How to Build Your Own PMS Survival Kit
Key takeaways:
Laura Purdy, MD, is a veteran, entrepreneur, and board-certified family physician who is passionate about helping people deal with menstrual discomfort.
Laura tracks her periods and prepares for her own PMS symptoms in advance.
She uses simple steps to ease her PMS discomfort.
Our Medicine Cabinet series explores what real people keep on hand and consider essential for their particular needs — even if a doctor didn’t prescribe it.
Laura Purdy, MD, has treated countless people coping with menstrual discomfort. So she knows how much individuals’ needs can vary.
The first coping mechanism for PMS — or premenstrual syndrome — that she uses for herself is to rest when her period is coming.
“I like to clear my schedule,” Laura, a board-certified family doctor with a telehealth practice, says. “In the 72 hours prior, my biggest PMS symptom is profound exhaustion — like, lay on the floor [exhaustion]. I will make sure that I don’t have nighttime events, because I will just be so tired. Also, early morning events, I try to keep clear because I know I need extra sleep.”
Laura, who serves as a consultant for online health companies, usually has a full calendar. She was a professional pianist before she joined the U.S. Army and earned her medical degree. She later went on to earn an MBA degree. Now, she describes herself as a “digital health evangelist.”
But she knows when to take a break. And that, plus her personal list of eight must-have items for surviving PMS, helps her cope with menstrual symptoms.
1. Heat
One of the essential items that Laura keeps on hand for that time of the month is a heating pad.
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“Heating pads and those sticky patches — the warming patches that you can put on your skin — because cramps are very real for me,” she says.
2. Over-the-counter pain relievers
Laura’s go-to pain relievers are over-the-counter options like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
“Ibuprofen, 800 mg — no less than that for me, personally,” she says. “I will do it every 8 hours, because it helps with pain. And if it’s really bad, I’ll even throw in Tylenol on top of it.”
3. Chocolate, sweets, and red meat
When people discuss PMS symptoms, they often mention mood swings, bloating, cramping, sleep struggles, and fatigue. But another thing that comes up is food cravings. And Laura can relate.
“It’s kind of funny. I never crave chocolate. I almost always crave salty foods, unless it is period time. And then, I do crave sweets and chocolate and sugar, for whatever reason” she says. “I’m into red meat, too — big time. I’m a heavy bleeder. I have been anemic in my life, and I just crave red meat.”
4. Comfy clothes
Laura’s essentials for dealing with PMS also include clothing.
“I also really love to be physically comfortable,” she says. “So I will wear big fuzzy sweaters, yoga pants. I will avoid tight pants, any restricted clothing. I will go for free-flowing, loose clothing.”
5. Pads and tampons
In the bathroom, Laura stocks pads and tampons.
“I’ll do both, because I can be predisposed to UTIs (urinary tract infections) and yeast infections, especially if I’m traveling and using tampons,” she says. “So I will have pads and tampons on hand and kind of alternate using them, depending on what I’m wearing and whether I’m traveling or not. It can be super important for me."
6. Cleansing wipes
Laura also likes to have cleaning wipes on hand.
“If I’m on the road, I like to have some cleansing wipes that I can use to help myself feel clean while I’m traveling," she says.
Laura’s no-go list, including menstrual cups
Laura also has a no-go list for her period.
Menstrual cups
“I have a lot of friends who are into vaginal cups,” Laura says. “I know that it works well for some people, but it’s just not for me.”
Massages
“I also am not a big fan of massage [while I’m on my period],” Laura says. “All other times, I love massage. But, in the PMS period, I just feel like I get a little more sensitive and a little more tender — almost, like, flu-like symptoms, where your body’s aching. So I don’t want my back rubbed.”
Avoiding something she normally enjoys, like massage, when she’s on her period is an example of paying attention to what her body is telling her, Laura says.
Douching or using feminine washes
Laura also strongly advises against doing any vaginal treatment, like douching, during a period.
“Anything you want to put externally on the skin, that’s fine. But there are so many products these days that you put inside the labia. Whether that’s douches or feminine washes, I have never seen that bring anyone anything but harm — frequent urinary tract infections, frequent yeast infections,” she says. “So I just tell people, ‘Externally, fine. But internally, don’t.’”
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