Fatigue after eating: Does anyone else... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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Fatigue after eating

E3178 profile image
16 Replies

Does anyone else get immediate fatigue after eating?This is not a new thing for me and I have had it for years.

I doesn't feel like low blood sugar which I used to get some time ago.

I find myself doing more manual tasks first thing before breakfast as I know I won't feel like it afterward eating.

The fatigue is usually accompanied by tummy discomfort.

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E3178 profile image
E3178
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16 Replies
Dizzytwo profile image
DizzytwoModerator

Hello and good morning, have you spoke with your GP about the tummy and tiredness problem?

If not I really would advise you speak to a doctor. Pain or discomfort after eating could be caused by many things and really should be checked out by someone who is medically qualified.

If nothing else it would give you peace of mind. And if you need medication to settle your tummy the GP could prescribe that for you too. Why not give them a call today xx

Momo

E3178 profile image
E3178 in reply to Dizzytwo

Hi, I have had this for 40 years and am 80 next month.I have tried every therapist going including various doctors. The last one gave a prescription for anti depressants.

I have kept a daily food diary for all this time as I think it is food related.

I have tried so many different diets.

Some times it goes away but then comes back so I just accepted it.

I know that I can't eat much fruit or raw veg because that makes it worse.

I also can't take many meds including some medical creams and gels.

I have also tried fodmaps but it included a lot of things that I can't stomach.

I guess I am still hoping for a miracle.

A nice lady from this group suggested I look into Alkaline Tide which I will do.

Thankyou for your reply.

Dizzytwo profile image
DizzytwoModerator in reply to E3178

I am sorry to hear you have been troubled with your tummy for so long.

Momo

hello!

I have exactly the same issue. I try to not eat until all my jobs are done or I’m exhausted. All your blood and energy goes into digestion when you eat, so it makes sense if something isn’t quite right. So things that I have done to help, are balance meals, more veg/fruit and fibre. Only eat potatoes/pasta at night. Maybe make a food diary and see how you feel after each meal. FODMAP, may be worth a look at.

I also have PCOS so I struggle with insulin resistance, which I take berberine for.

Digestive issues are common, I would recommend going to the drs with your food diary and anything else you record. That way you’re listened to straight away.

If you have hypermobilty or EDS there are comorbidities That link all these wonderful issues together.

Lastly, DR Gabor Matè is well worth researching! Plenty of podcasts and YouTube videos. And best, his books! Life changing.

💜

E3178 profile image
E3178 in reply to Amethyst-Mermaid

Thankyou, I will look into dr Gabor Mate

Gaballetto profile image
Gaballetto

Hello, yes I have had the same experience for some years (20ish). My fatigue after eating has led me to try not to eat till after 2pm every day, so I can get some quality hours in every day to do the necessary tasks.

Unfortunately, I now have a job that involves me driving in the afternoons till about 5pm, so, to avoid that sometimes irresistable conking out I have to be VERY careful what I eat during the day - basically fruit and veg only, otherwise I get so tired I cannot stay awake ( and am even very difficult to rouse my husband says), along with stuffed up nose and red eyes and breathlessness.

I no longer eat cheese, milk products, meat or white bread products because I have found them the worst culprits, along with many ultra processed foods and most medications. White things seem to feature high on the list of things to avoid - am I kooky? or is it that I am sensitive to whatever nasties are added to make things white as white?... but the meds I react to are not all white tablets. I even get that same irresistible fatigue and fluey signs with gels and creams that go on the skin. My almost constant mouth ulcers stopped when I stopped using toothpaste to brush my teeth and stopped chewing gum. I can eat Kit Kats and Lindt chocolate but not Cadbury chocolate or Boost bars - all discovered by trial and error, as no medical professionals seem to be able to help much

The whole problem became much worse after I started HRT a year ago and my menopause GP diagnosed HIT/MCAS (Histamine Intolerance/Mast Cell Activation Syndrome). Earlier this year I got to the point where I was living on potatos and green veg and some fruit.

I have now stopped all HRT meds due to developing terrible mouth ulcers again- something that happens with almost all medications, but I thought I'd gotten away with the HRT - not so.

Anyways... my fatigue episodes are definitely related to things I eat or inhale (fresh grass clippings and mould) or put on my skin. It's taken me 20 years to discover this, but now at least I feel I can control it, although it can be difficult to resist falling back into my old dietary ways sometimes.

I wish you luck working out what causes your fatigue, and hope you may read this and have a 'light bulb' moment.

Gabby

Genisisfan profile image
Genisisfan

yes me too !! I find eating small amounts helps, if I eat a full meal I just yawn like crazy and wasn’t to sleep. It’s horrible 🥴

Debsdelight72 profile image
Debsdelight72

Hi, Hubby calls it food drunk usually after a meal with cars

Take care

Debsdelight72 profile image
Debsdelight72 in reply to Debsdelight72

Carbs not cars,(the dreaded fog)

mhigton profile image
mhigton

This also used to happen to me and I found a solution by accident which I will try and describe now.

I would have my breakfast cereal, 30 minutes later I would feel tired. Lunchtime, typically a sandwich, crisps, piece of fruit and perhaps a yoghurt. 30 minutes later it was like someone had taken the batteries out and afternoon naps were common.

Over recent years I have developed a number of health related problems including prediabetes (which is important in this story) but I also had nasty eczema type rashes on my legs which would clear up temporarily with steroid cream (Daktacort) (sp?) but return within a week ago and I was desperate to find a solution. My doctor had given me clues, attributing it vaguely to inflammation. My own research pointed towards sugar potentially being at least responsible in part which was helpful but also confusing because I don't have a particularly sweet tooth. However, in terms of my breakfast, most cereals are full of sugar even 'healthy' muesli type products. In terms of my lunch, the bread contains carbs and is metabolised into sugar quite readily by your body, ditto the crisps. My banana contained fructose (sugar) and the low fat yoghurts also chock full of sugar.

Then I had my breakthrough. I watched a video on Youtube, a Ted Talk by a lady called Jody Stanislaw entitled 'Sugar is not a Treat' in which she describes some advice she gave to a co-worker regarding their breakfast meal and the profound impact that advice had on her co-worker.

I followed that advice too and it's changed many aspects of my life. I would encourage you to listen to what she has to say and perhaps give it a try.

The positive impacts on me are as follows. The troublesome rashes on my legs have cleared up. My alleged IBS has cleared up and I no longer experience bloating after meals either which was very common to me. I have lost 9 kilos since February 12th (20/05 today) which is very welcome, I was overweight although not obese and now I am in healthy range for my height. Most importantly in the context of this reply my energy levels are now stable throughout the day and I no longer experience the catastrophic crashes similar to what you describe. I have also reversed my prediabetes and it's no longer a concern.

In the end I have gone fully on to a keto diet which is where the evidence led me. I have gone very extreme, an I probably didn't have to go as far as I have. I also have to say it probably isn't for everyone. It does have downsides, I have found it expensive for a start. It is very restrictive when taken to the level I have and it can be a nightmare if you are dining out with friends. Then there is the dehydration, I have to drink a lot of water throughout the day. Constipation is also a problem, a big problem! I'm prepared to take a bit of short term pain though, in order to achieve my goals and I do not intend to follow this path zealously for very long. I think another 3 months and I will have achieved my self defined goals. After that I will have treats from time to time but I am going to be very conscious of how much sugar (and carbs) I consume because I am sure that it is important. It's tough for sure when you look at how much sugar is present in places where you wouldn't expect it. Baked Beans are very sweet, even Heinz chicken and mushroom soup, it is everywhere.

Listen to that Youtube piece, I think you might find it helpful and informative. I hope this helps.

E3178 profile image
E3178 in reply to mhigton

Thankyou that is very interesting and I will think hard about the sugar.

Billybloggs profile image
Billybloggs

I have had fatigue after eating many times, usually a late lunch containing no sugars as I try to avoid sugar, so was always baffled by it. It can be overwhelming. But the health professional I mentioned it to had no explanation for it either.Maybe you're just overdoing things?

Take care.

Suz

E3178 profile image
E3178 in reply to Billybloggs

Thanks for your message.

Yassytina profile image
YassytinaFMA UK Volunteer

I do get very tired after eating , more so my main meal , not too sure why this happens, I do have a hernia which seem too be common in women after a certain age and take lanzaprazole too combat any acid , I agree with Dizzy do see your doctor for a piece of mind, especially tummy discomfort after. Xx

E3178 profile image
E3178 in reply to Yassytina

Thankyou I will try my doctor.

fibo profile image
fibo

I'm like that as well, with lunch and dinner and needing the toilet and feel faint be nice to know why hope someone can help 🙂

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