Dieting on menstration

maryjane159

Sorry if talking about periods gross anybody out but I can’t find anything about it on the internet so thought I’d check here. Basically I diet and I do fine I feel great and have more energy but the day before my period starts I struggle to walk I constantly faint and I struggle breathing and my family have said that my lips go a blue colour and before I lost complete vision for an hour I’m always sent home from work because I literally can’t function it happens every single time for like the first 2/3 days if I’m eating how I would when I don’t try to be healthy I’m fine. I’ve gone to the doctors and he was really rude and just told me to stop dieting if I had a problem however I don’t want to do that so I was wondering if anybody here had a any idea what could be causing this and a solution around it. Thankyou

toxikon

Yikes, that sounds awful.

Are you able to get a second opinion from a different doctor? Your current doctor sounds super rude and dismissive.

How many calories are you eating every day? What's your height and weight?

janejellyroll

If you have trouble maintaining consciousness and breathing and you're losing your vision, you need to get another doctor. Keep at this until someone takes you seriously and helps you resolve this.

TavistockToad

Eat at maintenance for a couple of days each month.

rheddmobile

I used to feel really faint and weak the day before my period and they never did find a reason for it (menopausal now). However, losing vision for an hour sounds like your problems are really severe! I agree to find another doctor.

I do think you should eat at maintenance during this time - due to water retention most women don't see a loss during this time anyway. It's only a couple days out of a month, don't sweat it, have a few more carbs and some iron-rich foods. You will not sabotage your long term loss by taking a short break every month.

kshama2001

My first thought is that when you 'try to be healthy' you are undereating, and that your increased metabolic need premenstrually exacerbates this. Many women, including myself, eat at maintenance for a few days premenstrually.

How tall are you?
How many pounds do you need to lose to reach your goal weight?
What's your weekly weight loss goal set to?
How many calories do you eat per day?

Rebecca0224

Did your doctor do any blood work? If not make an appointment and request it.

speedingticket

If I understand correctly, this only happens if you're restricting your calories? If so...don't restrict them. You can afford to eat at maintenance for 2-3 days a month.

If it's happening regardless, although the diet seems to be making it worse, then definitely go back to the doctor (ideally another one) because what you describe sounds like it needs medical attention.

megs_1985

Definitely see a different doc and request blood work esp thyroid and iron levels. It's not uncommon for women to become anemic during their period which would explain the lightheadedness. The vision could be a severe symptom of that or maybe a blood pressure issue. As for eating try some iron rich foods (spinach, steak, etc,) and drink lots of water and maybe try eating at maintenance.

yirara

megs_1985 wrote: »

Definitely see a different doc and request blood work esp thyroid and iron levels. It's not uncommon for women to become anemic during their period which would explain the lightheadedness. The vision could be a severe symptom of that or maybe a blood pressure issue. As for eating try some iron rich foods (spinach, steak, etc,) and drink lots of water and maybe try eating at maintenance.

Exactly this. And a few other blood tests. If someone is severely anaemic then oxygen transport can be limited, which might result in shortness of breath (maybe blue lips, but that would be fairly extreme). So get that checked. If you are super anaemic then just eating more meat won't do much. Iron tablets potentially though that takes months to refill. Iron infusions are much faster.

Can I ask if you are on any birth control? If so, have you ever considered taking them in long-term cycle, thus without taking a break every month but only every few months?

gracegettingittogether

janejellyroll wrote: »

If you have trouble maintaining consciousness and breathing and you're losing your vision, you need to get another doctor. Keep at this until someone takes you seriously and helps you resolve this.

This! Find another doctor and get this checked out. This is serious and not normal, especially if it's affecting your work. What a bad doctor! I'm an RN, btw.