Why am I drowsy and how do I fix it?

[TheOpen]

Most days around 2pm I am seriously drowsy. Eyes closing, head nodding drowsy. It's majorly embarrassing and I've begun to dread afternoon work meetings as this is the absolute worst. Not too bad if I'm just working at my desk or home - I can stretch my legs, go make if drink etc but it's when I have to sit still and concentrate and it's always around 2pm.morning meetings are no problem

I have little tricks like excusing myself for the loo, pinching my skin, removing any warm layers until I'm cold, drinking water.

Been like this for years.

I have two coffees between 8-11am, eat three meals, some snacks, exercise 2-3 times a week, sleep 6-8 hrs per night (the 6hr sleeps don't correspond with daytime drowsiness), 42 years old, regular busy life FT job, kids etc. Crave sugary snacks around 930pm.

Have you experienced this drowsiness and how do you handle it at work? Any ideas greatly received!

Do you have any other menopause symptoms?

I'm similar, only now I can sleep 9-10 hours a night too. Is it menopause? Could well be. I'm 5 years in to peri symptoms. Do you have any peri symptoms OP?

Thyroid issues? Sounds like me before I was diagnosed. I know when my bloods need checked when I start to feel like it again.

I had exactly this. For me it was very low iron and vit D. I've been on both for ages now (high strength). The iron worked the quickest. I was less tired after a week.

Thanks for your replies.

I guess it could be peri. It has got worse in more recent years - maybe 3-4. I've put on a stone in the last year despite still being active, it's on my stomach/hips. I bloat even from drinking water.

I still have regular, normal periods though. I track them so can say that with certainty.

I did a blood/stool check via the GP about 6 months ago as something I read resonated with ovarian cancer symptoms but all clear for that.

Any more tips?

Don't eat sugar. If you need persuading, read the blood sugar diet. If I do eat sugar eg a slice of someone's birthday cake, I can't keep my eyes open about an hour later. Maybe your drowsiness is linked to sugar as well?

Don't have carbs at lunchtime OP, that's what's causing it IMO

I cut wheat from my diet when this happened to me. Made a massive difference, but the same thing also happens with cheese, it seems that if I don't get into the habit of eating them every day I can get away with eating them now and again.
Ha, looking at pp's, diet seems to be a popular suspect.

Yes - it's carbs for me, switching to a low carb lunch like a salad really helps. If you have a big serving of protein e.g. a whole chicken breast and some fat then you don't feel hungry during the afternoon.

Yup. No carbs at lunch. High protein and some light exercise to get your hr up a bit

Try the soluble iron supplements, I was nearly falling asleep at the wheel driving home at 3pm
It really helped me, there's ones with vit c in as well

I had this and realised it was caused by the antihistamine I was taking, I switched types and the PM crash stopped

This happened to me - I could have written your post. I had horribly low vitD and vitB12. Had to take prescribed vitD for 6 months. Doctor said she was amazed I could get out of bed!

Other thing I think you do is create a routine. Even now, if I have an afternoon nap on the weekend, I feel tired the next day at the same time so think breaking the routine is key too! Also get up and walk around more and avoid carbs at lunchtime! Good luck with it.

Definitely work trying a high strength Vitamin D supplement

Also worth asking your partner if you snore in case your quality of sleep is worse than you think :)

Thanks guys, loads of things to think about here!, I'm just happy to have some ideas to try as I've felt quite lost over what to do.

I called my Dr for a blood test this morning. They can't do it until at least Oct 5th.

I'm going to go google but I suspect these iron and strong dose vitamins have to come from the Dr... if so if I can bear it I want to wait for the the blood test. Def going to try low carb lunches. I felt so embarrassed again today, I left the room three times during our three hour meeting. Can't keep this up

Thank you all

@StrongArm he says just the occasional grunt haha no snoring as such (wish I could say the same for him!)

I'm T2 diabetic, and get a massive energy slump after eating carbs.

For lunch I usually have a veg based soup or salad....... bread has me face down on my keyboard.

Definitely get iron levels checked.

@BrilloPaddy your comment made me laugh, as that's me! I'm feeling inspired to take a list of ideas to the Dr with me.

Could also be gluten intolerance. My Dsis will practically fall asleep instantly if she accidentally eats gluten.

For me it was Vitamin D deficiency too. Only time I slept well in my life.

Thought I would update in case helpful to others - it was a vitamin D deficiency. I'm now on a large dose for a few weeks and will be checked again in 2 months.

I have also been referred to be involved in a sleep study of some kind to see if my sleep is worse than I think it is