Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    Estelle,
    
    Try 400 mg Vitamin E and Oil of Evening Primrose capsules.
    Both can be found at any health food store.
    
    Also cut down on salt, chocolate and caffeine about 10 days before your
    next cycle.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    -Dotti.

    See also:
    
    Womannotes-V1
    131 - PMS - how we cope
    687 - Men and PMS
    
    Womannotes-V2
    273 - dealing with "that time of the month" emotions
    344 - days off at that time of the month
    
    Holistic
    487 - PMS support gorup for women
    
    -Jody
    

    I have had tremendous success with Trendar.  It's mainly ibuprofen (?)
    but there are several of us in this office who take it and swear that
    there's pixie dust or something in it, because it relieves tension,
    bloating, cramps, backache...in fact, 20 minutes after I take one it's
    like everything's back to normal.

    Time-release high-dosage b-complex vitamins do it for me, for the most
    part.
    
    -Jody
    

    As Jody mentioned, Vitamin B is excellent for PMS and stress. Another
    form of it is dessicated liver tablets.
    

    I usually eat about a zillion milkyways and scream at my husband. It
    doesn't help anything, but I can get away with once a month, so
    why not :-)
    
    Seriously, I find that drinking alot of water helps with the headaches
    caused by water retention.
    
    Dee
    

    In January, having been a long time sufferer of PMS (the extreme mood
    swings that make people hate to have to live in the same continent with
    me) I gave up caffiene.
    
    I gave up normal coffee, I gave up decaf. I gave up normal tea. I gave
    up cola. I'm still working on giving up chocolate; I've definitely cut
    back on it.
    
    This month, I am proud to say that I didn't even see my period coming!
    No tears at work, no cranky, bitch sessions, no cutting people off in
    mid-sentence with verbal darts. It was great! The only drawback was
    not seeing my period coming until it was too late to kill the cramps.
    I consider it a small price to pay.

    Ditto on cutting out caffeine.  I used to use it to relieve cramps, 
    until I realized how it was adding to bitchyness and sleeplessness.
    
    Are you taking the Pill?  If so, your Dr/nurse may advise switching
    to one with a different dosage.
    
    Nancy
    

    
    I found that when I went on the pill my PMS and cramps virtually went
    away!  That's a rather drastic approach, but some doctors recommend 
    going on the pill to women with really bad cramps.  It also changes
    the duration and strength of your period itself!  (Makes it shorter and
    smaller)
    
    
    Rachael
    

    THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  
    
    Your input and ideas were just what I needed.  I've made notes and
    will see what works best for me.  I NEVER cared for soda, however,
    in the past two weeks, I've had a small diet pepsi in the cafe.
    I made a phone call this morning and found out that the pepis is
    diet, however, not de-cafe! I'm willing to bet this is why I'm
    suffering more than ever. My husband has been complaining that I
    toss and turn all night long and I even cried out last night that
    "I can't find my keyboard, and I MUST do my mail". Talk about taking
    work home with you!
    
    I will definitely go back to my noontime water for a lunch beverage
    and try some of your remedies.
    
    Your quick responses are a true life saver!
    
    Thank you again,
    
    ELS

    
    I am surprised that no one has mentioned exercise.  A good run
    or an intense workout do wonders for getting rid of water retention
    and cramps.  Also drinking plenty of water is a good idea.  Your
    body is retaining water as a menthod of conservation.  If you 
    supply it with enough fluids, all the toxins will be flushed out.
                                  
    

    I give my daughter ( I took them too, back when I needed to) B6,
    LECITIN, APPLE CIDER VINAGER and KELP. Don't worry it comes in a
    vitamin :-).  works wonders on water retention.  Personnally, I
    couldn't exercise, heck I could barely walk, I had the killer cramps
    from hell. 
    
    vivian

    I'd suggest 2 routes: consult a nutritionist - often, as Vivian
    noted, natural products can often help (as can cutting down on some
    foods/beverages). Second, if you already go to a chirporactor or
    are considering going, it might be worth asking if they have any ideas,
    too.
    
    RE: Exercise
    
    It's not necessarily exercising *during* your period that helps, but 
    *regular exercise* that might help prevent the PMS. The key to this
    condition (as so many others) may indeed be prevention, not cure.
    
    
    Basenoter: You might find that massage helps, too. Swedish massage will
    move the toxins and "water" out of your tissues, other modalities
    will aid in "balancing" you, and the relaxation and stress reduction
    can only help.
    
    --DE
     

Cutting out sugar and an excess of greasy foods and other things that
compromise vitality.  Vitamins E, A, B, C -- even very small doses.
Exercise.  Meditation.

    Here's what my sister tried (at the suggestion of her MD) and she's had
    success in decreasing her PMS symptoms:
    
    When you ovulate (approximately 14 days before you get your period) do
    the following:
    
    No Caffeine !!!! - some asprin and cold meds contain it as well as
    the obvious.
    Double up on your fluids, especially water - at least 2 qts daily -
    this is really important!
    Take B6 daily (at least 100 mg) - My sister takes it daily to be sure she
    doesn't forget.
    Plenty of rest during this time
    Some sort of exercise - even if it's walking for 10 minutes daily
    (this is all my sister does)
    
    Good Luck!