Constipation only when on PMS--weird, any tips?

[joynsyde]

Hi ladies,
I have a weird health question for you. I've noticed for awhile that several days before starting my period I get constipated for a few days. I always feel fat and ugly (and crabby) on those days, until I remember it's just part of PMS. Then a day or two before the period starts, it clears up.

I'm pretty lucky, I guess, that my PMS is so manageable. This and pimples, plus some pretty formidable attitude problems, are the extent of my monthly routine!

I don't have any other digestive problems, since getting milk out of my diet almost a year ago! Just this monthly constipation. Any ideas on dealing with this? I get the feeling that our bodies weren't made to go crazy every month; it's probably something we're doing wrong.

Thanks!

[34me]

If you're doing it wrong, so am I. Same thing, about two days then back to business as usual.

[miriam]

I get diarrhea just before my period. I had diarrhea just before labor also, so I assume that it is a hormone thing.

[tanyalynn]

For me it's a mineral thing. Try either a magnesium supplement alone, or maybe both calcium and magnesium, but probably just mag. Why is this? I'm not really sure. I can say that when I'm good about supplementing all the time, it doesn't happen as much.

[Mama2Kayla]

I have this problem too. I read that it has something to do with hormone levels right before AF that can act to slow down your digestive tract.

[joynsyde]

I just started spraying myself with magnesium oil everyday (almost), about 2 weeks ago; I read that magnesium is supposed to help keep hormones in balance. I still got constipated this month, but maybe I need to take magnesium for a longer time before it takes effect. I didn't get pimples this month... so maybe something is happening.

Anyway, I just don't think that God/Nature/evolution (whatever you attribute the amazing complexity of our universe to) intended a woman's body to be so out of control. It doesn't seem right.

Glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I thought I was just weird!

[tanyalynn]

We bought a mag oil spray for DH recently, and I only later figured out that a lot of oil is needed to get a reasonable dosage. IIRC, 8 sprays was about 100mg? Doesn't make a dent in how much he needs, so it's turned out to be less helpful than I'd hoped. We're back to pills and powders.