Headache and exhaustion relieved temporarily by eating

[Swanna]

Only seems to be on my period but my carb cravings know no bounds! I struggle with a weird pressure in my head and an exhaustion that means I have to go to bed later afternoon and I can sleep through until morning. I've just told my husband I'm off to bed now with it only to rally after some carbs. But I know it's temporary and I'll get it back soon. What is this and how do I manage it when it lasts for 4+ days?! I feel gross

Have you tried Vitamin B or Oil of Primrose. They seem to help with PMT.

No I haven't :-( But I'm on my period at the moment, at the tail end of it rather than pre

I find if I eat moderate carbs in the run up to a period it's not too bad. Either little and often or loading up to the point of satisfaction.

Hormone production takes energy. The brain likes glucose as a source of energy and it helps it to make progesterone in the luteal phase. In the follicular phase, estrogen thrives when insulin is low, so cravings are less then.

Migraine? I can sometimes stave off a migraine if I carb load and drink loads (plus a few painkillers).

I thought migraine too. This is how I am and how I stop it developing too. Always just before period and during it. Started late 30s- often hormonal.

Could you be anaemic? Afternoon exhaustion was my main symptom, followed by light-headedness, some palpitations, feeling wobbly on my feet, and generally feeling really, really run-down,

Oh and my migraines often escalate to vomiting etc. If its slow coming on, I take 3 Ibuprofen (600mg- agreed with gp) and go to bed. If it comes on fast, I know its going to be bad and take 3 x Ibuprofen, 1 cyclizine and 1 sumatriptan and go to bed. It was especially bad when I first stopped breastfeeding. Pregnant again (no migraines in pregnancy) and so I'm going to carry on feeding and slow down as slowly as possible this time. Might even carry on pumping once baby stops feeding eventually (once a day?), as this is definitely better than migraines if it keeps hormones in check.

Thanks, I do get migraine - it could well be about that. It's just so rubbish because I seem to need to eat so much to feel better and it always ruins any diet I'm on 😂

Maybe I should try not restricting carbs just before my period and see how I get on like @BigSwigs suggests