Have you ever wondered...
 

Why do we try to fight TOM bloat and weight gain and get upset when
1. We know its temporary
2. It happens monthly?

Thoughts?

I thought this would be a fun thread and so do this too :D

i actually don't mind it bec i know the following week, there's going to be a BIG drop and, even if it's not a real drop, it's still a motivational boost.

what i mind is the

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/up...e-pms-xena.jpg

I try to fight it just because it makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable. =/

LOL @ the pic!

I try to fight it because if I don't, I start letting myself slide..using the bloat/weight as excuses to either eat something that I shouldn't or slack off on exercise.

I don't know, it freaks me out though because I'm extra-hungry for like, two weeks before my period comes, and then I worry I'm pregnant and not pre-menstrual.

I embrace the TOM bloat. You know why? It means I'm NOT pregnant! Woohoo! :)

INDEED! :carrot:

I just hate getting on the scale and seeing the extra numbers, even though I know I will go back down. It just seems so unfair to have the number go down, down, and then instantly back up 5 lbs or more. Seems like I'm totally out of control of my own weight.

oh, yeah - forgot about the hungry thing.

power fruit really really helps with that - it's a frozen mix by President's Choice of cherries (i think both bing and sour), blueberries, raspberries, and a few others. so delicious. i eat them frozen, one by one, and by the time i've worked my way through an 80-cal cup, i'm good for a while.

I get frustrated because my weight gain is for almost 3 weeks. I see downward movement on the scale for 7-10 days and then it creeps up for TTOM. It never completely goes down and then goes sky high for ovulation. This month it was 6 pounds and those 4-6 pounds for WEEKS. I don't even know if I'll get to the same low of the previous month for 3 weeks, so it can b e hard to guage if I'm making progress or not. I just keep trying and doing my best, but it would sure help my head deal with it, if my weight loss was more linear.

TMI warning - some of my comments are a bit graphic.


I don't think all of us do fight it or get upset about it, and even those of us who do fight it, may do it only because we were taught to, and others of us may fight it for different reasons.

I used to fight it and would get upset because I was taught to. Everyone I knew got upset about it, so I got upset about it too, and didn't really question why. It's just what you were supposed to do.

Now I don't get upset by it, but I do still fight it a little, but not usually because of the weight or swelling itself. I do "fight it" somewhat because I've discovered that uncontrolled bloating also tends to drastically increase the amount of pain I experience with my period. I often get such terrible cramps that sometimes even narcotic pain meds do not do much for them. My IBS symptoms also tend to flare (severe and embarassing gas pain as well as sudden and severe diarrhea episodes).

By keeping bloating and swelling to a minimum, I can also decrease the amount of pain and intestinal symptoms.


I've found that eating very low-carb tends to decrease my weight gain and even more importantly tends to decrease the painful and embarassing side effects of my period. It also tends to reduce the out-of-control appetite that I call "rabid hunger," that I experience during pms/period time.

For me, it's all about "damage control." Keeping annoying and painful symptoms to a minimum, and keeping hunger at bay so that the temporary weight gain doesn't become true weight gain.

Vanity is a part of the equation, because the swelling in my abdomen and face is severe enough to be noticeable (hubby will even sometimes remark that my face looks puffy or swollen, and I tease "yeah, thanks for pointing that out). So if I'm plainning to be going out for a dress up occasion during PMS/TOM I tend to be even more careful with the carbs, so that I don't feel like Jaba the Hut.

For me it's a discomfort issue. I don't like feeling bloated, I don't like the hormonal fluctuations that tend to increase my negative mood/anxiety and I most definitely don't like the increased hunger. I try to look at every month as an opportunity to do better (with my eating during TOM and with my mood) and I also feel grateful to not be pregnant. ;)

I actually came across some sort of magic a month or 2 ago and lost about 4 pounds while it was TOM. It hasn't happened since, but I do seem to be able to fight off gaining anything. This may be TMI but, my stomach always gets really sensitive around TOM and I think thats what caused me to lose the weight that one time. Ever since then I keep crossing my fingers when that TOM starts to creep up hoping I'll get lucky again!

Hilarious! ROFLMAO!

Needed the laugh! Thanks!

I know I sound like a broken record on some issues... but kaplods, have you ever discussed these symptoms with an OB/GYN? They are classic symptoms of endometriosis. I had severe, severe period cramps for many years before I was diagnosed, to the point where they seriously disrupted my normal life and activities, and I was taking an obscene amount of ibuprofen (1000-1200 mg every 2-3 hours) in my attempts to combat them. Narcotic pain meds did almost nothing to help curb the pain; high doses of NSAIDs ate away at my stomach lining, but they were the only thing that enabled me to be even semi-functional on those days. And along with the cramps came the diarrhea. If you haven't spoken to an OB/GYN about those symptoms, please do. The symptoms (and the issue underlying them, if it's endometriosis) can be better controlled.

hahahah, thanks for making me laugh girls! TOM makes me eat like a crazy person, and I also feel pregnant. I don't even bother to get on the scale then..

I now only see your post. I too have these symptoms. My mother has/had endometriosis. Just last week she said she thinks it's time for me to visit a gyne, considering that I'm 22 and have never visited one.

I don't fight it, per se, but I can't stop my annoyance that I only lose weight two weeks a month and the rest of the time I either stay steady or bounce up. I have these issues with the week of ovulation and the week of my period. It sucks, and there's no way around it.

I'm reading all this and want to say thanks to all of you for reminding me that there is an up side to being 61.

Lin

It's so strange reading all these posts. I have no PMS, no TOM bloat or weight gain, no TOM-related cravings, and since my pregnancies no cramps. The only way I know it's TOM is by spotting blood on my underpants. It amazes me how different bodies can react to the same biochemical event in such different ways.

F.

:dancer:

Oh my yes, I've been talking to OB/GYN's about my symptoms virtually since I started my period in fourth grade (age 9 or 10).

I think I had my first test for endometriosis when I was 12 or 13.

I've even told new OB/GYN's "it's not endometriosis" and they'll send me for tests anyway and then be surprised to find that I was right.

It's apparently more of a hormonal severe PMS (or mild PMDD) thing.

Even as young as 12, my pediatritian suggested that birth control might alleviate my symptoms, but at the time my mother and I weren't willing to accept the risk of weight gain (little did I know that I actually would find it easier to lose weight on birth control, because it reduced the crazy pms "rabid hunger").

My previous birth control was extremely helpful in minimizing symptoms, but my insurance no longer covers it. The birth control I am on isn't quite as effective, but it's still worlds away from the symptoms I experience when not on birth control.

I'd love to return to my previous bc, but with insurance not covering it, the cost is just not in our budget.

By being careful with diet and exercise, I can maintain decent relief though. It's now more in the inconvenient range rather than life-altering as it was in the past (I missed a lot of work and school when I was younger, until I found the right bc).

With the old bc, I didn't have to worry about diet (though probably should have).

Sorry, I realize this post is now several weeks old, but I just now saw it! And I want to respond less for your sake (as it seems you're on top of your issues with your doctors), but in case anyone else in the same boat reads this some day. It's SUCH an important issue not just because of the pain, but because of how it relates to infertility.

Just out of curiosity, what tests were the doctors sending you for? The only way to diagnose endometriosis is via laparoscopy (or a look at your pelvic organs during a more extensive surgery). Hormonal testing, ultrasounds, etc. cannot diagnose it, though the presence of what looks like ovarian cysts (actually endometriomas, in the case of endometriosis) in combination with other symptoms can be a good indicator. But a lack of cyst-like structures on ultrasound does not mean one doesn't have endometriosis.

The early onset of issues as well as improved symptoms with birth control pills still makes me think endometriosis - both are hallmarks. And so I'm not surprised that your OB/GYNs keep wanting to check you for it. :) I wish mine had! Not a single one ever mentioned it to me, and it wasn't diagnosed until I had a laparotomy to resolve an ectopic pregnancy. Regardless, I'm glad you've gotten at least some relief from your symptoms (whatever the cause) with the birth control. I wish your insurance were still covering your old bc; it must be frustrating to have to change for that reasons. I'm not sure what you're on now, but for what it's worth I've had the most luck with monophasic bc over triphasic bc in terms of controlling the pain and other symptoms.

For me it's not so much the bloating that gets to me. It's my hormones. This month was the worst raging hormons I've ever had, its so hard to control my anger when I get them to, especially when I'm at work and I have the need to blow up at nothing. I'm really hoping next month's will be a bit more mellow.