livinTX

You might try Vitex (chaste tree berry) and/or Dong Quai. Both of these are Eastern remedies used to help balance the hormones. I used these transitioning off BCPs and they did seem to help my PMS moodiness as well as cramps while on my period. For your mood & energy, you might try taking a good B-vitamin complex (do note that this may cause your urine to be bright yellow in color as you excrete excess B-vitamins in the urine) & fish oil pills. I really found fish oil pills combined with regular aerobic exercise & a sensible diet (plenty of fruits & veggies) did wonders for my mood. It also helps to eliminate or severely cut down on caffeine all cycle long, and in the 2 weeks before your period, try to limit your salt intake & drink plenty of water to help with bloating. Increased water with fiber intake (you can use a fiber supplement like Benefiber or Fibersure or eat high fiber foods--oatmeal, bran, berries, beans & legumes) should help with constipation. If not, you can also try taking a magnesium supplement (try 250 mg, you can up it to 500 mg) but do note this may cause you to urgently need the bathroom and too much magnesium will cause diarrhea (that's the active ingredient in Milk of Magnesia, after all), but you have to see what your body can handle. I used to take 250 mg magnesium in the first 2 weeks of my cycle and 500 mg (2 250 mg pills) in the 2 weeks before my period. I never did have a good reaction to BCPs so I can sympathize with you there.

As far as the gasiness goes, there's not too much you can do about it other than taking something like Gas-X or perhaps Beano before you eat.