What causes this horrible fatigue? It's my current peri symptom. I'm not talking about a sleepy, yawny tired. I'm talking about fatigue where you feel like you are made of concrete from your head to your toes. I often can tell as soon as I wake up if that's the kind of day I am going to have because I wake up feeling unrefreshed and drugged. I know it's going to be a bad day. Of course I get up and get to work, but when I get home I head straight for the couch or bed. I had this really bad all day yesterday, then at about 8:00 pm I almost could literally feel it lift right off and I felt almost normal. Like, did I get some hormone rush that suddenly balanced and I felt better? The only thing different I had done was that I had eaten a scoop of ground flax the night before and again that morning with yogurt. Am I allergic to flax? Always searching, searching, searching, looking for the answer but then at the same time thinking there is no answer and I'm just at the mercy of whatever my body wants to do. I want to feel normal!!!!!!!!

I have this terrible fatigue as well and I'm 2 years without a period now. I never, ever feel refreshed and I'm always tired. I get spurts of feeling energized here or there but not all that often. I'm wondering if this is depression. My anxiety also got worse 3 years ago when I got really sick and hasn't gotten better yet. It's been a nightmare for me and I'm sorry you're struggling.

Please have a complete physical with blood work just to make sure there is nothing going on.

Hugs,
Karen

I wonder if anyone has fatigue as badly as I do? I have a really hard time with it. I have one or two days where I can walk a mile or maybe two on a good day but mostly I struggle. I dont work because of the fatigue. I gave up a job that I loved because of fatigue. I dont sleep well either, maybe thats partly why I feel the way I do but I just dont know anymore. I just dont feel right anymore -- I have a Vit D deficiency but not sure if that's what's doing it.

Dear Karen
Am sorry that you have not been feeling well for so long.It is possible that you may be suffering from depression brought on by the anxiety you have gone through.

Is it worth getting some couselling?.Life is to be enjoyed not endured and constant fatigue makes it hard to enjoy anything.

All the Best
Elizabeth

Oh, great, I'm only 41 and still having "regular" periods. I don't want to feel like this till post! Anyhow, I've had blood work and everything comes back "normal", except vitamin d which was seriously low. I'm on vitamin d now, but not feeling better yet (it's only been 1 1/2 weeks). So, I'll keep plodding along and pray that's what it is.

I sympathize with all of you about the fatigue. My chronic fatigue problems pre-date peri -- it started in my late 20s after I got a horrible flu. It's a long story but suffice it to say it's been hard. I do think there is a connection with peri because now, at 46, I'm having a resurgence in symptoms including the terrible fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, etc.

I was diagnosed with a Vit. D deficiency in January. The Vitamin D did help but it took at least a few weeks and it certainly wasn't a magic bullet. Also, I took prescription level doses (50,000 weekly for four weeks). Since then I've been diagnosed with magnesium deficiency, zinc deficiency, and subnormal ferritin.

I am taking quite a lot of supplements -- again, getting some relief but nothing miraculous.

I was also diagnosed with anxiety. The anxiety diagnosis is a tough one for me -- and I'm too much of a nervous wreck about meds to have given in and tried them. I really feel my main problems are the physical ones of sheer exhaustion, feeling off balance (kind of like being drunk), etc. etc. -- and now, the irregular periods which are coming with brutal PMS, cramps, etc. But I have heard many women say that ADs alleviated their fatigue and physical problems. ADs are also used to treat fibromyalgia (which I have also been diagnosed with) -- so they do have some track record for addressing fatigue. It's not for me, but maybe worth talking to your doctors about.

The other thing which I think helps -- and I have been struggling a lot with doing it -- is meditation and relaxation. Also, even though it feels terrible to do it, exercise has been shown to help a great deal with fatigue symptoms, as well as depression and anxiety.

Good luck to all and I'd love to hear how others have addressed this issue.

Missy

I could have wrote kar4242's post (and a lot of these posts). When I have the shaky/anxious days where I feel like I could take off and fly there is still an underlying feeling of fatigue. I want to lay down and nap but can't because of the anxious, jittery stuff going on at the same time. No wonder I have anxiety attacks, don't know if I'm coming or going 90% of the time!
Robin

I feel the same way and it gives me some peace of mind to read these other posts. My Dr. says it's adrenal fatigue. I must have it bad. I hope we all feel better soon.

I guess that's part of the frustration. Not knowing what causes it. If I could get an answer to what causes it, it would address it. Is it hormone imbalance, adrenal fatigue, anxiety, depression, vitamin deficiency????? I would love to know, if only just to have the answer! I used to be normal. I know the basic steps, supplements, change in diet and exercise. I do all that and am willing to continue. I guess I just want to know why and what can I do to feel normal again. I know that sooo many of of us feel like this, but for the most part I feel that people don't feel this way and I am constantly jealous of those that feel like themselves and have no idea what it is like to spend like like a zombie.

Does anybody have the racing thoughts, jittery feelings, first thing in the morning but also have fatigue at the same time? When I try and lay down it gets worse. No desire to do a darn thing although you can't sit still. Awful feeling if anybody can relate.....
char

Yes I am often jittery in addition to the fatigue. Not sure if it is just because I am super anxious about going to work while feeling so fatigued or if it is just plain anxiety bubbling up. But yes, I am often very anxious/jittery.

Maine lady, yes being up in Maine you can have that Vit D deficiency and may need to take higher doses with docs help for a while...when you can just get out in the sun...apparently our bodies very, very quickly starting doing what it needs to with that Vit D from the sun...15 minutes in AM and later in the PM expose your arms ...not sun screen and go for it!

I too suffer with the fatigue and for me also a drunk groggy headed feeling often...one or the other and it ofen "lifts" in the PM....you also hear about this a lot with thryoid problems so do get the thryoid thoroughly checked if you haven't already....I am 49...no periods for 6 months....wish I felt better....Joan

Dear Maine,

I, too, have the chronic fatigue problem which I once attributed to candida but now think it is all hormonally related. Of course, I also suffer from adrenal exhaution.

Anyway, a couple of things that I've found to help are apple cider vinegar and Vitamin C. I take 2000-3000 Vitamin C sublinguals at each meal and 2 T. of ACV twice a day. I use Bragg's or Spectrums Organic Apple Cider Vinegar because they both have the pulp in them! I either add 2 T. of vinegar to 32 ounces of water, a splash of baking soda, and drink with a straw or sometimes I add 2 T. of vinegar to 1/2 cup of warm water (usually first thing in the morning), a splash of baking soda, and drink with a straw. ACV can be hard on the enamel of your teeth unless you neutralize it.

Honestly, when I found this post today I was having a very difficult day but it was much better after the ACV, still fatigued but much better!


Best Wishes,

TJ

I have it too. Woke up this morning at almost 9:30. Rode the lawn mower around the yard for a little bit. Came in, sat down and fell back into a deep sleep for another 2 hours.

I have ZERO motivation to do anything at all! I just don't get it!!

I get exhausted pretty easily, but I do have an adrenal issue......

Please, if you ladies haven't already get tested for adrenal fatigue (adrenal stress test) and follow the guidelines from Dr. James Wilson's book 'Adrenal fatigue, The 21st century syndrome'...I have been doing it rigidly of late and am already feeling much better...(either that or it is my twice daily meditation I began recently?!)

I'm all for anything to improve my health and well being without medication...and its free!

Caz

I can't believe I just walked 9 miles fir the march of dimes today...With all the fatigue I've been going through. I walked with my 2 daughters and I'm totally wiped out!!! But I did it for the babies.... Char

sorry dont no what happend there having a bad day

sorry dont no what happend there having a bad day

Elizabeth,

Anything's possible......I've been going for counseling for years and tried many AD's and get terrible side effects.

Hugs,
Karen

just found this place!
reading through the thread makes me feel far less unusual and peculiar......

Fatigue? Oh yes. Flat Out tirdeness that sometimes lulls me to sleep wherever I happen to be.
Buses, trains, sofa, against the kitchen side units, in a meeting, on a floor........
Anywhere, IF i forget it's inappropriate!

Spent over three years back and fore with my doctor,
HRT ( of varying types) were a resounding disaster,
Life changes didn't help, as everyone assumed any symptoms were down to moving or physical illness.
Endless tests produced nothing but worry for everyone and achieved nothing.

I've found friends help ...............more than anything.
Just by accepting this new phase for me .....and being unfazed by it all.

I found this so interesting. I was feeling fine this morning till I stopped to have some applesauce w/ ground flax. About 30 minutes later I feel so heavy. It's as though my thighs are weighted with cement and I'm having to drag myself around. There was another thread recently that mentioned trouble with flax seed due to the phtoestrogens. I responded then that I have been taking flax for years and never had a problem but maybe it's contributed to some of my symptoms and I never put it together till now. I'll definitely be more cognizant of it now. Thanks for mentioning it.

You might want to also check to see if there are any additives that are different in either of those. It could very well be a reaction to something that the manufacturer has changed. I've had experiences where I switched brands and the brand had a different additive than the previous brand that I was using.


TJ

CarolH isn't this a great place to brainstorm. You can ask or say just about anything and no one will think you're crazy or weird. Yes, I thought flax may be a little off the wall, but thought it worth mentioning. I'll avoid it for awhile and "maybe" try it in the future. Interestingly the past couple of days I've felt pretty darn good. Who knows how long it will last, but I'll take it!

Hi Girls,
I can relate to what most of you are experiencing - arms & legs feeling heavy as lead, muscle aches & pains & fatigue & low energy. I was diagnosed with CFS / ME but wasn't offered any treatment so I started a new therapy over here called Reverse Therapy & was lucky to find a brilliant therapist who is very experienced & also qualified in NLP, psychotherapy & hypnotherapy.

Anyway, I've been seeing him for about 18 months & he has helped me to return to work 3 days a week, I have a social life again & my confidence is almost back to normal. I do still have occassional days where I don't feel so great or my energy is very low but I can usually find the reason for that - eg: worrying about something, allowing myself to feel overwhelmed by chores, responsibilities, not balancing my day etc.

I personally feel that, for me, there wasn't one single cause for feeling like I did but a combination of environmental pressures, bereavement, perimenopause & years of being a worrier & control freak. It's like when all these things came together my body just said 'Enough!' & sent me these symptoms to 'warn & guide me' so that I would make the necessary changes that would help me to lead a healthier, more balanced life. I also believe that when you hit peri your body just can't cope in the same way as when you were in your 20's & 30's.

I still have lots of work to do &, as I said, I still have bad days but I know I have improved so much. The best thing for me has been the improvement in my anxiety levels. I was so fed up of people saying to me 'well, you won't ever be free of anxiety, you'll probably just have to find ways to deal with it' when I knew that being anxious wasn't who I really was. I have learned to think & live in a fearful way & over time this caused my body to send me anxiety so that I would deal with my fears etc & then my body could stop sending me anxiety but instead I misinterpreted the messages my body was sending me & became afraid of anxiety & the physical sensations which then just caused my body to send me more anxiety & stronger symptoms as I wasn't dealing with stuff. Eventually, the constant flow of adrenaline led to panic attacks & then on to fatigue & exhaustion.
To your body, a threat is a threat, & whether it be a sabre-toothed tiger or a stressful job or too many responsibilities your body will react in the same way to warn, guide & protect you.

I don't know if I'm explaining this very well but what I'm trying to say is maybe look at your lifestyle & see where you can make improvements so that your life has more balance. One thing I do at the start of the day is write a list of wants & needs & then I alternate between them so that the things I enjoy aren't left until the end of the day because I've been doing chores all day.

Also, as my anxiety levels have lowered I don't get as many peri symptoms & the ones I do are much milder. I guess this is because the endocrine system is thrown out of balance during peri & anxiety & they impact on each other.
Anyway, I'm sorry this is such a long post but I just wanted you to know that I understand what you're all going through & that finding balance in your life may be a good starting point. If you suffer from anxiety I think finding a good therapist to help with this is crucial.
Anyway, hope you're all feeling better soon!
Take care,
love Sarah xx

Char,
I can relate or at least I used to be able to. I know exactly what you mean. I had everything you said when I woke up and was so tired at the same time. I tried to lay down so many times but couldn't sit still.
I can remember thinking if only I could rest and feel like I used to.. feeling it would never go away but I'm so happy to say I never ever wake up like that anymore! Hang in there this will pass!

If you girls dont mind me chimeing in real quick what I found has really helped is VIT B 12 sublingual supplements but even more ROYAL JELLY Supplements. I take the one by NatureBee they sell out of I believe New Zealand.
You can google it and read up on it.

I also cut out coffee because it had highs and lows.

Orange juice in the AM also gives you a natural boost.

I try real hard to do at least 25 min on the eliptical machine or I would walk if I wasnt afraid of loose dogs, LOL.

Take care
Tinks

Caz, thanks for the recommendation on Dr. James Wilson's book 'Adrenal fatigue, The 21st century syndrome. I got it yesterday. I think I have this. All of my bad stuff started after my dad passed away, which really did a number on me. I think my adrenals got exhausted. Anyhow the "cure" is not anything drastic, good eating, some supplements, exercise, sleep, etc. Stuff we all already know we should do to help all of of "stuff". It's just another extra push to keep all that stuff up and try to get better. Thanks for suggesting!!!

Oh yes, I can relate. I will try to lay down and take a nap and it is like someone flips a switch and on comes my brain. Thoughts just start coming. Stupid stuff like I wonder how so and so is, I need to call this person, I need to do this, I wonder this, I wonder that, what will I fix for supper tonight. It is more tiresome to lay there, with my brain working so hard.

I have just started BHRT, and changed over to armour thyroid so I am hoping that is going to help.

This mess has been going on for over 3 years and I am debilitated.

I can drag the trash to the curb and it feels like someone pulled the plug right out from under me! I feel totally drained from the least bit of exertion. I have a dr. appt. tomorrow, so hopefully will get to the bottom of this very soon.