5 replies to this topic

[thecatnapper]

I read a post earlier today by someone who said they get very sleepy after eating a meal. I do this very same thing and I'm wondering how many others experience this as well. When I first made the connection I went out and bought a glucose meter thinking that perhaps it was related to my blood sugar. It was high normal most times and occassionaly would rise slightly above normal. I went to the primary care doc and showed her my logs and explained in detail how the sleepiness is so much worse after eating. She completely dismissed it as a symptom and said "maybe your eating too much". Seriously lady? Good thing my insurance doesn't require a referral to a specialist or I would still be wondering what's going on. I told my best friend recently that I wonder if it's because I'm so exhausted all the time that it takes what little energy I have to digest and metabolize my food and it just wipes me out. Sometimes when I can't sleep at night I will eat something to make myself sleepy but of course I don't stay asleep long. I'd love to know why this happens.

[Enginerd]

I read a post earlier today by someone who said they get very sleepy after eating a meal. I do this very same thing and I'm wondering how many others experience this as well. When I first made the connection I went out and bought a glucose meter thinking that perhaps it was related to my blood sugar. It was high normal most times and occassionaly would rise slightly above normal. I went to the primary care doc and showed her my logs and explained in detail how the sleepiness is so much worse after eating. She completely dismissed it as a symptom and said "maybe your eating too much". Seriously lady? Good thing my insurance doesn't require a referral to a specialist or I would still be wondering what's going on. I told my best friend recently that I wonder if it's because I'm so exhausted all the time that it takes what little energy I have to digest and metabolize my food and it just wipes me out. Sometimes when I can't sleep at night I will eat something to make myself sleepy but of course I don't stay asleep long. I'd love to know why this happens.

I do!!! Particularly if it's a large meal and not just a snack. I guess that's why they recommend PWN eat light meals throughout the day to avoid feeling even sleepier.

You're right on the money when you say that you're using what little energy you have to digest and metabolize your food. As soon as you eat, your body will divert a significant portion of blood flow to your GI tract to aid in the processing of what you just consumed. This is why most people feel like they could "take a nap" after lunch (less blood flow to the brain, or cardiac output, in general), and the same reason you're likely to get a cramp if you try to go for a swim or a run immediately after eating a heavy meal. Your body is designed for efficiency, and exercise requires intense circulation, removing blood from where it needs to be...so you'll develop a "cramp" as a warning to knock off whatever you're doing that's messing with things.

If a non-narcoleptic feels sleepy after lunch, then we're destined to fall asleep immediately afterward!

[Lottaspace]

If I eat a meal, no matter what size, or a snack, I get a sleep attack. I'm out for 2 to 4 hours. Tomorrow at 11:20 AM EST I see my 1st Neurologist for a diagnosis. He referred me to the second Neuro. He ordered a MRI and EEG and the follow-up was: for the MRI - "No news is good News" and the EEG "Showed some agitation". I was in a full-blown attack of brain fog, muscle weakness and fighting sleep, etc. He is waiting for the 2nd Neuro Sleep Study results. I'm wondering if he will have a diagnosis and what off the wall comment he will make. I'm imaging he will say ‘inconclusive’. I have to wait till July 5th for the 2nd Neuro, who did the sleep study, to get any kind of feedback. I'm aware of the fact that when you eat the blood does rush from your brain and your heart to your stomach. That was always my excuse for “Eat and Sleep”.

My mother is 83 and has never had any heart problems. I can never remember a meal with her that she didn’t excessively talk, even if it meant calling someone on the phone and chewing in their ear. Since she has had Narcolepsy symptoms her whole life, I bet her that if for one time she would try and not talk and just eat that her head would be in her plate. I’m still waiting for her to take me up on that bet.

I did tell her to go to this site and read the postings in the forum. She called me and said she had thought that all the things she read were normal, since her whole family has sleep attacks, etc. My comment to her was, “It was like reading your Diary, wasn’t it!” She laughed and said, “Yes”. FDL (following down laughing).

Thecatnapper, our symptoms are a lot alike and I am anxious to hear the results of your sleep study.

[thecatnapper]

Thanks Enginerd. I've seen that smaller meals are recommended and the truth is that when I've tried the 5-6 small meals as a way to manage my weight I have felt better as far as not needing a couple of naps a day. Once I get diagnosed and on some proper meds I'm really going to have to overhaul my lifestyle because I'm just all out of wack since my sleep has been so horribly fragmented the last 2+ years. I know that is a huge part of my excessive and rapid weight gain during that time. I so look forward to getting my energy back and getting back to exercising daily. I'm also going to try going gluten free again. Years ago I tested positive for anti-gliadin antibodies but the GI doc said it was nothing to be concerned about when the celiac biopsies came back normal. Of course now it's known that you don't have to have celiac to have serious reactions to gluten. I tried it a few months ago but the EDS actually got worse for some reason. Then again I only did it for 6 weeks and should have given it at least 3 months or more. Like I said, this is going to require major lifestyle changes all around.


I agree Lottaspace, reading this forum is like reading my own journal. I wish that I would have found it 3 years ago but I guess I found it when I was supposed to. I would surely have gotten to a specialist right away if I'd known that not everyone has what I now know are Hypnagogic Hallucinations and that not everyone feels like their eyes are going to roll right out of their head when they get angry and most people don't laugh so hard that they can't lift their head or stop themselves from drooling down their shirt! I will definitely let you know what I find out. Next Friday can't get here fast enough.

[tabster1]

This happens to me especially right after lunch. Although it could be timing related - it's possible that's when the Nuvigil starts to wear off.

[sleepywriter]

I used to get very tired after eating as well until I eliminated gluten and cut way back on the carbs. I still get sleep attacks sometimes, but the fog has cleared substantially. Try keeping a food diary to see if you notice certain foods making the sleepiness worse than others.