Perimenopause and Symptoms of PMS

You have probably experienced these symptoms even if you didn’t recognise them as premenstrual tension

A woman I worked with once told me she felt like an over-ripe tomato when she had PMS and was so sensitive to touch that she thought she would explode if anyone touched her.

For me, it’s noise. There are days when the chatter on the train in the morning goes right through my head putting me in a bad mood that can last all day. Noise sensitivity is, in fact, one of the symptoms of PMS although I hadn’t made the connection until I came across an amazing list of pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms recently. It includes:

  • bloating
  • abdominal cramping up to 2 weeks before period that may also be felt in the back, thighs, or vaginal area
  • poor coordination
  • rashes
  • breast pain and swelling
  • stiff neck
  • back/joint pain
  • indecisiveness
  • slurred speech
  • eye problems – dry eyes, difficulty focusing, aching eyes
  • tiredness
  • hand tingling
  • sensitivity to noise, touch or smell
  • dizziness / fainting
  • pounding or irregular heart
  • more – or less – interest in sex

Not to mention the mood and emotion symptoms that are more commonly connected to PMS.

There are some practical steps that can help alleviate these symptoms like avoiding sugar and alcohol, switching to a healthier diet, and taking regular exercise. It’s not a bad idea to have a little refresher on these techniques because by the time we get to peri-menopause when PMS symptoms can resurface as a problem, many of us will have forgotten both how wide the symptoms can be and what’s effective in dealing them. The article cited above is a useful starting point. It has certainly opened my eyes.

For more on the subject of menopause, you may like to read this useful feature from the New York Times.

2 comments   Alcohol, breast pain, Dizziness, Eyes, Health, Menopause, Perimenopause, PMS, PMT, Symptoms, throbbing breasts   , ,  

Walk the Line

A night on the town, which these days generally means two gin and tonics, also necessitates a walk home. From recent experience I can report that it is pretty frustrating when you are tired to find yourself covering more ground than you need to because you are incapable of walking in a straight line. Do you think it is possible that this is some kind of adaptation? Could it be that by walking from side to side while inebriated, rather than in a straight line, we cover more ground, and that by covering more ground we are more likely to sober up? It’s just a random thought that I felt compelled to share with you. It is, of course, off-topic menopause wise except insofar as two gin and tonics being enough to induce the inebriation these days. Loss of capacity makes for a cheap date.

2 comments   Alcohol

Staying Power

Darn it. The downside of being 50 is definitely staying power. A modest night out on the town seems to leave way too pronounced a mark on the morning after. I was tempted to try one of those energy drinks this morning until I read the list of ingredients and wondered if my fragile frame could cope with that much caffeine. So, instead, I’m taking it easy, sticking to a more traditional form of caffeine, and mulling on whether I need to put in place another training plan. Remember the trainer heels? Perhaps now is the time to embark on trainer nights on the town?

Leave a comment   Alcohol, Menopause   ,