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Menstrual Syndrome
The definition
of P.M.S. is - "The occurrence of symptoms
before menstruation with the complete absence
of symptoms after menstruation".
 One
in three women suffer from P.M.S. which can occur
from puberty until the menopause, often being
'triggered' or worsened by - sterilization, the
'pill', hysterectomy, childbirth (particularly
after an episode of Post Natal Depression), the
approach of the menopause, dieting and stress.
As over 150 different symptoms exist, including
panic attacks, irritability, depression, mood
swings, headaches, breast tenderness and fatigue,
diagnosis is made not by the symptoms themselves
but rather when the symptoms occur. Obviously
keeping a careful note of those symptoms is crucial
and a menstrual chart is the most effective method
of doing this ~ download a free chart here.
Recent research has shown the
importance of maintaining an even blood sugar
level when suffering from Post Natal Depression
or P.M.S., as, when we go for too long without
food, adrenaline (the hormone of fear, fight and
flight) is produced. This will then cause problems
in the utilization of yet another hormone - progesterone,
sadly leading to the symptoms that we know only
too well. To combat these adrenaline 'spurts'
we advise adopting the eating regimen 'little
and often' - in other words never going longer
than 3 hours during the day, or 9-10 hours at
night without eating a small amount of STARCHY
food (complex carbohydrate) from one of these
groups -
FLOUR, RICE, POTATOES, RYE,
OATS, MAIZE.
Eating 'little and often' will
bring relief to 67% of P.M.S. sufferers but MUST
be carried out correctly EVERY day of EVERY month.
Failure to improve is usually due to some small
error. Those women whose P.M.S. cannot be controlled
by diet alone may require progesterone therapy
from their G.P. (Cyclogest suppositories) but
please note that the suppositories MUST be used
in conjunction with eating 'little and often'
for them to be effective, and indeed progesterone
therapy needs to be tailored for each individual
woman.
Our booklet ‘P.M.S. Your
Questions Answered’ contains further information
on P.M.S. and the self help techniques we have
found useful. Priced at £3.00 (includes
P & P) it is available by post.
P.M.S.
& P.N.D. Support Telephone :
07769801941
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