’t who I am, the headaches are crippling , and all I can do is lie down, and as always I never know when my periods will be as they have never been regular and I’m 43 going on 44 when will it ever stop!!!!!!
mood swings
Hi!
I actually don’t get a “bad” PMS. I’m quite into what you talk about in WomanCode, and have been caring about my cycles for the last years, and trying to be aware of what’s going on during the month. But there’s one thing that keeps coming and, even if I get the sense of it, fascinates me anyway. I’m 39, with and 8 year old boy and have been divorced for 4,5 years, a situation we both agreed smb manages really ok. I have a new partner and my ex-husband has a new family. Ever since my divorce, when I get my period I enter a weird state in which, at different levels through out this 4 years, I just start feeling i need to be back to my “old” family, it’s a mourning state in which I really long for “the father” of my son, not as much as him as a man, but it’s more like parenting is what matters. Well, just wanted to share this, hope I’ve made myself understood, I guess my english is what it is!! Thanks
Pms definitely interferes with my life. Two weeks prior to my period I turn into an eating machine. Cakes, chocolates, cookies, chips, anything that is sweet and salty, I will inhale it. I’ve read your book and done your cleanse but can’t seem to incorporate it into my life beyond the cleanse, mainly because I turn into a human garbage disposal. I’m like an addict, I have one taste of sweets and there is no stopping me until I start my period. Of course there is the self loathing and depression that comes with all that overeating. Don’t want to be around people, irritable, anxious and tired. Sometimes I wish I could go on a month long lifestyle reset retreat and get into some good heathy habits. But alas, the cycle continues…/
Sickening migraines, emotionally sensitive either crying or becoming easily agitated, & very lethargic. I’m 33 & never had children, but trying to keep active for future fertility. I have WomanCode & in the process of completing it. Thanks.
I’ve dealt with moodiness and breast pain before my period, and after several months practicing the WomanCode diet I felt amazingly balanced and stable–almost no symptoms at all. Then I took PlanB while I was ovulating and my following luteal and menstrual phase were HORRIBLE. My breasts were more swollen and tender than ever, and even now, many months later, I am still dealing with big time sugar cravings and major anger/moodiness/self-loathing/sadness before my period. My relationships are suffering. I feel like I can’t recognize myself. It’s humiliating and I feel defeated.
I usually get headaches, am verrry emotional and in such a bad mood… oh dear. Aaaand let’s not forget about the skin breakouts (I look like a teenager in the week before my period begins) and am so bloated that people think I was pregnant 😉
By the way, I absolutely love your book and think that every woman should read it! I recently started following the WomanCode protocol and can already see some improvements. Yippeeee!
I don’t suffer from PMS but I get bad period pain on the second day of my period and my face and back get spotty the week before so I guess that is down to PMS. At 33 I feel like a failure of having teenage skin!
I was on the pill for 10 years but I came off it and tried supplementing with DHA, which has brought my pain way down and made it a lot shorter but it is still enough to not be able to go to work. The doctor just says it’s normal and to go on the pill. She says my hormones are fine as my cycle is regular but then attributes the spots to hormones!
I started reading your book and it seems great but I haven’t had the time to put it all into practice yet. I’ve been trying to concentrate on specific foods for different phases but I eat those foods all the time anyway so I can’t see it making much difference. I follow a whole food plant-based diet, which complicates it a bit too.
Every other month in my period cycle, I experience a lot of mood swings and body dismorphia. I can get very depressed, lethargic and feel hopeless during this “avenge of the mood” period. My boyfriend, who i live with, is aware (because I have made him aware) of my ever ebbing and flowing self at this time. I really loathe the 1-2 weeks before my period. Mentally it is so debilitating. I bought the womancode months ago, and read it with a hunger and then lost steam towards the middle. That’s usually what I do with a lot of books, so don’t take it personally. It was probably my period and I lost steam! Thanks for hearing my story. Look forward to eliminating these symptoms long hold on me pre-period for good!
I have one day of pain and heavy blood flow and the week before I get skin breakouts and the acne left his scars on my face.. Emotional imbalanced, less energy and attention turned inwards.
It seems like it’s getting worse with every month. Being a holistic health coach, I don’t condone taking over the counter medications but during this time, Aleve is my trusted friend. The cramping is almost unbearable and now it’s becoming so intense that it makes me nauseous. The cramping and bloating normally lasts about 3 of the 5 days of the cycle. At this time, I don’t want to be around anyone. Don’t touch me, don’t say anything to me, don’t look at me….just leave me alone. It’s so frustrating. Although I live alone, it still affects my relationships and how I deal with people during that time. I also have fibroids which I’m sure is a contributing factor. During the cycle, I use the heating pad, I drink herbal tea (caffeine free)…I try to comfort myself as best that I can but I need more help. Totally frustrated when that time of the month comes!
My life literally and I’m exhausted!!
Pre menstrul symptoms start for me 7-10 days before my period starts. These symptoms include bloating, aching knees, urinating frequently, sleeping more and sometimes I feel like my mind can go into overdrive about a number of things. For the first 3 days of my period the pain at times can be unbearable, bleeding is very heavy and if I can, I stay @ home in bed. I’ve been diagnosed with 4 fibroids and I’ve been advised by a Dr that it’s best to leave them alone as I’m 38 years old and do want to have children soon. I’m learning about the mind-body connection and changing my mind-set & being conscious of what I eat, however results seem to be taking a long time to improve my health.
I actually get depressed a week after I get my period for about a week. It happens every time! :(( so frustrating.
PMS/PCOS has not only affected me every month since I started menstrating at age 12 but have also affected the course of my life: decisions I have taken and situations I have found myself in. I experience extreme mood swings which include feelings or self-doubt, low self-esteem, moodiness, erratic behaviour, extreme lethargy, insecurity, an acute inability to deal with any type of stress, and weirdly a deep sense of fear. Other symptoms such as cystic acne on the jaw line (which only developed in my 30’s), hair-growth, dandruff, extremely dry-skin which makes me look like I’ve aged prematurely (think yoda!) and insomnia etc all exacerbate the low mood – as is to be expected. When I am not experiencing these symptoms, or they are not so severe I am energised (almost hyper), out-going, fearless and grabbing each and any opportunity that comes my way. Living at two ends of this extreme spectrum meant that I made some questionable decisions about relationships, jobs and how I lived my life day-to-day. I worked for creative agencies that were high on stress and low on routine and regular hours. And I ended up in destructive relationships that would drag on because I didn’t have the confidence or self-belief to see that they were bad for me. I felt I was a thoroughly difficult and “oversensitive” person, and as a consequence so did some others. However in my more balanced periods I simply KNEW that this wasn’t the case. I knew that I was loving and kind, and could have a good career without feeling overly stressed. In the end I experienced massive burn-out. I developed problems with my bladder as well as adrenal fatigue. I was put on antibiotics for 12 weeks which then wrecked my digestive tract. I ended up leaving my city life and the creative sector and moving to the countryside. I am with a wonderful man who understands, and can literally see, how I change each month when my hormones are not working in sync. My copy of womancode has been amazingly helpful and insightful and I continue with my journey in trying to rebalance myself. What I feel strongly about is that as women we are not taught how to have a good relationship with our bodies. We’re not taught how to read the warning signs, and in some cases spend years going to the doctors knowing things are not as they should be yet get dismissed out of hand. I was told for years that I couldn’t have PCOS because I wasn’t overweight. It was only when my symptoms became chronic and I took myself to a private clinic aged 30 that I was finally able to get a diagnosis. I applaud Alisa and her team for all their hard-work and the message they are bringing to women – thank you!!! xxxx
My luteal phase makes me have conversations with my boss, my mother, my man that are based in fear and insecurity. I know it’s the progesterone in my blood stream that causes my brain chemistry to change and see the course correction — but is there a way to experience it without the people in your life wondering why you seem withdrawn and sensitive insecure ?
Hi! Well, since I’m 12 I have the worst crambs ever, it’s really painful, I can;t wear my regular cloathes because I’m super bloated, I get a red and noticeable pimple somewhere in my face every time, if I can, I stay on the bed all day, the worst is when I have to go to work, I’m angry because I’m in pain,it’s really bad. My brother says he doesn’t want be around me, because I’m either angry or crying, I have to take 800 g of Ibuprofen just to help a little bit with the pain. I hate it!!
How is your PMS or other period problems interfering with your life?
prior to my 20’s, i had no cycles and no PMS. i come from a family of women and thought they were INSANE b/c they were so horrible for that week and PMS seemed their excuse to be horrid. then i went gluten-free, started healing, and started having cycles- up to 6 a year. i was 23. cramps were never a problem, but the week before- bloating, 5lb weight gain, moodiness, depression, and my husband could tell from a mile off that i was actually facing PMS. this was a new shift in our relationship. my husband prefers me PREGNANT to PMSing. BUT- diet and supplements and learning has helped. my last 2 cycles (before yet another pregnancy) were proceeded by only 2 days of bloating and a little constipation. i hope to be pregnant w/ my last (6th child) this time and that i can get a healthy cycle after that!
Aside from your physical health, what other areas of your life are affected
my relationship, my work, my focus, my spiritual life- everything gets affected when the PMS funk hits. in fact, i can’t think of what DOESN’T get affected!
Since I’ve been on the Flo Protocol, I’ve learned a lot about the way my diet and exercise habits affect my life. I’ve noticed a change in my cycle since I’ve gotten off dairy and processed carbs. The big thing that still gets me is nausea. Not many people talk about dysmenorrhea, or if they do, they seem to think it’s a normal part of having a period. It’s really frustrating, because almost once a month I have to stay home curled into a ball, not being able to eat all day because of the nausea and cramps that hit that morning. Sometimes taking an Aleve before it starts will help, but it’s still hit and miss. Even ginger tea or water will make it worse. It affects me each month mentally because I know that it’s almost “that time”, and it causes me to worry if my eating habits were okay, or did I indulge too much on eating a slice of cake? It’s like grabbing lottery tickets and hoping that I can match all the right numbers at the right time. I’m not sure what to do.
Each month, AFTER my period, I experience migraines, nausea, and profound fatigue and I feel emotionally raw and sad. It’s hard to DO anything. I have two little girls — and it’s hard to keep up. This lasts through ovulation which leaves me debilitated with ovarian cyst pain, and sometimes severe pain from ruptured cysts. Then for about a week before my period, I’m normal. I am SO tired of this cycle!!!
I just have to withdraw from people. My husband and I both fell asleep with the tV and lights on and i woke him up to yell at him for doing the same thing I had done. Then I got up and turned off the lights and computer and couldn’t fall back to sleep!
I have had periods that sent me to the hospital. Passing out in high-school for no observable reason get’s you sent to the Dr. A full 7 days before my period I can feel the storm brewing. I get short tempered and easily lose it. My breasts are sore month round with a few days here and there when everything is actually in balance, like day two of my period. The first hour of my period is like the gates opening. Throwing up, migraine, diarrhea, everything must be expelled from my body immediately. When there’s nothing left I’m still so nauseous that I have to lay in the tub just to find some peace. It’s also conveniently located right next to the toilet. I’m 28 days sharp. That hasn’t really changed much in that last few years. I’ve cleaned up my diet considerably and when I eat PERFECTLY every single day I’m mostly ok with my period, just really drained and tired, with a headache. But that’s so much better than the alternative. It’s just so hard to be perfect everyday all day. I really mean perfect. If I have one meal that has one thing in it it’s all over for the month.
So interesting to read other woman’s responses. Helps to feel like you’re not alone. For me I deal with chronic sinus pressure/headache on my right side. There’s 1-2 days in the month that it intensifies and is miserable. Been trying to connect whether or not it’s cycle related or maybe something else like candida. I also notice I feel tearful, easily cry, tired at times and experience acne, sometimes after my cycle. LOVE your podcast. Looking forward to learning more soon!
Hi there! Hope you are having a great day! : ) Anywho, I wanted to share my story and read others just to see if this new development is common. hahahah Through out most of my life my period was very regular, light, lasted only a few days, AND I had no PMS. Well sometimes moody fluctuations.
However, the past year? Maybe? My periods have been lasting longer and longer. What used to be 3 days is now 5, 6, or even 7! And there are 2 or 3 days where I feel like I am bleeding to death. In two days I can easily go through one entire box of tampons!
Then there is the symptoms! Lord help me! hahahaha I experience some food cravings about a week prior to my period. Junk food, fast food, etc. I am usually pretty good about not indulging tho. : ) And for a day or 2 before my period and then for the whole period I am so tired and my body aches. I feel like I have the flu, once a month.
I have even taken days off of work for how tired, worn out and achy I feel. And I find myself thinking, am I going to have to take days off every month now, until my period stops?
So yes, lots of changes in my cycle. The actual cycle is still 27-28 days and I can count on a calendar when I will get it, but it’s just all the other stuff!
Thanks for all your help, I am going to buy your book one day! <3
It interferes with absolutely everything: I can’t sleep, can’t think clearly, my brain feels froggy, I’m bloated to the point all my clothes feel uncomfortable. I’m irritable and moody, I cry at everything, I’m very very sensitive and take everything to heart.
I feel insecure and vulnerable. At the same time I can get aggressive. I feel doubtful and weak.
My back hurts, my breasts hurt, my abdomen hurts. I can’t exercise because I feel too heavy and weak.
But the most important thing really is that I feel like my self-worth diminishes enormously that time of the month, which is really sad and difficult to get over.
Hi. I dont have a period since september since i left the pill after 10 years of using it. Iam following the table of your book foods for your cycle… this is the 24 day… so i guess iam anxious, i have sometimes headache. I kind of became a bitch 3 days ago, and only want to be alone in bed, sleeping 🙂 After i get ok. So… there are lots of changes in my mood.
I will continue to follow your protocol to see what happens… i only want my period back… thanks for all your investigation…
Hi. Thank you for this great site! My mood swings are a challenge for our whole family. My husband abounds me and just says he disregards anything negative I say because it’s my “pms”. I also feel overwhelmed when taking care of my 2 little ones at home during this time. I lack patience and seem to blow up at everything.
I would have to say my mental health is the area beside the physical that is affected. I feel crazy! Well more than normal. Every month! HELP! I have tried to eat better. Take supplements. Do yoga, meditate, take magnesium , detox. I mean the list goes on. I just say this is how i am. ” very hormonal” lol here’s one more shot at this. 😉
A few days before, I can see my hair isn’t as full, and I notice I lose more in the shower than on any other day. My complexion tends to become dull, and I get occasional acne around my jaw line. I cannot say I am bloated, and I am lucky to say I have never had terrible cramps. But my hair worries me. What can I do to prevent it from shedding more when I am on my period.
Thank you,
Victoria
Cramps…crazy knock-me-out, just-as-tough-as-labor cramps! I’m a bit on the irritable side a day or 2 before as well, but it’s nothing compared to the cramps. I am completely out of commission for somewhere between 6-24 hours. On the upside, I started the womancode protocol (by the book) last September & then started the official floliving program in December. Over the last 6 months I have had 2 moderately better episodes of cramps. And in general, I really am feeling better! But those CRAMPS! I’m so, so ready for those to be something of a distant memory!!
I am recovering from a failed IVF cycle and haven’t seen my period in 2 months. I want to try another round of IVF but don’t know how to balance my out of whack hormones to best prepare for another IVF cycle.
On occasion I have tender breasts and up until 3 months ago, I spotted the day before my period instead of it coming in on in full flow. (that has been changing with diet and supplement changes etc) And, a night or 2 before, I usually have mild night sweats. I used to have some times where I needed to change my shirt, but it’s usually less than that now, but still not comfortable. Once and a while, I’m more irritable the day before
Hi Alisa,
I suffer from slight anxiety all month long, but before and during my period it goes through the roof! I’m a performer (musician) and I find it harder to focus and regulate my anxiety if I have to go on stage in the week before my period. I also suffer from balance problems around this time (I guess because I may be retaining more water?), which as you can imagine is unnerving when you are walking on stage.
I know for a fact I am B6 and zinc deficient so I’m guessing that’s causing the anxiety. But I’d like to know if the reasons why some women feel more anxious while others are more tired or depressed.
Thanks
before my periods and at the beginning of my ovulation, I get lots of cramps ; a painful sharp pain. It can start in the middle of the night or early in the morning when I had woken up. During my periods, the pain can sometimes be too much it could paralyze me and make me walk in a stoop. With it are: headache, tiredness, feeling low and everything just seem boring and people don’t understand me. I do exercises such as running like three times a week but it doesn’t help. I have lost weight from 54 to 50kg. What is worse my periods are very little that I cannot even wear a pad coz my panty can survive it. The blood also arent red but some darkish small lumps. I will be 40 soon and I am getting worried coz I read somewhere that people with endo are prone to overian cancer espcially at the age of 50 years.
I have the most ridiculous PMS mood swings! I can go from overly excited, to crying to yelling at my partner all in the same hour. I feel so confused and irrational, but it is not something I can easily control. It is so frustrating to feel so helpless for at least a week once a month!
Close to before or during my period I crash out and can sleep for about two days. I’ll only wake up to eat and do other necessities and back to bed I go. So much so that I have to call in sick to work. I sometimes have other symptoms but sleeping for two days is killer.
This is something I’m great at helping other women with and for a while I had it under control but now I have little spare cash, I am finding it much harder to keep it under control.
I’m 30 years old and my PMS started when I came of the OCP about 3 years ago. Last year I was earning quite well so I spent quite a lot on nuts seeds, avocados, Kefir/Kombucha- I started making my own in the end, herbal medicine and Bach flower remedies and ALL my symptoms went away! I was freeee and my skin was beautiful BUT THEN I qualified as a herbalist and holistic nutritionist and I’ve been setting up my own online courses and practice- I quit my well paying job for a part time job and I simply haven’t been able to prioritise myself for a long time.
I’m helping other women with exactly this, I’m helping them find their connection to their sexual Divine feminine energies and inner Goddess but I feel like a fake because I’ve lost my own.
I tell them they must make themselves a priority but I simply cannot practice what I preach just yet because I am paying of debts and trying to survive- I cannot wait to thrive!
Anyway, I get swollen breasts 10 days before my period. I start feeling overwhelmed by life a couple of days after that so 8 days before. I suffer from cystic acne and spots around this time too. Then I start to get emotional at silly things and hot. I suffer from insomnia around this time. I start getting pains about 3 days before. I also seem to be constipated when usually I’m regular. I sometimes even get bladder pains and a feeling of my colon tightening and my bowels, bladder and lady parts swelling and tightening. I get pain on urination. I’ve been tested for infections, I’ve tried D-manose, various herbs and supplements. The only time I didn’t get the pains was last year when I was able to spend money on what I needed.
I’ve been checked by doctors and specialists and they said it’s likely to be endometriosis. But I don’t think it is as I tend to have the bladder symptoms often(its just worsens at this time) and it’s ever since I had the loop procedure for pre cancerous cells- which I wish I never had because now I’m a herbalist I know there are other ways. I think it damaged me having that procedure. I haven’t healed yet although, last year when I was all healthy and amazing I had no pains at all. But it is ever since that procedure 3-4 years ago that the bladder and urination issues started. Although this is also when I came off the OCP
When I take herbs I’m much better but because I’m in the process of setting up solo I don’t have a lot of spare cash to spend on myself and so I am back to suffering.
Everything anyone says seems to upset me around this time. I’m very sensitive and emotional. My boyfriend and I don’t usually argue but if we do it’s when I’m due on. I can’t have the internet on a lot as for some reason I feel more sensitive to it. I also get headaches sometimes and all the time I feel nauseous on waking in the morning.
I don’t have heavy bleeding and it doesn’t last too long. I tend to feel better 2 days in to bleeding. I feel if it was endometriosis I’d have heavy bleeding and various other symptoms but I don’t.
I eat a really good diet but feel I need more fats. I don’t eat meat but I do eat fish but I don’t like to eat it I just do it because I feel I “should”. I can’t have too many nuts and seeds as it triggers cold sores for me. Sunflower seeds seem to be OK though but not too many. I don’t think I’m eating enough food right now. I’m very slim and due to financial and business type stress and having had one of the most difficult 9-10 months I have dropped in weight and appetite. I don’t eat enough due to money and the fear of eating in-organic foods.
I try to only eat organic but because in the UK it’s SO expensive I end up just not eating much. I hate the thought of eating chemicals. I believe it’s GM produce and chemicals that have caused the female reproductive issues-epidemic!
I feel my business is about to kick off as I’m doing B-school and when it does I’ll be practising what I preach and hopefully getting better.
I am really interested to hear this advice as I believe I’ll be able to help myself and others with it. I 100% believe that women don’t have to suffer. All my patients are living proof- It’s just that I’m not right now!
It’s been very hard for me to type this and admit this but I’m doing it because I want to be authentic and I really care about women. I want to be part of this group.
My bigger aim is to earn enough from my online courses so I can provide free care to women less fortunate and provide them with alternative medicine and organic foods that they otherwise wouldn’t even have heard of due to poor education in schools!
I believe it is our birth right to live healthy, abundant lives and to be free!
Just got to add myself into that ha ha.
I definitely am giving way more out than receiving right now. Hopefully a fair exchange is on the way!
Sorry this is so long. I just wanted to share fully.
Since getting off the pill a year and a half ago I have had excessive spotting in the weeks before my period begins. At worst it can start directly after ovulation, which means I end up bleeding for half of my cycle! This is very annoying.
I also get breakouts for most of the month but worst starting about a week before my period.
Many thanks for your continued support!
I get skin problems and get moodyAlso i noticed a lot of cravings right before and after my period.
I used to get severely bad cramps when I was younger. When I am stressed I still get them but I tell myself now there is no reason to be in pain and go against my body as I love myself! This seems to help the cramps along with eating warm foods and vegetables. Although tummy Thermapads are my best friend the first and second day of my period. I do get extremely depressed, like 2 weeks before Im often feeling suicidal and this has been since I’ve been 15. I’m over 35 now (will not say my age, as I don’t feel my age but younger lol). I’m borderline anemic, but during my period Im full blown anemic. Overall, the worst for me is massive mood changes, bloating and cramps. As I get older I have some months where I’m fine and others I’m completely tipsy turbulence because of PMS. Love your work Alissa! Thankful for women like you out there to inform is truth! Hugs 🙂
Hi Alisa. I feel like PMS is making me an evil witch of a mother and that breaks my heart. I exploded today at my daughter and sure enough, I am 6 days away from my period. I feel like I am having less and less “good” days anymore and the PMS times are spreading to most of the month. I feel so helpless because I feel like I’ve tried everything. I’ve seen an expensive endocrinologist in BH that is a Hay House author, I’ve seen a kinesiologist, I’ve seen an ND, I’ve done a candida cleanse where I was gluten, sugar, caffeine, dairy, fermented foods, alcohol free four 90 days and took a bunch of supplements to cleanse/support my liver and kidneys and clear heavy metals etc and it didn’t help. I dry brush have been careful about my products and only buying organic for years! The other thing that is so frustrating is when I look at your different groups of symptoms I have a little of each. I even have some characteristics of a slow burner an some of a fast one. I feel absolutely helpless. My kinesiologist said I have an intolerance for berries and nuts and not to eat eggs or beans. Then you suggest cutting down on animal protein so I feel like I have nothing much left to eat. I have started drinking a smoothie first thing before I drink my coffee but I just can’t seem to stop drinking coffee because I am so fatigued and I have 3 young children to help get to school. I have had several major traumas including a plane crash so I know my adrenals are so fatigued but I just can’t seem to get better. I really just want to enjoy my life and my family but I feel like I’ve been chasing good health my entire life. I have spent so much money on practitioners and supplements I don’t want to think about it and I feel like I can’t spend anymore. I am part of the pleasure Tribe and am enjoying some practices and have listened to both your seminars and have been tracking and I got some supplements you suggested. I have been doing some EFT every day for last two weeks. I just don’t know what else to do!
I am 45 and have 3 children under 10. Fertility was never an issue for me! Thank you for listening/reading. It feels good to feel heard.
P.S. I relate to what you were talking about women with orthorexia. I don’t stop myself from eating foods that aren’t organic but I carry this “story” and “guilt” with eating and drinking so many things. I just want to enjoy life and not feel stressed or anxious any more!!
I had painful periods as a teenager and had a laparoscopy 25+ years ago to investigate why the pain was so bad (I wanted to die). Not surprisingly they found nothing physically wrong. My periods came every 28 days and lasted 3 days until I turned 30 and then they became irregular, 19-25 days apart lasting 5-7 days sometimes. I get bloating, gas, awful sugar cravings and post-menstrual Migraines that are so bad I have actually just not wanted to wake up. I have 5 children (had problems in all 7 pregnancies) and lost 2 in late pregnancy, have also had 2 early miscarriages in the last 6 years. Definitely want this misery to end.
Also forgot to say experience heavy bleeding and also been diagnosed with fibroids.
I cry pre-menstrually.
Everything is emotionally huge and hard. I come out of the few days of this (pre-menstrually) holding my head and thinking OMG did I really think that and feel that and say it out loud.
I recently had the IUD removed so I can live-with-the-rhythm of my body and am not enjoying it very much at all.
I have the book… I eat well and exercise. I’ll try the detox and cross my fingers.
I always feel more emotionally raw and quick to cry or become angry. It also makes me angry that my feelings are discounted as “just PMS” so it’s hard to navigate relationships during this time. I get overwhelmed and need to sleep more. I have a 9 month old and his normal needs and crying just wears me out. I used to always have painful acne (I’m 45) but lately this is much better. I have been implementing lots of changes regarding cosmetic and cleaning toxins and am also modifying my diet.
I’ve been reading your book and following your protocol for almost 7 weeks now. I’ve had one period in that time and my PMS symptoms have already improved dramatically. So I have to start by saying a massive thank you for that!
Prior to that, my symptoms were: extreme tiredness and headaches for 2 days prior to my period, and sometimes 2 days after, very heavy periods for the first 2-3 days, cramping. Feeling super irritable, quick to react and cry, and just emotionally horrible for about a week before my period. Also skin issues – breakouts on my face and back.
The main area this effects me in is my parenting – I have no patience with my kids and find it difficult to deal with even the smallest issue.
I am 35 and this has been happening for the last 4 years, since I had my second child. I haven’t been on the pill for over 8 years.
PMS and PMDD have been parts of my life since I started menstruating at age 11, so it’s been almost 30 years of severe mood swings, depression, severe cramping, nausea, vomiting, anger, and heavy bleeding through more than 1 week a month. More than 1/4 of my life has been spend like this. I’ve been on birth control, oxycontin, midol, and every home remedy anyone could throw at me. The last ten years I’ve relied mainly on peppermint and ginger teas, hot water bottles and pads, and small does of midol to get through the worst of it. And I just make do with the pain. I’ve read womancode and implemented part of the protocol along with finding an amazing therapist who helped me realize the depression and anxiety I thought I’ve suffered all my life are directly related to my hormonal issues. We’ve begun tracking these and I went on a strict paleo diet for 6 months to eliminate food stressors ( I would now call myself 70-30 paleo). It helped a little but has not resolved 75% of the issues. We’ve also been working on incorporating meditation, yoga, and more regular exercise in order to see if those help reduce symptoms further. It’s been a difficult year of adjustments but I keep learning and applying different techniques and seeing what works. Knowing that I have been suffering for so long and thinking I was crazy (the doctors did nothing to help), makes me angry. Knowing now that these issues are hormonally based and finding the tools to start healing has done wonders for my self esteem, self love, and relationship with my husband. I am also grateful that I will be able to provide tools to my 11 year old niece when she begins menstruating (the hormonal problems exist in all the women in my family) so she may not have to dread her monthly cycle or suffer in the same way her mom and aunts have. Thank you for all the work you do in making these issues public and giving women more tools to understand whats happening and how we can learn to embrace this powerful time of the month!
Hi everyone,
I have been battling chronic vaginal infections for the past five years now. I live in the Czech Republic and have had a terrible time getting the doctors to take me serious about this problem. Half the time, when I go in to have yet another infection looked at, they don’t bother culturing it at all and just give me more gunk to put inside myself, telling me this is a “common problem.” I have yet to understand how they could ignore a seemingly epidemic chronic infection in their patients, but anyway, I get an infection at least monthly, though sometimes it’s hard to say where it stops and starts.
I also get some PMS symptoms–quite moody and fatigued for about a week before through the first couple days of my period. As one of you said above, I find this very frustrating as I don’t want to just write off my very real feelings as “just PMS,” but also realize that I am being quite over-reactive for much of this period.
Finally, I went through a period of anorexia with a touch of bulimia on and off for about 10-12 years, which I’m sure has some kind of connection (immune system) with my chronic infections. Additionally, I had a very traumatic birth of my daughter one year ago, which I feel has taken a massive hit on my overall mental and physical well-being. This issue is usually the thing that gets my mood issues started during that time of the month; I’d say it’s borderline PTSD right before my period.
So that’s my story. Feels nice to get it out.
Thanks for all the support!
Kara
I get PMS from the second part of the luteal phase.Back pain, tiredeness, tender and swolen breasts, lethargy, not enough energy. I got and read your book and am into the nutritional part for 10 days now. I Quit dairy and wheat and reduced a lot of sweets and black sugar carbs. I have been living organic for 8 years now but I believe its important to manage my blood sugar first then adrenaline fatigue. I wake up at 630 (without any energy) on weekdays then at 14:00 on weekends. Difficult to keep stable sleep patterns. Before i was diagnosed bipolar and without the drugs to keep it under control i had extreme mood swings, depression before period ,which are now more even. I am now on the woman code protocole (I started 10 days ago and feeling very excited) to get my hormones in tune in order to prepare for getting off the drugs and getting ready for a baby, and loose some weight and get some more energy, hopefully. I feel that my out of wack hormones interfere with my condition (depression-manic states) although no doctor has told me that. Have gained 6 kilograms since on the drugs and cannot loose it although i used to always be successful with correct nutrition in the past. I appreceate your comments. xx
I started on the program after watching the Dr. Oz clips here on the site. Hadn’t even read the book at that point. Perfect periods on the dot three months in a row. Now I was regular but regular to the day? Unprecedented results.
This last period (today) was not great. Delayed ten days (but only 15 from ovulation) complete with pain and nausea/vomiting. Not fun. Here are my questions:
1- With the protocol but I’m unsure what to eat when four weeks go by and the period hasn’t arrived. Then I get confused what week I’m on. What do you do with the protocol if you haven’t had a period in four weeks? I just couldn’t figure what phase I was in.
2. To piggy back on another commenter’s question: Eating on the plan can be kind of costly. I did borrow Womancode from the library, but when funds are low it’s difficult to do this. Any tips? I’ve just resigned myself to late bills in favor of high-quality food (salmon, avocados and walnuts, even olive oil, are expensive!). Any cheap substitute ideas would be helpful.
3. How many supplements are too much? Been listening to Alisa’s last three or four calls and I’m getting overwhelmed. It works, don’t get me wrong. I’m on the program, survived holiday eating, got my sex drive back and do a little detoxing every day. See, I want it all.
But! I’ve got Ashswaganda, milk thistle, sunflower seeds, green juices, digestive enzymes, all sorts of stuff. (I also see a holistic nutritionist as well.) I just wish there was a way to streamline. With a multi-vitamin, fish oil, etc. Is there anyway to get this all down to the bare bones of what you need?
Thanks for all of your answers and such great content.
Omg glad to hear that I’m not going crazy. I’m almost sure that all my problems stem from Hormonal problems. My periods have been very irregular for 3 years now and for the past 2 months I have not had one at all. But I’m still having symptoms I think. My moods swing really bad, my anxiety gets awful about once a month where I can hardly function. I’m so iirritable and argumentative. Cry at the stupid things and feel like I’m going crazy at times. The headaches get worse every month and so does my sinuses for some reason. Then there is the fatigue that makes me very lazy. My hair is getting very thin, my skin is dry no matter how much lotion I use, my scalp stays dry. I have chin hairs now. I’m only 39 but it almost seems like I’m going through menopause. Help I feel like I’m losing my mind. I just want to be normal and happy again.
i was 13 when i had my first period, since then I’ve been experiensing really bad lower back pain. My mom used to give me some pain killer, though they worked i still don’t understand why i get that much pain when i have my period. Now I’m 26, and I’m in a relationship 5years with my boyfriend. Every time i had my period he always complain about my attitude or they call it swing mood. I don’t want to ruin my relationship with my partner, he’s a good man and put up everything and tried so hard to understand me. I need some help!! How can i control myself and control my temper or my attitude when i have my period. I want to be me again, this is so frustrating..
I have felt so alone. No one in my family experiences what I experience the week before my period. Hearing the stories of all these women is moving. I am 24 and for the past two years the week before my period has reshaped my life. I am very withdrawn and depressed. I don’t talk much, i’m not very nice to others and i am extremely sensitive. It has had a sever effect on my relationships with family, friends and my boyfriend. I don’t know how to fix it. I found this post in a moment of desperation. This time of the month snuk up on me again and again i was taken prisoner. It’s Christmas eve and i don’t have the desire to do anything or see anyone. This is awful. It feels like i’m watching my life pass me by from the passenger seat, like i have no ability to grab the steering wheel. I started my cycle at 11. For the first 11 years I experienced irregular periods, sever cramps, bloating and insatiable food cravings. At age 22 something changed and the emotional and physical components seemed to switch places. Now it’s my emotions that are hard to control. I eat any food in sight, which only worsens the way i feel about myself. My obgyn put me on sprintec, its a birth control that she thought would help. It has lessened the number of days the symptoms last but they still come. This isn’t who I am but i’m not sure how I can save myself.
My whole life i had irregular periods heavy heavy flows and bad cramping lasting 5-7days and would not get them regularly. I would have my period for 6months then not have one for 6months. Or have it one month skip 3 have it on the 4th month etc. Completely unpredictable it came to a point where i thought i could not get pregnant because my boyfriend and I had sex often unprotected for 6years and every time i thought i was pregnant of course i was not and not having my period was due to my insane menstral cycle. Not until i thought i wasnt pregnant was i actually pregnant and did not even know until i felt her kicking. I never had pms before i had my daughter im assuming due to the fact my cycle was not a cycle at all. Now my periods are exactly on time and i feel like i have pms 3weeks out of 4. Its become so bad that im super emotional cry and fight with everyone get very depressed lazy and buy bags of m and ms. Im just now realizing its pms because for so long i never had pms. Its so frustrating and its ruining my relationships. On top of that i act out and do childish things and all the while im feeling all these ways i cant figure out why until my period comes which is a little to late to realize lol. Anyways i need help with tips on how to remind myself and to control this naturally . Its destroying my life and i cant take it any longer mainly for the way it makes me feel and act. Im miserable.
I get very ill .. Throwing up migraines .. I have no motivation or energy the week before..I don’t feel Like it’s normal to be totally consumed by this plague! I have no hope! My life has been hell because I’m a woman and I have this recurring hell every month so half my life.. I’m on it for a full 7 days and a full week before..shoot me now!.. I feel very alone!
And this is the second one in a month so now it’s consuming my entire life
Hi Jessica,
I am so sorry! Look to your thyroid function! This can create more than 1 period per month.
Alisa
Hi Jessica,
It doesn’t have to be this way! Please get in touch with one of my counselors for a free initial consult! Create you appointment here: http://bit.ly/12Xruvm
Alisa
Around every time of the month when its close to the time of my period, I get very moody and miserable. I feel like I’m all alone and that no one loves me. The least little thing my husband does or says that I think is “wrong’ upsets me. I hate him being around sometimes . I get constant headaches, I feel bloated and fat and have terrible abdominal pain, aprtly because I have fibroids. I’m basically a happy person and I wish I copuld feel that way even at that “time of the month”….Help me!
Hi Kadian,
Please book a free initial consult with one of my counselors! There is so much you can do to support better hormonal health! Hang in there!
Alisa
The worst thing about my PMS is that I hate myself. I already struggle with envy and low self esteem and during that time of the month, I seem to capitalise on every opportunity to feel bad about myself. I think about suicide and, although I don’t seriously plan on doing it, more than usual during that time I long to get out of going through life as myself. I act moody and childish and then I feel ashamed of acting that way and I feel like I’m not strong enough or enough of a lady. I also get cramps, bloating, and my face breaks out (as we speak my forehead is as bumpy as a teenager’s).
My periods are a horrific event. Let me start at the beginning. When I was a teenager I would get a horrible knee pain literally 60-30 minutes before my period started, followed by cramping so bad it would cause nausea and almost projectile vomiting. Moving forward I started taking allesse. This helped immensely with the cramping and nausea. So today this is how my period go. The week before I suffer from severe drowsiness and irritability. The day of or the day before I have very bad neck pain which usually turns into a full aura migrane followed by nausea and vomiting. About 1-3 days before period I have an insatiable apetite which leads to weight gain, I alost always crave red meat and salt. My periods are shorter due to my birth control and I have little bleeding and cramping. But often I fight with my husband almost to the point of divorce. I own my own business so this is very problematic to my marriage and business. I have broken things in my house and thrown my cell phone in anger. I don’t display this level of anger at work but I am very irritable and not pleasant to be around. Help!
Hi Mila.
Let’s set up a time to talk! Please go to this link: http://bit.ly/12Xruvm
I dread my period every single stinking month!!! Its messing with me mentally emotionally and physically. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I have no energy. I spend the first 2 days in bed because it feels like my inside r falling out. It hurts to bad to stand. The migraines make me puke. My poor kids try to avoid me cause I’m always on edge. I’m either crying or screaming there’s no in between. I’m tired of it. What can I do? Pls help.
Hi Nicole,
Ugh I’m so sorry! How is self care, pleasure and sleep for you these days? I have a feeling there is adrenal fatigue at the root of this hormonal wackyness. You can get more info on what to do from my book WomanCode, or visit the website to find out more about our programs. This is something you can absolutely heal!
Alisa
Im forty and well I feel like my body just betrays me for half the month. I always have had odd periods since I had first started. I have heavy flows, bad cramps. I have had ovarian cysts and had them removed. Three pregnancies to full term, one miscarriage. My children are now 21, 18 and 8.
My Symptoms start as early as 12 days before I start. I usually get extreme breast tenderness and a bit of fatigue at this time. At six days before that’s when the moodiness starts in. I feel like I want to explode at even the smallest things. I start to bloat about 2 days before. My fatigue at this point is so intense if I could I would sleep all day, not wanting to move. And I can usually tell the day before because I usually poop like a mad women. I joke saying I am evacuating the scene beforehand.
Day one of period, usually just a light stain nothing bad, towards the end of the day is when the cramps start.
Days 2-4 Heavy bleeding and clotting, and killer cramps, to the point of sometimes I am stopping and breathing like in the early stages of labor. I have learned a ball chair at work helps immensely. But during this time, I am on a super plus tampon as well as a pad and in the bathroom on average about every two hours, maybe I can stretch it to three.
Days 4-5 This is where my period decides to play ” am I here or not?” I can go even hours without barely a stain,then usually I get a big surprise of “ha ha I fooled you”
Days 6-7 usually just the aftermath, the leftovers, just a pad needed. But I can not go without one.
Usually when it stops I go back to my normal self and I am energetic and happy,. but that near two weeks takes it out of me
I used to have such excruciating cramps I thought I was dying. I’ve been taken to the hospital and collapsed on the floor they were so bad.
Thankfully, I haven’t had that in years. These days however, right before my period, I’m a mess. I hate my husband. I hate my life. Nothing is good enough. I rage and yell. I’m cold and cruel. It’s scary.
Then when I finally start my period I’m in love with my husband, life is good, and I’m nice. But I want to eat everything in site.
PMS has nearly ruined my marriage and impedes my happiness every time a cycle rolls around. I don’t want to live on this roller coaster anymore! I just purchased progesterone cream. Hope it helps!
Hi Amber,
I feel you, and I would love to have you take advantage of the complementary call with one of my counselors – they can help you find out how to better manage this and heal! Please sign up here if you are interested: http://bit.ly/12Xruvm.
Alisa
Approximately a week before my period, my mood swings are so annoying! Every month I feel as though I’m failing at my life and get such self esteem issues, I usually have a pretty healthy self esteem. I also feel like eating so much, my food cravings control me.
I also get very angry right before my period, I just go insane and so unreasonable, no matter what, I can’t control it. For me, I don’t get really any physical pain it’s all pretty much hormones and emotions. I also eat reasonably healthy and excercise at least once or twice a week.
I just don’t understand how I’m supposed to go trough my entire life with having an entire week of every month where my emotions go into turmoil.
Is there even a solution or do we just have to figure out ways to hush up so we don’t say anything we regret while the moodiness happens?
Heeeeeelppp
Hi Becca,
There is so much you can do about this! If you would like, I will offer that you speak with one of my counselors and they can tell you more. I offer a complimentary consult to all women, to set this up, please go to this link: http://bit.ly/12Xruvm
Alisa
My PMS starts 10 days before my period, and my biggest problem is I can’t make any decisions during that time, I see everything through this distorted foggy glass, and I cannot trust myself during that time. My boyfriend noticed the connection with me packing my bags every month , and PMS, that’s how bad it is, I ADORE this guy, and he ADORES me . Aside from nausea, fatigue, severe migraines, phantom pains, I EAT SO MUCH crap, which is effed up, because I have severe insulin resistance. It is destroying my health, destroying my life, gets me depressed so I don’t brush my teeth or comb my hair. And cherry on top is that when finally my period starts, I can’t go to work, because first 2 days, I have severe cramps. I feel like such a lady.
Hi Alex,
I am sorry to hear things get so bad! Just know it doesn’t have to be this way. Reach out to my team if you want support in your healing process. We are here to help!
Alisa
I think my periods are ruining my life because of the way I feel for days off and on before and of course during my period I just cramp constantly even when I take something for the pain I’m like waiting forever for it to take affect I might be over dramatizing it a little but trust me when you’re hurting it can feel like forever anyway the aspirins that I take to help my cramps they take forever to work and by the time they do take affect then its not too long after that I’m having to take more cause the cramps are back again and I think I must be paranoid or something cause it feels like I’m constantly having to run to the bathroom to make sure that I haven’t flooded all over myself and that brings up another part of my problem is that I have always gone so heavy even now and I’m 42 years old! Is that normal at my age?
Hi Faye,
It sounds like you have a hormone imbalance, or possibly fibroids or endometriosis. I would definitely go get checked out by an Obgyn first of all. There certaily are a lot of things you can be doing to support hormone rebalancing and healing, which is what my programs are designed to do. There is nothing normal about the PMS you describe, no matter what your age!
Alisa
Thanks for getting back with me, this is the first sense I wrote about my problems with my periods back in 2017 that I’ve been back to this sight so this is the first that I’ve seen of your response till now and I have to admit that I would never have thought of a hormone imbalance being a possible cause to my problems nor would I had thought of fibroids as being a cause but the endometriosis now that’s something else I had read up a little about endometriosis and Reading about it I would think to myself” could that be what I’m experiencing? Could that be what’s wrong? But of course only a doctor can tell for sure, something else I forgot to mention before, the first time I spoke about my problem I have never children, I didn’t have any then and I still don’t have any now so could that also be a cause of why my period cramps are so bad too I mean I should have mentioned it before now but I guess I just didn’t think of it before and I don’t know why.
Whenever my PMS comes around, I get extremely, unrealistically depressed. Like right now. I drown myself in my blankets, and sadly search the web on my phone. I become extremely negative – if my friends don’t text back, I assume that they are annoyed at me. If my mom won’t come when I call for her, I assume she’s watching Netflix in her bed again. Ignoring everything else. If my dogs won’t come sit with me, I assume that they their too dominant to obey me. I become unproductive. I don’t turn in my assignments. My grades drop just a little bit more. My life comes crashing down once again. So I can spend a few weeks rebuilding it; brick by brick. And when it’s nearly finished, it all crumbles back down once again by next month. Again and again. Month after month after month.
That is such a great description, Kimorah. I’m very sorry you go through this. I deal with pms / period about 14 days of a 21 day cycle – lucky if I get a good 8 – 10 normal days in. That’s a really hard way to live. I try to manage it by tucking away, eating well, taking a social break and telling my boyfriend to protect my space (e.g. leave me be) for about 5 days. It might help to discuss with a school nurse so that they can work with your teachers to provide a more reasonable timeline of finishing projects / homework. Society is a challenge – people expect you to push through the pain when that’s not what your body is needing. I wish you a lot of peace and luck finding balance.
Every month, a week to 4 days before my period I turn into a different person. I do not want to talk to anyone. I don’t want to get dressed. I don’t want to eat, work, or anything else. Normally I am very driven and a go getter and very outgoing! When I am going through this time I get very depressed and extremely angry. It affects my relationship which I truly treasure, and it is starting to hurt my job. I cant focus, and my head hurts, and I just want to cry for literally no reason. This is really just the beginning. I can’t get rid of the extreme despair and uselessness I feel every 4 weeks.
This is by far the worst pms I’ve ever experienced in my life…. Not only am I late not due to pregnancy reasons, I’m eating whatever, can’t even work it out so exhausted… And I usually fast and have an amazing die but that’s down the toilet. Caffine has no effect on me anymore. It’s frustrating..
I will gain weight. Everything I eat hurts my stomach. I’m depressed, negative… Thank goodness I have a part time job. Not to mention squinting eyes…. Aren’t we all like, when will this be over?
I have been noticing recently that what is really affected are my moods. I’ve always had a pretty high libido, and before my period it gets even crazier.. but I have been noticing lately that I not only feel extremely depressed, but also super insecure. I question everything about my relationship. I begin feeling extreme anxiety around issues I am sensitive to, and feel like saying aggressive statements more focused on the issues I am insecure about While I have cramping, these emotional changes are really what seems to affect me most.
Hey Alisa, I am 28 years old and I’ve been struggling with PMS since I was in high school and I think it has gotten worse over the years. I’m so glad that I found you – I am currently reading your new book, In the FLO, and so far I am OBSESSED with all this new information that I am learning. Here’s my story:
The 2nd week of my luteal phase (and the first 2 days of my period) tend to be THE WORST. My symptoms include insomnia, migraines, depression, mood swings, lack of energy, inability to concentrate at work, bloating, lack of motivation, no appetite or excessive cravings, upset stomach, heavy bleeding, constipation, headaches, spotting… the list goes on. Two years ago I went to a psychiatrist thinking that I was going insane and he told me that my symptoms sounded like PMDD – premenstrual dysphoric disorder, so I was prescribed 25 mg of Zoloft. I took it for a year and it really helped me with my symptoms – they were almost 100% gone! However, I eventually stopped taking the SSRI because I started feeling like a ‘watered-down’ version of myself…I felt weird as if my personality was shutting down and I was afraid of mixing it with alcohol so I would sometimes skip my doses during the weekends. My doctor then told me to take it only during my luteal phase. I went home and read an entire study about SSRIs which was done on women who suffered from PMDD.
The study found that women who took 25 to 50 mg of Zoloft intermittently during their luteal phase had the best results vs those who took it every day. I thought this was interesting, so I’m planning on giving it a try during my next periods especially now that I have the FLO app to help me track where I am at in my cycle (TY BTW!). However, I would love to hear your thoughts on this since I know this remedy isn’t natural. Can taking antidepressants have any adverse effects on my health in the long run? Will my brain become dependent? What is your opinion on antidepressants?
I recently started following some of your recommendations – I quit coffee, canola oil, I am more mindful about the supplements that I am taking, and adjusting my diet and exercise depending on what phase I am at – but my last few periods have been rough and I’m afraid my PMS is starting to affect my career. I work in marketing and have plans to go to graduate school. I am very driven and passionate about my career but sometimes I doubt that I will ever be able to succeed in a leadership position because my PMS will always be around the corner… ready to sabotage all my plans!
Hi Paloma,
would you share a link to that study with us? I think it’s worth it, because a lot of doctors don’t know nothing about that stuff.
Thank you
I could almost say all of the above. Acne and scarring since 14 I’m 44 now and still dealing with it depression, lethargy, stress, fatigue, headaches constipation, pain/cramps, nausea it’s been pure Hell. I can barely function at times. Started yaz…well a copy of yaz… Wish me luck
Hi! I’m a high school senior and I have had extremely uncomfortable bloating problems, acne, and headaches throughout my cycle and cramps during my cycle that range from light to immobilizing. I always crave food, but I’m never hungry. I haven’t been truly hungry since the 8th grade when I got my period for the first time. I was also diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety that year. I took anxiety meds for a short time that year and I have blamed my stomach issues on that ever since, but this has opened a whole new world of problems with the way I treat my body and hope that I can be comfortable again. I always felt healthy and raised to eat good foods, but ever since then I’ve felt like no matter what it try to control Im still failing at my health because I feel like crap. I also developed a shellfish allergy and extreme sensitivity to dairy I hadn’t had before high school. I often feel emotionally numb. I want to rebalance my hormones. Wish me luck!
Hi Charlotte,
So glad you reached out! Hang in there and read both of Alisa’s books – WomanCode and In The Flo – these will give you some great info and tips on how to heal! Reach out if there is any other way we can support you.
XO, Christina – FLO Coach