I would like to know if PMS AND PERI go hand in hand, do the symptoms get worse when you ovulate just before the cycle.

I found that my PMS got worse with peri. I am now taking calcium/magnesium and that seems to really help minimize the PMS, especially the irritability.

I do sometimes get symptoms during ovulation time too, as well as before and during my period. But it seems to vary from month to month.

Hope that helps!

Perimenopause by definition is in fact PMS that never ends, LOL, My symptoms get really bad around voulation and then again, q week before my period and during. PMS is caused by estrogen drop, and perimenopause is when our hormones fluctuate widely, causing same nasty symptoms as PMS does. BTW, before peri I did not have much PMS at all, now it does not go away.

Just to let you know girls, it does get better. I was where you're at in my early to mid forties. I am now 50 and feeling much better. Hang in there!!!!

I am so reassured by reading your post! My docs keep telling me definitely not peri and because of the irregular bleeding I'm often scared I have cancer.
But like you, I never suffered much in the way of PMS....not anymore....last month my breasts hurt so bad and I was really swollen and crampy at ovulation and for a week before my period. It seems the best time of month for me at the moment is when I get my period.
Did you also have spotting? Bloating? I'm hoping mine is low estrogen breakthrough bleeding causing it.
Thanks again.

I have EXTREME pms....and it is getting worse each month.My periods are very irregular and i never know when i will have one by using a calendar...but i know exactly when i will start by the way i feel.The day before i start i have major anxiety,major moodswings,internal shaking(and external shaking too),depression,irritability,and i feel totally psychotic and neurotic.But at the first sign of blood all of the symptoms disappear and i feel fine(for awhile)It is so bad that i don't go anywhere when i am like that.I told my doctor i need something to help me that one day a month and she prescribed klonopin.Anyone else have extreme pms?anyone else take klonopin for it?

hi moonlight,

i get terrible pms, it starts when i ovulate and again just before i am due on, like u the first sign of my period and everything is well again!!!

i went to the a specialist doctor and told her, she prescribed yasmin bcp, it does supress it but i still get it, but not as bad at all compared to what it used to be,

love dorry

Dorry-

Been meaning to post you. I quit the Yaz as I felt no better.
Ugh - why me?

Moonlight -

Iradan's words echo those of my old gyno. She did nothing to help me but she did say that peri is like having PMS everyday.
This was over a year ago and I sort of chuckled. Now I know.
It is like your worst PMS day played over and over and over times
100. I don't get relief on any day, just an endless loop of misery.
Lots of people take Klonipin, xanax, ativan, you name it.
If it works, go for it.

(My docs keep telling me definitely not peri and because of the irregular bleeding)

What have they been smoking? Irregular bleeding is on top of the peri list! No wonder we worry so, we receive such wrong information!

Astounding! Have been in peri for about 6 years (am 42) & have had progressively worsening PMS! I too can judge my cycle by my mood (usually after the fact). Remember that bumper sticker that said something like "I have PMS & a gun - don't mess with me"?

Four days before my period I am a horrible person. Nobody can do anything right & I will verbally chew people up & spit them out for (in hindsight) no reason. And it seems to be getting worse! I didn't used to be like this - no PMS at all.

Anyway, a friend at work is also peri & she will take me aside and gently ask "What time of the month is it?". That usually gets me thinking & I start biting my tongue.

Then... Wallah!! 1 day before my period - the CRAMPS hit & I know EXACTLY what my problem is! At the 1st sign of blood - I feel GREAT!! Isn't that just sad?

Am still bleeding regularly - extremely heavily - but regularly.... According to my Mom, my friends & co-workers will get treated to this for at least another 9 years.

Hope people still talk to me then....

Will try the Calcium/Magnesium idea - took that as a kid for nightly leg cramps. Thanks for the idea!

Kat