Does anyone else feel worse after having an afternoon nap?

[Canu]

I feel very sluggish after lunch and, if I sleep, I wake up feeling tired, stiff and sometimes also wake up with a headache and/or a high heart rate.

Anyone knows why this happens or what I can do about it?

[Bito]

If I have a nap in the afternoon, I feel really strange and very down and depressed. I also feel like I need to eat something. it soon passes after about an hour. I try not to nap now in the afternoon, because it is a horrible feeling isn't it?

[Canu in reply to Bito]

It really is! In my case it doesn't completely go away until late at night. I guess I should try to avoid napping in the afternoon, though it may sometimes be difficult.

[adin]

Maybe you have OSA (sleep apnee).

[Canu in reply to adin]

Very likely. Though, it's not the same when I wake up in the mornings. I feel refreshed after a night's sleep.

[littlecandle]

I always wake up cold and grumpy after a nap, unless I've had a nap because I'm ill. So I try and not nap at all. I wish I felt refreshed after a night's sleep.

[Canu in reply to littlecandle]

That's what I should do. Taking adrenal cortex 3 times a day has very much helped with my night's sleep.

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there, I have never been able to sleep in the day.If I do I feel awful.Sick, headachy and sluggish.The only time I sleep is if I have a migraine or am really poorly they I feel better for sleep.I am a person who functions best with regularity though.Similar bed time and waking time and regular mealtimes.My body doesn't like change and tends to result in a migraine.If I am cosy in the afternoon and feel myself about to nod off unfortunately I have to get up and shake myself out of it.

[Canu in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Sorry to hear about your migraines. I suffer with them too, it's horrible! That's it then. I need to discipline myself not to sleep in the afternoon. Thank you.

[HowNowWhatNow]

I try not to eat much carb at lunch, because I’m so unproductive & tired after after a big lunch of bread, pasta etc. And then get disorientated if I sleep during the day. I used to have a disco nap of 10-15 minutes in the evening, before going out, that made me feel amazingly well rested.

Not so much going out in the evenings these days!

[Canu in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

I will try the low carb lunch. Thanks for the tip!

[Polaris]

Feeling sluggish after lunch is usually a digestive issue, which it seems many with thyroid disease have.

Avoiding gluten, having kefir for breakfast, then a spoonful of sauerkraut with or after lunch, has improved microbiome and long standing digestive problems have disappeared 🤗

[Canu in reply to Polaris]

Thank you Polaris. I avoid gluten, sugar and dairy. I do take 2 glasses of coconut milk kefir a day, but I haven't tried sauerkraut. Do you think taking a probiotic supplement can be a substitute for sauerkraut?

[Polaris in reply to Canu]

You could try probiotics - didn't work for me but we're all different.

I've just realised sauerkraut might not be practical for those who are working. My son finds Vogel's Centaurium works well - small bottle with a dropper which is easier to carry with you. In fact, most bitters work by stimulating the production of acid to help digest the food.

[Canu in reply to Polaris]

Thanks Polaris! I take HCL supplements for low stomach acid. I also take digestive enzymes. These should theoretically do the trick...

[j9j8j7]

I'm the opposite, I sleep a lot better in the afternoon than at night. A one hour nap does more for me than 3-4 hours of nighttime sleep.

[Canu in reply to j9j8j7]

Wow! How different one person can be from another, even when they have the same health problems! Thank you for your reply j9j8j7.

[Farrugia]

I feel very tired in the early afternoon whatever I have for lunch (or even if I don't have any). I usually have a snooze but set my alarm - I find if I limit the nap to 20-25 minutes then I feel ok afterwards. If I sleep for longer then I feel terrible afterwards. I once read that Salvador Dali would nap sitting in an arm chair holding a bunch of keys in his hand. When he was asleep enough to drop the keys on the floor then the sound would wake him up and he found this the optimal time to nap.

[Canu in reply to Farrugia]

😆 Nice! Thank you Farrugia.

[Chelt16]

Hi - yes, I feel not good after a nap unless I limit it to 15-20mins. Otherwise I'm groggy, aching and got raised pulse. My daytime tiredness has improved now I've given some attention to stabilising my blood sugar so less troughs and highs! A killer for me are potatoes at supper as I nod off in the chair after them. I'm gluten free, rarely eat dairy and limit sugars to fruits and veg. So to sum up your not alone !!!