OHHH!

It's a woman's thing.

I've always thought that I'm mercifully spared from PMS. You know, the infamous mood swing and irritability that seem to affect most homo sapiens with the XX chromosomes.

After all, I feel normal before and after periods. What irritates me, still irritates me. What don't, just don't. I'm still perfectly myself, before and after.



The only difference is that I have those weird, unexplainable food cravings - even when I'm NOT hungry - 1 or 2 weeks leading up to a period. It started 1 or 2 years ago, I think, and has grown to become so reliable that somehow - in my subconscious - I've learned to associate it as an "indicator".

During this phase, I practically get TORMENTED by food, literally. I see food, talk food, dream food, think food, smell food, and eat food. Regardless of whether I'm hungry or not.



Whenever the notion of wanting to put some food into the mouth ALL THE TIME strikes, I'll know it's about time to "equip" myself. Bring those things out. Avoid iced drinks.

And just right before Day 1 of the period, the craving just vanishes instantly and miraculously.


I LOVE it! It is such a reliable indicator. What more, unlike PMS-ers who experience moodiness, irritability, or weepiness, and snap at everybody, I get to eat instead! On normal days, I eat little - due to bad dietary habits. During this phase though, I eat like a normal person. In addition, I eat with JOY (because the crazy craving is being satisfied)! I eat, and eat, and eat, and eat. It is such bliss!






Recently, though, the curiosity is killing me. Do I get those food craving because of the impending period? Or is it just a matter of coincidence?

Thus, I did the intellectual thing that smart people do. I googled.




After much researching (read: googling), to my utmost horror and disgust, I discovered that I AM - after all - not spared from the claws of PMS.

Apparently, PMS has as many as FIVE types - Type A, Type B, Type C, Type D, and Type H. 
Type A is the most common; characterized by nervous tension, weepiness, moodiness, irritability, anxiety, mood swings etc.


And apparently, I'm experiencing Type C: Reactive Hypoglycaemia. Due to some hormone-thingy (man, don't I just sound soooo intellectual?), my blood sugar level drops to below normal concentrations; which, in turn, explains the urge to eat and the increased appetite. It is just the body's natural reaction to attempt to bring up the blood sugar level to normal again.

Anyway, one website which I came across advises to eat smaller meals frequently, and to include complex carbohydrates such as potatoes, pasta, vegetables, and quality proteins (e.g. fish, lean meat etc) to lessen the craving tendency. I have no idea how true is it, though.


So, in conclusion, I'm not as free from PMS as I'd thought myself to be.






Go away. Don't agitate me. I'm PMS-ing.

P.S. Complex carbohydrates. Should have ordered the cheese-baked spaghetti instead last night...

P.S.S. I'm sneezing away again today.