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Fatigue worse after lunch?

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Ohana
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 89
Posted 9/25/2007 11:44 AM (GMT -6)
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?

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jdiane
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Joined : Jan 2003
Posts : 1177
Posted 9/25/2007 12:08 PM (GMT -6)
I'd say its pretty common to become more tired/sleepy after a meal......
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Jenn4dex
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Joined : Mar 2006
Posts : 501
Posted 9/25/2007 2:15 PM (GMT -6)
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.
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CrohnieToo
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Joined : May 2003
Posts : 9448
Posted 9/25/2007 4:47 PM (GMT -6)
I was just reading this morning (wish I had saved the URL) that over 1/2 the societies of the world take an afternoon nap. The US isn't one of those societies unfortunately.

I often experience either extreme tiredness and fatigue OR very bad CHILLS after a meal. I finally decided (just to quit driving myself crazy wanting an answer no doctor has been able to give me) that my body is so busy digesting the food it doesn't have the energy to keep me awake and/or to keep my core body temp up enough to be comfortable.
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ProfCrohny
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Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 44
Posted 9/26/2007 10:27 AM (GMT -6)
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.
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CrohnieToo
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Joined : May 2003
Posts : 9448
Posted 9/26/2007 11:00 AM (GMT -6)
Yeah, sure, and it is so EASY to eat 6 small but nurishing, well-balanced, meals a day when most of us can't eat raw veggies, raw fruits, etc., etc. etc. Plus I just LOVE cooking 1 meal a day much less up to 6 meals a day. Call in the nutritionist/dietician to make up an easy menu for me, will ya? Thanks!
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Ohana
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Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 89
Posted 9/26/2007 11:02 AM (GMT -6)
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.

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MishBall2
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Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 345
Posted 9/26/2007 1:46 PM (GMT -6)
I'm on the same page.   I feel horrible after I eat anything when my Crohn's is acting up.   The worse my Crohn's is the worse I feel after eating.   It's not so much tired as "drained".  It lasts for about an 1-2 hours.

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FitzyK23
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Joined : May 2005
Posts : 4219
Posted 9/26/2007 4:48 PM (GMT -6)
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.
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dragonfly137927
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Joined : Sep 2006
Posts : 2527
Posted 9/26/2007 5:33 PM (GMT -6)
I tend to find that in the AM I am tired it could be that I am back to work for the first time since February from my surgeries. I have a less physical job now too. I noticce at lunch my belly really begins to talk to me and get uncomfortable. I take a dilaudid after I eat which helps to calm the D effects so I dont have it until later at night and it helps give me energy....I'm weird like that stimulants make me awake as do pain killers, I have trouble sleeping at night, well not since returning to work, but the meds like benadryl, tylenol PM etc dont have much of an effect with me. I think I have taken so much benadryl in my time that my body is immune to the tiresome effects. I have taken many Rx allergy meds and I still have to take benadryl in addition to the Rx meds. I take singulair now but that is for my asthma so I take it at night, I dont know if it helps allergies as well even tho it is an allergy med since time it is to be taken is different for allergies
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ProfCrohny
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 44
Posted 9/26/2007 5:45 PM (GMT -6)
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.
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ProfCrohny
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 44
Posted 9/26/2007 5:57 PM (GMT -6)
Dragonfly, benadryl stops having sleep-inducing effects after 3 days and tylenol PM is comparable. One of the reasons why doctors prescribe benadryl for sleep is because it's cheap and relatively safe (although can lead to some dehydration), but will not work longterm. If you are having sleep difficulties, then you should really consult with your doctor. In the meantime, chamomile tea has gabaergic properties, meaning that it works on receptors in the brain that are the same as what sleep medications work on. You may try it and see if it works before trying another sleep aid.
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broomhilda
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Joined : May 2007
Posts : 1495
Posted 9/26/2007 11:34 PM (GMT -6)
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?
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FitzyK23
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Joined : May 2005
Posts : 4219
Posted 9/27/2007 7:59 AM (GMT -6)
Broom- I live in Spain for a month and LOVED it. A lot of people on my trip got sick but I was miraculously super healthy. I wasn't diagnosed yet but knew I had major GI issues. My professor paired me w/ a family that didn't mind cooking me special meals. The nap was SO GREAT. The only thing I didnt like is we had our lunch and then had siesta. Even though Im always tired after lunch it felt really unhealthy to go to sleep right after eating. I did like that their lunch is their big meal of the day (like our dinner) and their supper was small like our lunch. Way better for digestion I think. I was a lot less sick in the morning that way too. I also did a ton of walking there. It was super super hot but no humidity which was nice.
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broomhilda
Veteran Member
Joined : May 2007
Posts : 1495
Posted 9/27/2007 8:21 PM (GMT -6)
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!
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