Tools To Get PMS Symptom Relief
When you visit the doctor to discuss your PMS symptom pattern, you will be asked to provide a detailed symptoms diary and the dates of your last menstruating phase. You may be wondering, "What should I include in this diary?" Or "How do I assess my mood fluctuations on a scale?" It can help you make sense of your monthly symptoms by using one of the many health tools available online. The more detail you can give your primary physician, the better diagnosis he or she can make. After all, many women come to the office believing they have PMS only to find they've got a more serious mood or menstrual disorder.
You might find it helpful to look for a PMS tracker chart. For a printable template, just visit www.womenshealth.gov/faq/pmsymptracker45.pdf or www.freeprintablemedicalforms.com/preview/pms_symptom_tracker. You can check off which days of the month you have your period and also track every day of the month for symptoms like acne, bloating, menstrual cramps, tiredness, upset stomach, headache, backache, food cravings, difficulty concentrating, tension, crying, mood swings and other symptoms that you fill in yourself. At www.mymonthlycycles.com/infopms_cycle.html, you can enter information on your computer as to whether each PMS related symptom is "mild, moderate, severe or nonexistent." The website will then create a graph for you to show your ups and downs for each symptom.
The PMS symptom diary template is a helpful way to list your symptoms so you'll be ready for your next doctor's appointment. You can make your own PMS diary using MS Word charts or an Excel spreadsheet. Simply put a spot for the date on top, and then write a horizontal column for each day of the month (numbered 1-31). Next, down the vertical column on the left hand side, write up all the symptoms you can think of, such as headaches, fatigue, bloating, crying, irritability, food cravings, stomach cramps, poor concentration, back aches, etc. Use different colored markers to indicate whether your symptoms were mild, moderate or severe. After several months, take this chart to your doctor to ask whether you have run-of-the-mill PMS, PMDD symptoms or possibly an underlying mood disorder like depression.
You may also want to take a PMS symptom quiz to see if you should visit a doctor to answer your health questions and provide treatment suggestions. The University of Pennsylvania Health System offers a serious quiz (http://ucnet.com/pms/quiz.htm) to help you see which A-list and B-list symptoms you have. To find out if you are suffering from PMDD symptoms, try the quiz at www.organizedwisdom.com/Quiz/PMDD_Quiz. A more light-hearted and fun quiz to share with your friends can be found at www.pmscentral.com/womens_quiz, where you'll find out if you fit the profile for "Lois Pain," "Attila The Hungry," "Scary Poppins," "Weeping Beauty," "Lizzie Warden" or if you just have multiple PMS traits.
Related topics about PMS Symptom
Where To Find PMS Information
At www.mayoclinic.com, you can get all the basic PMS information, such as the definition, the symptoms, causes, when to seek treatment, how to prepare for a doctor's appointment, tests and diagnosis, treatments and drugs, lifestyle changes and alternative medicine.
What Is PMS?
What is PMS but an imbalance of your body's hormones and chemicals? As you know, diet contributes significantly to how we think, act and feel. Doctors recommend limiting salt, as sodium contributes to water retention, bloating and weight gain. To keep your blood sugar levels (and moods) stable, you should eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day and limit your sugar intake.
PMS Remedies And Treatment Options
Treatment for PMS may also consist of herbal supplements. In Germany, St. John's wort is used as an antidepressant.