Fatigue worse after lunch?

It seems for me that as soon as I eat lunch, then my fatigue really hits for the day. I usually don't feel better until nearly bedtime. Does anyone else experience this? I also get very woozy/lightheaded before I eat. I'm beginning to think I should have my blood sugar tested but last time they did a non-fasting test they said I was fine.

I just don't feel like my body knows what to do with the food I eat. My GI says my B12 levels are fine. Can the numbers all be fine and this all still be because of the CD?

I am now getitng B12 shots and my levels are supposedly fine. I read an article that says just becuase your levels are fine with Crohn's doesn't mean much.  The shot does wonders.  I would ask for it.

I noticed that I feel much worse after meals, as well. I'm trying to decrease my portion sizes and eat more frequently throughout the day, which seems to help a bit, although I'm really messed up on prednisone right now, so it's hard to know what will work once I'm off of it. Although, my friend who also has Crohn's said the same thing...that smaller, more frequent meals helps. Try every 3-4 hours.

Thanks for all your thoughts and ideas. I'm also beginning to wonder if I have a reaction to wheat products or something. I'm going to do some experiments where I only eat meat and potatoes for a few days and see how I feel. I was checked for celiac and don't have that, but maybe something in the grains causes problems for me.

I also find eating small meals throughout the day helps. I get really weak if I dont eat and need to eat things w/ sugar. I know sugar can be bad for crohns but Im pretty sure I am borderline hypoglycemic. My doc said when Im feeling like that to pair a sugar or carbohydrate w/ a protein. The protein keeps it in your system longer to avoid the spike and crash from the blood sugar. Are you getting any protein in your diet? I know it can be hard when nuts and peanut butter, are hard for us. I eat protein bars or drink protein shakes or nibble on sandwhich meat or pepporoni slices. Ill drink some OJ with that too and Ill get some of my energy back.

It is hard to eat small, frequent meals, but it's actually healthier in general, so I figure it's probably a good habit to learn even without having Crohn's. One strategy I'm trying to use is cutting my lunch in half and eating part of it at 10:30 or so (before I get hungry) and then the rest a couple of hours later. I'm trying to do the same with dinner, but it's an adjustment. I also try to carry a lot of snacks around. Bananas don't bother me (all other fruit does) and jello pudding snacks are good, although I know some people have problems with lactose. Also, Ensure makes a good pudding, as well. I now carry around saltine crackers (unsalted tops) and zone bars, so I will have a snack in any situation. I just got diagnosed a month ago, so I'm still trying to figure everything out. One thing I noticed immediately is that if I eat too much, then I get really sick and incredibly fatigued. Also, if I wait too long to eat and I'm really hungry, then I get really sick and fatigued. But, if anyone has any other suggestions, then I'd love to hear them too, because I'm still adjusting to all of this.

Fitsky you're on the right track with the protein and low blood sugar symptoms.

Everyone; it may help to restructure your your approach to the 5-6 small meals a day. It is healthier even for non-CD's to eat this way and it helps insure blood glucose levels are kept at a more constant level throughout the day, especially if you increase the protein intake. However, this does not mean you have to COOK that many times! Who says you have to have cereal for breakfast and pasta for dinner? If you like a food and it's nutritional and it is something you can pre-cook and freeze, what's stopping you from having homemade pasta for breakfast! As long as you're eating breakfast and trying to meet your nutritional needs, eat what you like and of course what you can tolerate.

As to the after lunch fatigue...keep in mind that high carb diets such as the ones most of us crohnnies eat process into pure sugar in the bloodstream. Also, I imagine most of us that have any energy have it pretty well expended by lunch anyway. Hence, the after lunch crash.

I have threated my GI that I'm moving to Spain. They have the climate my skin needs, the diet my CD loves, they take 2 hour lunches/naps everyday in their daily schedule and they don't eat dinner until 9-10pm at night ( about the time the predinose munchies begin to hit)! What 'cha think?

See....I told you this is where I need to live! I wouldn't mind the heat (being a witch and all) especially with no humidity! Now, if I can't just figure out how not to melt in the water? There is so very much that fasinates me about the Mediteranian!

For the most part lunch is my biggest meal of the day. Just kinda fell into that with my schedule. Not really hungry until about 10am and usually do a light breakfast of yogurt & water and sometimes a bagel with low fat peanut butter. Lunch, if I have time, I PIG OUT. Then nappy time! Dinner is light. I usually finish up the day with light snack or boost an hour or so before bed. I would imagine someone with a lot of reflux would have to skip the bedtime snack though. Oh, and absolutely nothing, not even coffee goes in my mouth in the morning until about an hour after my nexium dose!