I Need A Break From Severe PMS

Today has not been a good day at all. I know there are people out there much much worse off than me and I do feel guilty for moaning but I just feel so low today.

I was diagnosed with severe PMS in 2014,  It is known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in America but I feel that PMDD describes the severity much better as so many people have said to me "I get PMS, it's not that bad"

Earlier today I took myself into my bedroom and curled up and just cried. I felt sick and sore, it was too much today.  Guilt then took over as my son walked in and found me. "Mummy are you ok?" and all I could say was "Mummy has a sore back son I will be ok" then he hugged me. Knowing my son found me in a mess broke my heart. So I let him "help" me off the floor and he rubbed my back. Truth is my back was sore but there is no way I could tell him the full story.

The thing about severe PMS, it's not just sore breasts and feeling tender on the run up to your time of the month, the symptoms actually start two weeks before, around the time of ovulation.  Along with muscular pain, there are almost one hundred other symptoms linked to it.. You won't get every single one of them of course but you will get a mixture and it is hellish.

My symptoms are:

• Hot flushes
• Painful ovulation
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Muscular pain
• Backache
• Migraine
• Dizzy spells
• Cramps
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Extreme fatigue
• Skin irritation

That is only a few of them. If I was to list every symptom we could be here a good while.  They last from ovulation until I start my period.

It has been said that severe PMS is "rare" but I can't help but think many women are having these symptoms and are just putting it down to being normal or, like me, they have been misdiagnosed for months as it being something else.  It took me 11 months of fighting to get an answer and I am grateful that it finally came as it made me feel better about myself, knowing I wasn't going mad!

I am lucky enough to have found a wonderful group on Facebook - PMDD severe PMS UK where I can turn to a group of lovely ladies who are not only happy to help and give advice, they know exactly what I am going through, as it is a condition they live with too.

So you are thinking what causes severe pms?  It is an abnormal reaction to normal hormonal changes that happen during cycle. The hormone changes can cause a serotonin deficiency which then has an affect on mood and causes the physical symptoms.

If you think this sounds like you every month then I urge you to see your doctor as soon as possible as the condition affects your daily life and getting a diagnosis means you can start a treatment that suits you.

You need to be experiencing 5 or more of the following symptoms for more than a month:

• Depressed mood
• Anger or irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed
• Moodiness
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia or feeling very sleepy
• Feeling overwhelmed or out of control

Keep a diary. I use a period tracker app to log all my symptoms, when they start, when they end and it also helps track when my next period is due.  Every single month without fail my symptoms start around ovulation.

It can be controlled through various ways, diet, exercise and medication. For me, I am limited in what they can use and sadly need to stick it out until they tell me I am classed as "old enough" to have a hysterectomy. I know that sounds extreme but for me it will give me my life back,

Written by Nicola James - used with permission