Extreme Fatigue/Sore Limbs: During Menstruation

I agree with Geneva. Your description is vivid and would be helpful for your doctor. Make notes of when this occurs with respect to your period - before, during, after? If you aren't recording your periods on a calendar, start. And pediatricians deal with teen girls so don't hesitate to go in to the doctor you already have, if you don't have a gynecologist. You should be in the room without your parent(s) at this stage in your life. Be honest about everything. Don't wait for your regular annual check-up - no point in delaying if that's a ways off.

While I think it is a good idea to mention these things at your next check up, I often experience fatigue during my period due to low iron. What seems to help, rather then just taking iron during those few days, is taking a daily vitamin that includes iron.

It's time to get yourself to a doctor and ask this question. Ask your own parents to take you in. If you don't have a regular physician, hit a Planned Parenthood clinic. Despite what the howling politicians want everyone to believe, the overwhelming majority of what they do is health care for young women such as you, and they tend to be very good at handling questions like this. They also scale payment according to your income.

Talk to your doctors about this but..
I tend towards anemia from low iron also. What helps me most is not waiting until I'm exhausted to take it, but, because I know it always happens during my period, I start taking an iron supplement about 2 days before my period is scheduled to begin, and take it until my period is over. It makes a huge difference for me.

Do talk to a doctor though! Iron overdose poisoning is real, and you need to know how much to take, and never take more than your doctor advises. Thinking to yourself "I'm really tired, so I'm going to take 2 of these today instead of one" is a very bad idea with iron!

You have had good responses to your question. I recall having to take iron supplements daily to help. Also try to do some exercise before your period to help strengthen the muscles. Make sure your diet is a good one with lots of dark green leafy vegetables and get rid of the junk food.

Go to the doctors with a list of what happens before during and after your period written down. Have a good chat with the doctor and work up a plan that will help you get through this part of womanhood. Right now your body is functioning as it should but it is adjusting to the way your cycles will go. I hope that you get the relief you need from the cramping and such.

the other S.

I don't have any advice, but I see you are scheduling a doctor's appt., so that's good. I just wanted to say that I too have experienced the thick, heavy feeling in my arms. It feels like you should have trouble moving them because they feel so heavy, but you don't. It's very strange. So I will be monitoring your responses to see if anyone addresses that issue. If your doctor addresses it, please post what he/she said.

Good luck to you.

hard to say, really. fatigue is fairly normal, but the weakness isn't common. taking iron supplements is smart. but you're at an age where miserable periods are the norm, and there are lots of causes and lots of potential solutions.
get thee to a GYN! and if you don't have one, find your local planned parenthood.
you're smart to keep good track of your symptoms. make sure you keep track of the onset dates too, so you can let the doctor know how regular you are.
khairete
S.

See a doctor and have your thyroid levels (TSH, free T3 and total T4) looked at.
You sound like you are hypothyroid.

Even I agree that consulting the doctor is only the decision you have to take regarding your problem. As you are only 15 years and such problems during menstruation should be cured on time so that you don't suffer from further complication. See that you inform your menstrual dates to your doctor, so that she can diagnose your issue, try to use cup menstruelle during periods for protection so that your menstrual hygiene is also maintain, you can check it from http://www.cupissima.com