Hormones are funny old things, on the one hand they are amazing because they play a part in some of the most important jobs in the body but on the other hand they are a little bit evil because they can take over your mind and turn you into a completely different person, well that’s what they do to me anyway.
There have been times over the last few years (when dealing with post-labour issues and whilst squeezing a head out of my vagina without any pain relief) when I’ve felt like men have it easy, they will never experience the pain of labour or bleed from their private parts for a week of every month but lately I’ve actually started to view it a bit differently because although they don’t have to do those things they do have to live with us when we are pre-menstrual and to be honest I know which one I would rather do.
Since I had my coil removed a couple of years ago I decided to stop using any form of hormonal contraception as I just don’t react well to it, I know some people find the pill helps balance their hormones but that was never the case for me. In fact the last time I attempted to take it was awful, I felt sick, dizzy and my mood swings were far worse than normal so coming off it was such a relief. It does mean that my PMT is all me now though, there is no contraception to affect it, and for the first time in my adult life I feel very aware of the changes that happen through the month.
I know when I ovulate because since having children it’s become really painful and I know it happens a week after my period stops, I also know my worst few days of PMT happen just over a week before my period starts again and then my period lasts for about 5 -6 days. So given that all this happens on a 4 week cycle there really isn’t much time when I’m not affected in some way by my cycle. In fact there are really only a few days of each month when I feel like a calm, rational human being. I always bring it to Mr C’s attention and say something like ‘I am in such a good mood today, I feel so calm and patient, don’t you think?’.
I’m currently pre-menstrual and as happens every month Mr C pointed it out to me before I realised, he knows instantly and after asking him how I found out that it’s due to my tone of voice changing. Apparently I start talking in a really snooty / snotty voice and start complaining about EVERYTHING. He actually keeps suggesting that I go away somewhere for a few days of the month when this happens (as a joke, I think 😉 ), and to be honest the thought of going to chill out in a spa during my pre-menstrual stage sounds ideal but he didn’t have a spa in mind, just an old caravan in the garden! Although tbh if it had heating and my crochet supplies then I would be more than to hang out in there on my own.
Yesterday after a few of my outbursts about literally nothing I thought I would note down the things that annoyed me so I could compare my reaction to when I’m not PMTing.
To any men reading this, or women who don’t suffer from PMT then the only way I can describe it for me is like having all my senses super heightened resulting in things grating on me in a way they wouldn’t normally. I actually feel a little ball of rage rise up inside me over things that I wouldn’t even notice normally.
So this is a little comparison of how I deal with situations depending on my time of the month.
Mr C bringing in a packet of crisps to eat when we are watching telly in the evening…
Rest of the month brain: I won’t be able to hear the telly too well so I will just pause it while he eats them (thought to myself).
PMT brain: ‘WHY?? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BRING IN A PACKET OF CRISPS TO EAT EVERY TIME WE ARE WATCHING OUR SHOW ON TELLY???’
Children fighting…
Rest of the month brain: I will just hang back and let them resolve it themselves (thought to myself).
PMT brain: ‘RIGHT NO-ONE WILL HAVE THEIR WEEKEND TREAT IF YOU DON’T STOP, WE WON’T GO OUT TODAY, NO TRAMPOLINING. PLEASE JUST STOP!!’
Mr C suggesting something…
Rest of the month brain: ‘Oh yes that’s a good idea’
PMT brain: ‘I don’t think so’ (It makes me very disagreeable!)
Mr C putting his feet on me under my legs to warm up when sitting on the sofa…
Rest of the month brain: Doesn’t even notice.
PMT brain: ‘CAN YOU JUST GET YOUR FREEZING, BONY FEET AWAY FROM ME’
People eating or drinking next to me…
Rest of the month brain: That’s a bit noisy (thought to myself).
PMT brain: Makes my entire body shudder and rage rise up my chest.
So they are just a few things where I noticed my reaction being different, there are many more though, basically anything and everything including nothing. For instance yesterday Mr C went to get a snack out of the fridge at 3pm and I got genuinely annoyed that he would ruin his dinner?! Bizarre!
It’s not much fun for anyone to be around me when I’m like that and it’s equally not much fun to be me when I’m like that, although there is something a little bit enjoyable about being able to let loose and release the rage sometimes, anyone else get that?!
Anyone it’s not like they last forever, they will stop completely when we reach the menopause, and from what I’ve heard that’s a whole bunch of fun 😉
Does anyone else find themselves highly irritated by things when they are pre-menstrual? I’d love to hear what.
This is a photo from last weekend when I was at my hormonal best.
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