Post baby, really really really hormonal before cycle - is this peri-menopause?

i had a child 4.5 years ago, so you'd think my cycle would have well and truely gone back to normal by now.

I'm finding, each cycle, the week before i begin, my moods are really really down, so emotional, teary, wanting to run away from everything and everyone, feeling so down, and then my cycle begins and it's like a weight has been released from my shoulders.

Is this normal? is there anything i can do to mitigate it? I feel like the world's worst mother in that week, don't really feel able to mother, just kind of plod through it badly.

It sounds like a hormone imbalance. Progesterone rising can affect moods like that. Whether it's peri-menopausal or not I dont know. To check, you can have blood tests.

Otherwise, if you can, it might be worthwhile getting acupuncture or seeing a naturopath who specialises in women's health.
Diet can help. Cut down on sugar and coffee and refined, processed foods. Go for a walk, get some fresh air. Get a good night's sleep. All these things help hormones.

My best friend is peri menapausal atm, her symptoms are, irregular periods, flooding with her periods, not being able to sleep, lack of sex drive (major thing for her, she's always randy!)needing to nap in the arvo, very very irratable, vivid dreams, feeling depressed, theres more but i cant remember them right now!
picking up menapause or peri menapause is difficult with blood tests, all her levels came back normal.
Her mum had a bt 12 months ago to see if she was in menapause, her results came back as yes u are, then the other weeek, after not having a period in 12 months her levels came back as totally normal and non menapausal. its VERY VERY frustrating, especially as my best friend is only 26 and wants answers

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It sounds like a hormone imbalance. Progesterone rising can affect moods like that. Whether it's peri-menopausal or not I dont know. To check, you can have blood tests.

Otherwise, if you can, it might be worthwhile getting acupuncture or seeing a naturopath who specialises in women's health.
Diet can help. Cut down on sugar and coffee and refined, processed foods. Go for a walk, get some fresh air. Get a good night's sleep. All these things help hormones.

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I'm most likely, doing the opposite of all these things.
I am aware of the need to cut down on processed foods, but so far, the desire to do this, has not turned out too well. I am throwing away fresh produce, not sure how to store it, forget it's there, unsure what to do with it, get overwhelmed about cooking, cannot menu plan if my life depended on it, no matter how many other people say how easy it is. I open the fridge and pantry, look at all that food, and still feel blank about what to cook. The anxiety gets in the way, i feel so anxious, i just end up shutting the door again.

Cut down on sugar by going cold turkey with my iced coffee (former) addiction. Had a try at subbing sugar with sugar substitutes in recipes, that hasn't turned out well either.

i would like to ask a naturopath how to go off coffee. i had a try this week, and had three days of really stabbing headaches (so i went back to coffee - i have one plunger coffee per day.)

Stressed out of my tree, (single parenting is a new status for me), on top of chronic insomnia, from my child's first couple of years.

Living in a tiny, badly ventilated place, very dodgy area, i'm too scared to go for walks around here, even in daylight.

Should go get a blood test, my veins are all shut down (from copious blood work, during months of being in a coma), so i am hard to get blood from now. Will mean a special trip to the city, to the IMVS blood collection unit.

I would tend to agree it sounds either hormonal or dietary.

Do you take any supplements. Vitamin B6 is cheap (about $7 a bottle) and really effective in helping with pre-menstrual symptoms and stress. Others swear by Evening Primrose Oil. I would also recommend a good multivitamin. It can really help you feel so much better...Even something like a Berocca everyday.

Honestly, one coffee a day will not hurt you IMO. If you enjoy it, I would not give it up. Sounds like you need some enjoyment :)

If you ever need help with meal ideas or what to do with random stuff in the fridge/pantry, give me a hoy. My grandma was an amazing Depression Era style cook IYKWIM. She had six kids and my grandad was a priest so there was NO money. She could turn nothing into a fabulous tasting, wholesome meal. My mum learnt from her (I am one of six!), and I picked up some tips from her....

With regards to sugar substitutes in cooking. I hate the substitutes (Splenda, Equal, etc) with a passion! If you are trying to avoid sugar "spikes" go for a lower GI alternative to sugar. Molasses is good. So is pure maple syrup (although expensive). A low GI honey (Yellowbox) is a good alternative. But it must be a low GI one. Also try sweetening things with fruit (apple is good - grated, pureed, small cubes), banana is good - but the GI is higher, pear is good, apricots, berries (although, not a lot of sweetness as such).

Can you try cooking up a few meals a few days ahead? It will help when you feel down and not feeling like cooking???\

Let us know what we can do to help x