I take regular sick days from work, I always have, as far back as school. I guess I am lucky to have worked for understanding, or at least tolerant employers. I like to think I am a good and productive worker for the rest of the time so maybe that makes up for it?
This year I have been noting my 'sick' days in a diary (some of these become working-from-home days in my current job, when I can manage to -
this really helps). There appears to be a pattern. None in Jan (January was very quiet at work and I was largely alone in my office with little social interaction required and school holidays meant it was crazier at home) and then two days in Feb and two in March at around the same time of the month and then again yesterday and today. I went to work yesterday but had a short day.
I suffer from what I thought was PMS - sore boobs, cramps, bloating, headaches, generally in the few days leading up to my period. I have the occasional day off with really bad cramps that painkillers don't help, but not very regularly.
This is different - it is usually about a week before my period is due and I feel lethargic, have interrupted sleep, stomach upsets, depression, aches (almost like I am coming down with flu) and
various other symptoms. I want to be alone and stay in bed for 2 days. Then I feel worse because I feel as though I am 'not really sick', I can't go to the doctor and get pills, my husband thinks I am a hypochondriac and life really sucks for two days!
For
the rest of the month, I function normally, achieve stuff (full-time
work, post-grad study, house-keeping, step-parenting), like myself and generally do OK. I am happy, I love my job, my life and my family.
So today I have been doing some research. It turns out that PMS is really more than the physical symptoms that up to 85% of women get. It turns out PMS is what I get.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of emotional symptoms, with or without physical symptoms, related to a woman's menstrual cycle.
There is also PMDD which I had never heard of:
About five per cent of menstruating women suffer from seriously
debilitating PMS, which is sometimes known as premenstrual dysphoric
disorder (PMDD). The symptoms may have a serious impact on a woman’s
mental health state and can be so severe that an affected woman is
unable to carry out her normal activities.
There are those who think it is
all a myth. Apparently PMS is largely unknown by women in Asia and India, some have drawn the conclusion from this that it is a socially created phenomenon in western societies, but others put it down to differences in diet or other lifestyle factors. Should we just accept these mood changes and adapt our lifestyles to suit (eg: two days per month take time off to nurture yourself, relax, rest, whatever it takes) or medicate? Maybe some of it is a result of modern lifestyles, stress, expectations etc, I am sure there is also a physical, chemical/hormonal aspect at play.
I am currently reading about
Sunday Reed and her husband John, who created
Heide in Melbourne. Sunday suffered from
'bouts of emotional malaise' which forced her to bed for days, or to restorative periods by the sea.* This came up a lot in Victorian times, bouts of hysteria or melancholy where women retired to their boudoir for days. It was (I presume) accepted by men as part and parcel of being one of the lesser or weaker sex and was less disruptive as women didn't work and often had staff to run the house and look after children. So what was it like for women of the lower and middle classes (those not often depicted in literature and film), did they suffer, were they stronger, tougher, because they had to be?? I often wonder this as I think our society still sees mental illness as a sign of weakness or self indulgence.
I am on Pristiq for anxiety and it is strange that this doesn't help with the PMS symptoms. Treatment of PMS and PMDD is often depression and anxiety medication.
After a bit more reading, I am going to try:
- supplement(s) from the chemist (apparently magnesium, manganese, zinc, vitamin E and Vitamin D may help)
- reduce my caffeine and alcohol intake (especially during that period of the month)
- alter my diet
- increase exercise
Easier said than done! Wish me luck and I'd love to hear your experience and views.
Body + Soul -
7 ways to relieve PMS
*
Sunday's Kitchen - food and living at Heide by Lesley Harding & Kendrah Morgan (highly recommend it if you like food, art and/or gardening).
PS. This was a form of therapy in itself! Written from bed between cat cuddles.....
