Cycle Discomforts

Ditto. It's such a relief to know that I am normal! my PCP wasn't normal and attributed it to "hormones". I would love to have a third if I can but am worried it will increasewith another pregnancy.. I am going to try some of the suggestions listed, thank you to everyone! (and thank you for asking the question)

Check out the awesome website by Dr. Christine Northrup for some helpful advice: http://www.womentowomen.com/ This is one of the best sources of information for womens health, the clinic is up in Portland, Maine. Also from personal experience, it is diet related. Sugar, refined foods and not-so-good oils(frying oils, trans fats) all cause inflammation in your body. I would start supplementing with anti-inflammatory oils like evening primrose (one of the BEST oils for women!), fish oil and magnesium. In fact my "period" remedy is Evening Primrose and magnesium (gets rid of cramps!) If you don't already take a calcium supplement, I would get one that has vit D, mag, and trace minerals, these ALL make a big difference. There are also some great herbs that help relieve some of the symptoms like vitex, cramp bark and red raspberry. I have had a lot of experience with this and I am also a health counselor. When your cycle and hormones are out of balance, look at your diet and lack of certain nutrients, and also the help of herbs. Check out the website for more info!

Hi M.,
Arbonne sells a Natural Balancing cream that is EXCELLENT and highly recommend by many people myself included! The results from this product are fantastic. You can log onto my website http://www.kellymcinnis.myarbonne.com Scroll down to Arbonne Testimonials and listen to women's testimonial about Pyto-prolief and Prolief Natural Balance Creams....very good information.

Also, pick up the book From Belly Fat to Belly Fat by C W Randolph...a must read for everyone...men and women!! After reading all these responses prior to mine....the reason I so highly recommend the above book is because I'm hypothyroid as well and have been to hell and back a few times with my thyroid issues. Other than taking my prescribed medicine...I have to be in constant control of how my body is reacting to everything. From Belly Fat to Belly Flat has helped me do that...I know reading this book will help many of you that have responded to M.'s question.

Good luck to all of you, you have my sympathy...and yes the cream does work!!

K.
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Cycles can change so much with all the hormonal fluctuation that come from pregnancy, nursing, aging, and all those great things! It's' not much fun, is it?

I have gotten great relief from Reliv nutritional products that help with so many of the issues you name: night sweats, back pain, skin problems, tenderness, etc. So many of my friends do the same. You might get all the relief you need from the basic nutrition but there is also a women's product that can be added if necessary. Happy to share more info if you are interested.

Wow! I feel almost as if I am reading about myself! I have had 3 children and felt that my cycle/pms got worse each time it returned. I too will get low-back pain and will actually feel really tired right before my period. My PMS is usually about a week beforehand and I am a completely BEAR to say the least. Even my husband can discern from my behavior that it is PMS-related. My cycle also got a lot heavier. As for 'cures', I don't really have any. I do think it has slowly gotten better. Exercise is really suppose to help but I have not been diligent in testing out that theory! I just try to remind myself that these aggressive feelings are PMS-related and they will pass. There is one thing you might want to check into which I do think has helped some. I have hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypothryoidism) and my doctor just upped my dose so that my levels are more around 2. He said that it will oftentimes help with aggressive feelings, lack of patience, etc. I have also heard this from a nurse practitioner, although there does not seem to be any documented research to support it. My dose was increased about 2 mths ago and I do think it might be helping. Just a thought. If you do decide to have your thyroid tested, note that the recommended levels vary by doctor, but they are starting to feel more and more that 2 is the level you want to strive for - so even if the lab has you listed in the 'normal' range, keep that in mind. If nothing else, hopefully knowing that you are not alone will help!

You should see your gyno again, but it's not uncommon to still have milk in your breasts for a LONG time after having stopped breastfeeding. Take care (of yourself that is!).

Take a vitamin B complex vitamin.

I don't have advice for you, But I too feel like you do before my cycle. Some months are worse than others. Some months I could completely lose it over nothing, it's scary and I hate it!. I have the night sweats, the aching back, and some months my breasts feel just as you described. I am also 37. I can't wait to hear your responses. It makes me think that menopause is really going to be brutal.

Hi M.- I'm sorry that you're feeling so yucky most of the time. I'm wondering if you're peri-menopausal. I began to go through some bad PMS stuff, irritability, night sweats, heavy bleeding, etc. Turns out I had some uterine fibroid tumors on top of being peri-menopausal. I now take a low dose of birth control pills to lessen the symptoms. But I would surely check in with your gyn, have some blood work done to see if there's something that s/he can recommend to help you out. You shouldn't have to go through this every month. Good luck.

Hi M.,
Although I do not know what this has happened but I have the exact same thing. After have my son almost 3 years ago, I have noticed changes (not in a good way) with patience, breast discomfort, acne, irritablity. I never related it to having children but you are the second person that has said the same things. I just thought it was normal but maybe there is more to it. I think I will place a call to my MD. Last month I actually tried Midol and I do think that helped with the irritablity and breast pain. If you get any responses back could you pass them along to me? I will do the same if I get anymore information. Thanks and good luck.
S.

I may not have a lot of advice for you, but I wanted you to know you are NOT alone! I have found that after I had my youngest 22 months ago, like you, my PMS symptoms are SO much worse than ever before. I get so bloated you would actually think I was 3 months pregnant, my food cravings are intense, and my mood fluctuates terribly. I get very angry, emotional, etc. I also find I sweat more too right before I get my period! So I feel your pain. I haven't been able to remedy my issues so I am curious about what responses you get. I know it's good to drink a lot of water and avoid salt during PMS, and try to flush all the water retention and buildup out of your system. For your back and other problems you are having, maybe you can try a low estrogen birth control pill? I hear some of those help with bad PMS. I wish I could try this, but I had hypertension with my pregnancies so my dr. won't put me on any birth control. I have also taken a homeopathic PMS supplement, but unfortunately I didn't notice a lot of change with that. Like I said, I hope you get some good advice that might help me and others too! Good luck and I totally understand your pain!

After my second I had an extreme in increase in PMS as well (never really had it before) and I was talking to a friend yesterday who said the same thing. This seems to be fairly common -- not that it helps to know that! My symptoms are a little different than yours -- my worst part is the moodiness and feeling like I am going to crawl right out of my skin. It has been tough on my husband because if for that week he so much as puts a hand on my arm I explode and my whole body just gets squirmy and uncomfortable. I'm tense and jittery, get headaches and my irritable bowel acts up. I am on BC and It always starts exactly one week before my last pill. I asked my doctor and she let me switch to Yaz and it has been so much better. It took a few months to adjust to it, but the third month I felt like a new person. It didn't completely alleviate them, but I would say 90% of it is gone. She had said if it doesn't go away they could put me on an antidepressant just for that one week but I want to avoid that. I will be very interested to see what other suggestions you get that may help me as well! Good luck.

There must be an herbalist in your area. I drink a feminine balance tea during ovulation week. Herbs like chastetree berry will normalize hormone levels. Raspberry leaf will tone the uterine lining. Since you are experiencing some skin outbreaks, I would probably add burdock root to the mix. Myself, I add ginger and fennel for the tummy, but might add crampbark to yours. Sometimes a cup of tea really does make everything better!

My guess is that there is also something in your diet aggravating symptoms. I would start reading labels and avoiding preservatives, artificial colors and flavors. That at least, is a good place to start.
Good luck!

Have you thought about having your blood chemistry checked? Hormone levels, thyroid levels, vitamin D levels? Perimenopause can last a very long time in some women. I don't have the same symptoms or situation as you, but over the last 10 years (I'm 49), I've experienced more emotional swings than I ever have in the past which I believe are definitely linked to my cycles.

We found that my thyroid levels were a little off (they have since self-corrected after a hospitalization for GYN issues). Plus, my vit D levels were down. It's amazing what a little correction of your body chemistry can do!

Also, I used to get lower back pain all the time with my cycles. Walking regularly helps a lot and I try to do a regimen of tightening my stomach muscles when I walk. Stomach muscle strength helps immensely with lower back issues. The more active you are, the fewer symptoms I used to experience. Are you active enough for your body's needs?