Women and pms..please reply!

[littlemissbutterflyz]

Hello Ladies...

I was wondering, is it normal to gain 5-10 lbs during your pre-menstrual cycle?? Does anyone else experience this? How can I help to eliminate so much water retention around this time?

Any help will be appreciated! (for all the angels that have guided me before) Many thanks!!

 

[JJFigure]

I gained 5 lbs. this time - it ranges for me, but it always seems to range in the 2-5 lb. range. I honestly really haven't found a solution; if you take herbal diuretics, I tend to rebound from them and retain even more water after I stop. I know Spatt's recently went through some heavy water retention and she added a gallon of water/day (up to 3 from 2 gallons) and that helped her drop a lot of it.

I've just been putting up with it. I drive too much for work to drink that much water - 6 liters tends to be my limit or I'm peeing every 10 minutes.

 

[lucidblue]

That would be awful. I get a bit bloated but that's all.... well aside from bitchiness and some anger issues while PMSing. I have friends that gain a lot weight before, but they haven't found ways to fight it either. Some eat less salty foods and that seems to help them a bit.

 

[littlemissbutterflyz]

Thanks ladies,

I just wanted to assure myself that I was not alone Why is it that women were cursed with two layers of fat, have to go through monthly misery and to top it off, are genetically prone to accumulated fat around the hips, thighs and buttocks??? I think someone played a cruel trick on us ladies...if that is not enough, every month, for one full week I cannot fit into any of my regular jeans....it sucks!! I can gain up to 10 lbs easy during pms

 

[jenny27]

yeah i gain a few pounds that time of the month and im sure a lot of it is from all the crap i end up eating!! and dont even get me into the whole pms thing...i become miss bitch and a half and snap like a twig at every little thing...particularly loud noises.

 

[Puddles]

I tend to gain 3-6 lbs right before my period...occasionally a little more. I'm sure it's water. I used to freak at the scale, now I just accept it as part of being a woman. About 2 1/2 months ago I started using a progesterone cream that I got at the vitamin store and my water retention and moodiness has been dramaticly changed. You use it for the 3 weeks out of the month that you don't have your period, then take a week off during your period. I just rub it into my thighs right after my shower once a day...you can use it twice a day if needed. My massage therapist is the one who suggested this to me when I complained about my bad mood swings, leg cramps, and water retention.

Because the water retention causes other issues like muscle cramps, overly sore breasts and just overall discomfort, in the past I've taken a prescription diuretic once or twice the day or two before my period and that really helps. Since using the progesterone cream, the bloat isn't as bad so I skipped it my last two cycles.

About a year ago I asked for some help regarding PMS issues and Sassy69 posted the following:

Here's some verbage from my fav herbal remedy book (Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd ed):

"One of the causes of PMS is hormonal imbalance - excessive levels of estrogen and inadequate levels of progesterone. Hormonal fluctuations lead to fluid retention, which affects circulation, reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the uterus, ovaries, and brain. Eating red meat and dairy products may cause or contribute to such a hormonal imbalance. Unstable blood sugar levels are an important factor as well. PMS has also been linked to food allergies, changes in carbohydrate metabolism, hypoglycemia, and malabsorption. Diet is an important contributing factor. Other suspected causes of PMS symptoms incude erratic levels of beta-endorphin ( a narcotic-like substance produced by the body), vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies and clinical depression. When the workings of the brain's hormones are better understood, we may understand why this disorder can produce such a multitide of symptoms."

Some suggested nutrients to add to your arsenal:

"Very important":

AM/PM Ultimate Cleanse (Nature's Secret) - as directed - a cleansing program that enhances the liver's ability to metabolize estrogen.

Black currant seed oil (as directed 3x daily) OR Flaxseed oil (as directed, 3x daily) OR Primrose Oil (1000 mg , 3x daily) - to supply GLA (gamma lineolic acid), an essential fatty acid that is important in relieving symptoms and aiding proper glandular function.

Calcium (1500 mg daily) - Relieves cramping, backache and nervousness. Use calcium chelate form.

AND

Magnesium (1000 mg daily) - Deficiency has been associated w/ PMS. Use magnesium chloride or chelate form

ALSO NOTE:

Vitamin D (as directed) - for uptake of Calcium & Mag

Vitamin B complex (100 mg 3x daily) - B vitamins work best when taken together

AND

pantothenic acid (Vit B5) (100-200 mg daily) - reduces stress & is needed by the adrenal glands (and does wonders for acne!)

AND

pyroxidine (Vit B6) (50 mg 3x daily) - reduces water retention and increase oxygen flow to the female organs. Also aids in restoring estrogen levels to normal.

AND

Vit B12 (200 mcg 2x daily) - Reduces stress , prevents anemia and is needed for all bodily functions. Usa a lozenge or sublingual form.

Vit E - start w/ 400 IU daily and work up to 800 IU daily - good for sore breasts and other PMS symptoms, improves oxygen utilizationand limits free radical damage. Also helps relieve nervous tension, irritability and depression.

 

[FitFossil]

Great post Mrs P!

I don't have PMS or bloating that I notice, and I take all those things you mentioned. I had not specifically been taking them for PMS either, but I guess they help a lot because I did used to have it - cool!

natural progesterone creme (Emerita) from day 14 to period (my cycles used to be short - a symptom of low progesterone - and now they are 27-28 days)

I use Fisol fish oil caps instead of flax, etc. and I've been taking all the others because of their antioxidant benefits. I've also been using B5 for years for skin.

 

[MissChris]

How is B5 working out for your skin, FF?

Since I stopped taking the pill, mine isn't looking so hot lately, but it's because I naturally tend toward androgenicity a bit unless I'm being pumped full of artificial hormones, lol. Would you consider B5 helpful for hormonal acne?

 

[jenscats5]

Since I've upped my protein intake & been making sure my calcium is up (in addition to milk, etc I eat 1 Viactiv a day--chocolate fix!), my PMS symptoms have decreased a bit. Still have wicked hell-like cramps, but the protein & calcium seem to help a bit.

 

[littlemissbutterflyz]

Does it help you with water retention as well?? Or am I doomed to retain these 5-10lbs every month?? Could it be genetic as well? My mother and sister both retain a lot of water as well, to the point where they cannot even wear their rings on their fingers due to swelling....