First up, the very common thing is the stomach cramps. Menstrual cramps, or more scientifically known as dysmenorrhea, are pains in the pelvic or lower belly area during the time of the month. Some feel only a dull pain while some feel intense pain followed by contractions. If it does not have gynaelogical problems causing the pain, then it's normal. But if there are abnormal conditions to your reproductive system and requires diagnosis and treatment, then it is more likely a complication. I've been having stomach cramps throughout my menstrual cycles, but for a year plus now, my PMSes aren't that bad as before. Just a mild cramp a few days before the day comes.
Secondly, backaches. Oh, my backaches were so bad then that I wished someone could push me in a wheelchair because I didn't feel like standing up. Sleeping didn't feel comfortable at all because by night, my back would've felt so tired and painful that it was like as if it went numb. Often, I'd sleep with a pillow under my back because I don't have a straight back (well, maybe it's because I'm skinny or because I have a really bad posture. Yes, posture, that's right) You know what's worst? It's when you have BOTH stomach cramps AND backaches. You have the pain piercing both back and front, you feel like as though you want to chop off your body. Yes, it is painful being a woman.
BREAKOUTS!!! I get this ALL the time!! But fortunately, this month, I didn't breakout before my menses came. First time!!! Mostly, my breakouts will lessen for 3weeks in a month, and then you suddenly see an influx of breakouts in a week or so. Yeah, the sign of menses. I hate this one alot because I can bear the pain fine, but breakouts? You make me lose the mood to feel beautiful. Well, this is called the hormonal acne actually. It comes when your hormones go on chaotic mode during that time of the month. Or maybe there had been something I did that helped control the hormonal acne? *curious*
Grumpiness. I don't know if it's true, but we tend to get more grumpy easily when that time is nearing. I don't know why, but for me, I feel that I get agitated really easily when the time comes, especially on THE DAY. I'm a pretty grumpy person myself, (hahah!) and I get grumpy even faster when I'm having the womanly time of the month. Ohh well~ Maybe it's because my Mum gets a little too annoying too. AHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH~! (So evil, I'm blaming it on Mum...*tsk tsk*)
Up next, swelling of the breast or breast pain. I only got this weird symptom ONCE. My boob felt a little painful. The pain is not the piercing pain type. It's like the you-knock-your-leg-on-something-and-it-became-purple-kinda-mild-pain, if you get what I mean. Good thing it only happened once. But make sure that the pain or swell goes away after a week of your menses. If not, go get it checked. We don't wanna get a tumor or something~
I think this one is weird, but I get leg cramps!! It felt like I couldn't feel my toes. My leg went all numb or something and all..It felt like as though my leg doesn't have strength at all and I'm about to collapse, like my legs couldn't support my body weight or something..Even when you try to take a nap to ease the other pains, my leg cramps are still there even after I get up. Yuck!
Well, these were just the few symptoms I experience when the time of the month is nearing or here. However, why do we get period? Well, this is because the uterus thickens in preparation for a possible pregnancy every month. And if a pregnancy doesn't occur, this lining swells and breaks down eventually then sheds as menstrual flow. When this lining breaks, a chemical compound known as prostaglandin is released, causing the uterus to contract. As such, the body gets to expel dead lining through the cervix and out through the vagina. Furthermore, the level of prostalglandin released determines the severity of your menstrual cramps. It is even more painful when there are clots of bloody tissue from the lining passing through the cervix and worst if the cervix is narrow. Intense pain can also be caused by the backward tilting of the uterus.
So, what can we do? Of course, we hear this alot: Do more exercises!!! But then, I feel that it's rather uncomfortable to be doing more exercises when you're menstruating because you're in pain and you don't feel like moving around too much, you just want to sit down and you don't want it to bleed more. Put a hot water bag or heat pack on the tummy to relieve the cramps, drink warm water or go and take a rest and curl up. Take more VitaminE and thiamin rich stuff. They reduce menstrual cramps. Omega-3 fatty acids also help to relieve pain associated with PMS. Lack of regular exercise and emotional stress can also be a contributing factor to premenstrual syndrome. According to Chinese belief, drinking cold drinks and cooling food like watermelon and pineapple can induce blood clot and worsen the cramps. I'm not sure if it really does, but many abide by this rule. I don't really recommend this, but if it hurts so badly that you can't take it anymore, swallow a Paracetamol or aspirin. I take a Panadol Actifast because it relieves the intense pain really quickly. I don't know about Panadol Menstrual because I haven't taken that before. Taking 2 normal Panadol tablets don't really work or it works reallyyyyyyy slow. I have friends who take 2 Panadol Actifast which I think is damaging to health. I don't like depending on drugs whatsoever. But if I really had to, I'd only take ONE Actifast. It works really well. Ohh, just why must women be the one who does the child-bearing? If I said I want to give up the
ability of child-bearing, can I avoid all these pain and maybe even menstruating? Yeah, start daydreaming!
Credits to Aeon Wellness.
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