Initially I had several different topics floating around in my head for tonight's Feminisms diary, but those others didn't seem to want to be written quite as much as this one did due to the events of my day. So, pull up a chair, get over the feelings of "TMI", and get comfortable with the fact that I've got some wicked PMS today, and I'm telling you about it in the hopes that getting it out will make me feel better (I know, I'm incredibly selfish), and that maybe we can all discuss some strategies for dealing with it.
First, an intro:
Feminisms is a series of weekly feminist diaries. My fellow feminists and I decided to start our own for several purposes: we wanted a place to chat with each other, we felt it was important to both share our own stories and learn from others’, and we hoped to introduce to the community a better understanding of what feminism is about.
Needless to say, we expect disagreements to arise. We have all had different experiences in life, so while we share the same labels, we don’t necessarily share the same definitions. Hopefully, we can all be patient and civil with each other, and remember that, ultimately, we’re all on the same side.
I started my day this morning in a grumpy mood. This was due to something unrelated to the PMS, but in a way the "something" was effected by it anyway. Regardless, the day got increasingly more frustrating when, on my way to work, I started to feel like I was being repeatedly kicked in my abdomen. For a few moments there it felt like someone was stabbing me, but I popped some Midol and it went back down to just kicking pain. So that was better.
After teaching one class, I thought about throwing up for a while. I decided to smoke a cigarette and eat some M&M's instead. That helped. While teaching my second class the kicking started again. Of course, that's the class I have with one particular student who likes to argue just for argument's sake. So even though he was making a point and the vast majority of the class agreed with it, he decided to push and get pissy and act as if no one agreed with him instead. It was at this point that I wished I'd just stayed home.
During our Union meeting I suddenly felt incredibly exhausted. I'm Secretary of our local so I was taking notes on the meeting and for about five minutes I literally felt so tired that I couldn't even move my arm to take notes. I wondered how I'd ever make the drive home after work, so I eventually worked up the energy to get a Diet Coke, had a cigarette, and then I felt better.
When I pulled into my driveway I looked at the tree in my yard and saw that it had buds and some flowers. I literally burst into tears because I was so happy that spring was here and I decided flowers were the most perfectly beautiful things in the universe. Once I got inside I dealt with the source of my grumpy mood yesterday and worked that all out. Hugs all around.
Is this making you uncomfortable? Have I mentioned yet how sensitive my tits are? (Oh, should I not bring those up? TMI? Not supposed to mention certain body parts even though they're attached to me?) How much my back hurts? That the kicking feeling has returned, and that I've taken the number of Midol that I'm allowed for the day so I can't take more to make it go away? And have I mentioned that I feel fat? I may not look fat, but I feel it...and that always sucks.
According to PMS.com I'm not alone...
What Is PMS?
The term, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), covers a group of symptoms that can affect you, emotionally and physically, during the days before your period. How many symptoms? Some experts believe there may be as many as 150. Fortunately, most women only experience a few. The most common premenstrual symptoms are headache, bloating, back pain, mood swings, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, food cravings, acne and sore breasts. While the symptoms subside when menstruation begins, the millions of women whose lives are regularly disrupted by PMS are tired of waiting it out. And waiting for a solution.
While not all women have PMS, it’s estimated that 70% to 90% of women who menstruate experience premenstrual symptoms. And another 3% to 8% have emotional symptoms severe enough to disrupt their lives, a condition known as PMDD. Women with PMDD suffer from many of the physical symptoms of PMS, often more severely. In addition, they experience debilitating emotional symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness, isolation and extreme mood swings.
70-90% seems like a lot. And they sure aren't kidding when they say we're sick of waiting for a solution. What I wouldn't give for just one little pill that would make all these crappy symptoms go away every month. These are the days when I wish I had become a Doctor or a Medical Researcher so I could work to make that little pill myself.
Instead, I'm stuck with their other suggestions for treatment, some of which seem to work, and others make me cringe with horror (they want me to give up my Diet Coke?!). Let's just look at the solutions for a few of the symptoms I've mentioned (the list is quite long...if you have others, you can read those suggestions here.
Breast Tenderness
Put down that latte! Not only will you save a few bucks, but you’ll also reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine has been shown to increase premenstrual breast swelling and sensitivity. And remember, caffeine is in coffee, tea, chocolate and many soft drinks. Even cutting down on caffeine intake by drinking half-caf could help with sore breasts. Of course, you should also make sure you wear a good bra: Support is critical to your comfort when you have breast tenderness and swelling. There is growing evidence that vitamin E, taken orally, may also help.
Mood Swings, Irritability and Anxiety
While mood swings, irritability and anxiety may feel like different emotions, these premenstrual symptoms are related to changing levels of brain chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are the "feel good" hormones that contribute to cheerful moods and make people less sensitive to pain. Scientists believe the natural ups and downs of female hormones can affect your endorphins and, in turn, can affect your moods.
So what can you do to get those endorphins pumping? Exercise can be beneficial, whether it’s a quick dash around the block, a dip in the local pool or a trip to the gym. You may feel a little sluggish when you first get going, but you’ll feel better afterwards. Soothing music, a warm bubble bath or deep breathing exercises can all help you feel more mellow and even-tempered. And there’s some truth to that old clich about laughter being the best medicine. Laughter actually can increase the level of endorphins in the brain – a great excuse to call a good friend or rent a funny movie.
Food Cravings and Weight Gain
If PMS has you reaching for chocolate or donuts, there’s a biological basis to those cravings. High-fat or sweet foods are a quick way to raise the level of serotonin, a brain chemical that affects your mood. But simple carbohydrates such as chips or sugary snacks bring about rapid ups and downs in blood sugar levels. (Not to mention providing a lot of calories for very little nutritional value!) A better way to raise serotonin levels is to eat complex carbohydrates, which include whole grain bread, pasta, cereal, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and plain yogurt. These foods can help you feel good, and they’re good for you.
Many women complain of monthly weight gain before their period. A lot of this is attributable to water retention. Calcium (1000 mg per day) and magnesium (400 mg per day) reduce water retention and premenstrual weight gain. Calcium is found in dairy products such as yogurt or cheese, as well as in puddings, broccoli, salmon and tofu.
Cramps
Many women turn to over-the-counter drugs like naproxen to reduce the pain of cramps. A hotwater bottle or heating pad is a time-honored remedy. You can make your own by filling a tube sock with rice and microwaving it until the sock gets hot. The rice will help retain the heat. Yoga or stretching can also help.
Apparently I need to cut back on the Diet Coke and start popping some Vitamin E...and putting down the M&M's is probably a good start too. Perhaps I'll have an apple with some peanut butter instead? And I could pop in a movie...or I could hang out here with you gals and guys and we could tell bad jokes and laugh. Either way, I wish this kicking feeling would go away.