PMDD: My Physical Symptoms

My regular physical symptoms include: bloating- so much that I have a closet full of pants in three sizes, because I blow up, gaining an average of 6 or 7 lbs a month, sometimes only 4 or 5, some months- 10! As soon as my period comes, by day 1 to 2 of my cycle, the bloating is gone. Another lovely physical symptoms- acne. I'm grateful that mine isn't too bad, but I do get breakouts that half of the month, which don't help me to feel any better about my appearance.

Fatigue. Understand when I say this, I do not mean I'm a little groggy at work, or I have a harder time getting up in the morning. Some days, I don't get up. More than some, I get up, but spend the rest of my day in sweats on the sofa. Headaches. Fortunately, I usually only get these during my period, but they still suck, and last all day. Often, I have to lay in a dark room half of the day. I can't tolerate light or loud noises. I suppose they're full on migraines most of the time. Medicine doesn't work usually. They're awful and last usually about 3 days.

My appetite fluctuates a ton over the month. During my period week, I usually have less of one. The week after, I eat pretty healthy. The following week, I won't want junk as much, nor will I want to eat as often. The last week of my cycle though, I want to eat all the time. Every 2-3 hours, I'm snacking. I try to balance this week with some healthy choices, because that's the best I can do. Sometimes, I literally eat chips for a meal. If I wake up and I'm craving soup, salsa, chocolate cake, whatever, and it's 9am- I eat it anyway. Trying to ignore my cravings will only make me more irritable (trust me, this is something you do not want to happen).

I get hot flashes, night sweats, and can't tolerate cold/heat often throughout the luteal phase (ovulation through day 1 of the next cycle). I can be in lightweight, short-sleeved clothing in a room where everyone else is cold and in sweatshirts and I'll be sweating. Talk about uncomfortable, unattractive, and annoying. Breast tenderness. This used to be so bad that I didn't even want to put my bra on or take it off. Forget about touching them! I wore sports bras- a lot! TMI alert: I get diarrhea every month right around ovulation, and again when my period is coming... double-over in pain, with cramps so bad they sometimes make me throw up. It's lovely.

Here is a list of symptoms, with those I experience highlighted in bold, taken from Hopkins Medicine, see this link:

• Abdominal cramps
  
• Bloating
  
• Constipation
  
• Nausea
  
• Vomiting
  
• Pelvic heaviness or pressure
  
• Backache
  
• Acne
  
• Neurodermatitis (skin inflammation with itching)
  
• Aggravation of other skin disorders, including cold sores
  
• Headache
  
• Vertigo
  
• Syncope (fainting)
  
• Numbness, prickling, tingling, or heightened sensitivity of arms and/or legs
  
• Easy bruising
  
• Heart palpitations
  
• Muscle spasms
  
• Decreased coordination
  
• Painful menstruation
  
• Diminished libido (sex drive)
  
• Appetite changes
  
• Food cravings
  
• Hot flashes
  
• Visual disturbances
  
• Conjunctivitis
  
• Edema (swelling of the ankles, hands, and feet)
  
• Periodic weight gain
  
• Oliguria (diminished urine formation)
  
• Breast fullness and pain
  
• 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