Before I went on birth control I would also suffer dreadfully several days before I was due and of course during the whole of my period.
It was at times simply awful, I would have migraines (I guess I got those from my mother), cramps, my stomach would be so bloated it sometimes looked like I was pregnant, back ache, and my breasts would become so tender, sore and swollen I would have to go up a cup size in bras. My flow was always so heavy it really looked like I was bleeding to death, and I would soak a super absorbency tampon in an hour. Many times I would leak through to my pad which I always wore, if I didn't have time or the place to change my tampon.
Life for me then was restricted around my period time, but since being on BC my life has changed completely. No longer the heavy flow, my migraines, cramps and bloating have greatly reduced, I still suffer with my breasts but I can live with that.