Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

I'm permanently on the birth control pill, so I never have a period because I have such problems. If it didn't involve surgery, I'd have a hysterectomy tomorrow.

I'm the same - for years it's been usual for me to be particularly fatigued the week before and the week after menstruating - so bad that, like EMilo, I'd considered a hysterectomy just to stop the cycle. Everyone just kept saying it was the drop in iron levels and I tried all sorts of iron supplements but they did nothing to help and some of them made me very nauseous. I found the fatigue seemed different to CFS fatigue but I do think that each made the other worse - so I reckon that although not directly related, they do influence each other. Then a herbalist recommended Floradix liquid iron formula - I dubiously started on it and the menstrual fatigue disappeared after a couple of months. It was such a relief to finally get through a month without that extra layer of exhaustion. The Floradix did still make me feel nauseous but I decided it was worth it to get rid of the fatigue. Then I discovered it came in tablet form - Floradix Iron Supplement Tablets, so I thought I'd give them a go. Bingo! I now take one of these a day & have no menstrual fatigue or nausea. It helps with my CFS too, in that I am now better able to monitor my CFS fatigue 'cause its not being added to by menstrual fatigue. Everyone's different so they might not work for you but I'd recommend giving them a try for a couple of months. Hopefully it might be just the little miracle you need.

The week prior to my cycle beginning, I am way more tired than normal. The day before and the day of, I am completely wiped out. Then it begins to get a bit better. Don't know if that helps or not, but that is my story. Hope you feel better!

Oh yeah I can relate, the week before leading up to it is bad and the first few days I am totally wiped out, usually take that whole week to return to my normal level.

I take a progesterone only contraceptive pill which helps a little, when I decided to come off of it last year it was sheer hell. I don't know why but it does seem to dampen some of my CFS symptoms.

Me too! The week before is the worst!!!

I was on the pill prior to getting CFS and I noticed my period would bring an increase in pain and depression symptoms. I started taking my pill 3 months in a row and then have a period and that has made a world of difference.

I feel extra wiped out at that time too. Sucks. I May have to try the iron supplement Vohn mentioned.

I too have noticed increased symptoms the week before and at the beginning of my period. I didn't know if it was just my imagination but now that you mentioned it I'm going to journal it for a few months to see if I can gather some consistent data to take to my Dr. Thank you for your post.