Exhaustion during ovulation

[susyp]

Does anyone have extreme exhaustion during ovulation? It's becoming totally debilitating for me- I notice it

More on a day I am with my daughter as I find it so hard to parent. Anyone else get this- what

Can I do? Also find it hard to sleep.

Susypx

[gillandjoe]

I have found all aspects of my cycle pretty dreadful since having my son. My PMT is like fullblown depression for two weeks before I finally get my period. Not sure about the tiredness but I get ovulation pains now...called 'mitter' something or other.

Is it normal for periods to get much worse after having babies?

[jonbateson]

Mine got much worse after my second (didn't have enough to know between 1-2) I had a coil fitted, it's meant to help, def talk to your dr about it, no point suffering needlessly.

[sanity girl]

Yes, but I haven't done anything about it yet - planning to see my GP. Has become a problem since my periods returned after having my second child. My cycle has also become shorter. I have one good week out of three and a bit. Pretty grim so I feel for you.

[Anna27]

Same problem, worse since having my second, I also get really bad ovulation pain that can last up to a week, it's like having 2 periods a month! Even went for a scan of my ovaries at kings but all is normal. Completely controlled by my cycles now. Blood test did pick up that my iron levels were very low so I'm now taking a supplement hopefully that will combat the tiredness, especially hard to deal with the kids during ovulation, and they know it too!

[sanity girl]

Does anyone who has experienced this know why it happens? Anna27 can you describe the ovulation pain that you get? Mine is not so much cramps but more like a tenderness/soreness, a bit like the bladder pain you can get with cystitis, but it's not that. Are you doing anything to treat it other than the iron supplements? Totally agree with you about the 2 periods thing - I have the ovulation discomfort/exhaustion, then PMT, then heavy period - it's a nightmare!

[GinaG3]

I get this too and have a range of gynaecological conditions confirmed since childbirth.

I know ovulation from the physical and mental exhaustion, feeling of severe bruising across my pelvic region and dragging pain internally although because of all my conditions its hard to know what causes what. My consultants and specialists are vague and say it can be any as a lot of gynae conditions cause problems and pain/referred pain in other areas of the reproductive system. My hormone levels also fluctuate wildly and I suffer a lot of on and off fatigue. Your menstrual cycle also then plays havoc with your hormones, in turn putting your body out of sync. Its a lovely life for a woman!

The first things I had checked in the beginning of my lengthy tests was bloods. Hormone, CA125 marker, vitamin levels, anaemia and iron to name a few. I was vitamin D deficient and had higher than normal testosterone and oestrogen levels. The hormones apparently don't explain much but vitamin D did, obviously. I was given urgent vitamin D units at 20,000 a day for months which helped my overall fatigue for ages but I don't remember if it helped my fatigue during ovulation. I still get it now, but no longer take my prescription vitamin D as my levels are stable for now.

[susyp]

wow it's very reassuring that it's not just me and also that it seems to be a problem after having children. I can't take any type of hormone therapy but it's good to know that this is common. a while back i did start taking iron supplements and i remember a burst of energy - but that was before I started tracking my period so may have related more to my cycle. Am trying to be a bit more consistent in taking iron now but i think it is definitely a hormone thing - my period tracker said my days of ovuluation were either last saturday or sunday and i was utterly utterly wiped out both days. i think i am going to look into diet related help and try and up my exercise a bit as that has definitely helped with period pain (which i have posted about before - much better now - also taking pain killers a day or so before period is due) . but there must be natural ways to try and even out hormones.

if anyone knows of any good books or anything i can read to learn about this would be very interested to hear.

thanks so much i just feel much better knowing that this is not some weird thing that only i get as it never used to be a problem (but then i was on the pill)!

susypx

[Ellie78]

I'd consider other options too. My undiagnosed soy allergy caused chronic fatigue symptoms that would last for a day after eating. Couldn't get out of bed. GP went down all blood tests and told me there was nothing wring. It was so bad 6 years ago (I'd switched to soy milk in my cereal) that we were pursuing a CFS diagnosis. It was me who worked out it was soy, and as soon as I switched the symptoms disappeared. I shudder when I think I could have spent years out if work because of this- oh, and my GP didn't believe that soy could do this and refused to refer me to the allergies clinic. Ultimately, I got better and knew what to avoid myself, except soy is sneaky and ends up in loads of things- I still occasionally have bad days that I can always trace back to food the day before. (Sorryz, rant- everyone knows I think my GP is a waste of space).

My point is that you probably need to widen the net, so you don't shut down possible causes. U may well be right, you may not be. Have you tried ovulation sticks to confirm that you are ovulating in these days?.

[Ellie78]

Sorry- hope that post makes sense. Am

Now suffering from insomnia which, incidentally, always hits me in run up to my period. This is entirely normal, but this month is particularly bad.

[ludoscotts]

hi its worth trying magnesium-ok tablets from boots, some women suffer a huge lack of magnesium when they are ovulating/during periods. makes a huge difference if you suffer from pmt. Also worth trying drinking pure aloe vera juice. I have endometriosis and ive noticed a huge improvement every month in the 3 months ive been drinking aloe vera.

[Saffron]

I have some of these symptoms too. But is it really related to childbirth, or is it age-related? Do younger women with children have these symptoms too? I've been thinking about changing my copper coil to a mirena coil. Still undecided. I guess the only way to know if it will help is to try it.

In the meantime, I've found acupuncture to be helpful in so far as it's very relaxing. I always sleep better after acupuncture sessions. Giles Davies (at 15a Barry Road) is excellent for acupuncture. He and his wife have grown children, so he's very understanding about all post-childbirth issues from his own personal point of view as well. http://www.gilesdavies.com/ If you can't have hormone therapy, perhaps give acupuncture a go? xx

[sanity girl]

Ludoscotts do you take the magnesium every day or just during ovulation/period?

[susyp]

Acupuncture is a good thought. It worked wonders for my

Insomnia a decade ago. Will investigate . also will try cutting down on rubbish food and wheat. just found a fab soup stall near my work and amazingly a lentil based soup keeps me full for hours longer than a sandwich! x

Susypx

[ludoscotts]

hi I took every day its a multivitamin but with boosted levels of magnesium but you can just take for a few days before if you wish and if you are regular and know when to start taking it(which I never knew so took all the time)

[Anna27]

Sanity girl...the pain I get goes right through me normally on the left hand side and some months are worse than others, I put this down to it possibly being when I ovulate from the left ovarie.

With my first child it settled down about a year after having him, it's much worse now after my second who's nearly 2! Definitely hormonal, my skin gets bad around this time and I'm more emotional, complete lack of energy. I also suffered with post natal depression for a while, I feel that it's all linked.

I have found that exercise is key for me, I tend to do 2 or three classss a week, really lifts me and actually give me more energy. Pilates and aerobics, it's not helped with the ovulation pain though.

Great indicator, no need for an ovulation kit! but going fur number 3 that's another debate!

[Mrtibbs]

Did you ever manage to find a natural solution?

[melbourne groover]

I have started using Agnus Castus from Healthmatters. They are drops you take during the cycle but can honestly say it has been life changing in regards to the whole period cycle. Maybe worth talking to them in there. I know I sound melodramatic but things had got completely out of hand after having kids, she described it as slowing the swing of the pendulum to proper levels and that's how it feels! Am not sure about ovulation pain but worth a try maybe?

[sanity girl]

Going on the pill sorted it for me