NER: Do you experience "PMS" symptons on BC?

bunnybean

I guess you would, right?  If you're used to the level of hormones, and then they go away?

ETA: I mean on the week of your period.

brideymcbriderson

I don't really think I do. I had terrible cramps before I was on BCP. Terrible as in I occasionally took narcotics for them. Now, I maybe get a twinge of pain for 1 hour on Day 1 (and I'm a total wimp and claim that I'm dying). Occasionally I have a brief spell of moodiness, but it doesn't happen every month, so I don't know if it's really PMS moodiness or just plain ol' moodiness. Half the reason I'm scared to TTC is that I don't wanna go off BC!

Mrs.vtjaime

I always did the week before my period started. Now that I'm off BC, it's about the same.

bunnybean

I'm on Seasonique, so I'm only hormone free (even though there's still a small dose in the placebo pills) once every three months.  I can barely remember my last period.  I was just sitting here overreacting about the dumbest thing ever, and I wondered if that was why. 

Elizabeth81

I do, but to a much lesser extent. Meaning, I'll get some minor cramps for like a day.

Brookles

It's been years since I've been on BC, but I always got super moody.

talltalltrees

I get them but not as bad as when I'm off BC. Of course, when I'm off BC, they pretty much reduce me to a sobbing puddle for two days, so "not as bad" is still pretty unpleasant. That's why I LOVED Seasonale and Alesse because I only had periods 4 times a year.

Elizabeth81

talltalltrees:

That's why I LOVED Seasonale and Alesse because I only had periods 4 times a year.

I firmly believe that Seasonale is one of the best prescription-al inventions known to man.

Temp534591562502098

I still got "pms". my boobs were freakin huge the week before. I always craved my AF so that my body could stop freaking out some.

 

I'm hormonal and totally trying to not freak out too! I feel like I can feel it in my brain - like in kill bill right before she would tweak out on someone and you would hear that siren-type music???

Pescalita

Yes. I read somewhere (TCOYF?) that it's one of the mysteries of women's health, that we still get PMS on BC. Actually PMS itself is mostly a medical mystery. If only because no one has ever cared to study it more because it doesn't affect men. 

My symptoms were totally different before I was on BC, during, and after. They changed when I went off it, but not back to what it was like before. 

jessawakawaii

I get weepy the week before my period starts. If I start crying about the cat or clothes or some other silly thing, it's always because of the proximity of AF.

jenniloveselvis

Not as extreme as before BC. After BC, I rarely get cramps but I still have mood swings, etc. but the emotional stuff isn't as extreme as before BC. DH and I ususally only get into arguements when I am pmsing.

umwife11

I'm not on BC anymore, but when I was, I was a wreck before my period. Emotionally--not physically.

I would get very emotional, overreact to things, get weepy over just about anything. It got to the point where my little "meltdowns" totally let me know my period was on its way.

Never had physical symptoms like cramps or anything like that. Well, I was hungry all.the.time. Crazy hunger cravings...

I'm off the pill now and I've noticed while my skin isn't necessarily better...my moods are. It's going to take a lot to ever get me back on BC...

TeamC

I've been on BC for 10 years, and 2 months ago, I got off to switch to an IUD.  I apparently didn't have any cramps while on BC, because if I had remembered them I wouldn't have agreed to go hormone-free!  I'm sure I'll start to notice the irritability and swelling over the next few months as well, so I can continue to regret my decision.  I didn't even used to get periods on BC-now I'm bleeding everywhere (TMI, I know, but it's sooooo different for me than on BC it's ridiculous).