Blonde
New Member
- Location
- Bury, Lancashire
Arch said:Also, does anyone else get this - about a week before the period actually starts, I get sort of ghost symptoms - a mild backache or stomach cramp, just like I get on my period, but not as bad... Then it passes off for a few days, until it comes back for real.
Not exactly, but I get a little bit of ovulation pain (mild ovarian pain and a mild lower back ache) and sometimes a tiny amount of spotting half way through my cycle.
I have noticed that PMS is less when I'm out cycling every day and in the summer months (don't know if SAD is involved or just more exercise in summer). I am less emotional and have hardly any pain at all when I've been doing a lot of cycling and eating well in the weeks before. If I've been ill the PMS (pain and the depression) can be worse, but again, I'm not sure if it's due to lack of exercise during illness or to depression associated with illness and lack of exercise - don't know which comes first, it seems a vicious circle. It is well documented that exercise helps though. The truth about food telly programe also suggested that research has shown that eating lots of calcium helps stop the emotional state associated with PMS. The book I had on the subject suggested that allowing cells to fill with water (by not eating carb-rich food regularly and keeping blood sugar stable) was the cause of PMS bloating. Having massively reduced my carb intake, I no longer get any bloating at all, but I used to put on 7-10 pounds every single time, so I think it's more to do with keeping blood sugar stable than eating carbs - so no sugary snacks and no skipping meals! Low blood sugar also makes you feel cross and weepy of course.