Extremely Worn Out/tired During Period

thanks for asking this question. I have the same problem but never thought to ask anyone else about it.

I understand what you are going through. I crave meat mostly. I completely agree with the other moms - iron sounds like you problem. Good advice from the others.

If you do start taking iron supplements I would suggest taking Slow FE, or whatever brand you use that is a slow release form of iron so that it wont constipate you as bad.

Dear K.,
I am not a specialist of any sort but wanted offer some suggestions.
Two things - first, have you had your iron level checked lately? I have experienced in the past extreme fatigue that was due to low iron levels. Secondly, have you ever had your thyroid checked? The thyroid is like your thermostat of your body, it controls things such as your metabolism, etc. If it is hypo you can become extremely tired, have dry skin, lose more hair than normal, become grumpy, gain weight, your heart rate is slowed, etc. If it is hyper just the opposite happens - tons of energy, nails & hair grow very rapidly, you stay skinny no matter what you eat, your resting heartrate is excelerated, etc.
Both of can be determined through a simple blood test.
Again, I am not a doctor, but I have been anemic, had low iron levels, and am hypo-thyroidism.
It can be so frustrating trying to figure out exactly what's going on, but the best place to start is talk to your doctor and have him/her do a blood test.
Hope this helps :)

Hi,

I had the same problem, but never could get an answer from a doctor. They pretty much told me this is normal, and there isn't anything they could do. Now I have a teenage daughter with the same problems. I took her in as well, and was told that the only thing that may help is to put her on birth control pills. Luckily she can still function enough we haven't had to go that route. I finally had a hysterectomy, which has made a HUGE difference! Of course,we are also done having children, so that wasn't a hard decision for me. Also, I had fibroid tumors which were causing a lot of my problems. (fatigue, pain during my period, heavy bleeding, irregular periods, etc) I would suggest seeing a doctor and don't let them tell you that you just have to live with it. See a specialist if you need to and don't give up until they give you some answers!

HI,

I am 35 and have struggled with this problem for a long time. Infact the other day I started my period and slept for almost 3 hours in the middle of the day then went to sleep at 10pm and fell asleep in about 5 min and slept like a rock all night. If I have to work through that I have the same memory issues, I get flustered and cant seem to get organized. I really should not be driving then either. I went to the DR and found out that I have fibroid tumors on my overies and in my uterus. You may not have those but the symptoms are worth talking to your DR about. My dr did tell me to take slow release iron with vitamin c also. That does help a little when I can remeber to take it:) Hope you get some help.
Have a good day.
J.

It sounds like you may be anemic. I would go in to see your OBGYN and s/he can probably recommend iron supplements. In the mean time, take care of yourself--if you need rest, take it!

I suffered from fatigue with my periods also. It ended up that anemia played a role in it. I also had a condition called adenomyosis (sp) and had a hysterectomy last December. while it was a solution for me i would try iron supplements first.

When you get your period, try adding some iron-rich foods to your diet. Adding cinnamon to tea or other things is an easy way to keep your iron levels up. Red meat, soy beans, lentils, spinach, and lots of other foods might help you out. If you are anemic, a doctor will probably put you on iron supplements. I was on them for a while but what really helped my anemia was eating more iron-rich foods. Here is an article that might help you out: http://www.parentingweekly.com/pregnancy/breathingspace/v...

Hi K., I suffer the same kind of fatigue. It was worse before I had my partial hysterectomy. I had my blood checked for iron deficiency since that is common when there is a loss of blood. I was severely anemic. I have to take iron supplements daily or else I revert back into being anemic and suffer from that kind of debilitating fatigue. Your doctor can determine if you are anemic and how much iron you need to supplement with. I would advise you to get that checked out.

S.

I think you are doing everything possible. see a specialist about pms symtoms

I discovered a similiar issue and found that my stomach did not absorb B12 from the foods I ate. Worth checking out, it is a different test then Iron deficiency.

i have had the same problem, my chiropractor ( who practices holistic medicine) reccomended i take a range of differant supplements, i now take Iron a good brand that you can find at your local health foods store not just from the grocery store shelves, I also take good brands of Fish Oil as well as a digestive enzyme. i really feel alot better after a couple of months of taking these things. everywoman over 30 should be taking fish oil (carlsens is a good brand) and many of us dont realize we need to take an iron supplement. im not sure if you see a chiro but they are great for reccomending holistic ways to better care for yourself. hugs to you mama, i hope you feel better soon.

Sounds like you are probably anemic. Meaning you are low on iron and maybe even folic acid. Try eating foods high in iron like peanuts,raisins,meat. Also you can cook with an iron cast pot. I usually find mine at goodwill. Folic acid can cause fatigue, and memory problems and if you are really low even seizures. I have celiac so my intestines don't absorb vitamins like they should. I have my vitamin levels checked alot.

Also Have you B vitamin levels checked. B 6 tabs could give you more energy. Possibly thyroid problems. I have hypothyroidism and struggle with energy alot.

Hope this might help

A.

I highly recommend that you go in to be seen. Although this may sound really personal here are some things to consider: If your periods are really heavy you could suffer from anemia, or it could be another blood disorder. I suffer from Von Wilebrand's disease, which means that my blood doesn't clot right. We learned this after a year of AWFUL periods. I had periods that would last 3-5 months, and they were so heavy that I felt that I couldn't even leave my home. I also suffer from severe anemia. The Von Wilebrand's is pretty much non-existant since I started treatment, but the anemia is still a daily struggle. I take 4 high-dose iron pills a day and my iron is still pretty low. At the very least I would request a blood count to be done to ensure that your platelettes are where they should be. Another thing is start eating foods higher in iron and drink a lot more water during your cycle. I hope this helps.

I have the same symptoms, I haven't been to the doctor but I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone. Here's a couple of links you might find helpful http://en.allexperts.com/q/Alternative-Medicine-991/Tired... http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pms.htm

Hi K.:
I would like to recommend that you try Chinese medicine. You could receive acupuncture treatments and the practitioner would prescribe an herbal formula for you to nourish and tonify your body and over-all wellness. Your practitioner would ask you a series of questions to determine a diagnosis. Chinese medicine achieves great results with gynecological symptoms.
Enjoy your weekend.
with peace,
P. M.

Hi K.. I hear you on this. I used to sleep for two days when my period started. Definitely I would see a physician. Even if all your blood tests came out ok, etc, maybe it's a brain chemistry thing and something like a mild anti-depressant that you only take during your PMS and period would help. I do that now and my life is way better. Anyway just thought it would be something good to be open to. Good luck and feel better!!

L.

K.,
What is the possibility you are anaemic? I also notice that you have had 4 children. I often question whether or not we get our body chemistry back on track since so little attention is focused on it. There haven't been very many studies either. The other thought is your thyroid, however it wouldn't make sense that it is only during your period. A blood test would tell you which if either it is. If you are anaemic, I would recommend Floradix liquid iron. It is vegetable based making it easy to process without constipation. You can get it at Super Suppliments. It cost about 30.00 a bottle but lasts a while. I took it during my pregnancy and felt great! Good luck.

I would guess that your symptoms are from a chemical/nutrient imbalance. BUT just taken multivitamins, which are balance, won't focus on your deficiency. it might be iron, it might be some obscure thing like manganese, or selenium. I can recommend an amazing naturopath that treated me for chronic fatigue it came from malnutrition. Dr Milner, 39th & Hawthorne. Center for Natural Healing, I think.

Thank fully you have the freedom to just go lie down now, & a supportive husband those are wonderful things! Still, you are loosing days of your life, that may not be necessary.

Good luck.

Good Evening K.,

I just got around to checking my email, sorry. I did have many of your systems for at least 2 years. I thought I was just being lazy. Come to find out I needed a hysterectomy and was severely anemic (they say blood loss, but I was not bleeding heavy all the time). I had that done about 4 years ago and now at the age of 43, I feel so much better. I am not tired like I was before. I have more energy. Have you spoken to your doctor? It may not be what is going on with you, but it sounds so similar to what was happening with me. Hope this helps. I hope you feel better soon.

I wondered this myself until I spoke to my sister and I plan on going in with her advise to the doctor. My sister suggested it may be pre-menopause. I know, I know 36 and menopause? But it could happen. I am 45 and I have a lot of those same symptoms, the blood lose is what got me. I would call the doctor and do ask questions.

I was also told I was anemic, so do check for this possibility of being anemic, low iron. And don't just assume low iron, you must be checked for this before taking a iron tablet because it must be taken with vitamin "C". Check out Webmd too www.webmd.com.

Good luck

Even if you do not bleed heavily, you could be anemic. Go to your doctor and ask for a blood test, and have blood drawn during menstruation, on your most tired day. Sounds like you're doing the right thinks with your diet, but be sure to add in foods rich in iron like meat and dk green veggies. You may still need to take an iron supplement if anemia is the problem. Good luck!

It sounds like there is a strong possibility you could be anemic. These are all symptoms of anemia. I would see your doctor. If you do need to take iorn, be sure to ask your doctor to recommend one that is easy on your stomach. It make a tremendous difference in tolerating it.

Amy

A little about me:
I am early forties mom to 6 children. Ages 24, 23, 21, 19, 16, and 2.5. We have two girls, the first and last, and the middle four are boys.

A friend of mine is going to have to go in for a week of iron infusions because her period has been heavy for a long time and she has been exhausted for a few months. She went into the doctor and her iron levels were so low that they were amazed she was still alive. GO TO THE DOCTOR!

During our periods we get really low on iron. Most multi-vitamins do not have enough iron. My favourite is Floradix iron, because it does not constipate, and also has a lot of B-12, which a lot of us are also lacking. I know when I'm B-12 deficient, because I have nausea in addition to being extremely exhausted. Once you take the iron you should feel better withing 24 hours. Also, take a B-12 supplement. You want the liquid that you spray into the mouth, because the regular way of consuming B-12 is not a good way to absorb it. It absorbs through the mouth. If that doesn't work, then try a naturopath.

K., I get this way too and I would recommend you go see your OBGYN for sure. Your iron could be low or possibly you might have Fibromyalgia like me. This time of the month is hard enough on us when things are normal so feeling severe fatigue makes it very challenging. Good luck to you!

S.

I feel your pain, I had such horrible periods that I would fall asleep by the toilet because it took too much energy to go to the bathroom to throw up as much as I did.

Get yourself some:

Calcium magnesium (they come together because they help each other work better)
IRON (you will probably want something gentle on your stomach)

ease up on sugar too

This will take a least two weeks for you to see any improvement if this is the fix for you, I would give it a month and make sure you have taken this stuff for a bit before you period or you won't see improvement and will get a "false reading".

This is what I have to do and since I make sure I have enough calcium and iron, the worst thing my period does to me now is make me reach for the ibuprofen.

Get a doctor's appointment now! I'm not trying to scare you but this doesn't sound normal at all. It maybe something as simple as an iron deficiency. We Moms take care of everyone one else and forget about ourselves. E.

Hey K.!

Boy do I have good news for you! You are perfectly normal!!! Menstruation is the #1 cause of anemia in women. I guarantee if you were to start taking Iron and eating more red meats and spinach, you will feel a heck of a lot better. I would find the highest dose of Iron you can. If you go to your doctor he/she could prescribe a much higher dose.

L.

Hi K....I'm so sorry you have to go through this. It is such a struggle sometimes to maintain a consistent rhythm in life, when our hormones seem to get the better of us, especially during our cycles.

I have two pieces of advice. The first is to start reading about peri-moonpause and moonpause. A Reiki therapist once told me that women should start reading about moonpause in their early thirties, so that they can be sure their diets and lifestyles are such that they will maintain health through moonpause. While full-blown moonpause may not happen until a bit later, your body can go through the early stages for a number of years. There are a number of great books out there that go in depth about nutrition, supplementation, exercise, etc.

The more prepared and educated you are, the smoother the transition will be. Kind of like childbirth preparation, you know? Unfortuntely, when people hear the word menopause, or really anything having to do with menstruation, there's still this kind of taboo, closed off energy surrounding the matter. It's all seen as this dirty, nasty, annoying thing that we need to whisper about or roll our eyes at. The transition of Mother to Crone is sacred, and every bit as instense, beautiful, powerful and honorable as the other rites of passage women go through...first blood, first love, first kiss, first sexual experience, childbirth, etc.

I would also start researching accupressure - if you don't know much about it already, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised on it's subtle power, as well as it is a free, simple and wonderful way to pamper yourself, even when you are completely exhausted. Woman, Heal Thyself is a great book to start with, among many others, to be sure. Get in touch with a good naturopath or homeopath (or both). I've also heard from several people that accupuncture is very helpful.

One more thing...and yes, I realize this is way more than two pieces of advice. I don't know how I managed to trick myself into believing I could make this short and sweet. Above all else, remember that it is our *society* that has manipulated us into believing that we need to shove a tampon up ourselves and continue going on about our lives, working, exercising, etc. during our moontime.

We are *supposed* to feel tired during our moontime...our bodies are *working* even when we're just sitting there. It's like being pregnant or producing breastmilk. Just because we may be *still*, does not mean there's nothing going on in there, you know? Our moontime is a gift we were blessed with, not only because it is the lifeblood from which new life emerges, but because it offers us a time during each mooncycle to introspect, reflect, nurture ourselves, love ourselves, honor our SELVES, rest, etc.

It is a time not to exercise, but to wake each morning of our flow and meditate, or just be still. Even within the realm of yoga, it is not recommended that women do any sort of yoga during their moontime, but rather sit in a comfortable position and meditate instead. It is a time to drink tea...explore herbs, and which ones might best suit you and your situation. It is a time to read, to relax, to let go, release, to REST!

I don't think many women realize that they wouldn't feel so tired during their moontime if they would stop trying to push themselves and just get the rest their bodies are so desperately telling them they need...GUILT-FREE! It is a hard thing to do in this day and age, especially if our partners are not able to empathize, or may even feel resentful towards us during that time.

My point is, listen to your body...don't ignore it. Don't push yourself farther than you can or should go. Honor your womanhood, be grateful that you have this time to focus inward, on you, and feel GOOD about that....not guilt, not shame. Sleep for six hours and love it! Know that this will help you in the long run, rather than doing damage by pushing to hard. This, in conjunction with a healthy diet, and a knowledgeable, supportive, and nurturing care provider, and I'm sure you will figure out what your rhythm is, what your body needs, and how to best take care of you. In addition to Woman, Heal Thyself, I also recommend reading Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Healing for Women, and Dena Taylor's Red Flower: Rethinking Menstruation.

Spring's Blessings and Best Wishes!

Sounds like you might be anemic. You rdoc should be able to do a quick blood test that could tell you and then you could take or eat more Iron during this time frame.

I have this same problem, mine doesn't sound as extreme as yours but is definitely noticeable. I am very tired during my period, more so the couple of days before I start then during and I drag myself through the day and sometimes have to take a nap, it is very annoying since I am a busy mom of 5... I have been thinking about going to the doctor because all of my premenstrual symptoms are extreme and I'm tired of dealing with it.

I know one thing that helped me if you have an option for birth control or need one, I had the IUD for about 3 years and had no symptoms whatsoever and it completely stops your period, it was soooo nice, but I decided to have my 5th baby and then got permanently taken care of so I don't need the IUD, I almost did the IUD instead but just thought it wouldn't be a good idea, now I wish I would have.

The doctor may be able to help, you should go be seen if it is really affecting your life, there may be something we don't know.

I hope this helps.
I. Blankenship

I suppose just to let you know that you are not alone... I suffer fatigue for a day or two right around the first day of my period. I have found that nothing I do has helped it, not caffeine, not naps- nothing. My girl doctor told me to try vit. B6 for other symptoms and I haven't been quite as fatigued, but I don't know yet if it is the B6 helping or something else. I just started on the B6. If you haven't tried a B6 supplement specifically, it's one more thing to try, even if it doesn't work.

You could be anemic... that happened to me after my baby was born. The treatment was just iron supplements. But I would check with your dr.

Hi K.,

It sounds like you are having hormonal problems. I have had a lot of experience with the same thing - I went down to Pacific Herb in China Town and saw a Chinese Doc who has been really helpful. The teas taste awful, but they work (and you may have a milder case than I did.) I would go to a Chinese doctor for this - the AMA doesn't deal with our hormones very well. They only have the Pill to offer, so you probably won't get relief from your doctor. Make sure when you look at Chinese docs to get somebody who was trained in China - the training is 8 years there (as opposed to 4 here.)

The other thing that occurs to me off the top of my head is to make sure that you aren't allergic to any of the foods that you are eating. It's pretty normal to have a sudden urge for sleep with food allergies and some women get upset stomachs with their period and don't eat what they normally do. Also, for a lot of people, sugar (which many of us crave during our cycle) can cause fatigue. Check to make sure that you are getting enough protein. Let me rephrase that - make sure you are getting enough of everything that your blood is made from in your diet.

Honestly, I would get your iron levels and your thyroid checked. I was extremely anemic for more than 20 years and I thought that my cycle was normal because my doctor told me that my cycle (which was both irregular and exceedingly heavy was normal.) I have never been able to take iron supplements because they cause awful joint pain but I have been able to take Floradix without any difficulty at all. I see from some of the letters here that people are telling you to take powerful iron pills and I have to tell you that you can poison yourself with too much of it. Your gynecologist should run a complete blood panel so you know how to help yourself. My doctor used to only do a partial panel which is how he missed my anemia. There is a really wonderful book called Let's Get Well by Adelle Davis - the chapter on anemia has a comprehensive list of deficiencies that can contribute to anemia. In case nobody has mentioned it, a slow thyroid can cause extreme fatigue and if you are borderline slow you can have extra symptoms during your period. Again, bug your doctor to do a T3 and T4 as well as a TSH. Doctors have a tendency to not pay attention to how different organs work together. Anyhow, good luck!

C.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I am sure that western medicine would not be able to help you (will probably recommend anti-depressants and or pain pills---attribute fatigue is due to pain). I highly recommend homeopathy and acupuncture. To find a good homeopath and acupuncturist, just start asking around or go to your local health food store and ask who is the best acupuncturist and the best homeopath. It may end up costing you a bit "out of pocket", but it will be worth it.
Best of luck to you.

K.,
I'm a sahm of two boys, ages 7 & 5. I get that way too if I'm not eating right. For me, I need lots of animal protein during this time especially since life doesn't slow down just because I'm on my period. If I don't then I'm so lethargic that I sleep a lot. Also I tend to forget to eat at this time or I snack on chips instead of eating healthy. I become light headed and dizzy. Once I eat and make sure that I have protein, I'm fine. I used to take iron at this time but it would hype me up and make me constipated because I didn't drink enough water.
For now, protein and regular meals work for me, no more iron pills. Oh, and I never forget my water.
Be well.
A.

Hi K.
I had the same problems... It was awful. You probably should go get checked to see if you are anemic or if there are any other problems. If it turns out all is well, then maybe it is your body's way of re-energizing itself for another month of activity.
My solution...was a hysterectomy although it was right for me, may not be the answer for everyone else.
As it turns out my adrenal glands were depleted and not functioning. Good luck. L.

Sounds like you've tried some valid things, and since that isn't working, you might start by mentioning them at your yearly. If that is too far away, then I think it is a worthy thing to go in for. Good luck!

Hi K.
You have gotten some great advice in this thread. I will second another poster to go see a ND or NMD. I too suffer extreme fatigue during my monthly, and mine are very light spotting thanks to my IUD. But with having so many children our bodies get really out of whack. During my odd times I take krill oil, royal jelly, omega fish oil and adrenal complex as the ND I saw felt I was suffering from Adrenal fatigue Syndrome. During my period I take extra fish oil and add in chlorophyll. It works similar to iron but is much better for your body. Instead of increasing your iron levels by adding more iron that isn't really absorbed well anyways it helps boost the oxygen levels in your blood and thus increases your iron levels. If you still feel you need to take iron you want something your body is going to actually absorb, Floradix is a liquid iron supplement that works great and does not constipate since your body is actually absorbing the nutrients. You can find all but the adrenal complex in your local health or natural food store.

Hello K.!

Your symptoms seem to be identical to mine! I've always wondered about the dropping things bc/no one else I know complains about this.

Unfortunately, I have stopped talking with physicians about these symptoms bc/they were not terribly responsive. What I do try to do is take a "rest" every now and then. I can't nap--I never could--but lying down for 15 to 20 minutes can sometimes do wonders. Doing a light workout with lots of slow stretching helps to take the edge off me. Cutting salt, sugar, and caffeine has helped in the past, but I haven't been following my own advice lately, especially now that I'm back at work 5 days a week.

Of course, I have only one child, so my situation is entirely different from yours. To me, being at home was harder than working!

Hope you get the time to be nice to yourself.

Dear K.,

I would truly suggest you go and get tested. Are you tired/run down any other part of the month? I have a Thyroid condition and found out 3 years ago - one of the symptoms was being tired - and really drained during my "time of the month." I have been on Synthroid for almost 3 years now - and, when I start to get that really exhausted feeling, I make sure my doctor knows - and its usually that my medication needs to be increased - It is just one possibility - I didn't have heavy periods either (which is a major sign in the Thyroid area) but, they were irregular. I'd suggest seeing your doctor to rule this out.

Good luck to you!
Sincerely,
TJ

I used to have this problem, but only the first day of period. For cramps I use hot compress which relieves the pain and for fatigue try eating 2 teaspoons of sugar or some candies( it might be because of low sugar level in the body due to periods which is temporary ). These 2 worked perfectly for me. Hope this would be of help to you.

I was also tired during my period. I suffered from more symptoms than that but I went to my doctor he put me on Vitex. It is a natural herb that you can buy from any health food store. It took two months before I started to see any results but I feel so much better now.

My sister has to take alot of Iron during, and often when not having her cycle.
She has noticed a difference. But she did go to the doctor and have a blood workup. I think it should be taken serious, as it could be something that has nothing to do with you cycle, and be from something you would never think of on your own.
I would bring it up at your next OBGYN visit if not sooner. Goodluck and God Bless.

have you tried an iron supplement?

If you try iron pills, make sure it is ferrous sulfate. Couple that with fiber-rich foods and lots of water. ;-)

I take iron pills OTC stuff from walgreens, because of the same trouble.... but I really would go in and talk to your doctor about it. ( I did talk to my doctor about it) Because it's always best to know what is really going on...

when they check your iron levels, make sure they test for ferritin. your iron levels can come back looking normal but your ferritin could be low and they don't always check for it.

i'm going through the same thing now. i may have fibroids which are causing excessive bleeding and thus anemia.

I have had the very same challenges. When I was teaching I would be a ragdoll in my rocking chair unable to do ANYTHING! Now at home I sleep too. The only time I found complete relief is when I went to an herbalist. When I encountered no symptoms I stopped and a year later the symptoms returned but I was no longer in touch with my herbalist and lost the list of herbs. Two days ago I started on a progesterone cream with many of the herbs included. I hope this will work. I look forward to reading the responses you get.

Our moon time as it was called in Native American language or Menses have been a time of rest. It is a time that you are releasing and if you get into a more spiritual aspect of it a very powerful and wise time. Women were sequestered to a seperate tipi during their moon.

From a holistic point of view there are a couple of things that pop out for me. Blood is vitality and iron is a vital part of that vitality. During this time you may need to up your intake of iron or even iodine, for the thyroid and metablolism. So check that out. Also the moon time is a harmonal event and the harmones are connected to the emotions ie the psychie. You may need a rebalancing of the harmonal system. Drugs won't do this however they will make it worse. Search out some type of vibrational healing method such as light or sound. You can go to www.colorpuncture.com and see if there is a practitioner in your area. I KNOW this will work. Best of health D.

I would recommend seeing a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND or NMD). They are amazing. Instead of pushing drugs to treat symptoms (like putting you on the pill), they try to find the root of the problem and cure it, so the body can heal itself. They attend 4 years of naturopathic medical school, much like MDs, but also learn more natural healing. It's really great if they use saliva testing, as blood tests for some hormones are often not sensitive enough.

Hi K.:

Some women start experiencing pre-menopause symptoms from age 35 and up. I am one of those. I believe you were on the right track making lifestyle changes. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day, getting 8 hours of sleep a night, exercise (at least walking 3 x for 30 minutes a week), eating healthy (avoiding fatty and sugary foods), and taking vitamins that fill in the nutritional gaps in your diet. I'm a distributor for AdvoCare. www.advocare.com/05103683 There are specific vitamins that can help you in your situation. They are safe, inexpensive and effective. I know I can help you.

Making all of those changes may sound overwhelming. However, if you make small changes on a daily basis, you'll soon have those habits in place and it will make a tremendous difference in your mental and physical health. I know they've changed my life.

I hope this helps you. Have an awesome day!

S. R

I have some of the same issues you have, but it has gotten better in the last year. I have fibroid tumors and severe endomitriosis and my period knocks me on my bum. Heavy bleeding, horrible cramps and fatigue. I started seeing a fantastic acupuncturist and between the acupuncture and the herbs things are getting better. The fatigue is gone (for the most part). The only thing that didn't get better was the cramping. I then switched to a gluten free diet and I had my first "normal" period in 17 years. Light bleeding, little to no cramps and energy. Oh the sweet energy!

In addition to all of that I take a B complex vitamin called Levity. You can find it at Super Supplements. I try to exercise 15-30 minutes a day and try to get at least 30 minutes of natural sunlight a day. But of course we all know how hard that is in the Northwest.

Hi
Have you considered the possibility of being anemic? Low iron often causes fatigue. Trying adding into your diet more beans and dark green veggies (broccoli, spinach, etc.)
Also many people adjust their diets one thing at a time. Sometimes it is necessary to eliminate several things for a longer period of time to see results.
Caffeine will only make it worse. Coffee contains other chemicals that can load your body down and create dependency. Soda contains tons of sugar. Diet soda contains chemicals. Try switching to a cup of white or green tea to start with.
Sugar is another huge thief of energy. Cut out the sugar. Use whole grain instead of white bread. Cut out crackers and processed foods. Anything that comes in a package. Eat fruit. Carrots, celery,veggies, nuts and seeds. Real foods contain vitamins and minerals that your body knows how to use. Foods in packages do not. Vitamins in pill form just go straight back out whole most of the time. Your body does not know how to use them.
Exercise is another big thing. Adding just 20-30 minutes of brisk walking, bicycling or swimming to your day will increase your energy. It increase your blood circulation which increase the supply of oxygen to your brain and muscles and organs. Therefore everything functions better.
Doctors do not study nutrition. Never consult a doctor about what to eat!!! Consult a Nutritionist. Preferably a holistic one. By all means get a blood test to see if you are deficient in iron, Vitamin D, B vitamins or something else.
I hope you get it figured out!

My daughter in law who had been going through your symptoms, just went to the doctor for it. After blood work, they found out she was extremely vitamin D deficient. This came as a surprise, since she takes a good multi-vitamin each day, and eats extremely healthy. I don't know if this is your problem or not, I would see your doctor. BTW ~ My daughter in law has no children, and eats very well balanced meals. It got so bad she almost couldn't get up to go to work.

I think your first order of business should be to go ahead and make that appointment with your doctor. We women seem to be trained to not want to bother the doc unless we think there is something seriously wrong. Your life is being seriously affected, so go and don't worry about what others might think. It could be you just need iron, but why chance it? Sounds like you have a great family--take care of yourself so you can have more quality time with them.
p.s. have them check your thyroid if it hasn't already been done. Enjoy your life!

ABSOLUTELY get it checked out with a medical professional! You probably are anemic, which means you don't have enough iron in your body. It does not necessarily manifest through heavy blood loss. A lot of women get this way once a month, because iron is in your blood and you are losing blood...hence, the tiredness from lack of iron. You could have blood loss in other areas as well which you don't know about.

Also, it was suggested to me to take vitamin B. I started this in the mornings and it gives me great energy! I don't know why. I can't even take it from noon on, or else I have too much energy to go to sleep at night. I don't take it every day, just when I need a boost or know that a day will be full of activities and long in hours.

Finally, I went to the doctor for an annual ob/gyn checkup. I have gotten heavy after having my last child, unable to lose the weight despite significantly increased exercise and controlled diet. I was so embarrassed for my regular doctor to see me larger, that I went to a new doctor near my home. This was a Godsend, because the old doctor probably would not have done complete lab tests on me, but the new doctor did since I was a new person to her practice. It turns out I am hypothyroid. That means my thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone to allow my body to function normally, which can cause many symptoms including low energy, weight gain, hair loss, lack of sex drive, irritability, etc. In particular, what you mentioned was memory lapses or forgetting things...this is a symptom! I did not have all the symptoms, but enough that it is a welcome relief to know there was a medical reason for my condition. I hear that this happens to a lot of women after having children temporarily, then for some of us it sticks. We tend to attribute it to "I'm a mom, therefore I don't have time for exercise" or "I'm a mom with a long day, that's why I'm not interested in sex right now" or "I'm a mom and I do a lot of multitasking, that's why I can't remember things".

Lastly, see your doctor regarding possible depression. From your brief description, it didn't sound like it, but...you never know. One of the common symptoms of depression is increased sleep, which I never had considered before. They do have a variety of different medicines for this, so if you are diagnosed with that and the medicine does not seem to be working, don't just quit the meds...insist on a trial of a different medication!

I am not a medical professional, but I am a medical transcriptionist. I've heard it all while typing, so my best advice to you is to get it checked out! Think of the improved quality of your life and lost hours to sleep that you will regain!

Hi K.!
My name is A. Swift and I live out of The Dalles on a ranch. I started having the type of issues during my period you describe plus a migraine when I was about 25 years old. I ate a very healthy diet (mostly out of my garden). When i was 28 I started up a natural food distribution company with my brother. I was the buyer of nutritional supplements along with food and so on. I tried lots of supplementation over the years without success. When I was 42 I was introduced to a powdered nutritional product that was patented, was skeptical, but i was willing to try anything to get better. I slowly started to see improvements and by the end of 6 months i didn't know i was having a period (as long as I got a decent night of sleep and drank enough water) except the obvious! if you are interested in finding out what i did to improve the quality of my life call ###-###-####

I would definately go in to see someone if I were you. I experienced the same type of overwhelming fatigue for years & then went to the doctor & found out I was very anemic, actually dangerously anemic. And I had very light short periods too, so it can be due to other things rather than blood loss. I see Dr. Ilana Gurvich at Quan Yin Healing Center in NW, she specializes in women's medicine & is great! Good luck with everything.

Hi K.,

Is it just during your period alone? Are you energetic the rest of the month? You may need to take extra iron during your mentstraul cycle.

I also know some exceptional products that will change your life. Email or call me @ ###-###-#### or ____@____.com!

Blessings to you!

K.

Dito, glad to know your out there. I am always tired during my period, usually it only last 3-4 days. I tend to be more clumsy also, and very absent-minded. I know its just for a short time, so I just go with it and try to get some extra, always needed, sleep. I find if you dont fight it, give into it(if your kids and husband let you) it goes by quicker and you actually feel better the next week. Maybe its gods way of telling us to slow down and take a break once a month. M.