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Original poster

Feeling tired every month

23 replies

Lonelymum · 18/01/2006 10:11

Does anyone else feel really tired during their period? I have just realised that I do and I feel quite cheated and also curious to know why I should feel like this.

I used to have painful periods but having children put paid to that, but now, definitely for the last 3 months and on and off for a lot longer than that, I find I get exhausted for no reason usually on the first or second day of my period. I mean really tired, like I used to get in pregnancy, not just a bit tired. Sometimes I even go to bed with it.

Anyone else get this and know why? Is it hormonal? Is it anaemia? Anything else? Any thing I could do to try to feel better?

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 18/01/2006 10:13

could be anaemia. Other than going to the docs to get tested for it, you could take a good multivit containing iron.

Giraffeski · 18/01/2006 10:13

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Lonelymum · 18/01/2006 10:16

I have thought about iron deficiency as I have been anaemic (with no symptoms) in the past. I even hovered undecided by the vit supplements in the supermarket the other day, but didn't buy anything. Wish I had now as I feel so drained today.

The thing that makes me think maybe it isn't anaemia though is that it feels just like pregnancy tiredness which I know is hormonal. Also, I am fine in between periods.

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 18/01/2006 10:24

but if you're mildy anaemic, maybe you only have symptoms when you are losing blood, so that's why you feel like this only during your period?

MoggyMummy · 18/01/2006 10:59

I have this too - the exhaustion is unbearable at that time and all you want to do is slow down to half-speed.

FWIW I went to my GP and they tested for anaemia - I was fine. So i put it down to hormones and being older. I never used to have this pre-DS. I just make sure that I go to bed early those days and try to slow down a bit (easier said than done i know )

I would definitely go to your GP to rule our any blood deficiencies.

Original poster

Lonelymum · 18/01/2006 11:39

Yes, thanks MTS and MM (and G earlier!) I am feeling so bad today that I really think I need to see the GP just to rule out the anaemia thing. I don't think I am anaemic (that was years and years ago) but it needs to be ruled out doesn't it? Every month, I think to myself, oh it is just this month I feel this bad, but I think I have to stop kidding myself. I felt tired yesterday but today I can hardly keep my eyes open despite 8 and a half hours sleep last night so I know something is up.

OP posts:

grammaticus · 18/01/2006 11:40

I had this. I did take supplements for a while but tbh the only thing that made a difference was when I went back to the gym regularly which improved my energy levels. I know this is not what you want to hear - I put it off for ages!

Original poster

Lonelymum · 18/01/2006 12:14

I have phoned the GP and am awaiting a return call. I feel really ill now but I know it is just my period doing it - no bug or anything).

OP posts:

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 18/01/2006 12:19

i feel like this too - but my periods are so heavy since having the girls that its probably anemia for me too - let us know how you get on xxx

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 18/01/2006 12:19

i feel like this too - but my periods are so heavy since having the girls that its probably anemia for me too - let us know how you get on xxx

Original poster

Lonelymum · 18/01/2006 13:10

Grrr might be a long wait JARM. Just spoken to the doctor and he agreed with me about doing some blood tests to see if that shows up a problem. Blood test booked for..... next Thursday morning. The it has to be sent off and then we have to wait for results to come back.....soooo slooooooow. I can't believe someone can't take some blood from me anytime between now and next week.

Anyway, have cancelled a boring committee meeting I was supposed to be going to this pm and am about to put my feet up with a DVD or a book for the next hour and a half before the mad rush of picking up 4 kids commences.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lonelymum · 07/02/2006 14:46

Ok, quick update and new question I hope someone can help with:

Blood tests done on a variety of things and all found to be normal which is good of course but leaves me wondering what I can do to feel better now.

Spoke to another GP on the phone just now and she suggested I have one more blood test to see if I am coming up to the menopause (help!). Also suggested that if my oestrogen levels are low, I could boost them with soya supplements. Apparently you can buy them in health food shops or buy bread fortified with soya. Anyone know more about this please?

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 15:07

That sounds very frustrating! Have you tried a vit B supplement? I've just found a slow release one from Boots that doesn't seem to contain vast amounts of Vit B but enough to feed into my system.

At least it sounds like the GP is taking you seriously.

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 15:08

the soya stuff you can get from health shops (like Holland and Barrett).

Also, the supermarkets have things like soya milk (and flavoured soya milk), soya yoghurts etc.

Mercy · 07/02/2006 15:21

Lonelymum, you sound like me at the moment!

I've been feeling incredibly tired whenever I have a period and in the last 2 months I've had 4 periods. I've also been getting a lot of headaches. I'm going to monitor it over the next couple of months and then ask the doctor to test me for the menopause - I didn't expect to even start thinking about this for another 5 years or so.

Original poster

Lonelymum · 07/02/2006 17:59

Mercy, yes I get the headaches as well although I can't tell whether they are just part of the tiredness or something separate.

Do you mind me asking Mercy, how old are you? I am only 41 which seems a bit young for the menopause but then my sister (who is 5 years older) is apparently pre-menopausal so maybe it is not impossible for me either.

The GP I spoke to today did mention there was a condition some women get - women who are in their 40s and have had three or more pregnancies. As I have 4 children, I did think "Oh God that sounds just like me!"

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Mercy · 07/02/2006 19:29

Lonelymum, I am 42.5.

I'm not sure about the headaches either - I am teh headache queen! I also used to suffer from migraines but far less so now. tbh I have been putting them down to possibly needing spectacles as I am aware I'm becoming long-sighted, but it's been too much of a coincidence in the last 3 months or so. I've also had 3 (possibly 4)pregnancies! What is the condition your GP referred to?

I believe there is something called the peri-menopause and the age (and pattern) at which one can start is generally hereditary. I don't have any sisters but I've asked my mum and she says she was nearly 47 when she realised she was starting the menopause.

I haven't had any other symptoms so far though (hot flushes, night sweats etc).

I'm jsut not ready for this definite sign of middle age!

Original poster

Lonelymum · 07/02/2006 19:48

Yes that was it! Peri-menopause. My sister was telling me about it at Christmas. I don't really understand because I thought the menopause was the time when your periods started going haywire, you got the flushes, etc, but apparently, the menopause is when everything has stopped. Eh? Confused? I am!

Anyway, my sister has had some tests done or something and is apparently in the lead up to menopause now. But then, she had fertility problems (couldn't have her own children) which were never explained and I secretly wondered a long time ago if she was getting to the peri-menopausal state. Whereas I have had no fertility problems and conceived my last child pretty easily at 38 so it will be a surprise to find out I am heading the same way as my sister if indeed I am. Well at least my family is complete so no regrets there. But no, like you, I am not ready to consider myself reproductively past it!

What was the condition the GP was telling me about? Hmm not sure. (Is a complete inability to retain information also a symptom of the menopause?!) I think it was an oestrogen deficiency because the blood test she wants me to have tests oestrogen levels.

OP posts:

emmatom · 07/02/2006 19:55

Peri-menopause is so common. Are you having good old mood swings as well, forgetting basic things, lik, um, names? A bit hot at night?

Could all be symptoms.

As well as the advice about vit supps, try soya milk on porridge in the mornings. It's lovely and starts you off steady for the day.

Original poster

Lonelymum · 07/02/2006 19:59

No not getting mood swings or flushes but just an overwhelming tiredness every month. Sounds pathetic, but I want to take to my bed every month.

Will definitely look into soya products although the sound of them makes me feel slightly sick!

OP posts:

Mercy · 07/02/2006 20:26

god ,I hate soya milk.

Original poster

Lonelymum · 07/02/2006 21:16

Just been talking to dh about it. I think I might go the soya supplement route rather than changing all the products I buy in Tesco!

OP posts:

emmatom · 09/02/2006 21:12

I don't understand the soya milk disgust. If you put it on porridge for example, the only difference I can taste is it's a bit sweeter (the alpro soya milk anyway).

I don't think I'd try it cold on cereal for example, but on porridge where you can't really taste it, what better start to the day is there?!!

PS, don't try and use it in coffee/tea as you would normal milk, it goes all funny like 'gone off milk' looks.

I think alprosoya.co.uk or something like that is a website with soya recepies in. Might be of help. That soya bread is nice too actually. Just tastes a bit sweeter.

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