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[SarahT]

Does anyone else find that on the week of their period (am on mirena coil so no bleed) their energy levels slump to near exhaustion?

I just did a few hours In the garden, and usually expect to be tired and ache, but I can barely move. Muscles so fatigued.

I noticed a bit drop in energy last month so wonder if it is cyclical??
 I mean I am tired most days, but this is a noticeable difference.

Am up on vitamins, thyroid is underactive but am on correct dose. Anyone else feel this?

[CLKD]

Yep.  This has reminded me of my sudden drop in energy when a period was due, + nausea followed by intense pains when the bleed started.  My friend would be hyper prior to a period! then slump for a few days.

Crashing fatigue - I remember Mum would switch off the cooker/stop preparing food, sit and sleep for a couple of hours.  I never queried why, it happened.  I can't remember what age she would have been.  It was always in the evenings. 

How is your VitD level?

[SarahT]

Glad it's not just me. It's so debilitating. One job done and that's me useless for the rest of the day.

Not had Vit D levels checked, but I take multi vits and minerals and Vit D with calcium every day. Outside a lot every day, so should get some from the sun (such as we get) and although veggie I have dairy\vegan 'dairy'  each day to.

I am pretty active, even if I can't do half of what I could a few months ago. Feels like life just presses a pause button.

[Katherine]

Hi Sarah

I have loads of energy for part of my cycle then very little and am easily exhausted from a week before my period until about 4 days after my period's end. I have to organise my life around my cycle so that anything vaguely stressful or physical is done in my good part of my cycle. It is definitely hormonal with me, it happens like clockwork every month so I understand how debilitating it is. Do you find you need more sleep and crave sugar and carbs during your tired part of the month? I think it's the body's way of trying to conserve serotonin and to make extra serotonin during this time of low oestrogen.

[Losingtheplot]

Does anyone else find that on the week of their period (am on mirena coil so no bleed) their energy levels slump to near exhaustion?

I just did a few hours In the garden, and usually expect to be tired and ache, but I can barely move. Muscles so fatigued.

I noticed a bit drop in energy last month so wonder if it is cyclical??
 I mean I am tired most days, but this is a noticeable difference.

Am up on vitamins, thyroid is underactive but am on correct dose. Anyone else feel this?

Hi hunni

Although I don't have bleeds due to the contraceptive implant I do feel like you describe during part of the month. I get the intense cravings of sugar too. I am also veggie trying to convert to vegan so take wellwoman vegan multi vits..xx

[Penguin]

I have this twice a month, around ovulation (I think after although not sure these days as I probably don't ovulate every month) and yes also with my period. As said above, I plan my stuff around it, most times I can, otherwise I'd just be stuck to the sofa eating chocolate.
Do you find your eating habits change around your period too, because perhaps some tweaks to the diet might help give you more energy?

[SarahT]

Thanks ladies.. It's just another thing that makes me think I am going slowly mad...!

Yes. Hadn't twigged the carb and sugar craving. Been avoiding chocolate, so will ensure I have a stash of dried apricots to cover the need for sugar.
And yes! Finding myself needing to grab a nap.too.

I think because,  I have a coil and don't see a physical bleed as such, I kind of forget about the period related symptoms if that makes sense. Although despite the coil it seems mycycle is still every 28-30 days apart. I'm nearly 57! Just bloody stop. So still get sore boobs and mood swings, but less severe this month.Like many, I used to get raging pms, then tired during periods, then back to what passed as normality. But this fatigue is beyond anything. So obviously cyclic hormones worsened with peri.

I had chronic fatigue syndrome many years ago, took 5 years to recover, and feel some similarities but I know this is not that, its cyclical, not constant.

Oh good. Something else to contend with.😳

Thanks for the replies and ideas for how to plan around this. It's so reassuring when you realise it's not just you.

I shall be better prepared for next month, as you advise Penguin and Katherine, may swap vitamins to the vegans like you losingtheplot

Take care everyone. Xx😘

[Penguin]

I was told by naturopath that there's definite benefits to following a plant based diet in second half of cycle, reducing meat consumption and having lots more veggies, but focus more on nutrient dense ones, green and leafy for example. Can't say I've ever really managed it consistently tbh but sounds very good in theory 

[Katherine]

I’ve tried the vegan diet and I had lots more energy, and my vision improved too. I ended up caving in to cheese cravings. Also tried veggie diet but after a year have in to beef cravings. So at first I felt better but ended up feeling worse but then I wasn’t supplementing. Also vegan omega 3 gave me insomnia. I wish I could do it but it’s like my body really needs some aspects of meat and dairy to function. It sounds s great idea just doing it part of every month though, might try that.

[SarahT]

Hi Penguin,

I have been vegetarian for about 35 years now. Always tried to follow a balanced diet. Even before I was veggie I used to get  anaemia, and have been prescribed iron much of my life. I Take iron with vit c to help iron absorbtion. My body has always let me know when that's not enough and I sometimes crave extra green leafy veg!

It does make sense to try to be in tune with your bodies needs. Though even the best of us fall hard for excess carbs or anything sweet at times - it's a battle of willpower as to if we allow the not so healthy craves win. I will admit to a 50-50 rate. Mostly.😅

Greenhouse full of landcress and rocket seedlings so that will help. Won't allow cakes or biscuits in the house unless guests due but so still admit emergency bar of chocolate.  I mean. Who doesnt?

Katherine, I am never a militant veggie, my entire family are meat eaters, lucky husband was veggie when we met. 💕 But maybe worth trying to see if working meat vs veggie throughout cycle helps. I am definitely adding extra nutritious veggies within my cycle.  Let us know how it goes if you do?
Xx

[CLKD]

A friend who had been vegetarian since age 16, in her late 40s, suddenly craved steak.  She tried a small piece once a week and found she felt better overall.  Listening to our bodies: after all we are not designed to be totally vegetarian, look at our teeth pattern: might ease symptoms during peri?  Can always go back to non-meat diet later.

The cause of aneamia should always be investigated.

[SarahT]

Fortunately my body never craves meat in any form.

Vegetarianism is an essential part of who I  am. I have no problem with those who chose to eat meat, getting balanced diet is a lot easier now, the rise of veganism gives a good variety of foods, though 'junk food' is prevalent in any form of diet. As much as I can I cook from scratch.
Whilst your friend was able to go back to meat, that's a solid no from me, no just taste but from the aspect of killing to eat. Just could never sit well with myself.
Each to their own of course😁

[Penguin]

SarahT, I would love to be able to be vegetarian and stick to it. Have dipped in and out over the years. Even last year I had about four months of not eating meat or dairy, just fish. Ended up so tired despite supplementing b vitamins, zinc, vit d3, magnesium etc. Do you take any vitamins, or just eat really balanced? I wish I could find a really simple book too. I bought Deliciously Ella which was great, until acid reflux meant I had to avoid tomatoes lol and thar ruled a lot out as all my favourite dishes had a tomato base. I'd love to give it another go. I don't eat red meat anyway, only chicken, but I'd love to stop entirely. Red meat is for both health and ethical reasons, but if I could just eat fish and still have all my energy I'd be super happy!

[Katherine]

I know of people who just don’t like the taste of meat or cheese. I really admire people who can stick to a vegan or veggie diet for ethical reasons but I don’t think everyone is suited to it, I suspect because we all need varying levels of each vitamin and mineral and have varying absorption abilities. For example people who get stressed a lot need more magnesium and iron tablet absorption is reduced if you consume with the wrong food or drink. Also some supplements have intolerable side effects like I found with vegan omega 3. If anyone needs a short term energy boost though, following a vegan diet for even 2 weeks has a very noticeable effect I found.

[SarahT]

Yes it's very much working out what foods suit all of us, especially as our bodies go through different stages of life.

As I say I was always low in iron  many years prior to giving up meat and fish. I know to take iron with vitamin c to aid absorbtion.  My own energy levels are ok for 3 weeks of each month, even on same diet. It's the pms\pmdd week which is steadily getting worse, both moods and energy. Katherine, I know yourself, even as a meat eater, you get the same awful crawling through mud feeling.

Penguin, I have a hiatus hernia, I have to take medication for, but I cut out some simple foods, which can affect acid reflux. Tomatoes I have reduced, can't quite stop completely. Means no alcohol, less fizzy drinks, and peppers et c or are onion amongst others are a big no. Not a loss to me.

I Take a general multi vitamin and mineral, and extra vitamin D as I know a lot of us do, veggie or not. But my diet is good overall, I avoid any form of junk food\takeaways\ too much processed stuff. I use a lot of 'meat' based receipts and replace it with beans\pulses\veggie 'mince' at times. Years of practice.

My reasoning is very much ethics.  Penguin, if your body needs these things then do so, , if your reason is for ethics, then maybe try to use a responsibly sources from of meat or product, if finances allow ?

I feel strongly my diet is good for myself. Well balanced without being a militant angel! If I am ok most of the month but crash on the pms week, then hormone fluctuations are to blame in my own case. So I am working on how to improve this worse week.

Good luck ladies, glad to have you all around to support and discuss. Xx