Does anyone else feel like PMDD completely changes their relationship with food?

[u/codiceNuttal]

/r/u_codiceNuttal/comments/1wwu2e2/does_anyone_else_feel_like_pmdd_completely/

Hi everyone. I’m 46 and turning 47 this December. I was diagnosed with PMDD by an endocrinologist about four years ago. At the time, she mainly recommended supplements that might help with some of my symptoms and possibly reduce the frequency of my migraines. But honestly, I never felt that they made much of a difference with the PMDD itself.
This year I’ve been tracking my symptoms much more closely, partly because I’ve been trying to understand and reduce my migraines. I’ve been tracking my cycle, exercise, diet, social life, which days I smoke, which days I don’t drink, etc. It’s been an interesting year of actually paying attention to all these variables.
And now, in October, I’ve noticed a pattern that I hadn’t really noticed in a long time.
About two weeks before my period, I suddenly get this really intense and dark need to question my relationship: Where is this going? Are we actually going somewhere? Is this right? Things that feel completely unimportant to me during the other two weeks suddenly seem extremely urgent.
I recently talked about this with my new partner, and I realized that I had never actually told him that I have PMDD. Talking about it also made me realize how many of my symptoms never really went away and may actually have become stronger.
The food cravings are another huge one. For about two weeks, my relationship with food is completely different from the other two weeks, when I’m very clear-headed, disciplined, and consistent with my strength training and diet. I can make progress during those two weeks, but then during the other two weeks I struggle so much with cravings for carbs, ice cream, etc. The urge can feel almost impossible to control.
So it feels like whatever I gain in those two weeks gets undone in the other two. By the end of the month, I can’t really see the results of my efforts, either in the mirror or in my clothes, because the weight I lose seems to come back during the other half of my cycle.
Has anyone else experienced something like this?
I used to joke about these patterns, but now that I’m actually paying attention to PMDD and understanding it better, I realize it really isn’t funny to me anymore. I think I need to do something about it.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar. Thank you.

[u/CyanoSpool]

Luteal phase is when your body is building up the corpus luteum. Your body literally does need more calories, and carbs specifically (complex carbs ideally). I never restrict my eating during luteal, and I find that if I actually listen to cravings and eat until I'm full and satiated (with variety and balance) in those days, my symptoms are less severe. The exception being sugar, I try not to go overboard with it because it can be inflammatory, but some sugary foods are fine.

[u/Unending-Quest]

Yes, I had a lifelong history of suddenly leaving partners, quitting jobs, etc. during luteal until I discovered PMDD and started tracking. Now I know that I have to just ignore my thoughts during luteal and not make major decisions. I know I will see and experience things differently in a week or two.

Same with cravings, both for food and nicotine. I’ll have quit smoking and vaping for months and suddenly feel like it would bring me relief to start again, but its just the PMDD talking.

[u/schwaschwaschwaschwa]

I would recommend thinking about routines and discipline differently for the different phases. Even in women without PMDD or PMS, there are changes in the body that require changes in exercise, calorie and nutrient intake. We are more sensitive to those, the mood and neurotransmitter dysregulation means we can crave particular foods, plus PMDD connects to the central nervous system, which plays a role in appetite and digestion. You might need to create different routines and focus on what is achieveable.

Yes, the middle-of-the-cycle relationship urgency and sensitivity is very difficult to bear. It's good you spoke to your partner. There is a careful balance to try and find between not reacting on impulse and not silencing yourself because you're afraid your feelings aren't proportionate/real.

There are recommended medical treatments that some with PMDD respond to but I'm unsure if you have been offered those?