Medical Keywords - Everything you need to know about health.

Receiving the Diagnosis of PMS and Finding What Treatment Plan Works for You

If you discuss the possibility of PMS with your doctor you will probably be asked to keep a symptoms journal for at least 2 months. This symptoms journal will give your doctor some very useful clues about which symptoms you are experiencing, how long they are lasting, and how intense they are. You doctor may also ask you to record the beginning and ending dates of your period each of these months.

Some of the more common symptoms that may end up in a symptoms journal is:

Abdominal or pelvic cramping

Acne

Alcohol intolerance

Angry outbursts

Anxiety

Bloating

Breast swelling

Breast tenderness

Changes in sexual appetite

Confusion or fuzzy thinking

Cravings for food, especially food that is salty or sweet

Crying Spells

Depression

Difficulty with coordination

Dizziness

Edema

Fainting

Fatigue

Headaches even migraines

Hives

Insomnia

Irritability

Mood Swings

Nausea

Palpitations

Sinus problems

Sore throat

Weight Gain

Worsening of any chronic conditions that you may suffer from such as asthma, arthritis or ulcers

The woman who is seeking a diagnosis for PMS may experience 2 or more symptoms that are bringing her discomfort each month. The discomfort may be mild to moderate intensity and she may notice that her relationships or daily activities are suffering. The emotional symptoms she is suffering from may have an affect on her personal, professional or social relationships. All of her PMS symptoms will disappear when her period starts to flow or by day three of her period.

There is no lab test that can diagnose PMS. Her doctor will use a journal of symptoms that she has been keeping for at least 2 months to help make the diagnosis. The doctor will also rule out other diseases or conditions and use a process of elimination to come up with the diagnosis of PMS. If laboratory tests do not reveal any other disease or condition that the woman is suffering from that would explain her symptoms, then by process of elimination her doctor will probably diagnose her with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).

If the woman suffers from mild to moderate symptoms her treatment plan will most likely include a healthy diet, exercise, vitamin supplements, diuretics, pain relievers, and also a heat pad. It has also been discovered that calcium and magnesium supplements can help to relieve bloating, cramping and irritability. Make sure that your doctor approves of the dosage of your vitamin or mineral supplements. As part of a healthy diet, the woman suffering from PMS should limit salt intake and also reduce the amounts of caffeine and refined sugars.

If the woman is suffering from severe pain, her doctor may give her prescription pain medication. Hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptives may also be prescribed to correct fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels. Hormonal treatments do not normally help with PMDD, which is a severe form of PMS.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which are antidepressant drugs are also sometimes part of the treatment plan for PMS and PMDD.