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- $Unique_ID{BRK00099}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{How to Deal with PMS}
- $Subject{PMS premenstrual syndrome stress tension Ill Defined Symptoms symptom
- genitourinary system bloated anxious anger depressed month monthly mental
- emotional period periods depression anxiety menstruate menstruates menstrual
- menstruation menstruations menstruating cycle glands hormones}
- $Volume{E-22,N-14}
- $Log{
- The Menstrual Cycle*0009101.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- How to Deal with PMS
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- QUESTION: PMS is driving me crazy. What can I do?
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- ANSWER: Janet (I've changed the name, of course) was a tall, slender,
- attractive woman in her early thirties. She held a job as an office manager
- in an accounting firm, and was happily married with two children. But each
- month like clockwork she was in my office, physically bloated, anxious, quick
- to anger, and depressed. She too was at wits end, apparently a victim of her
- monthly rhythms, and her sex.
- But we've come a long way, and we now know that premenstrual syndrome is
- a definite and partially physically caused phenomenon. It causes women before
- their monthly periods untold grief and anxiety, for themselves as well as
- their family and friends. It is a problem that must be attacked from three
- angles: the biologic, the social, and the psychologic.
- The first thing I did for Janet was listen; she described a monthly
- syndrome and I listened. This in itself seemed to relieve her. Acknowledging
- PMS as a disease entity seems to ease the burden for many women. They are not
- crazy, mean, or selfish; they really are suffering. Their experience is
- validated and somehow also their worth as a person.
- Our next step together was educational. We discussed the possible
- symptoms of PMS and why it can't account for all feelings of depression and
- anxiety. What to actually do when PMS actually struck was next discussed.
- Much has been proposed: a program of aerobic exercise for 20 to 30 minutes a
- day for three to seven days a week, a diet watch to see that the fiber and
- protein content remain high while the sugar and carbohydrate content low--a
- modified hypoglycemic diet. We talked about getting the cooperation of her
- family and friends during these times of the month, as we also spoke of her
- learning new mechanisms of coping and dealing with the blows of life.
- Finally, we came to medication. Much research needs to be done in this
- area. We tried a vitamin, in this case a Vitamin B complex, and a diuretic to
- reduce fluid retention, and that seemed to work for her.
- It's important to realize that each patient must be treated in ways that
- seek to alleviate their unique problems. Your situation deserves its own
- personalized workup, and a therapeutic strategy that you and your family
- doctor can work out together. Take courage in the fact that you can be helped
- and find relief.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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