Since last Thursday, I’ve been feeling a little weird. First – emotionally I’ve been sort of on extremes. Sencond – eating habits have been weird too! There are times that I eat like a gorilla (Wednesday at Chili’s and Thursday at HEAT) Then are were 2 times na I didn’t eat dinner at all! Third – I’ve been feeling bloated and I feel ugly (as usual)my clothes don’t fit me well anymore.. and the VERDICT = PMS-sing. Yes, HORMONES ALL OVER THE PLACE!! Thank god for mefanamic acids and midol!! haha… 🙂 – Problem solved!!
I’ve been feeling pain on my lower back – pain as in super sakit na even stretching it out won’t help. It’s been a recurring problem – with no cure!! I’ve been feeling MORE tamad lately (tamad kasi parati eh) and super sleepy to do stuffs!! (Ang sarap kasi humiga)
Anyways – to understand PMS better (*hinting toot and toot!)
Characteristics
Over 150 symptoms have been attributed to PMS. After complaints of feeling “out-of-control”, anxious, depressed and having uncontrollable crying spells, the most common complaints are headache and fatigue. But symptoms may vary from month to month and there may even be symptom-free months. No women present with all the PMS symptoms. Characteristically symptoms may be both physical and emotional. They may include physical symptoms as headache, migraine, fluid retention, fatigue, constipation, painful joints, backache, abdominal cramping, heart palpitations and weight gain. Emotional and behavioral changes may include anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, tension,lack of co-ordination, decreased work or social performance and altered libido.
Originally described in 1931 by an American neurologist, the grouping of symptoms has remained the same:
A- Anxiety: irritable, crying without reason, verbally and sometimes physically abuse, feeling “out of control”, or Dr. Jekyl-Mr. Hyde behavior changes.
D- Depression: confused, clumsy, forgetful, withdrawn, fearful, paranoid, suicidal thoughts and rarely suicidal actions.
C- Cravings: food cravings, usually for sweets or chocolate; diary products including cheese, an on occasion, alcohol or food in general.
H- Heaviness or Headache: Fluid retention leading to headache, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating and weight gain.
Aside from the regularity of symptoms seen prior to menstruation, there are certain elements which distinguish PMS from other disorders:
*PMS may often be triggered by hormonal changes. It tends to begin at puberty, after pregnancy, after starting birth control pills, after hormone related surgery as hysterectomy or tubal ligation or around the onset of the menopause. In fact, it is not unusual for the PMS sufferer to confuse her symptoms with those of an early menopause.
*Lifting of symptoms (including headache) with pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimester.
*Heredity appears to be a factor although specific symptoms may differ between sisters or mother and daughters.
*There is often an aura of increased activity prior to the worse symptoms of PMS or migraines. At this time, the woman may clean the house, function with little sleep, and feel euphoric. This is followed by the PMS symptoms, migraine, fatigue, exhaustion, depression and the inability to function. Women typically feel “out of control” at this time and this can cause the signs and symptoms of depression.
