Do PMS symptoms worsen as you get older?

Question

I'm in my late 20s and never really had a problem with cramps. But now, days before my cycle (up to a week) I have cramps and really bad mood swings....angry at the world one day and feeling sad the next. I don't ever recall feeling this way....it bums be out for about 2 weeks....with the premenstral stuff, then later the actual period accompanied with fatigue! What's the best OTC drug? Anyone else experience worsened symptoms?

Answer 1

Talk to your gyn. Birth control pills can help regulate your period and for a lot of women if shortens their period. If you are on BCP's then talk to your dr about switching to one that prevents your period all together. If you have tried both of these things then you might want to consider getting some sarafem ....its a mood stabilizing drug for woman with bad PMS.

Answer 2

As far as the cramps the best OTC medication is aspirin, it thins the blood so the clotting is less which is what causes most of the cramps. Sometimes the PMS is as simple as improper hormone balance. Consider talking to your doctor. Mine got better (have to love Mirena IUD)

Answer 3

Its hormonal. Estrogen fades as you get ready to start a period. Estrogen helps keep insulin under control. Insulin, thus, can go wild. The purpose of insulin is to open the "cell's mouths" to let food and water in. Thus, right before your period, insulin is madly tucking food and water in cells, causing bloating and weight gain and mood swings.

The food insulin tucks in cells is blood glucose. If there is too much insulin (a condition known as hyperinsulinemia), it can result in there being too little blood glucose in the blood stream for the rest of the body to use during the day (a condition known as hypoglycemia). If the brain senses a low blood sugar condition, it requests food, lots of it, high carb food like chocolate and potato chips and french fries and such.

That is why you may have binges before your period.

For basic information on hypoglycemia (which can worsen with aging), check out www.hufa.org. For basic information on hyperinsulinemia, check out www.mayoclinic.com and search for hyperinsulinemia.