03-03-2016, 03:16
Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 20 2007 at 10:12 PM lassysam (Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
Does estrogen make you tired or is it the herbs?
I have been tired throughout the last month and more so especially now on the 3rd day of my period.
I am taking Fenugreek, Saw Palmetto, and Wild Yam. I took a break the last two days though and even though I slept good both yesterday and today I felt that I could just fall asleep in the car while my husband was driving. I have never been the type to fall asleep in the car before. And I am finding it extremely hard to get motivated to do anything at all it seems... just so tired! Are you other ladies doing NBE feeling tired?
Is it an effect of all hormone boosting programs?
littlemadison
(Login littlemadison)
SENIOR MEMBER
herbs
January 20 2007, 10:18 PM
I think it is probably the Fenugreek, which I read can have an impact on how tired you are. How much are you taking a day?
littlemadison
(Login littlemadison)
SENIOR MEMBER
Found in Newbies Thread:
January 20 2007, 10:22 PM
EVE MEMBERS POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF NBE: March 26 2006, 7:49 PM
1. Mood Swings
~as your hormones adjust, you might feel more emotional than normal.
Sensitivity, anxiety,irritability are all fairly common.
2. Tiredness*****************
~Some women feel tierd when using certain herbs
~Fenugreek is the most common culprit because it has the effect of lowering blood sugar levels.*****************
~If you feel your tierd either lower your dosage of fenugreek or substitute with something else. (fruit can also help)
3. Water retention
~Because phytoestrogens mimic the effects of estrogen,they can lead to water retention. (any diuretic herb can help counteract this-red clover is one exaMPLE)
4. eARLY OR LATE PERIODS
~May come earlier,later,or heavier than normal.
~they should be normal after the body adjusts to the herbs.
~if your period is more than a week late-STOP all herbs.
5. Lactation
~IF lactation occurs you may want to lower fenugreek.
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
my amounts
January 20 2007, 10:25 PM
I am taking 3,000 mg a day. I don't want to take less though, because with this amount I get lots of growing sensations, tingling, soreness etc. But even the two days I didn't take any herbs at all I still felt so dog tired. If it was the fenugreek, wouldn't I have felt perkier those two days?
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
Thank you
January 20 2007, 10:35 PM
Thank you for the info from the newbies thread. I appreciate your help in trying to pin point this for me. It really doesn't feel like low blood sugar. I've been eating all day. I am leaning towards the hormone theory though. No one else is tired?
I remember when I was a teenager I was tired more and definitely when I was pregnant, but then I was growing another human being, so obviously that would make one tired.
I would really like to know, how many BE'ers are feeling tired though. Just out of curiosity.
diana
(Login Diana1978)
SENIOR MEMBER
hi
January 20 2007, 10:56 PM
the 1st 3 wks or so i was literally the living dead. i would fall asleep at 7 right along with the kids. i thought it was the fenugreek. but it was because i had cut down my caffeine intake from a little over a liter a day to less than 6 ounces a day. that made a big difference. i upped my caffeine a little bit. and i think i reduced my fenugreek a little. hope this helps. good luck.
littlemadison
(Login littlemadison)
SENIOR MEMBER
sleepiness
January 20 2007, 11:08 PM
I am always tired, but I think mainly because I am so anemic. I have been doing my program for only about 10 days now, but have been getting very tired once the sun goes down. By 8 or 9, I'm ready for bed. I had always been a night owl, staying up between 2 and 4 in the morning. Don't know if it's the anemia, new early working hours, or the fenugreek. I guess I'll be more sure next month when I increase the dosage...
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
tiredness
January 20 2007, 11:14 PM
Thank you for sharing your experience. It does help. I have been consuming more caffeine to battle this tiredness, but it doesn't seem to have much of an effect at all. I'll drink 2 cans of Pepsi in the afternoon and before that would have helped quite a bit, now it seems much less effective. I can drink a can of cola or have a cup of coffee and take a nap!
My own theory is that I am not use to this increase in hormones, estrogen probably and that I will maybe get more use to it and feel less tired as I go on, but to be on the safe side I am taking a multi vitamin with iron in it and I do eat red meat, fish, chicken and lots of other protein. If it could be something else though I need to find out.
If I know that it is a very common thing for women on BE, then I know I just need to ride it out.
Ann5
(Login Ann5)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 20 2007, 11:15 PM
Even though your not taking ur doses for a couple of days you could still feel the effects of the herbs. It takes a few days to get out of the system. When I was lowering my dose, it took about 5-7 days for soreness to completely go away.
emmie
(Login emmiedee)
maybe you can try
January 21 2007, 11:54 AM
maybe you can swap out some of the fenugreek for fennel? if it is contributing, then the switch might help.
drink more water... youd be surprised how much energy hydration gives you. shoot for 2-3 liters a day. its how recruits get through basic training (well that and ranger pudding, but that stuff is pretty gross)...
how are you sleeping at night? waking up a lot (even little bits here and there that you might not remember)? might be time for a new pillow...
Alcest
(Login Alcest)
Re: Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 21 2007, 2:46 PM
I've been on Wonderup for 4 months and ughhhh does it make me tired =(. I yawn constantly some days and it drives my boyfriend crazy. I thought I was becomming anemic, but I suppose it is all the fenugreek in the Wonderup.
I think I'm going to stop Wonderup in another month or so anyway. =( No change at all so far, and after 4 months you would think I'd see something.
Jess
(Login IttyBittyTitty)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 21 2007, 6:33 PM
Hey lassy,
I went through a short stage of feeling extremely tired too. It must have been the herbs. Anyway, it didn't last long--maybe a couple weeks. I thought it might have been the hops I'm taking so I rearranged my doses to where I don't take hops before bed anymore. Whether it was the hops or just general adjustment I don't know but the fatigue did go away. Also I added a daily B12 vitamin. Of course age and diet are a huge role.
You said you take coffee and Pepsi to perk you up....don't do that!!!!! :-) Caffeine and sugar just aggravates and perpetuates things. May I suggest Somersizing: www.SuzanneSomers.com. There are other posts about this somewhere if you're curious and do go to her website and look at the before/after pictures too. Hormones have everything to do with fatigue, weight loss/gain and growing boobies!
Jess
diana
(Login Diana1978)
SENIOR MEMBER
RANGER PUDDING!
January 21 2007, 7:02 PM
You know what i miss the dehydrated strawberries. yum. and oh the jalapeno cheese. but then i am old school cause i liked the breakfast mre's. remember them? in the dark brown packaging? lol. am i showing my age? or the fact that the supply room still had some left over from the 1st gulf conflict. lol.
emmie
(Login emmiedee)
ha!
January 21 2007, 7:10 PM
we found CASES of old mres... our commander wasnt even sure if they were good anymore... i asked him what he was talking about because with the amount of preservatives (and calories) in those things they would probably outlast cockroaches and twinkies should the nuclear fallout finally come.
any of the fruits... we didnt get the breakfast ones too often. those were "special occasion" mres...
i trade jalapeno cheese for peanut butter, or whatever fruit someone else gets...
for those who dont know, ranger pudding is a concoction of everything that might keep you awake that you can scrounge from meals-ready-to-eat (mre) packs. little bit of cocoa, some water, coffee grounds... the list goes on and it is really pretty gross, but boy will that stuff keep you awake on firewatch!
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
Energy!
January 22 2007, 7:48 PM
Sounds good to me! I want some MRE's!
Thanks for all the advice guys- I have been feeling a bit better. I have been adding a red clover capsule to my program every day and that stuff seems to have a stimulation effect on me. Also taking more B and C vitamins. I just got a new pillow and I have been waking up with a stiff neck. Throwing in some exercise which is absolutely killing me. My muscles haven't been used since we had cows and had to chase them when they got out... probably 8 yrs ago. Got this 8 min core pilates DVD and even though they are short exercises, man do they burn! Then I can barely move after I stiffen up.
I am 37 now and I am thinking I could us some of that Ranger pudding or whatever you call it! : )
January 20 2007 at 10:12 PM lassysam (Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
Does estrogen make you tired or is it the herbs?
I have been tired throughout the last month and more so especially now on the 3rd day of my period.
I am taking Fenugreek, Saw Palmetto, and Wild Yam. I took a break the last two days though and even though I slept good both yesterday and today I felt that I could just fall asleep in the car while my husband was driving. I have never been the type to fall asleep in the car before. And I am finding it extremely hard to get motivated to do anything at all it seems... just so tired! Are you other ladies doing NBE feeling tired?
Is it an effect of all hormone boosting programs?
littlemadison
(Login littlemadison)
SENIOR MEMBER
herbs
January 20 2007, 10:18 PM
I think it is probably the Fenugreek, which I read can have an impact on how tired you are. How much are you taking a day?
littlemadison
(Login littlemadison)
SENIOR MEMBER
Found in Newbies Thread:
January 20 2007, 10:22 PM
EVE MEMBERS POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF NBE: March 26 2006, 7:49 PM
1. Mood Swings
~as your hormones adjust, you might feel more emotional than normal.
Sensitivity, anxiety,irritability are all fairly common.
2. Tiredness*****************
~Some women feel tierd when using certain herbs
~Fenugreek is the most common culprit because it has the effect of lowering blood sugar levels.*****************
~If you feel your tierd either lower your dosage of fenugreek or substitute with something else. (fruit can also help)
3. Water retention
~Because phytoestrogens mimic the effects of estrogen,they can lead to water retention. (any diuretic herb can help counteract this-red clover is one exaMPLE)
4. eARLY OR LATE PERIODS
~May come earlier,later,or heavier than normal.
~they should be normal after the body adjusts to the herbs.
~if your period is more than a week late-STOP all herbs.
5. Lactation
~IF lactation occurs you may want to lower fenugreek.
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
my amounts
January 20 2007, 10:25 PM
I am taking 3,000 mg a day. I don't want to take less though, because with this amount I get lots of growing sensations, tingling, soreness etc. But even the two days I didn't take any herbs at all I still felt so dog tired. If it was the fenugreek, wouldn't I have felt perkier those two days?
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
Thank you
January 20 2007, 10:35 PM
Thank you for the info from the newbies thread. I appreciate your help in trying to pin point this for me. It really doesn't feel like low blood sugar. I've been eating all day. I am leaning towards the hormone theory though. No one else is tired?
I remember when I was a teenager I was tired more and definitely when I was pregnant, but then I was growing another human being, so obviously that would make one tired.
I would really like to know, how many BE'ers are feeling tired though. Just out of curiosity.
diana
(Login Diana1978)
SENIOR MEMBER
hi
January 20 2007, 10:56 PM
the 1st 3 wks or so i was literally the living dead. i would fall asleep at 7 right along with the kids. i thought it was the fenugreek. but it was because i had cut down my caffeine intake from a little over a liter a day to less than 6 ounces a day. that made a big difference. i upped my caffeine a little bit. and i think i reduced my fenugreek a little. hope this helps. good luck.
littlemadison
(Login littlemadison)
SENIOR MEMBER
sleepiness
January 20 2007, 11:08 PM
I am always tired, but I think mainly because I am so anemic. I have been doing my program for only about 10 days now, but have been getting very tired once the sun goes down. By 8 or 9, I'm ready for bed. I had always been a night owl, staying up between 2 and 4 in the morning. Don't know if it's the anemia, new early working hours, or the fenugreek. I guess I'll be more sure next month when I increase the dosage...
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
tiredness
January 20 2007, 11:14 PM
Thank you for sharing your experience. It does help. I have been consuming more caffeine to battle this tiredness, but it doesn't seem to have much of an effect at all. I'll drink 2 cans of Pepsi in the afternoon and before that would have helped quite a bit, now it seems much less effective. I can drink a can of cola or have a cup of coffee and take a nap!
My own theory is that I am not use to this increase in hormones, estrogen probably and that I will maybe get more use to it and feel less tired as I go on, but to be on the safe side I am taking a multi vitamin with iron in it and I do eat red meat, fish, chicken and lots of other protein. If it could be something else though I need to find out.
If I know that it is a very common thing for women on BE, then I know I just need to ride it out.
Ann5
(Login Ann5)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 20 2007, 11:15 PM
Even though your not taking ur doses for a couple of days you could still feel the effects of the herbs. It takes a few days to get out of the system. When I was lowering my dose, it took about 5-7 days for soreness to completely go away.
emmie
(Login emmiedee)
maybe you can try
January 21 2007, 11:54 AM
maybe you can swap out some of the fenugreek for fennel? if it is contributing, then the switch might help.
drink more water... youd be surprised how much energy hydration gives you. shoot for 2-3 liters a day. its how recruits get through basic training (well that and ranger pudding, but that stuff is pretty gross)...
how are you sleeping at night? waking up a lot (even little bits here and there that you might not remember)? might be time for a new pillow...
Alcest
(Login Alcest)
Re: Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 21 2007, 2:46 PM
I've been on Wonderup for 4 months and ughhhh does it make me tired =(. I yawn constantly some days and it drives my boyfriend crazy. I thought I was becomming anemic, but I suppose it is all the fenugreek in the Wonderup.
I think I'm going to stop Wonderup in another month or so anyway. =( No change at all so far, and after 4 months you would think I'd see something.
Jess
(Login IttyBittyTitty)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Does Estrogen Make You Tired Or Is It...
January 21 2007, 6:33 PM
Hey lassy,
I went through a short stage of feeling extremely tired too. It must have been the herbs. Anyway, it didn't last long--maybe a couple weeks. I thought it might have been the hops I'm taking so I rearranged my doses to where I don't take hops before bed anymore. Whether it was the hops or just general adjustment I don't know but the fatigue did go away. Also I added a daily B12 vitamin. Of course age and diet are a huge role.
You said you take coffee and Pepsi to perk you up....don't do that!!!!! :-) Caffeine and sugar just aggravates and perpetuates things. May I suggest Somersizing: www.SuzanneSomers.com. There are other posts about this somewhere if you're curious and do go to her website and look at the before/after pictures too. Hormones have everything to do with fatigue, weight loss/gain and growing boobies!
Jess
diana
(Login Diana1978)
SENIOR MEMBER
RANGER PUDDING!
January 21 2007, 7:02 PM
You know what i miss the dehydrated strawberries. yum. and oh the jalapeno cheese. but then i am old school cause i liked the breakfast mre's. remember them? in the dark brown packaging? lol. am i showing my age? or the fact that the supply room still had some left over from the 1st gulf conflict. lol.
emmie
(Login emmiedee)
ha!
January 21 2007, 7:10 PM
we found CASES of old mres... our commander wasnt even sure if they were good anymore... i asked him what he was talking about because with the amount of preservatives (and calories) in those things they would probably outlast cockroaches and twinkies should the nuclear fallout finally come.
any of the fruits... we didnt get the breakfast ones too often. those were "special occasion" mres...
i trade jalapeno cheese for peanut butter, or whatever fruit someone else gets...
for those who dont know, ranger pudding is a concoction of everything that might keep you awake that you can scrounge from meals-ready-to-eat (mre) packs. little bit of cocoa, some water, coffee grounds... the list goes on and it is really pretty gross, but boy will that stuff keep you awake on firewatch!
lassysam
(Login lassysam)
SENIOR MEMBER
Energy!
January 22 2007, 7:48 PM
Sounds good to me! I want some MRE's!
Thanks for all the advice guys- I have been feeling a bit better. I have been adding a red clover capsule to my program every day and that stuff seems to have a stimulation effect on me. Also taking more B and C vitamins. I just got a new pillow and I have been waking up with a stiff neck. Throwing in some exercise which is absolutely killing me. My muscles haven't been used since we had cows and had to chase them when they got out... probably 8 yrs ago. Got this 8 min core pilates DVD and even though they are short exercises, man do they burn! Then I can barely move after I stiffen up.
I am 37 now and I am thinking I could us some of that Ranger pudding or whatever you call it! : )