I get almost every PMS symptom in the book: headaches, crying spells, insomnia, cramps, back aches… and my OCD spikes.
I am forced to ask what is the connection between OCD and PMS? Two seemingly different conditions, both making me depressed and frustrated to a breaking point.
An OBGYN suggested birth control pills, which to me seems a bit hasty. “So you are telling me to up my estrogen levels to hopefully decrease my PMS symptoms?” I know the pill has helped many women, but for many it makes it drastically worse, and why shouldn’t it? After all, if there is a hormonal imbalance causing PMS, then why just presume it’s the estrogen that’s off?
But I digress, I can only guess that the hippocampus could have something to do with it, but I really don’t know. Perhaps it comes back to serotonin. SSRIs are commonly prescribed for both PMS and OCD.
After I found out I was gluten intolerant and gave up wheat, my PMS improved significantly. I did a hormonal panel as well and discovered I had a decent chemical imbalance. I have ordered a home saliva test and will post the results when I get them.
If gluten intolerance has taught me anything, it’s that if something in your body is “off”, symptoms can arise in the oddest of ways.