WTF.

[luzula]

I think I just had PMS for the first time in my life at the age of 34. Or at least, yesterday I was crying into my pillow for no discernible reason (I mean, I had things I was crying over, but no reason I was crying over them now, especially?) And today I got my period. I guess it could've been coincidence, but...

My sympathies for everyone who goes through that every month.

Also, I cut my hair short again but was not as happy with the result this time. Hopefully that's PMS-related, too.

Comments

[frayadjacent]

Gah! That's happened to me maybe half a dozen times, and every time it's such a shock. I know what you mean.

[luzula]

Well, it helps to know there was a reason for it, anyway? Maybe I can try channeling it into being pissed off at biology.

Aaaaand now I have to get a grip and start working on my to-do list.

[mizface]

I was never PMS-y until I had my daughter. After she stopped nursing, I had the WORST hormonal wings for about a year until my body got back to normal. So yeah, totally sympathize about sudden onset of that.

[luzula]

Well, hopefully this is a one-time occurrence. *glares in the general direction of reproductive organs*

[seascribble]

Housemate and I both have a history of PMS, inconsistently. In the last few years for me, it's gotten better. *hugs* Sorry you were sad. Hope it was a one off and you're feeling better.

[luzula]

Thanks! *hugs back*

Yeah, better now, if still a bit maudlin. I have a ton of stuff to do, so I'm keeping busy, and hopefully this was a one-off occurrence.

[chemm80]

I wouldn't presume to diagnose you, especially based on one episode which could certainly be an isolated hormone shift or due to something else entirely, but based on the experiences of many, many of my friends, it sounds like you might be getting close to perimenopause.

A lot of the references will tell you it doesn't start until your 40s (and indeed my own symptoms, for which I eventually went on bioidentical HRT, didn't start until I was over 40), but most women I know start feeling it around age 35. Mood swings, irritability, feelings of dread, and even extreme personality shifts are common. If you start feeling like you're losing your mind on a regular basis, as I did, I'd suggest looking into finding a good physician or pharmacist familiar with bioidentical hormone replacement. Suzanne Somers, of all people, wrote a book about them. Bioidenticals are a godsend, I find, but there are other things that some people like, such as herbal supplements and low-dose birth control meds.

This is the shit our mothers never told us about. I get that it was the kind of thing my mom's generation wasn't comfortable discussing, and I know I had other things going on (like birthing and raising four kids) when she was dealing with it and so it wasn't something that would have naturally come up in conversation, but I would have appreciated knowing there was a fucking freight train bearing down on me, you know? I've spent about ten years dealing with it and I feel like I'm doing well, so I'm always here if you have any questions or concerns.

[jesse_the_k]

You have my sympathies: the depth of the emotion is so bizarre! I used to cry at dog food commercials, FFS.

[luzula]

Oh hey, that's helpful to know, going forward. Thanks for the tip! Extreme personality shift, augh. I like my personality as it is, thanks.

[luzula]

Thanks! *hugs* Also, you made me laugh with the dog commercial thing. I get that it wasn't funny at the time, and yet. Wow, hormones, so weird.

[mergatrude]

Gack! I hate that. When my brain gets out of whack like that it starts actively finding stuff to obsess over and cry about. I've found Evening Primrose Oil to be really helpful, though I have to take it every day to keep a level of the whatever chemicals in my system.

Stupid hormones. I always used to say that PMS was proof that God wasn't a woman. *g*

[luzula]

Yeah, so weird! It really brings home how much brain chemistry affects your sense of self.