Warning- TMI coming up with a little swearing thrown in for fun

morningstar

morningstar

Cathlete
So, last fall I had a tubal ligation, ending my 20 year stint of being on birth control pills. Since then, I have really noticed an increase in PMS issues. Most notably, I have turned into an irritable bitch from hell a week before my period. This is affecting my work and my personal life (not to mention the occassional really nasty post on the forums here that some of you may have noticed). I always had some PMS issues, but it has become really bad. I have just started taking a large number of supplements, in part because of this issue, but for other things as well. I have pretty much stopped most caffeine. I continue to work out, of course. Does anyone have any ideas as to what else I could do about this? I don't want to go back on the pill or take drugs. Do you think it would be worth seeing a doctor and having her check my hormone levels or something like that?

These are the supplements I am on (I take them at different times of the day so that things that aren't supposed to interact don't, and things that are supposed to interact, do; I take them with meals or without meals, depending on how they should be taken, etc. I am careful about how I take them):

  • Zinc citrate
  • Chromium
  • Copper
  • DHEA (smallest dose, once a day)
  • Licorice Root capsules (I have low blood pressure, so they aren't a problem for me)
  • Angelica capsules (Dong Quai)
  • Grapefruit Seed Extract
  • Fish Oil Capsules (yep, I'm a vegetarian, but I decided to take them anyway)
  • Milk Thistle (silymarin)
  • GLA (Evening Primrose Oil)
  • Aloe Vera Juice
  • Flaxseed oil
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Vitamin D3
  • 5HTP
  • GABA
  • Taurine
  • L-Carnitine
  • L-Glutamine
  • L-Tyrosine
  • D-Phenylalanine
  • Iron (Ferrous Gluconate)
  • Vitamin C
  • B-Complex:
  • B1 (Thiamin)
  • B3 (Niacinamide)
  • B12
  • Folic Acid
  • B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
  • Biotin
 
Morningstar, you clearly don't do anything half-assed! :) That's a heck of a lot of supplements. I don't see Evening Primrose Oil on the list however, which is supposed to help with menstrual issues.
 
Morningstar,

I'm so sorry to hear you are having problems.

No expert here, but this seems like way to many supplements. It's a whole meal in itself, even though you are taking them throughout the day. Treating multiple symptoms at once may make it difficult to discern the effects of the herbs.

I've had a tubal many years ago in my 20's and didn't notice any of the symptoms you are feeling. I'm grateful for that.

See your doctor.

Hope to see you taking perhaps a daily vitamin and at least two calcium per day.

If you want to gain muscle I would go with whey protein/hemp protein with L-glutamine and have it with fruit for a shake. Perhaps adding wheat germ and oat bran.

Maybe start off with evening primrose wait a week or so and see how that helps you. (if it does) If you have more PMS symptoms see what herbs will help for the remaining of symptoms, and take them for a week or so. Do that until you are feeling more comfortable.

Please try not to take so many pills. That really makes me concerned for you.

I feel for you, and hope you get help from this.

Janie
 
pixiesis said:
Morningstar, you clearly don't do anything half-assed! :) That's a heck of a lot of supplements. I don't see Evening Primrose Oil on the list however, which is supposed to help with menstrual issues.
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Its under the GLA. You can take 4 of those in a day. I take them two for breakfast and two at lunch. Also, it sounds like you are taking the right stuff but maybe just need to tweak dosages.
 
Have you considered having your hormone levels tested? A freind of mine had the same procedure but she lost ALL of her sex drive. After she tested her hormones she began hormone therapy(creams) and lets just say MUCH better now:eek:
 
Morning Star-after my tubal I developed endometriosis which the drs. forgot to tell me might happen the pain is incredible I get major headaches and become increasingly bloated I ended up back on the pill to control the pain had I known that I would have never had the surgery the only cure is a hysterectomy.
 
MARY1616 said:
Have you considered having your hormone levels tested? A freind of mine had the same procedure but she lost ALL of her sex drive. After she tested her hormones she began hormone therapy(creams) and lets just say MUCH better now:eek:
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Hi Mary,

I was wondering about this. Did she get them tested through a regular MD?
 
And yep, I agree, it's a lot of supplements. They are for a few different issues. Janie, the L-Glutamine is actually to help control my blood sugar, as I have reactive hypoglycemia.
 
Yes it was her gyn that did the testing...be sure to mention bio identical hormones. Her hormones were given in cream form.
 
MARY1616 said:
Have you considered having your hormone levels tested? A freind of mine had the same procedure but she lost ALL of her sex drive. After she tested her hormones she began hormone therapy(creams) and lets just say MUCH better now:eek:
Click to expand...


I was going to give the same advice...Hormone shifts during different times in your cycle are what cause PMS symtoms, some have it worse than others (mine became worse once I hit my 30's). You are NOT crazy (ok, maybe a few days a month! LOL!), it IS treatable. But please, have your Dr. put you on a natural progesterone cream that is not made from some of the nasty (inhumane) things that are out there...

And yes, you should be able to do a simple test in the office...I did a saliva test, though I'm sure that blood test or urine tests are also used??
MJ
 
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