PMS/PMDD

One of the first signs that a women will notice when she becomes hormonally imbalanced is the feeling of irritability. Unfortunately, instead of noticing that this could be the onset of PreMenopause/hormonal imbalance she will make an appointment with her doctor to find out why she doesn’t feel quite herself or in a worse case scenario doesn’t even recognize the women she now sees in the mirror. Maybe she has even heard her husband ask, “what is going on with you?”

The day she arrives at the doctor one of two things will happen, in the first case, the doctor may recognize her symptoms as being related to an hormonal imbalance. She will possibly be given a prescription for the birth control pill to just even out her moods. The unfortunate thing about this scenario is that instead of being put on a natural progesterone cream she will be given synthetic chemicals, in the form of the birth control pill. By doing this she will be adding more estrogen into her body…which is exactly what she doesn’t need!

The second scenario is even worse then the first.
The doctor won’t even realize that it is hormone-related and instead will offer her an anti-depressant known as an SSRI.

Either scenario will not solve her problems and will just act as a band-aid instead of addressing the actual cause of her symptoms.. Her irritability will continue, her frustration will grow because of her inability to control her emotions, and in the most serious of circumstances she can set herself up for numerous female cancers. She is left with her initial problem, now complicated by other problems, and the drug companies are making a buck….at her expense, financially, emotionally, and health-wise.

Remember that as you read these symptoms, it wasn’t so very long ago, that women were told this was “all just in our minds.” Looking at the symptoms makes anyone realize that they are not just in our imaginations. They can affect a women’s quality of life from dealing with headaches, missing work, and even missing time with her family. Personally, I know that there have been numerous occasions where I missed out on a family event due to one or more of these symptoms!

Thank goodness for natural progesterone cream!

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PMS
PMS often includes both physical and emotional symptoms. Common symptoms are:

acne
breast swelling and tenderness
feeling tired
having trouble sleeping
upset stomach, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
headache or backache
appetite changes or food cravings
joint or muscle pain
trouble concentrating or remembering
tension, irritability, mood swings, or crying spells
anxiety or depression

Symptoms vary from one woman to another. If you think you have PMS, keep track for a few months which symptoms you have and how severe they are. You can use a calendar to write down the symptoms you have each day.

How common is PMS?

However, only five to ten percent of women suffer from the severe symptoms that meet the criteria established for a diagnosis of PMS.
( Reference: ACOG Practice Bulletin Number 15, 2000 Aboutwomenshealth.com)

What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?

There is evidence that a fluctuation in the brain chemical called serotonin plays a role in a severe form of PMS, called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The main symptoms, which can be disabling, include:

feelings of sadness or despair, or possibly suicidal thoughts
feelings of tension or anxiety
panic attacks
mood swings, crying
lasting irritability or anger that affects other people
disinterest in daily activities and relationships
trouble thinking or focusing
tiredness or low energy
food cravings or binge eating
having trouble sleeping
feeling out of control
physical symptoms, such as bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, and joint or muscle pain

You must have five or more of these symptoms to be diagnosed with PMDD. Symptoms occur during the week before your period and go away after bleeding starts.

How Common Is PMDD?

Between three and five percent of women experience menstrual-related depression and anxiety so severe that it is classified as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)--a severely debilitating disorder that requires treatment.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE DEPRESSION CONTACT A TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IMMEDIATELY!

What is Pre-Menopause?