What you eat, when you eat it and how much of it you eat helps support balanced health. This balance is sometimes more important during certain times of your life. The diet your doctor suggests to control the symptoms of PMDD may differ from the typical "balanced" diet. However, its balance is designed to help you reduce symptom severity.
PMDD
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD, is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, PMS. The symptoms of both tend to occur during the last week of your menstrual cycle, which is about 10 to 14 days before your period begins. Approximately 30 percent of women who menstruate experience PMS, with up to 8 percent meeting the criteria for PMDD, explains Mary Gallenberg, M.D., Mayo Clinic gynecologist and obstetrician.The exact cause is not known, however. It is common for women with PMDD to have an underlying mood disorder such as depression or anxiety; PMDD can worsen their effects. The symptoms are devastating enough to interfere with a woman's personal and professional relationships.
Symptoms
You may have a difficult time differentiating between PMS and PMDD initially due to their shared symptoms: fatigue, breast tenderness, bloating and changes in your eating habits. Symptoms such as constant irritability, feelings of anger, difficulty concentrating, feelings of anxiety and being on edge are what sets the two conditions apart. These additional symptoms may indicate the need to visit your doctor.
Diagnosis
To effectively treat PMDD, you must first receive a proper diagnosis. It is necessary for your doctor to rule out various medical or psychiatric conditions whose symptoms are similar to those of PMDD. The symptoms of PMDD will only last during the menstrual cycle phase, unlike a mood disorder whose symptoms are consistent, explains Massachusetts General Hospital. Tracking your symptoms daily for one month is the most effective means of diagnosing PMDD. If this is the problem, you will not experience its symptoms between menses and ovulation.
Dietary Changes
The treatment of PMDD varies according to the severity of your symptoms. If mild, your doctor may first try changes in your diet. Reducing or eliminating your caffeine consumption can help alleviate feelings of anxiety and irritability. Increasing your complex carb consumption a week before the beginning of your cycle can boost your mood and improve memory. Food sources include whole grains, oats, brown rice, fruits and vegetables. Getting 1,200 mg per day of calcium may help reduce both the physical and emotional symptoms you experience as well. Taking a calcium supplement can help achieve this amount, however, speak to your doctor first.
Medications
More severe cases of PMDD may require treatment with medication, either in place of, or in combination with, dietary changes. Antidepressants are sometimes the doctor's first choice, but again, this depends on the severity of your condition. These help reduce food cravings, stabilize your mood and help ease sleep problems. Your doctor may choose to keep you on a low dose consistently, or only in between your time of ovulation and the beginning of your period. Another option are birth control pills. These release hormones into your body, stopping ovulation while stabilizing your hormones.
