Symptoms can occur from the
time of ovulation right up to the end of your period. As long as they
occur with the same regularity every month, then there is a good chance
you have PMS. Keeping monthly charts will help you identify this. Just
a few of the many
symptoms of PMS:
psychological symptoms
irritability
nervousness
lack of control
agitation
anger
insomnia
difficulty in concentrating
lethargy
depression
severe fatigue
anxiety
confusion
forgetfulness
decreased self-image
paranoia
emotional hypersensitivity
crying spells
moodiness
sleep disturbances
fluid retention
edema (swelling of the ankles,
hands, and feet)
periodic weight gain
oliguria (diminished urine
formation)
breast fullness and pain
respiratory problems
allergies
infections
eye complaints
visual disturbances
conjunctivitis
gastrointestinal symptoms
abdominal cramps
bloating
constipation
nausea
vomiting
pelvic heaviness or pressure
backache
skin problems
acne
neurodermatitis (skin
inflammation with itching)
aggravation of other skin
disorders, including cold sores
neurologic and vascular symptoms
headache
vertigo
syncope (fainting)
numbness, prickling, tingling,
or heightened sensitivity of arms and/or legs
easy bruising
heart palpitations
muscle spasms
other
decreased coordination
painful menstruation
diminished libido (sex drive)
appetite changes
food cravings
hot flashes
You should also be aware that
many diseases and pyschological conditions can get worse around the
time leading up to and during your period.
Also you may find this questionnaire useful:
__ Do you have a stressful lifestyle? No
__ Are you having relationship difficulties with your spouse, family
members, or coworkers? Yes
__ Would those who live or work with you say you have PMS? Yes
__ Are you getting enough sleep (do you awake feeling refreshed?)? Never
__ Do you have regular eating habits and a balanced diet? Yes
__ Do you get 20 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-4 times per week? Yes
__ Do you smoke? No
__ Do you drink alcoholic beverages? No
__ Do you have more than two 8-ounce caffeinated beverages per day? No
__ Is your diet high in red meat, salty foods or sugar? No
__ Do you have food cravings in the 10 days before your period? Yes
__ Do you have mood swings or crying jags in the 10 days before your
period? Yes
__ Do you feel bloated before your period? Yes
__ Do you actually gain weight the few days before your period (that
goes away when you’ve finished)? Don’t know
__ Are you on birth control pills? No, but have been.
One major issue i have with some PMS websites is when they state PMS is
caused by eating sugary foods or red meat or
drinking alcohol, this is blatantly rubbish since i answered no on all
of the dietary/drug related questions and still suffer from PMS! Fact
is no-one knows what causes PMS, so you have to experiment and work out
what works best for you.
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