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Discomfort and pain are part of everyday life for most people with fibromyalgia. But most people with fibro find that they suffer more at some times than others. Many women with fibro have worse symptoms either right before or during their menstrual period, which seems especially unfair since periods bring their own discomforts. Here are some ways that you can manage your menstrual cycle with fibromyalgia and try to relieve some of the pain.
Look at the Root Cause
Many other chronic syndromes, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and interstitial cystitis, also get worse before and during the menstrual cycle. Research suggests that the likely common cause in all cases is the drop in estrogen levels late in the menstrual cycle. Estrogen tends to have a natural pain-reducing effect, although it’s not known why every woman with fibromyalgia doesn’t have more pain around her periods. If you do suffer from more pain around your cycle, try using hormone-balancing supplements or ask your doctor for a birth control pill that contains estrogen to keep your hormone levels steady.
Get More Exercise
Exercise can be more challenging when you have fibromyalgia. But there’s no question that regular exercise relieves some of the discomforts associated with your period. Fibro may make it harder to run a marathon or do intense forms of exercise, but you should be capable of doing gentle exercises like walking, swimming or yoga. Any type of regular exercise will reduce your pain overall and reduce PMS symptoms like cramping and mood swings.
Increase Your Calcium Intake
Many Americans don’t get enough calcium. It can be difficult to get enough calcium if you’re not careful with your diet. Soft drinks are another common cause of low calcium since the phosphoric acid in soda leaches calcium out of your bones. Not getting enough calcium can increase some of the discomforts associated with your period, such as leg cramps, depression and anxiety. Many of these symptoms overlap with fibro symptoms, so pay attention to your calcium intake throughout the month and especially in the PMS phase of your cycle.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is a double-edged sword for many fibro sufferers. The fatigue that’s so common to the illness makes you need more of an energy boost, which makes you turn to caffeine. But fibro sufferers are often especially sensitive to the effects of caffeine and caffeine can make your menstrual symptoms worse. Caffeine affects your estrogen levels, which we already know to be linked to the severity of pain during the menstrual cycle. Try cutting back on caffeine, at least in the last week or two of your cycle and during your period itself.
Consider Surgery
Many women with fibro also suffer from a condition called endometriosis that causes painful periods. In endometriosis, tissue grows outside of the uterus. An outpatient surgery called endometrial ablation cauterizes the lining of the uterus, making heavy bleeding less likely and periods will be less painful.
Managing your menstrual cycle with fibromyalgia can be challenging but it’s not impossible. If your pain levels improve, you’ll find that the lifestyle changes you need to make are very worthwhile!
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