As a teenager, my periods brought tremendous back pain. I remember aching to climb into our deep freeze to relieve it! No other problems were noted, but after giving birth in my mid-thirties, my periods quickly resumed (despite intensive breastfeeding) then became increasingly heavy.
One day, I was going about my day when my limbs began to tremble and shake. I felt very strange: weak, exhausted and nauseous. I arranged extended daycare for my son, cancelled an appointment and lay down. When a friend stopped in, she was visibly shaken by what she saw: I was ghastly pale. I complained that I could feel my blood moving through my arms and legs. I had no idea what was wrong. I became progressively weaker and, on an emergency basis, went to the doctor, struggling even to walk. Blood tests showed no issues.
The next day, my period started and almost immediately I felt much better. I assumed this was a one-off, but no, for the next many months, every time my period was approaching, the same thing would happen. I quickly learned to book no work appointments for the days leading up to each period (thank goodness it was regular).
Increasing my protein helped a lot, but I continued to be at the mercy of these strange monthly happenings.
One day it hit while I was out. Recognizing the early signs, I began to move as quickly as possible in the direction of home. Another friend saw me rushing and later told me she’d been very worried about my “white face and blue lips”. She said I looked “dead” despite the speed at which I was moving.
As it happens, many months into these episodes, I started my son on SCD. I continued grabbing snacks for myself while out, but ate SCD with him at home, the majority of my meals. Within two cycles, these bizarre menstrual-related episodes had largely resolved! My periods were still very heavy, and back pain still announced their impending arrival, but there was no more weakness, shaking, or pallor. Also, with every subsequent period, the pre-menstrual back pain lessened until my only signal was actual spotting.
Now 9-10 months into strict GAPS, there is not only no sickness and no pain, my periods themselves are also significantly lighter. I no longer have to use both a Keeper (menstrual cup) and a heavy flow pad to get through a few hours. I am slightly tired the day before my period, and that’s it! I think that, for the first time in years, my periods are probably “normal”.
I believe the recent addition of dessicated liver to my diet may have helped achieve the latest success.
Just one more sign of the overall progress the body makes on GAPS! Because GAPS addresses our body’s “control panel” -the gut- all of one’s system, including organs and hormones, is addressed. The healing is largely gentle and reveals itself in ever deeper layers as the months progress.
I have also notice positive changes in my periods since starting the diet–decreased cramping, lighter flow, shorter duration etc. I had undiagnosed endometriosis for most of my life.
I have a theory that yeast can penetrate the uterus and cause endometrial tissue to grow trough these ruptures creating the symptoms of endometriosis. I figure if these nasty buggers can grow through the intestines, the uterus should not be a barrier either.
I’m so glad this “syndrome” isn’t happening to you anymore. It sounds terrifying.
My best,
Teri
The first couple of periods I had on GAPS were actually more painful than usual, but my period in my sixth month and recently eighth month on GAPS (I seem to be entering menopause) were symptom-less. No cramping whatsoever, no PMS. Like Baden said, the only sign that my period was on its way was spotting.
That was one of the first things that changed for me when starting GAPS…NO PMS symptoms. So many women I talk to complain of horrible PMS and I love to report to them that since changing our diet that has changed. They just look at me in disbelief. Wish I could convince them to join me in GAPS!