Energy help especially during periods

HI,

I'm wondering if you have any advice to help me with the extreme fatigue I face EVERY MONTH.   I am taking sublingual b12 ( my holistic doctor reccomended it as I am slightly anemic) which has helped but I suffer so much during this time and am forced to sleep a lot which I hate.  My diet is very healthy (I think), majority vegetarian, I eat fish but hardly any meat.  My breakfast is yogurt, raisins, walnuts and wheat germ with coffee.  Lunch salad, vege burger, tofu, or salmon cake, bread and dinner is similiar.  I like fruits and I like red wine in the evening and some candy like the straight - to the point- sugar such as gobstopper or necco wafers, etc.  I also like those 100 calorie kettle corn popcorn from time to time.   I'm 45 so in that premenopausal range which I'm wondering if it is having more of a toll on me.  What do you think?

Thank you!

I work in geriatrics so please take this with a grain of salt  and also with the disclaimer that real medical advice should be from your primary care provider :) 

But yes, it is very possible that your sleep patterns are being changed by your peri-menopausal physiology. uuestions to ask yourself: How long have you been having the extreme fatigue? Is it new or longstanding? Have you noticed that your periods have changed in any other ways? Do you wake up refreshed or still really tired?

Red wine (which I love too) can make you feel sleepier (and can reduce the amount of quality sleep you get making you more tired).

I know people (my mother included) who had the same experience as you and then just knew that during the week of their periods, they would need to go to bed by 8, avoid planning to attend big events in the evenings, etc and then just ride the week out because they knew that 3/4 weeks would be with normal energy.

If this isn't true for you, I would encourage you to go to your doctor because something underlying might be going on (ie. biochemically, or sleep-wise) that needs attention - maybe even going to your doctor for a check-up is a good idea anyway (I am Canadian so that is why I can recommend going to the doctor as something very easy - I am sure that depends on where you live :).

I know I gave you more questions than answers but I am sure your family doctor will ask the same things if/when you go in to see her (or him :)

All the best!