OK ladies, we’ve all been there. You know the time when you have just completed the one thousandth task for the day, the final item on the mile-long checklist of things to do, and the father of your children asks, “What did you do today?”….. (Eye roll). Really? Did he just ask that? Doesn’t he know by now? Then with much irritation in our voices we regurgitate the list of things that we did, and then he says, “Wow, are you getting ready to start your period?”
I must admit, that comment usually makes me wonder just a little. Do I have premenstrual syndrome? (PMS) Or the latest term, premenstrual tension (PMT)? Up to 85 percent of women will experience physical symptoms related to their cycles, such as breast tenderness and bloating; however, true premenstrual syndrome is a compilation of emotional and physical symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (about 10 days prior to menses). Up to 10 percent of women have significant premenstrual symptoms that interfere with their daily lives. There are many symptoms of PMS, but the most common are:
- Irritability
- Tension
- Unhappiness
- Stress, anxiety
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Changes in libido
Risk factors include family history, high caffeine intake, increased age, history of depression and certain dietary factors, such as low magnesium or vitamins E and D.
What’s a girl to do?
If the list of symptoms above describes you, it may be beneficial for you to seek help from your physician. It is a good idea to keep a journal of your symptoms on a calendar for at least two cycles. With the journal information and advances in technology and medicine today, your physician will be able to help you feel better. We shouldn’t have to wait until menopause to get relief from premenstrual symptoms. In the meantime, try to give your man a break. Hopefully he is only curious about you and what you did during the hours you were apart!
Melanie Yunger is a local wife, mom, nurse practitioner and free-lance writer (and may occasionally, sometimes, maybe monthly be irritable….almost never!)