This entry may be TMI (too much information), but I have spoken to way too many moms like me who are struggling with fairly severe PMS  - and I'd like to find some answers for myself and them. 

After recently finding myself back on "schedule" after two years of no cycle, I've found my PMS has come back roaring like a lion.  I've struggled with it before, but this time around seems to be much worse.  Maybe it's my body just getting used to the hormones again?  Maybe it's my age (36)?  Maybe it's the stress of a very busy life?  Maybe it's the fact that I haven't been able to eat dairy or citrus products for over a year?  (Eli is allergic/intolerant to dairy and citrus.)

We have a wonderful resource of natural healing through a mom at co-op.  She has given some great advice:

- Avoid sugar.  (What??  How hard is this one??)

-Avoid caffeine.  (No problem for me - woohoo - I have at least one thing licked!)

-Eat a healthy fat and protein when craving sugar.

-Bump up calcium and magnesium intake, possibly B vitamins, too.

-Exercise!

-Get outside everyday.

-Avoid stress.  (Hmmm, when do my active boys - little ones and hubby - help me with this one?)

-Try herbal teas made specifically for particular symptoms.

-She's been very kind to give me a few "concoctions" of essential oils.  I'm trying them now and will be sure to let you know which ones work and the company they come from.

-I'm not sure if she mentioned this to me or not.  My mind was swimming the day we talked, but someone suggested looking into a natural progesterone cream.  I have actually used a cream from Arbonne before with very good results.  After about six-months, though, I started having a reaction that caused me to stop. 

-After my second child, I suffered from some pretty serious post partum depression.  Once the third child rolled around, I was able to recognize the symptoms pretty early and read up on the advice from When Your Body Gets the Blues.  I took the vitamin supplements with great success.  I stopped taking them about two months ago, though, because of some stomach pain.  I have no idea if the pain was related to too many vitamins, but the pains are almost completely gone.  Anyway, since stopping, my co-op friend told me that too many B vitamins can cause sleeplessness and that I ought to watch that since I still nurse.  You won't believe this - Eli started sleeping better (finally) about two months ago!  Coincidence? 

Anyhoo, there's what I've learned so far.  I'm hoping that something in this post helps someone suffering.  I'm also hoping some of you who have found relief will share what you did to help.