PMS (research question)

[MsMeelah]

For those of you who experience PMS..
How many days before your period do you experience symptoms ?

If it's more than one day, are your symptoms consistant throught the days until you start your period?
Or do the symtoms come in spurts?

are the symptoms consistant every month or does it vary?
for example : sometimes it's fatigue, sometimes mood swings, sometimes you get headaches... ect.

If you experience mood swings: do you recogonize that this is your PMS during the "moment"? Or is it something you realize afterward ( mabye like a day later)

Have you ever sought treatment spefically for your PMS (not your period)?

If so what kind...

A. Birthcontrol Pills ( dep shot, patch)
B. Prescription medication
C. hormone cremes
D. Over the counter remedies ( premsyn, midol PMS ect)
E. Herbal remedies ( dong quai, valerian root ect)

if so what kind(s)? did they work for you?

[lovely]

Its not too bad for me.

I want to eat. breasts are tender..they seem to be a little bigger about ten days before my period (the Dr said it was watergain) .and i can feel kinda sad and moody. thats it.

i do notice during my moody times that it is because im PMSing. I have purposely stayed away from people while im PMSing cause im apt to say things that dont need to be said.

i have not sought any treatment although i did notice that while i was on the pill the watergain is not as bad.

[HulaSista]

How many days before your period do you experience symptoms ?

2 whole weeks

If it's more than one day, are your symptoms consistant throught the days until you start your period?

yeah

Or do the symtoms come in spurts?

no

are the symptoms consistant every month or does it vary?
for example : sometimes it's fatigue, sometimes mood swings, sometimes you get headaches... ect.

yes... then one symtom will change and be something different the next months.... like the rotate or something wierd


If you experience mood swings: do you recogonize that this is your PMS during the "moment"? Or is it something you realize afterward ( mabye like a day later)

i recognize


Have you ever sought treatment spefically for your PMS (not your period)?

nope...

well, once i did... prozac ... ctfu... i never took them... a year later, i quit the job and that "lessen" the symptoms because i removed stress which aggravated them more

[Brightness]

I've never had it. . .

What exactly is the definition of PMS? Doesn't it apply more to the mental changes and not the physical changes? If it were physical changes then every woman would be a sufferer.

[Brightness]

I guess since I have cramps, backaches and bloating. . .I am a PMS sufferer?!?!?!

Also, came across another term on another website. . PMDD. . .this is apparently PMS to the nth power.

From http://www.usdoctor.com/pms.htm :

Characteristics
Over 150 symptoms have been attributed to PMS. After complaints of feeling "out-of-control", anxious, depressed and having uncontrollable crying spells, the most common complaints are headache and fatigue. But symptoms may vary from month to month and there may even be symptom-free months. No women present with all the PMS symptoms. Characteristically symptoms may be both physical and emotional. They may include physical symptoms as headache, migraine, fluid retention, fatigue, constipation, painful joints, backache, abdominal cramping, heart palpitations and weight gain. Emotional and behavioral changes may include anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, tension,lack of co-ordination, decreased work or social performance and altered libido.

[HulaSista]

Originally posted by Brightness+
having uncontrollable crying spells... fluid retention...weight gain. Emotional and behavioral changes may include ... irritability... tension...decreased work or social performance and altered libido.


i'm one f*cked up creature right about now

[Brightness]

Damn. . .150 symptoms. . .that's crazy.

[MsMeelah]

I think many people think that it's only mental symtoms. Many people think the only symotom is being irritable and bitchy before your period but it goes way deeper than that. Many women suffer from symtoms and they don't even know it or they reconigze it as something else. I keep reading that there are over 150 symtoms but I am having a hard time finding a complete list. I will keep lookin...

[Brightness]

In my opinion, I think it would be more of the emotional or mental changes that would constitute PMS.

I have physical symptoms but that doesn't alter the way I act or react to my environment or other people. . . .I don't curse people out, having crying jags, food cravings or anything like that so I would still have to be of the belief that I am not a sufferer.

I'll ask around and see what kind of answers I get from others.

[HulaSista]

Originally posted by MsMeelah+
I think many people think that it's only mental symtoms. Many people think the only symotom is being irritable and bitchy before your period but it goes way deeper than that. Many women suffer from symtoms and they don't even know it or they reconigze it as something else.

i know a guy who i use to date that had zero sympythy for a woman's pains... he thought women should be IN control of anything that is wrong with them :rolleyes: