Are Pmdd Pms Symptoms Taking Over Your Life?

Even though PMS is widespread, impacting more than 80% of all women of childbearing age, PMDD PMS problems are far less common, affecting just 3-8%. The issues associated with PMDD transcend simply feeling somewhat unstable or bloated during "that time of the month." In fact, some women feel as if their emotions are in charge. They get into fights with family, friends and colleagues. They feel so depressed they don't even want to get up in the morning some days. They usually feel sluggish, unfocused and emotionally sensitive for a full week prior to the start of their period. Keep reading to learn of one woman's journey through the PMDD diagnosis process.

A woman goes to her doctor thinking she has PMDD PMS symptoms because she recently heard a news story about this disorder, which is a menstrual ailment that causes women to become extremely emotional, irritable and depressed the week before they menstruate. She tells the doctor she has been feeling angry at her children for silly reasons or that she sometimes starts crying and accusing her husband of not loving her, even though she knows this is not true. Her coworkers have told her that she needs to get better concentration at work or she might get fired. There is special treatment for this woman. She needn't suffer with the life-altering effects of this menstrual disorder every month.

The woman visits her health care provider and talks about what she believes are warning signs of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). She explains the physical symptoms of feeling bloated, exhaustion, breast pain, cramps and headaches. She also discusses her unpredictable actions and her excessive sleeping during the day. She tells the doctor she's been thinking that she's ugly, unlovable and worthless. The health care provider agrees that these are, in fact, symptoms of PMDD and asks her to keep a journal recording her feelings for a few months.

Next the doctor must rule out other conditions that appear similar to PMDD PMS symptoms. He may ask the woman about her family history of depression as he assesses her P.M.S. diary to see that her symptoms only appear the week before her menstrual period. He may also ask about her eating habits to rule out binging, anorexia or other eating disorders. He may ask her to give a small blood sample to see if she tests positive for thyroid disorders, which also cause women to have insomnia and anxiety. To be considered PMDD, doctors usually look to see that the emotional outbursts truly disrupt a woman's life, making it difficult for her to get through the days prior to menstruation.

The doctor may first prescribe lifestyle changes to treat PMDD PMS symptoms. He explains to the woman that what she puts into her body may be sabotaging her health. Salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine all exacerbate her mood swings. Instead, she should seek a diet rich with whole grains, vegetables and fruit during this time, and be sure to drink plenty of water. It's a good idea that she exercise three to five times per week and get adequate sleep at night. She may also find it helpful to try nutritional supplements like B6, calcium and magnesium. To combat her physical symptoms, a basic over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin or ibuprofen will be helpful.