So tired after heavy periods...

[Fianceechickie]

Anyone else find their period leaving them exhausted? Mine are mega heavy these days. I develop anaemia if I don't take iron tabs but bloods are fine at the moment cos I've been taking it. Am used to feeling washed out before and during but now I seem more exhausted after a period. Explained all this to GP yesterday but she doesn't think there's anything wrong as I've had bloods, my womb was scanned last year so not fibroids or anything. I think it might be perimenopause but she doesn't think so even though I also have occasional night sweats, anxiety, vertigo, mood swings, nausea, cycles varying length (only 24-30 days tho so not big variation). I've made appointment to have coil fitted to stop the heavy bleeding. Just so fed up of going through these phases of having total exhaustion. It's not all the time but it can come on suddenly and last for hours or for a week! GP does not seem bothered at all! I'm 39. My Nan had early menopause but my mum was quite late.

Yes me, and worse the older I get. Remembering to take iron all through the month does help but along with the severe fatigue I get migraines and terrible cramps, moodiness, heavy bleeding with clots. Along with the iron I try to take vitamin D, vitamin B and use a magnesium spray. But it's pretty much the same as you (same age too) and I don't know what the answer is.

Me neither. Feel like it's a struggle to do anything some days. I need to be more consistent with remembering iron and b vits but that's the other thing...my memory is shocking so I'm constantly forgetting things! Then throw in a night or two of insomnia and I feel like there isn't many days when I feel really alive and on top of things! I feel like my GP listens but doesn't say much. Only seems interested in whether there's anything sinister wrong with me and if there's not I just need to get on with it! I'm going on to her and she's just like 'mmm'

I would seek up to date test results; any type of test done over six months ago should be discounted. I would also consider asking your GP to refer you to a gynaecologist for further evaluation. This type of problem can be outside a GPs remit and your GP has not seemed all that helpful to date. A second opinion therefore is warranted.

Have you had your thyroid levels properly checked out?. This can also cause what you describe symptom wise.

I had all my bloods done including thyroid three weeks ago. All really normal apparently! I'm seeing her again in Jan to get this coil fitted so I could ask her to refer me then. A locum I saw a while ago was surprised i hadn't been referred before. Because she knows I'm an anxiety sufferer, she puts it all down to that and it's hard to argue cos my symptoms are consistent with that too but it's like a vicious circle. I'm anxious about the symptoms themselves. Hard not to be when I'm wondering how i'll get through the day!

I would not accept "normal" in your case; you are not well for a reason and I also am wondering why you have not been referred to date (at the very least you should now be checked again to see if fibroids are present).

Neither you or your doctor truly knows what your normal is if you did not have a blood test done before you became ill. I would request a referral now rather than in January.