women only: have you experienced this?

Question

I have gone to my doctor several times and each time they can never tell me what it is. I don't think it's PMS because it lasts the whole month except when I get my period. I have bleeding gums, nasal stuffiness, cramps, backaches, swollen breasts, bloated belly, pelvic pain, dizziness, mood swings and nausea. What is this?? I have not been super stressed or even moderately stressed. Stress is an option but I'd really like to know if other women have experienced this and if they found what causes it. Whether it is stress or not. Please help!!!

Answer 1

You know I feel like this too exept I don't have bleeding gums.
But the rest of the symptoms I do have.I thought it was my birth control that was making me feel that way.I use the Nuva Ring.Do you take any kind of contraceptives like the pill or the patch or the shot?These may be the blame.

Answer 2

Since you're ok on your period I suspect that it's related to the hormone progesterone. Normally the main hormone during period week and until ovulation is estrogen. After ovulation( the release of an egg from an ovary) which generally happens 12 to 14 days before you start your next period the main hormone is progesterone. Your body produces progesterone at high levels then in case you get pregnant. Progesterone will nourish a developing embryo until the placenta forms. If you don't get pregnant,the progesterone isn't needed so your body drops the level which brings on your period. If you feel dramatically better when you start bleeding then all your symptoms are most likely from a sensitivity (not an allergy) to progesterone. Many of your symptoms are common in pregnancy when levels of progesterone are very high.I've had good luck with some women by starting them on a birth control pill called Yasmin. It gives you an even hormone level all month and this particular pill also helps more than most to prevent the water retention that causes some of your symptoms. This is usually the easiest treatment and many do well. If this doesn't work sometimes some of the antidepressants can ease both physical and mental changes We think of antidepressants as only affecting the brain but they affect receptors in the whole body. I have used both antidepressants and Yasmin together too. I hope you can find some relief-it is NOT all in your head. Good luck and feel free to use the contact link to email me with questions. I'm a Nurse Practioner in Women's Health. One other thing-a lot of people want to do blood work to measure hormone levels. The tests are expensive and in your case, worthless. The problem isn't the levels but how YOU are affected by hormones.

Answer 3

It is a possibility that you have PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), which is not a common disorder, but is characterized by many of the symptoms you have listed (sans the bleeding gums). While stress can make PMS or PMDD worsen, it is not the trigger of it as the cause of PMS is linked with the endocrine system and raised or decreased levels of chemicals in the brain can make the symptoms lessen or increase in intensity. I would talk to your doctor about that as it is treatable and is an actual medical disorder.

Answer 4

whoa, this is tricky. if the doctors are stumped, i suggest you look to a dietary source of your troubles. a lot of doctors are not well-educated in nutrition.

examine your diet carefully for excess sugar (especially in the form of high fructose corn syrup). these types of symptoms are also common in people are sensitive to dairy or gluten. search the internet for information regarding gluten- and casein-sensitivity. bleeding gums are a sign of lack of vitamin c. you could be having malabsorption of vitamins which is very common in gluten- and casein-sensitivity.

don't give up though. keep searching until you find the answer. life is too short to be miserable!

good luck!

Answer 5

It's probably a combination of several things, that taken together, are hard to diagnose. You might have endometriosis which causes a lot of those symptoms. Ask your gynecologist (not a family practitioner) about that. Good Luck

Answer 6

get 2nd opinion...from a different doctor...it took MONTHS for doctors to diagnose my wife with PCOS because it is rare first...and only 10% of women have it..also worthy to look in at...

but..sometimes drs only look a one or 2 symptoms and see them as an isolated symptom instead of seeing a pattern...that is why they kept telling my wife to just lose weight...it was obviously more than just that...

talk to a few friends to ask their doctors...or arrange a visit..because your present dr/gyno is next to worthless