[jarrett622]

I was up late last night. The pain in my feet was the worst I'd had in a very long time. I threw the entire arsenal at hand at it in order to be able to sleep. The PN, RLS, all of it was *horrible*. I was climbing the wall. Lo and behold I woke up with my period this morning. Do hormones, can they have that affect to such a degree on PN pain? I'd never noticed this when I was still smoking if it was indeed happening then. My hormones have been a mess since I did quit smoking. I'm hoping it straightens out very soon because it's driving me crazy.

[mrsD]

stimulates liver enzymes that metabolize hormones.(and some drugs too)

So when you stop smoking, your hormone levels may be higher.

It is typical and necessary for young women who smoke to need higher dose birth control pills. The really low dose ones may fail in smokers.

How that translates to older women, that would be harder to
say. But I know my feet act up if I have anything with MSG in it earlier in the day. Some foods like tomato pastes also set me off. Foods that release histamine, etc.

[DejaVu]

the week before and during my menstrual period! Big time!

If I was not experiencing a flare in symptoms, I often will during this time and... sometimes the "flare" continues and needs treatment several days later!

I am sorry you are now experiencing this.

(Interestingly enough, I have also read quite a bit, in the past, about women with epilepsy having increased problems with epilepsy during the week just before their menses, too. It seems to have a potentially negative effect upon all women with neurological involvement? I imagine it has an effect on women experiencing other types of health issues, as well.)

It would seem more "reasonable" if you'd have less symptoms after having quit smoking, rather than more... wouldn't it?

Thanks to mrsd for showing us one of the reasons as to why you might be having increased difficulties now?

I hope this all has already settled down for you!

[jarrett622]

Thanks! It was just that one night. I've been fine since. And I hope it settles down this next month or so after the smoking quit. A number of people I've spoken with have told me their bodies went crazy for a bit immediately after the quit so that makes me feel less worried. And for the most part I have had a decrease in symptoms until just that one night.

[watsonsh]

Yes! The drop in estrogen right before your period is contributing.

Estrogen increases serotonin production. A drop in estrogen will cause your pain threshold to be lower.

[Kathi49]

Actually, it can go either way.

The symptoms of too much or too little estrogen can be one in the same. I only mention it because of having had a total hysterectomy and I asked my Reproductive Endocrinologist about this once due to pain levels. Long story but it is one reason she didn't like to do blood tests and run the numbers. She said some women can be in the so to speak normal range and feel awful, while others can be incredibly low and feel fine. I found that to be true after being on HRT for 8 years. I just recently stopped the Vivelle dot patch and am doing fine. I still have pain but it is all spinal related...not hormones.