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CABBAGE- A ½ cup of cooked cabbage (or 1 cup raw) is a fantastic addition to any menu. This leafy vegetable has only 16 CALORIES per serving and is extremely high in fiber so it is optimal choice for anyone looking to lose weight. Cabbage is also a wonderful source of vitamin C and something called those anthocyanins we have mentioned before which may help lower blood sugar levels. Cabbage should not be overcooked because it destroys many of the beneficial properties and it will SMELL!!

CARROTS- We have all heard the tale of eat carrots and it will improve your eyesight but they do so much more!! Carrots are loaded with beta carotene and fiber and even though they won’t give you bunny vision they can help protect your eyes against macular degeneration and cataracts. Carrots are great eaten raw or cooked- raw they provide you with more vitamin C whereas cooked they provide more beta carotene so eat them either way! A serving size is ½ cup cooked and 1 cup raw. A great way to use carrots is to grate them into salads or onto sandwiches, dip them in hummus or add them to soups.

CAULIFLOWER- This vegetable is at the top of the heap when it comes to filling you up for the lowest calories in addition it is chock full of fiber and has so few carbs that it would be beneficial for anyone to eat it- just don’t coat it with butter or cheese sauce!! Cauliflower can help protect you against all kinds of cancers. This is another one you should not overcook because you cook out much of its nutritional value. Eaten raw or cooked cauliflower is a winner.

CHEESE- I was so glad to see this one on the list because I love cheese in any form! Minimal to no carbs and loads of protein make fromage one of the Magic Foods. It is loaded with calcium and other good stuff like zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and riboflavin BUT BEWARE because it is also loaded with saturated fat and calories so in this case portion sizes really matter. The rule of thumb here is that a portion is only 2 oz which really is too bad so sad because that is about the size of your thumb- boo hoo BUT at least it is on the menu!! The type of cheese can sway that size a wee bit but not much. So unless you are happy with that teensy bit opt for the low fat alternatives. In many cheeses you barely notice a difference, low fat cottage cheese or mozzarella made with skim provide the same taste as their full fat counterparts. Others may take some getting used to, the low fat cream cheese definitely has a softer texture than its fatty brother but still not bad where I have a problem is with the hard cheeses- to me they lost texture and flavor. Another option is to use cheese as a garnish instead of as a snack so that you get the benefits and the taste without feeling deprived or cheated.

photo by Suat Eman

The discomfort caused by PCS seems to be exacerbated by prolonged standing, so at the end of the day it can seem worse, just prior to the start of your period, during or after sex or in the last trimester of pregnancy.  Other symptoms that may accompany PCS are: Varicose veins in the legs, changes in menstrual bleeding, tenderness in the pelvic area, pain during intercourse, painful periods, backaches, vaginal discharge, fatigue and depression.  But for those of us experiencing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms we all know that these symptoms sound familiar!  It is this overlap and vagueness that can make PCS so difficult to diagnose.  Most physicians turn to MRI’s or ultrasounds in order to make a clear diagnosis.

Treatment for PCS varies based on the severity of the symptoms.  The options include surgical, non surgical and holistic.  In the past it was found that drugs and hormone therapy were ineffective in reducing the pain associated with PCS so today drug therapy is not usually used to treat PCS; however, pain medications may be prescribed.  Another alternative that has had some success is the utilization of antidepressants which can help relieve pain while helping minimize the depression and anxiety brought on by PCS.  Some women turn to alternative medicines to find relief.  Acupuncture, counseling, trigger point injections, massage and physical therapy have been known to bring some relief.  In the most extreme cases surgery may be recommended.  This option tends to be a last reort because the results are not guaranteed and the healing following the procedure is often prolonged.

Recently there has been a new radiological method of treating PCS called embolization. Embolization involves plugging the blood vessels so that they do not become engorged with blood anymore, and the varicosities subside with time. The procedure is typically done by an interventional radiologist and takes a few hours. It does not require any anesthesia. There is significant pain, nausea and even fever the first few days after the procedure. The procedure requires an overnight stay in the hospital.  Results for this procedure however are still sketchy and less than 60% of the women who elect this path feel a significant difference in their pain levels, and for those that do the diminishment of pain may take 2-4 weeks.  A positive aspect of embolization is that there is no incision involved and downtime is minimal.

I am afraid that the gist of it is that for a large number of women who suffer from PCS there is no cut and dried answer as to treatment.  I can only say that I hope you keep trying and even if it doesn’t necessarily help the direct discomfort that comes from PCS the massage and acupuncture could at least make you feel mentally and emotionally better prepared to handle it.
photo by John Kasawa