Symptoms during menstrual cycle

[OllieO]

To all you ladies out there I have this question.  Do you have more symptoms during your menstrual cycle?  I seem to notice a bit more numbness and find myself dropping things during this time.  I wonder if it is because my body temperature seems higher at that time.  I was just wondering since I have been dropping things all day!  Have a great 4th everyone!

OllieO

[wingnut19]

bump

[floridamom2]

Hi there!

I don't think we have met - nice to meet you!  I am undiagnosed but my symptoms are definitely worse just prior to and during my cycle.  I noticed that when my temp rose to 99.4 F my vibration in my body got stronger and made the tremor, weakness and vision worse.  There are articles on this that I found when it first started happening to me last year.  I will see what I can find and send you a link or two.

Have a nice night!
Kristin  

[floridamom2]

Here is one small article but there are lots of studies that question whether there is a relationship of sex hormones and MS exacerbations.  I think that the doctors are linking them but do not have enough data yet to make a true correlation.  One article I read said 42% of women's exacerbations started during the premenstrual or luteal phase of their cycle.  Very interesting stuff.  I at one time last year tried birth control pills thinking that it would prevent the symptom increase but after 4 months I noticed very little if any difference.
Here is the link:
http://www.devic.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=845&sid=23fed194e9c8d4848fb60ed383e05e26

[wonko]

I am also undiagnosed, but whatever is wrong with me, it does act up.  I've been symptomatic for about 3.5 months straight, and during each cycle I notice a worsening.  In particular, the feelings of heaviness get much stronger.  I almost feel pinned to the furniture, like gravity is stronger around me.  I'll level out again afterwards.  I've always had notable PMS, and if I have any illness around then, it always makes it worse!

What lucky ladies we are, eh?

Take care

[OllieO]

Thanks for your comment.  I have started feeling really bad during my period in the last couple of years and have been spacey and clumsy.  I always blamed it on my period, but now I have noticed that I have problems when I am overheated in general.  It is nice to know there is a reason, but I guess I can't do anything about it!  You mention that you are undiagnosed.  Have you had testing done?  I am going to the neuro on Wednesday unless I wimp out and cancel.  I hate that MS can be a difficult disease to diagnose.  There seem to be so many people with awful symptoms who are undiagnosed.

Hope you had a nice 4th!

[OllieO]

Thanks for your comment.  Sorry you are undiagnosed.  What type of symptoms are you having?  Have you only had symptoms for 3.5 months?  I have noticed problems for a few years, but have never been able to connect the dots.  It all makes a little more sense now although I am afraid that they won't find anything and it will just get worse.  I had an MRI done a couple of years ago for headaches and I am sure my primary would have told me if he had seen lesions!  Hope you feel better soon!

OllieO

[Quixotic1]

Hi, I am also welcoming you to the forum.  I hope you enjoy being here, we have a lot of great people!

From what I have read there is no doubt that the sex hormones play a role in the symptomatic ups and downs of MS.  There is also a question whether any can also be used in the actual treatment of the disease itself.

That said I will answer your question directly.  A person with MS may have a baseline of symptoms which vary some depending on the circumstances.  One of those circumstances in the menstrual cycle with its ups and downs of estrogen.  Certainly, just before the period and during it, many, if not most, women with MS state that their level of symptoms increases.  This also includes wide swings in moods whcih can be seen both in MS of both sexes and in women with their cycles.

Quix

[OllieO]

Thanks Quix.  Your information is very helpful.  It helps to connect some of the dots and possibly explain some strange things!

[jensequitur]

Hey, Ollie!  I'm a weird one.  Sometimes the week right before my period is a good time for me - lots of energy, I'm thinking more clearly, have less symptoms.  Sometimes it's worse!  I'm on birth control pills, so my hormone level is regulated.