Ruby,

I wrote a post about a year ago asking questions about how other female CFS sufferers felt around that time but for the opposite reason. The week leading up to and during my period are awful, my fatigue levels rise, my pain levels increase and my dizziness problems go crazy. Many replied saying they experience the same as me so I am interested to hear if others are affected positively like yourself. I do feel that hormones play a role in either making us feel better or worse than usual. Although I feel worse at this time I am glad to hear that you feel a little better, got to take any respite whoever you can.

Waiting with interest to other comments on this one.
Jen

My menstrual cycle always causes my fibro, cfs to flare up. My Drs hope that after I go thru menopause, that will be one less flare up.

I feel worse as well. To the point that I will be wondering why I feel so much worse...and then it starts. It can be the week before, during, and/or after for me.

Mine is also worse before and during. Which makes is doubly unlucky for me that things have been out of whack this year and I've had 6 since 2013 started. (This current one has gone on for 14 days now...)

als382 - you might want to consider going on birth control pills to regulate your periods. They have some really low dose pills now an you might feel a little better during the in-between times. Just a suggestion.

Thanks JenBen01. I've tried taking BC continuously (like Seasonale with 3-4 periods per year, but a little higher of a dose) and that had me spotting for a full year, with probably 20 days total of no spotting. It did even out after a while but there was always a little spotting between periods.

What's happening now is likely the result if trying to go on regular low-dose BC. I'm seeing my doc Thursday and we'll likely return to the IUD discussion. It feels like a big decision but I'm so tired of years and years of these issues, so I'm up for anything!

Hi,

I feel really better 10 days before period and during period.

I had mono 1.5 years ago, and never felt well since that, head aches and joint pain remains..

I always feel worse. Dizzy, lighted headed, weak & migraines. Interesting that someone feels better. I asume that's similar to pregnant women, some feel better some worse. Happy for you :-)

Nope. Never.
There is no evidence that hormones play any role. After all, children and men are afflicted with ME/CFS too.

But I did find that cutting meat out of my diet worked wonders for my IBS!