Read my SO WHAT HAPPENED before you respond. I think my family practice doctor figured out the problem.
I keep feeling almost sick once a month, and I am hoping someone can help me figure out what's causing it. It's really odd and really seems like it's all in my head. At first I thought it was stress (since I have been under a lot of stress lately), but then I realized it occurs at the same time every month. It started this month last night, and this was after a really stress-free week and a great relaxing date with my husband. I'm sorry for the long list, but you know how doctors are, you have to go to them with the diagnosis. They don't research anything themselves. Does this make sense to anyone?
Symptoms:
For past 4-5 months: Pressure in head. Light-headed, feel like I need to sit down. Almost like a head rush. Feel like I need to eat protein or drink more water to fix it. No appetite, no desire to eat. Feel a little short of breath or like heart is beating faster, but I think that’s my imagination. Did get out of breath doing regular cardio workout and had to keep resting. Have had to sit down or take a nap.
Last month I got so light-headed at friend’s house I had to sit down as I was about to leave.
This month the symptoms are the same but worse. I have a terrible headache across forehead and temples. Went to bed early last night. Felt almost nauseous but not quite, that kind of nauseous feeling you get from exhaustion. Slept til 10 am, but it wasn’t making a difference so I got up. Feel like I need to lie down, but not sleepy, just no energy. So light-headed that I feel like I need to lay head back on chair instead of holding it up.
Frequency: Every month immediately after my period has ended (about one day before starting a new pill pack).
Duration: About 3 days
Time of day: Anytime of day, lasting for 30 – 60 minutes. In addition, it always happens about 30 minutes after eating. This month it’s all day, starting with Saturday night.
My gynecologist said there is no way the birth control pills are causing this. He also said my 4 cm and
3 cm ovarian cysts could not be causing it. I just had a blood test and everything came back fine. I’m not anemic.
I just saw my family practice doctor who insists my symptoms are caused by the hormones in the birth control pills I am taking to control the cysts (which, by the way, are doing nothing to control my cysts!). He said when I stop taking the pills during the week of my period, it is causing me to go through something like withdrawl as the hormones from the pills are being replaced by my own hormones. It makes sense to me. I looked up the side effects of my birth control pills, and the pamphlet listed headaches, dizziness, and nervousness as side effects. I never took this strong of a dose of birth control before, so that explains why it never bothered me before. My doctor wants me to take a combo of viatamins instead of the birth control pills to try to regulate my hormones and see if that helps the cysts go away (as well as the irregular period I have when not taking pills). I don't need the pills for birth control (and I'm 38 - too old to keep taking them anyway).
I get this. It is a real pain. I also get migraines and I think they are all related. I know that my stuff is definitely hormonal. I am sorry you are feeling like this. It is really awful.
Well, obviously I'm not a doctor...but I relate to some of your symptoms.
Here is what's helpful for me.
1. I have LOW blood pressure. While most people are told to cut down their sodium intake, I'm told to up mine.
2. Rest. A lot of it both before and during my menses. I'm learning to be really gentle with myself.
3. Red meat and dark green leaf veggies before and during menses. Also nettle tea. Also fatty fish.
4. I have been hypoglycemic since I was a kid. I'll forget to eat and then I become light headed, nauseous, and I feel like the world is ending. I don't FEEL hungry but have to force something filled with sugar (DON'T PANIC, eat a banana!!!) and a fatty chunk of protein (nuts, meat, or dairy). Then I have enough energy and mental capacity to make a balanced meal or snack. The trick is to never let myself drop that far (I'm not very good at that). To always eat a few bites BEFORE I feel like I'm going to fall down. Sugar burns up really quickly for me. So bread or fruits/veg are gone really quickly but hit my system quickly so it get's me thinking strait but it's not going to sustain me. I've GOT to eat small bits of fat and protein to keep sane and healthy. Fruits and veggies are wonderful and feed my brain...but they burn out quick and leave me spacey if that's ALL I eat.
Good luck!
My first question was going to be have you had your iron checked, and WHEN you had it checked were you currently having symptoms or was it after the symptoms had passed?
If it is low iron (losing blood during your period COULD contribute to this - if you are borderline but ok generally, and then lose blood - or if you have a very heavy period it could be enough to trigger anemia until your blood levels build back up anyway). If your blood work was done anytime not within the window where you are having symptoms, then I would ask your doc about doing the bloodwork WHILE you are having symptoms and see what your results are then.
Despite your blood test, it sounds like you are iron deficient during/after your period then your iron levels out about 3 days after your period. Your iron levels can fluctuate - especially when you are losing blood. Try taking Slow FE iron during your period and see if that makes a difference.
Why don't you go to your Internist, and get a complete physical?
For example: Heart problems in women, OFTEN causes different symptoms, than in men.
http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/signs-symptoms/featured/...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/HB00040
I would consider other things, other than female issues and other than a Gynecologist.
Or Hypoglycemia?
It could be anything.
I agree you sound anemic.. Orange juice once a day will help.. Make sure you get good dark green veggies.
This is a great article..
http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/When_fatigue_slo...
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My little 4 year old is having similar things going on. I talked with her pediatrician he will see her next week for it we haven't pin pointed it but it sounds like your hemoglobin is off you have too many of one blood cell not enough of the other. or Iron because you get so tired i am thinking Iron dificiency I had it after my third child. I had to take iron for a year. Don't wait go to the dr. It could also be a tumor in the brain or maybe type 2 diabetes or something else. I definatly wouldn't wait. go to the dr. Maybe wait one more month and see if you can get appointment around the time of your period when this happens too if its only around that time and not any other time of the month. I think your loosing toomuch iron when your on your period.
Sorry I do not have any suggestions for you, but I am having the same issues you are plus I get what feels like stomach pain also. It doesn't feel like cramps just bad pain. I was going to post about mine, so now I can see what suggestions you get. I hope someone can figure it out for you,because I know how you feel. I thought I was going nuts. I really have trouble breathing too.
Just a couple of things come to mind. You could have low blood sugar and/or low blood pressure. Low blood sugar can cause all those symptoms ie: nausea and headache, exhaustion. Low blood pressure can cause you to feel "woozy" like you need to sit down. In a nutshell, my daughter had the low blood sugar symptoms. She had all the blood tests etc that said everything was normal, but she still felt like you are. After doing lots of reading on my own, I took her to a nutritionist who taught her/me what to eat when to alleviate the problem. She was about 15 at the time, had to eat about 7 small meals a day BUT it worked. She is 30 now and still eats like a hummingbird...about avery 2 hours or so. I have LOW blood pressure. I have gone to the Alternatvie Healthcare Center in Grosse Pointe ( go to www.ahccenter.com) They helped with the low blood pressure with Vitamin B and D supplements. They are amazing at that place. Well worth the drive! Hope this helps!
Stress is the cause. No one is immuned from stress. Since everyone is different, it affects people at different times.
The objective is to combat this feeling 30/31 days of the month and not just sometimes.
I'm not a doctor, but there are side affects with every prescription. Why? Because they are snythetic and our very intelligent bodies know that and reject prescriptions in one way or another.
So my suggestion to you is, get protein in at every meal. Be choosey about the type of protein you get. Animal base is good if it is cage free organic meet. If you eat regular chicken, they have antiobiotics in them an pumped up with hormones. As a result you are getting those things in your body too.
I suggest plant based protein. A non GMO soy protein is an excellent choice.
Getting on a vitamin/supplement program is always helpful. We can't get everything from our food supply and this is where supplements help. Make sure the supplements are whole food and use organic ingredients. I have an exceptional line of vitamins and they have helped me tremendously.
Summarizing this it is a lifestyle change.
One last thing. Have you had blood tests to see if your Thyroid is functioning properly? Your hormone levels may be off.
