Give em a stupid smack, Zooey!

I'm with you - never had PMS before DS, and I had incredibly light, uneventful cycles. Not the case anymore! When mine came back, they came back with force.

Michelle

W's Mom

 MLM  FANATIC

Thanks Michelle.  Same with my flow, too. After my early 20s, my periods were usually pretty light and my cramps mild or nonexistant. Daughter was born, nursed so long I thought I'd never get another period, finally did and they were even lighter and less crampy. Then, after The Boy...whoa! The cramps are as bad as when I was a teen most months, and I often feel like I am likely to bleed to death those first couple of days. I believe I've already mentioned the lovely mood-altering hormones...and I NEVER had that before! Further proof that God is definately a man. Or maybe She's a woman, since she knew men couldn't handle it?

Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes...my friend Tony told me years ago his dad's only advice on girls was "Son, never trust anything that bleeds for five days straight and doesn't die!"

Misogynistic, yes....but funny!

" It takes a joyful sound to make the world go round"-Bob Marley

Nice . I had to look up misogynistic.

If nothing else, I feel more educated.

Sorry - back to the topic at hand . I am a raving lunatic most of the time, no matter what time of the month it is. Seriously, that's just my personality. I have a temper to beat all tempers and I don't think I can use PMS as an excuse.

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Don't.get.me.started.  My period has always been torture (I'm pretty sure God thinks that I literally ate the apple, lol).  Since 11 years old, it's been heavy (Super plus PLUS) and long (7 days for the first decade and eventually went down to 5).  My cramps and cravings used to start a few days before my cycle and continue on for the first few days, getting gradually better. I thought that was bad.  I was wrong. 

My post-baby period is so darn sneaky.  I usually don't know when it will start, and I often don't have cramps before it comes.  Then, it sneaks in on one day and then tries to kill me for the next 5. . . or more (I never know when it will end, either)!  I I DO feel like I am bleeding to death from day two- four, and sometimes just want to live in the bathroom since I can't be separated from it for more than 2 hours.  The pain?  Well, if I wasn't bleeding, I would sometimes swear that I am in active labor. Often, medications have absolutely no effect.  On top of that, I now get headaches, sometimes migraine-like and the bloating is unbelievable.  I'm like the Goodyear Blimp!  I'm moody, mainly because I.am.in.so.much.pain that  I want to cut out my insides. 

Did I mention that I was one of the lucky few who got her period almost  6 weeks to the day afer labor?  While nursing??  Yeah.

"Yes, Mother. I can see you are flawed. You have not hidden it. That is your greatest gift to me." --Alice Walker

I hear ya ladies! Mine has always been very heavy.  Like Xays, there is a 36-48 hour period (no pun) where I have to have an accessible bathroom around at all times, can only sleep on my back, and persistent/hard cramping.  Since I turned 40, not only has it not improved, I used to be every 29 days, now I am down to every 25!  I lost 4 days between cycles!  I do feel major PMS and get crabby.  I have to consciously curb my mood and often bite my tongue.  Once it starts - I am just whooped for a couple of days.

The other thing about my cycle - it is truly out to get me!   If we plan a vacation - it comes early.  If we plan a trip to the lake - it comes a little late.  The past year - it coincided with my anniversary, our lake vacation, my birthday, Trip to Disney World - need I say more?   This year's anniversary is Sunday and I should start tomorrow!

When DH and I planned out wedding day - we picked a day right smack in the middle of my cycle so that our honeymoon cruise would be awesome. ................I was two weeks late and started on my wedding night.

My sister had ednometrial ablation performed last month.  If it works well for her - I am signing up next gyno visit.  My doctor offered it last year, I just did not know enough about it at the time.

MLM MANIAC

And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln

Ohhhhh mannnnnnn, Monkeysmom!  Now, that  IS EVIL!   What is this ednometrial ablation that you speak of??

"Yes, Mother. I can see you are flawed. You have not hidden it. That is your greatest gift to me." --Alice Walker

Yeah, I am so glad I posted this! Knowing others are going through this kind of big switch makes my hypochondrial self feel less like I have some horrible lady disease. Well, that and the doctor told me I didn't, but who trusts those people? Monkeys, do tell about the endiometrial thingamajobber.

" It takes a joyful sound to make the world go round"-Bob Marley

You have to be completely finished with the child bearing urge, because it does remove your edometrial lining.  So if you want more children - you will have to wait.  Since I am 44 - I am primed and ready.  My sister had it done last month and I was waiting to see how her cycle goes the next month or so, before deciding for myself.  It minimizes and sometimes completely stops your period as the pill does for many women.

The pamphlet that my doctor gave me was for Novasure.  Here the blurb:

Endometrial Ablation

Endometrial ablation is a quick, outpatient procedure that gently removes the endometrial lining of the uterus (called the ‘endometrium’) to control bleeding. The endometrial lining of the uterus is shed monthly during your period. Removing the endometrial lining decreases menstrual blood flow, and in many cases, stops it completely. The most popular form of endometrial ablation is The NovaSure Procedure, which has demonstrated excellent success.

Endometrial ablation can be done either in an outpatient surgicenter, or in the doctor’s office. There are few side effects, and women generally return to work and other normal activities the next day.

MLM MANIAC

And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln

I have long cycles 7 days. It is very heavy on the 2nd day and I feel like everything in side me is going to come out. Day 3 through day7 is light but it is there.

I do have a little something fun to share.

PMS--  Allows a woman once a month, to act like men do EVERY DAY.

I have a T-shirt that says this. My dh does not think it is funny.

Lisa

Mother of eight.

 MLM  Maniac

Don't pursue happiness-----create it.

Motherhood wilder than any roller coaster

And just like clockwork...

I know some of you are grimacing and wondering why I feel the need to overshare, but you must understand something...I REALLY never believed in PMS before! I always thought it was just an excuse for women to be pi$$y because they were irritated about starting. I'm not on the pill and my cycle varies by a day or two, but every month now I always know exactly three days before because there will be a moment in the day when I realize that I could cheerfully gouge someone's eyes out for saying "good morning" , or something similar.

It's like discovering that fairies and unicorns are real...except the fairies bite and scratch and the unicorn is bloated and has acne.

" It takes a joyful sound to make the world go round"-Bob Marley